Originally Posted by
4runner
A degree is NOT pointless. It's only pointless if you're trying to justify not having one. No one with a degree regrets getting one or makes excuses. Only those without make excuses. Euros make ridiculous claims that the JAA is the equivalent. Nonsense. A degree teaches one time managment, hustle and life skills. Stop trying to justify your lack of qualifications. This is why pilots are not paid well in many places. Most pilots are American. Nearly all American pilots have degrees. Consider a degree a prerequisite and not an unnecessary step in your career.
Only snag with that argument is that outside the US, a US degree is simply viewed as the medal for just turning up for class/lectures.
I worked for a national European airline. Having a degree (which I had, in a totally unrelated field) was not a prerequisite. There were a couple of US pilots there who qualified usually by marriage or such like due residency rules.
However most could hardly write coherently despite the 'degree'. They could fly well as anyone else though.