Get yourself on an airline cadet scheme and you'll be fine. BA FPP is worth a few shots if you don't pass first time, failing that Aer Lingus, Easyjet, BA Cityflyer, Flybe, Virgin etc offer reasonable schemes. I'm in a lot of debt but earn enough to be able to live comfortably and the overall prospects in the industry at the moment are good. I wouldn't recommend going to CTC/OAA 'untagged' to an airline. If you don't want to be bobbing up and down on the sea a decision sooner rather than later would benefit you either way. Hope you enjoy whatever you choose to do.