Another ATPL Query!!
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ATPL Query Re. BRS GS/Naples
I was originally planning to go out to the states to crack on with my ATPL groundschool.
At the time i thought that it would be best for me as i was looking at enrolling on the Naples Air Center fulltime course. However i am now thinking that after seeing the BRS results and comments that i would benefit more from staying in the UK and completing ATPL with BRS.
However Naples appealed more as i would be undertaking a class and i would be taught the subjects in a class room full time enviorement, however if i took the BRS option it would be upto me to learn the coursework.
So my question really is how much commitment and effort has to be put into distance learning and would most people be better of going fulltime.
I would be able to keep my job and not have to up sticks to the states which is a big plus, but then would my work hinder my study??
Thanx
SDM
At the time i thought that it would be best for me as i was looking at enrolling on the Naples Air Center fulltime course. However i am now thinking that after seeing the BRS results and comments that i would benefit more from staying in the UK and completing ATPL with BRS.
However Naples appealed more as i would be undertaking a class and i would be taught the subjects in a class room full time enviorement, however if i took the BRS option it would be upto me to learn the coursework.
So my question really is how much commitment and effort has to be put into distance learning and would most people be better of going fulltime.
I would be able to keep my job and not have to up sticks to the states which is a big plus, but then would my work hinder my study??
Thanx
SDM
Last edited by Somedaymaybe; 30th Oct 2004 at 14:02.
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it really depends on yourself tbh...
Personally, I work and do the distance learning course as I cannot afford to do it any other way.
Weigh up the pros and cons...
Distance learning-
you will be at home
no class room, u have to do a lot urself
you will have ur family and friends(don't know if that's a pro/con!lol)
you can work and earn money/study in the evenings+weekends
BRS have a great support set up, so if u get stuck, u can call/email/go on their forum
Full-time
Classroom environment
no income/you'll have to budget/support urself from savings
Maybe it's quicker than distance learning?
You'll be on ur lonesome without the family/friends (a good or bad thing??)
and so on.....
Getting into the swing of things is the hardest part, but once you get into a routine with ur studying, it becomes a lot easier.
I am very undisciplined when it comes to studying and it took a lot of effort for me at the start. I had to force myself away from the telly and plonk myself at the desk(aka my mother's dining room table...lol)...
but i'm getting through it all, slowly but surely
It is a hard slog at times...you come home from work, ur tired, u cudn't be ar5ed 2study, but sometimes u gotta bite the bullet and just do it.
I missed out on a lot of nights out with friends for ages and other things, but now that i'm doing mod 2, I'm trying to find a better balance....
I hope this is of some help 2u
Personally, I work and do the distance learning course as I cannot afford to do it any other way.
Weigh up the pros and cons...
Distance learning-
you will be at home
no class room, u have to do a lot urself
you will have ur family and friends(don't know if that's a pro/con!lol)
you can work and earn money/study in the evenings+weekends
BRS have a great support set up, so if u get stuck, u can call/email/go on their forum
Full-time
Classroom environment
no income/you'll have to budget/support urself from savings
Maybe it's quicker than distance learning?
You'll be on ur lonesome without the family/friends (a good or bad thing??)
and so on.....
Getting into the swing of things is the hardest part, but once you get into a routine with ur studying, it becomes a lot easier.
I am very undisciplined when it comes to studying and it took a lot of effort for me at the start. I had to force myself away from the telly and plonk myself at the desk(aka my mother's dining room table...lol)...
but i'm getting through it all, slowly but surely
It is a hard slog at times...you come home from work, ur tired, u cudn't be ar5ed 2study, but sometimes u gotta bite the bullet and just do it.
I missed out on a lot of nights out with friends for ages and other things, but now that i'm doing mod 2, I'm trying to find a better balance....
I hope this is of some help 2u
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Assuming that you can afford both options, then the question comes down to one of what form of study best suits you. Some people thrive on self study and some find it impossible.
Although a great many people pass their ATPL exams through self study, many others do not. A very small minority of those who pass their exams each month announce it on this forum. Approximately 150 students took the September exams. The average pass rate for the 14 subjects was something like 80%. Even the most pesimistic estimate would suggest that at least 100 people passed most of their exams. Now compare this with the number who posted on this forum to announce their success.
But those who either drop out, fail their exams, or decide to switch to full time will rarely if ever want to tell everyone about it. Don't allow yourself to be fooled into thinking that the good news that appears in this forum is the only news.
This post is not intended to be a dig at BGS nor at any other school. A very large proportion of BGS students pass their exams. But I have taught other students who having failed to pass their exams through self study (at BGS and others schools) have switched to full time study and subsequently passed the exams at the next attempt. To be fair to BGS, I should also state that one such student came to me having had problems with the full time course at NAC.
At the end of the day you must judge which method and which school is likely to best meet your needs.
