Today’s students are facing some serious sticker shock as the cost of a college education continues to rise. Investing in yourself is one of the greatest ways to spend your money, so it’s important to do your homework and narrow down the best colleges that offer the greatest bang for your buck. Last month, Vaughn College was named to Money Magazine’s 2017 “Top Colleges for Your Money” list, placing it among some of the country’s finest and affordable institutions.
Making the cut
With a long history of academic excellence and commitment to student success, Vaughn ranked 162 among 711 colleges and universities based on factors including affordability, quality of education and alumni success. Money Magazine studied 2,400 colleges and used 27 data points to compile its final list. In its ranking, the magazine applauded Vaughn’s facilities and offerings, unique mix of academic programs and the high-demand for jobs in the industries the College serves.
Vaughn also claimed the highest socioeconomic mobility rate in Money Magazine’s rankings, echoing the college’s recent appointment as the top institution in the US. for upward mobility by The Equality of Opportunity Project, as reported earlier this year in The New York Times.
Choosing the right college
Choosing the best college isn’t all about dollars and cents. Just as you wouldn’t attend culinary school to become an accountant, you want to find a college that caters to your career goals and offers the best programs to fuel your passion.
Vaughn is dedicated to empowering the next generation with a spectrum of fields designed to meet today’s most exciting engineering and technology, management and aviation fields. With degrees ranging from associate, bachelor, graduate and certificate majors, Vaughn offers students a futureproof education and various pathways to reach their goals. The proof is in the numbers. Ninety-eight percent of Vaughn graduates are employed or continue their education within one year with 81 percent in a related field.
A message from the president
“Choosing to attend Vaughn College for your degree is about making a valuable investment in your future,” said Vaughn College President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo. “By having outside validation of the quality of our degree programs, students and families can feel confident that Vaughn is an institution that provides an engaging educational experience and long-term success.”
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Aviators across the country will fly high on August 19 as they celebrate National Aviation Day, which recognizes the history and developments in the field of aviation. Established in 1939 by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, this holiday was declared a national observation to coincide with Orville Wright’s birthday and his significant contribution to powered flight.
In honor of National Aviation Day, we’ve put together the top 10 reasons for becoming a pilot. See if you have the “right stuff” to take your career to new heights:
- Fulfill your lifelong passion—Flying is addicting, and it can fuel your passion to make your dreams a reality. If flying is in your blood, then the sky’s the limit for a soaring career.
- View life from a different perspective—Not only do pilots get a bird’s-eye view of seeing the world, but their job experiences can prove humbling, as they realize the magnitude of the skies around them.
- Become a member of an elite group—About .2% of the US population has a pilot’s license, making this a select group comprised of an exceptional few.
- Job flexibility—Experienced pilots have the luxury of working from various cities or wherever their jobs take them.
- See the world—Pilots get the unique opportunity to travel the world, experience exotic destinations, and learn about different cultures.
- Financially rewarding—Pilots have the potential to earn excellent salaries as their careers advance. Although airline and commercial pilots both fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters and other aircraft, airline pilots earned higher salaries than commercial pilots in 2016, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Improve your flight skills—Pilots never stop learning since they undergo continuous training to improve their skills. It’s a career that keeps you sharp and in-demand.
- Advance your career—The aviation industry opens doors to a variety of exclusive career paths. A pilot can climb the ranks, beginning as an officer and then progressing to captain, check and training captain, management, as well as transitioning to other types of aircraft such as charter flights, rescue missions, firefighting and aerial applications, just to name a few.
- Build confidence and sense of accomplishment—Taking your first solo flight may be the most satisfying and confidence-building experience of your lifetime. Pilots will likely learn more about themselves while training than they will at any other times in their lives. They are trained to make on-the-spot decisions and judge challenging situations, sometimes without any warning.
- Pilot shortage fuels demand—With the crippling pilot shortage projected over the next 20 years, there’s never been a better time for aviation enthusiasts to embrace their passion for flight and train to becoming a pilot. According to a recent report from Boeing, the aviation giant projects a staggering demand of more than 637,000 pilots by 2036.
If you’re interested in becoming a pilot, or want to work in―or around―aviation, then Vaughn College may be the institution to make it all happen for you. With certificate, associate, bachelor and master’s degree programs spanning various areas of the industry, Vaughn offers aviation enthusiasts a wide range of options where they can find the perfect career fit.
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Left-handed pilots are more prevalent in the aviation industry than one may think. Since about 10 percent of the population is left-handed, it makes one wonder why a large percentage of pilots are also left-handed, as many as 40 percent according to those in the field. This disproportionate ratio raises the question, “Are the challenges the same for right-handed pilots compared to left-handed pilots?” In honor of International Left Handers Day, we want to recognize the “lefties” who are commandeering the skies, and touch down on any challenges they may face.
Living in a right-handed world
Many lefties consider themselves ambidextrous since they’ve learned to adapt to living in a right-handed world. And when it comes to flying an airplane, left-handed pilots say it’s all about the same. Pilots use both hands to fly an airplane and undergo rigorous training to master the task. Ask almost any left-handed pilot and they’ll say it really doesn’t make much . History speaks for itself as some of the most famous aviators of our time are left-handed, including astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Jim Lovell and the late Wally Schirra, just to name a few.
All hands on deck
If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, you know there are two pilots in the cockpit―the captain and the first officer. When pilots begin their training, they are seated on the left in the captain’s seat with the yoke, or control column, on their left and the throttle in the middle on the right side. The flight instructor sits on the right in the first captain’s seat with the controls reversed. Since pilots need to know how to navigate from both positions, their left-handedness doesn’t really come into play since they need to master flying using either their right or left hands.
Getting it “write”
One drawback for most left-handed pilots is having to jot down notes while flying. They say it becomes second nature to them as they simply switch hands when they need to. Many left-handed pilots say learning to manipulate a throttle or stick is nowhere near as complex as learning how to write with your less-dominant hand.
August 13 is International Left Handers Day. If you are left-handed or know someone who is, then give yourself a hand with the knowledge that left-handed people are always in their right minds.
Interested in learning more about a career in Aviation?
Join our Aviation Training Institute Information Session on August 22!
