Originally Posted by
A6EchoEchoUniform
I agree that he needs to get college done. I started mentoring him because his father (a police pilot) died in a helicopter crash. His college fund was dissolved by living expenses that were incurred before his fathers department started paying the family the fathers benefits. Alex then wanted to learn to fly, and so he's spent every penny he's earned to do so. For him, it was a choice of either flying or college, but not both. I can't say that I blame him for making the choice that he did. A pilot certificate will probably always find you a job. A college degree, maybe not.
While he works on his degree he could join a wholly owned regional (e.g. Envoy, Piedmont or PSA) that all offer flow through to AA mainline without a degree.
That being said if I were him I would join a wholly owned with the flow, and still knock out his degree to keep the options open so you're not forced to have the flow as the only option.