Although a great many people pass their ATPL exams through self study, many others do not. A very small minority of those who pass their exams each month announce it on this forum. Approximately 150 students took the September exams. The average pass rate for the 14 subjects was something like 80%. Even the most pesimistic estimate would suggest that at least 100 people passed most of their exams. Now compare this with the number who posted on this forum to announce their success.
But those who either drop out, fail their exams, or decide to switch to full time will rarely if ever want to tell everyone about it. Don't allow yourself to be fooled into thinking that the good news that appears in this forum is the only news.
This post is not intended to be a dig at BGS nor at any other school. A very large proportion of BGS students pass their exams. But I have taught other students who having failed to pass their exams through self study (at BGS and others schools) have switched to full time study and subsequently passed the exams at the next attempt. To be fair to BGS, I should also state that one such student came to me having had problems with the full time course at NAC.
At the end of the day you must judge which method and which school is likely to best meet your needs.
Join Date: Aug 2003
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Full time/DL
Really when it comes down to it, the choice is dependant on the individual and not always the experience level.
At NAC we run both courses and have seen students that are flying for airlines move from DL to residential and then seen students go to DL after getting an insight into the course and how they should organize their study.
Some students need the full time strict programme and daily interaction to keep focussed; nothing against anyone as I myself have completed the course on a residential programme after intially starting DL. I found the outside pressures always outweighed the study I should have completed, but going to class everyday forced myself forward. Once you have the first set of exams out the way, you then have a great deal of momentum moving into the second half of the course.
So it really comes down to your daily routine and if you can separate yourself from the world for 3/4 hours a day and enter the Twilight Zone of ATPL!
At NAC we run both courses and have seen students that are flying for airlines move from DL to residential and then seen students go to DL after getting an insight into the course and how they should organize their study.
Some students need the full time strict programme and daily interaction to keep focussed; nothing against anyone as I myself have completed the course on a residential programme after intially starting DL. I found the outside pressures always outweighed the study I should have completed, but going to class everyday forced myself forward. Once you have the first set of exams out the way, you then have a great deal of momentum moving into the second half of the course.
So it really comes down to your daily routine and if you can separate yourself from the world for 3/4 hours a day and enter the Twilight Zone of ATPL!
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"..seen students go to DL after getting an insight into the course and how they should organize their study."
I started off with an ordinary DL course and really struggled to get through and understand some of the material. I haven't seen BGS books though, but most of the material out there feels like reference books and not something you read from cover to cover.
Later on I changed to another course - still DL, but where you have lessons before you hit the books and also when you are halfway through the subjects. This way I knew the fundamentals before opening the books and could use them as what they are - reference material.
I started off with an ordinary DL course and really struggled to get through and understand some of the material. I haven't seen BGS books though, but most of the material out there feels like reference books and not something you read from cover to cover.
Later on I changed to another course - still DL, but where you have lessons before you hit the books and also when you are halfway through the subjects. This way I knew the fundamentals before opening the books and could use them as what they are - reference material.
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SDM,
I have been over and over the same thoughts in my head. What I have decided is to go fulltime in Bournemouth. I will buy a caravan and park it at a nearby campground which will save me literally thousands over what a B&B would cost plus give me the flexibility of being able to stay weekends should I not want to return home. At the end of the groundschool I will then decide if I am going to continue with the CPL/IR or return to work and top up the coffers. If the latter then I can store the caravan in secure parking from a multitude of places around the country and pull it out for use again when required. This costs approx. £250 pa. When I am done I can sell the caravan for hopefully not much less than what I paid for it.
I also considered the US for the ATPL's but the hassle of finding accomodation and visas turned me off. I have only ever heard good things of NAC but the thought of being so far away from home should things go wrong didn't make me feel to easy. At least in the UK if it all goes pear shaped for whatever reason I can shift to another school.
I intend to head back to the US for some more hour building inbetween or at the end of the CPL/IR.
Good luck.
I have been over and over the same thoughts in my head. What I have decided is to go fulltime in Bournemouth. I will buy a caravan and park it at a nearby campground which will save me literally thousands over what a B&B would cost plus give me the flexibility of being able to stay weekends should I not want to return home. At the end of the groundschool I will then decide if I am going to continue with the CPL/IR or return to work and top up the coffers. If the latter then I can store the caravan in secure parking from a multitude of places around the country and pull it out for use again when required. This costs approx. £250 pa. When I am done I can sell the caravan for hopefully not much less than what I paid for it.
I also considered the US for the ATPL's but the hassle of finding accomodation and visas turned me off. I have only ever heard good things of NAC but the thought of being so far away from home should things go wrong didn't make me feel to easy. At least in the UK if it all goes pear shaped for whatever reason I can shift to another school.
I intend to head back to the US for some more hour building inbetween or at the end of the CPL/IR.
Good luck.
