Let me also add some food for thought Adam:

First off, GET A DEGREE! If you just start building hours now and do get lucky enough to get picked up flying some hot job, you always have to think of this: "What if I lose my medical?" No degree? Go back to flipping burgers or something.

Secondly, I'm an ERAU alumni from the Prescott, AZ campus. I loved Riddle! I also did ROTC for 3 years. I had a full scholarship to study EE and I had plans of becoming an AF pilot after graduation. Long story short is that I met my future husband there also studying EE and he was a year ahead of me. After he got his pilot slot, I decided to separate from the AF and just get my degree from ERAU and fly in the civilian world...that way we could be together. Two pilots trying to get the same plane and base is VERY hard.

So, going to Riddle offers lots of opportunites for you. You don't have to study Aeronautical Science if you want to fly professionally. The AF is in NEED of pilots and chances are very good that you'll be offered a pilot slot. You can have ANY educational background...even History...hehehe. Just had to throw that in there.

Anyway, another option is this: get your degree (in anything) locally from a community college...just make sure you get a B.S. in something and keep flying a little here and there to build some hours. Then apply to OTS (Officer Training School). That is only 3 months long down in Alabama and you still end up with a commission as a second lieutenant in the Air Force and a pilot slot if you apply.

Lastly, the last best-kept secret is the Air National Guard. Get a degree and apply to a local Guard squadron for a job as a "XXXXXXX" pilot. Some of my friends have automatically known that they were going to fly F-16's before they even went to Undergraduate Pilot Training just because they were hired by the Guard.

If you have any questions, let me know.

Jeanette