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DanielBaxter
17th Aug 2001, 23:33
Hey all,

I've got a question for all of you who came through the BA CEP scheme. How much time did you get to yourselves? I know the training courses are residential, but is the training all day every day, 7 days a week, 70 weeks of the course? Any information would be greatly appreciated!

Also, what A-level grades did you folks get?

Thanks
Daniel

[ 17 August 2001: Message edited by: DanielBaxter ]

eeper
18th Aug 2001, 18:03
I did my course at Oxford with a few months out in Phoenix. The CEP course is a full-time residential course which usually lasts for just over a year. You are supposed to get a week off during the course, but we never got ours.

Weekends are generally your own, but increasingly you are expected to do some flying during the weekend, usually solo or SPiC work. One or two Saturdays or Sundays a month is usually sufficient, but its all down to you so if you want to do more then you can.

During the week you'll either be on a ground school or a flying day. Ground school lasts from 9 till 5 while a flying day typically involves one or two flights. In the long Summer evenings you can burn off a lot of your hours if you can persuade an instructor to stay on. As exams approach you will find that you get more and more time off, but this is obviously intended for private study.

Hope this helps.

DanielBaxter
18th Aug 2001, 18:38
Eeper,

Thanks for your reply! The reason I ask is because I'm wondering if it would be feasible to go home at the weekends. Assuming I got in and got to Oxford, I live fairly close, and was just thinking about things like that. What A-Level grades did you get mate??

Thanks
Daniel

eeper
20th Aug 2001, 20:49
Daniel,

Going home at the weekends is absolutely feasible and, if you're trying to hold down a relationship or marriage, probably essential. You could go home every night and stay with your folks if you wanted to, but you would miss out on the socialising and study benefits that you get by staying in halls.

As for A-Level grades I was fortunate enough to get 4 A-Levels at grade A (blush :) ). A-levels are probably the last thing that BA will look at - everyone who gets past the application form screening already has the minimum qualifications they need. BA will be more interested in you as a person and your flying ability.

Hope this helps

eeper

DanielBaxter
20th Aug 2001, 22:48
Eeper,

Yeah, I have got a relationship going at the moment, so weekends back home would suit me down to the ground. As for my own A-level grades....2 A's, B and a C...but i did have a nasty episode of Glandular Fever at the time.

Anyone else....please feel free to join in the conversation!!

Thanks
Daniel

Funkie
20th Aug 2001, 23:52
Hi Danny,

In the way of qualifications, I have an HNC in electrical engineering and 2 Scottish Highers, the HNC according to BA are suitable for the entry qualifications. However, they require that I have the certificate before I apply, and with the fiasco within the SQA I may never get the chance to apply.

Anyway, when are you thinking of applying, or have you already made that step.

Regards,


Fra
:) :) :)

DanielBaxter
21st Aug 2001, 00:14
Hey Fra,

Yeah I phoned BA last Friday, the day after I got my results, and they said they would send out the application form. So, depending on how thick the form is...and how taxing the questions are, i think I'll be sending the form back within a fortnight. That should be enough time to get a good form done!

Thanks for the reply!
Daniel

[ 20 August 2001: Message edited by: DanielBaxter ]

eeper
21st Aug 2001, 03:16
Danny,

Congratulations on your A-Levels - they should be ample for BA's purposes. I don't know if BA still have a requirement or preference for Maths or Physics at A-Level. The form will tell you more.

When you come to make your application be sure to have a long look thru previous Wannabe threads as you'll be sure to pick up some good tips. My tip (fairly basic) is to make huge numbers of photocopies of the form and then put the real thing out of harms way. Practice filling out the photocopies before you do the real thing.

Have fun!

ScottishSteve
23rd Aug 2001, 21:19
i witnessed the speedbird crowd in Michigan. They seemed to be working hard, but had plenty of fun as well...cushy apartments, food not so great...and they had a social life of an FAA modular student! Plus MI is great, bar all the snow!