The argument that a degree is a good fallback investment is I think flawed in most cases.
Lets say you do a 3 years computing degree then 3 years in the business before making the leap into aviation. The 3 years on the job would just about pay off your Uni debts and save a bit to go towards your flight training costs.
Lets say you spend the next 6 years pottering about the skies earning your living. Perhaps you are a regional turbprop FO now. Up comes a jet airline job and you're off. Its Sept 10th 1002 and you feel on top of the world as you start your 747 conversion course.
Oh dear. Out on your arse.
Never mind I have a fallback plan. I'll go back to some IT contracting.
You have now lost contact with all your mates in the business who have moved on. You last touched a computer nearly 7 years ago. Your CV has a massive gap in it and you will not impress people at interview talking about the boring old HTML websites you used to engineer or the SAP you implemented at Bloggss Engineering Ltd.
Anybody interviewing you is going to ask themselves "will this person still be around in my Company in three years time"?
The answer patently is NO - he'll be off like a jack rabbit the very first pilot job that comes up.
Whereas.
"Hello, are you Big Harry the builder"?
"Yep - what do you want, I'm a busy man".
"I'm a decent Bricky, I am available tomorrow, got any work"?
"Yeah, job over by the Smithfield, see you at 8.30 sharp mind, £100 a day on this job and if I take you on full time we'll make it £150 - OK"?
"See you tomorrow Big Harry".
Compare and contrast.
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