Originally Posted by
SingaporeAirlines
How about doing a degree in an unrelated discipline? Just as a security in case the market goes south?
Personally I think that this is a particularly bad idea.
Let's say you do a degree in aeronautical engineering, then go off to do pilot training, it doesn't work out, and you come back into aeronautical engineering. Your CV shows that you have maintained an interest in aeronautics, added skills and knowledge that are relevant to the profession, and may have something that makes you stand out from the crowd of cloned 22 year old fresh graduates.
On the other hand you do a degree in accountancy or zoology, then go and do pilot training, try to come back into your degree subject - you look to have shown no consistent interest in accountancy/zoology, and have probably forgotten the important stuff whilst you were off playing with aeroplanes.
Additionally however, all a degree gives is a fighting chance of entering a graduate profession to start learning. If you want a backup, get a licence or qualification in some saleable skill; cooking, plumbing, lifeguarding.... Something that you can walk into a job with, not into a trainee position - unless that trainee position is into a profession you really want (although, aeronautical engineer is a pretty sexy job on a good day).