Thomas Bock always loved planes and thought, “Why not make a career out of it in college?” Now a junior professional pilot major, Bock spends a lot of time up in the sky.
Bock enjoys the experience of flying but acknowledges the financial constraint for many.
“That’s one of the biggest things that I know why people don’t do it, because it is expensive,” Bock said.
College expenses add quickly, from tuition to extra course fees; students must find ways to manage expensive majors.
The requirements to become a professional pilot include 1,500 flight hours through courses ranging from $80 to $18,000.
Coming into college, Bock already had 45 flight hours. In addition, he also receives an academic scholarship of $12,500 per year.
Brian Neff, the assistant dean of flight and operations for the College of Aeronautics and Engineering said flight courses are comparable to lab courses.
When students register for flight courses, they are included in the student’s Bursar bill.
“The advantage of it being paid through your university bill is anything that you can get tuition assistance on applies,” Neff said. “If you have scholarships, or VA benefits, … anything that you can apply to your personal bills can get applied to our flight fees.”
Neff said the college strongly encourages scholarships, with a page dedicated to them on their website.
Weather also plays a factor in obtaining flight hours. While Northeast Ohio’s weather creates a unique experience for students where they can experience different weather scenarios in real time, sometimes the risk outweighs the benefits.
“We encourage them to make their own decisions on weather, if it’s a flyable day or not,” Neff said. “We have plenty of safety measures put in place to make sure they make the right decision.”
Students have a pre-flight data card, which students fill out based on weather, sleep and overall mental wellbeing to determine flyability that day. When weather poses a risk, students will make up their hours at a later date.
In addition to professional pilots, becoming an architect has extra costs too. Architecture students could pay $50 to $2,000 per semester for materials, planning and construction.
Omayeli Igbiaye, a junior architecture major, puts extra thought into his models, deciding whether he should save the money for a bigger project.
“You would never see me with a bunch of models on my table,” Igbiaye said. “Not because I don’t want to make it, I don’t have the money to do that.”
Igbiaye works on his computer until he gets to a point where he knows he won’t waste materials or money.
“I’ll take the hit, if it’s in terms of grades and stuff like that, just so I can maneuver my way so I can stay in here and finish the project,” Igbiaye said.
Models do not appear out of thin air; students work to hone their projects, going through multiple reiterations, which creates a higher cost.
“All these materials, right from the first week, you’re buying it, you’re making this stuff,” said Igbiaye. “You’re doing pin ups; you’re making these models.”
The main materials students use these days are basswood, polystyrene and 3D printed filaments, said Igbiaye.
In addition to the studios, students also have access to the FabLAB located in the basement of the Center for Architecture and Environmental Design.
Not everyone wants to wait for a printer or pay the fee in the FabLAB, meaning some students may buy their own, but that means they must supply filament, too, Igbiaye said.
Freeland Southard, the fabrication lab manager, managed to get $3,000 to $5,000 worth of cardboard donations for the college, but it ran down quickly.
The price of materials for architecture students ranges from a few dollars for cardboard or basswood to $86 for things such as foam and metal.
Igbiaye said if you know you want to stay in the major all the way to the end, making strategic decisions becomes necessary. Otherwise, some people will drop, saying, “This is too expensive, I’m dropping.”
Sophia Balough is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].