I need your outside opinions please

[Abailey21]

So I am having a life dilemma of sorts and I'd love to get the opinions from outside my group of friends and family.

Here's the story...

I lost my job in early 2010

I went back to school (never finished college) in the fall of 2010, I've been going since.

I applied to radiography (X-Ray) program this past January, I didn't get in because my GPA was .04 to low, there's a small chance I could get in if enough people don't go or drop, i doubt it'll happen.

I have the option to continue going to a local community college to finish my liberal arts AA, I was thinking of applying to Nuclear Medicine as well as the radiography program for 2013. I'm 5.5 classes away from my Liberal Arts AA.

I also spent just over 5 years in the Army crewing, flying and working on Chinook helicopters and I'm also thinking of applying to the National Aviation Academy to get my Airframe and Power plant license and become an aircraft mechanic locally. I would try either on the local AFB, or Tampa International, or any of the other local 6-7 airports here in Tampa.

I guess I'm just looking for some unbiased opinions from people that don't even know me. Do I keep plugging along for a AA in liberal arts and keep trying to get in a medical program where I could either work with my wife, or she can easily help me find work because she's the supervisor of an outpatient imaging facility. Or do I go back to Aviation where I don't know the job outlook but I loved it when i was playing Army?

I'm just lost trying to make a serious life decision right now and could use a little help from anywhere....

 

[Mysteryemotionz]

Do what you think that will make you happy

Sent from my LG-E739 using Tapatalk

 

[Abailey21]

That's my problem, I have no clue what gonna make me happy lol

 

[vjf915]

If you enjoyed what you did in the Army, go for your airframe license. You can make very decent money doing that.

 

[sohclubkid]

If you enjoyed what you did in the Army, go for your airframe license. You can make very decent money doing that.

this

 

[Abailey21]

I'm headed to NAA in the morning to ask them what the local job outlook is like. Tell them to shoot me straight and no BS. Also talking to a flight school here in town.

Maybe get my pilots license.. maybe...this might be the beer talking lol

 

[JohnS.]

If you enjoyed what you did in the Army, go for your airframe license.

That's what I was going to say... You won't know what you enjoy until you try it. So go for it!

 

[joe7987]

Agreed. If you like flying, go for it.

You said you were .04 GPA too low. This likely is not the reason you didn't get in. Programs typically set a minimum GPA requirement to get in.... but just barely meeting this requirement usually will not get you in. You typically need to far exceed that GPA requirement. Getting rejected from a program is usually a sealed deal. It's unlikely that you'll be able to do enough (in the near future) to make up for what they thought you were lacking, reapply and be admitted. I'm currently a Ph D student, and I've gained a lot of insight into how program admission is conducted, over the last two years.

But if you've found something you like, then you should hold onto it. Too many people end up with jobs they hate.

All that said. I think you should still finish your AA. You are there now. You have the ability to get a degree at this point in your life. This won't always be true, and you may regret it later if you pass up the chance.

 

[Abailey21]

the minimum gpa requirement is like 2.0, I have a 3.57, but the lowest taken int the program is around 3.60.

 

[cgpEJ6]

If you want to do Radiology take a couple extra classes to raise your GPA and reapply. I had to do that when I was in college and even though it sucked at the time, it was well worth it in the long run. It sounds like you have options so just pick something and go for it. If it doesn't end up being what you hoped, go down the list to the next one.

 

[vjf915]

If you just got out of the Army, you should have the G.I. bill going for you right now. The post 9/11 G.I. bill is outstanding, use it.

 

[joe7987]

^^I completely agree with this.

the minimum gpa requirement is like 2.0, I have a 3.57, but the lowest taken int the program is around 3.60.

The lowest taken into the program had extenuating circumstances.. insane extra curriculars, related work experience, high standardized test scores, or something else that made him/her really stand out. Maybe you have those qualifications, maybe you don't. But it's not likely.

 

[vjf915]

Quick synopsis on the post 9/11 G.I. bill. It doesn't expire for 10 years, but you should definitely use it as soon as possible. It will cover tuition, books, and MHA which is monthly housing allowance (similar to BAH for an E5 with dependents at the location of the school you're attending). Tuition coverage is capped at about $18k, but there may be exceptions that can be made depending on school and location. It's great, you should use it.

Side note. The post 9/11 G.I. bill can also be used for other things as well...some of the relevant things it can be used for are flight training and licensing.

 

[Abailey21]

I've been using my gi bill, actually my ten year expiration is his December.

 

[vjf915]

Then squeeze that last semester out of it

 

[Abailey21]

Nice thing is they'll extend me 12 months on the poost 9/11 after my expiration in December.

Talked to NAA this morning, they can start me in late September so I will squeeze the last few months out of my Ch 30 if I went this way.

I still have the same reservation about being an aircraft mechanic as I did in 2002 when i got out of the Army. I don't want to work outside in Florida, it's damn hot out here!

Honestly thats the only thing holding me back right now, which is pathetic lol

 

[Darth_Civic]

go for the flight mechanic thing because you seem to have a better chance and it will support you while you do night school take one class a semester and apply to as many rad tech programs as you can good luck and pray cause God can and will open doors for you

 

[joe7987]

Nice thing is they'll extend me 12 months on the poost 9/11 after my expiration in December.

Talked to NAA this morning, they can start me in late September so I will squeeze the last few months out of my Ch 30 if I went this way.

I still have the same reservation about being an aircraft mechanic as I did in 2002 when i got out of the Army. I don't want to work outside in Florida, it's damn hot out here!

Honestly thats the only thing holding me back right now, which is pathetic lol

It's hot, but you'll get used to it.