If you really want to fly, JUST DO IT. There really isn’t that much “holding you back” as you think there is. Your major obstacle will be funding flight training, not your education as long as you have finish that 2 year program you talked about. You can become a regional pilot with only an associates. True, to get on with a major, you will need your 4 year but you can finish that online while flying. (Give yourself something to do on crappy overnights!) That is what I did.

It’s really not a “dangerous” career (quite the opposite) and time away from home varies. I know some regional pilots who are home every night as they fly “day trips”. Even if you go on multi day trips, you still have 11 days off (or just 8 of you go to Mesa) and up to 18 days off per month on the better regional schedules.

Yes, they pay sucks when you start but it DOES get better! Depending on the airline, you could be making $35K your second year. You just have to be willing to suck it up to make your dreams come true. Don’t worry about the first few years at low pay, focus on the last years of your career when you will be making $150K+! The trade off isn’t so bad then, now is it?

Check out my site for some more career facts you should know here- http://www.pilotcareer.info as well as these sites for aspiring airline pilots:

http://www.jetcareers.com

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com

About going for being a pilot, go for it. Get your college degree and start making money. and then go apply for aviation. God has given you the same mind with capability of achieving anything. No one is born smart. Just focus on your studies and get help where you don’t understand something. There is no reason you should feel that you can’t do it or it’s difficult.

Money is not every thing either. I have seen people in BS jobs for years. They hate their jobs. You only get one life. Go get your dreams. Why should you let go off your dream? If pilots make less money…so what. It’s such a respectable job with great benefits. Plus ….leave other reasons behind…you really want to be a pilot…so go become one.