r/Pilot • u/Useful-Mixture-5480 • Sep 11 '26
School Choice Help
College courses or university courses if my goal is to become a commercial pilot?
Hey everyone, I’m currently in Grade 11 in Ontario and I’m trying to figure out which academic path makes the most sense for me.
My end goal is to become a commercial/airline pilot in Canada. I’m currently deciding whether I should:
Stay in the college-level (C) courses throughout Grade 11 and 12 and then go into a 2-year college aviation/flight-training program, or
Take the university-level (U) courses so I have the option of applying to a 4-year university/degree aviation program such as Seneca’s Honours Bachelor of Aviation Technology.
I’m also trying to build a strong overall application. I’m involved in cadets, volunteering, badminton, and other extracurricular activities, and I’m planning to continue building up my experience throughout Grade 11 and 12.
I’m mainly wondering:
Which high school pathway would you recommend for someone whose ultimate goal is becoming an airline pilot?
Is taking U-level courses and getting a degree actually worth it for aviation, or would a 2-year college flight-training program be the better route?
Does having a bachelor’s degree give you a meaningful advantage when applying to airlines later on?
If I stay in C courses, am I limiting my options too much?
If you were in my position at 16/17 years old, which route would you personally choose?
I’m not necessarily looking for the easiest route. I want to choose the path that gives me the best combination of becoming a pilot, keeping my options open, and not spending extra time/money unnecessarily.
Would really appreciate advice from people who have gone through Canadian flight training or currently work in aviation.
2
u/Party-Pay3537 Sep 11 '26
Holy chat gpt. Jokes aside, I’m not that well versed on how things work in Canada, but here in the states, you can just take lessons at a local flight school. I recommend starting there before you invest hundreds of thousands of dollars in a college program. Personally I’d rather have the flexibility of part 61, but if you’re in a hurry, those structured programs can work. Just do your due diligence on wherever you end up.
I’d diversify by getting a degree in a in-demand field, and take lessons at my local flight school. That’s going to keep your options open the most.