What do pilots major in?

I'll take engineering and physics. Isabel Murcia Congratulations on your choice of serving your country. I look forward to your accomplishments.

As Ens Ladolcetta said, the degrees held by Naval Aviators varies widely. During my time in flight school, more than once I heard an instructor advising a student that he didn't care what they taught him at (name your civilian flight training), this was the way the Navy wanted him to do it and he was there to learn the Navy way. Although the principles of flight, are the same, there is a huge philosophical difference between civil and military aviation. My advice would be to select a major that interests you and might be oriented more toward your medical inclinations. The great majority of military officer specialties have training programs that assume student ignorance of the specialty and base their selections upon demonstrated academic success in any area, psychological profiles, integrity, desire and the needs of the service.

I’m a helicopter pilot in the Army and don’t have a college degree. Major in whatever you feel like.

Well, I joined the Air Force, after majoring in Astronautical Engineering. I don't think it particularly benefited me to have that degree, but YMMV

The more STEM you have the better, especially if you want to become a test pilot in the long run. However, Army Aviators are from every specialty and education ------ it is not what you major in but how good your grade point average is that really matters. Embry Riddle Aeronautical University is the right choice for college if you want to work in aviation (pilot, engineer, maintenance, and other aeronautical specialties). Good luck!

I'm a 15A and I got my degree in Architecture. My wife is a 15A and she got a degree in Journalism. Your degree doesn't matter. Just your drive and want to be an aviator are the real deciding factors.. You have to do well in school in whatever your area of study is to get high on the OML and your chances of being a MEDEVAC pilot will be greatly increased.

I have a degree in History and minors in English and French. I have in excess of 25,000 hours. At one point in my career I was the leading Technical Officer for an Organization representing pilots from 130 countries. My best friend, a four star had a 1.01 GPA on a three point system. Mine was only slightly better. I have flown actively flying for Forty years. Army Helicopters, airline, DC -3, DC-8, B-727--777. FAA. Instructor at FAA Academy. Now, what was my degree in?

Hey Isabel, I just noticed that you are a female. For some reason I assumed that you were some male senior in High School A total lack of situational awareness on my part. Please edit my previous post by reversing any inappropriate suggestions or trends and apply them in limited practice or theory only. None the less, the general ideas are solid. Welcome to military aviation.

As a Fleet Naval Aviator, Section Leader, Maint. Check Pilot, Dual MOS as an Aviator and an ATC officer, ...THEN....3 yr. tour as a TW-5 Primary and Intermediate Instructor, Stan. Board, Safe for Solo Check Airman, Problem Student Evaluator,Maint. Check Pilot,....THEN..... 3 Army aircraft qual. schools, Aviation Warrant Officer Advanced Course, Aviation Officer Advanced Course, US Army Aviation Safety School 1, rated as both a Rotary Wing and a Fixed Wing Pilot....THEN..... 25 years at United Airlines, 16 of them as a Captain, over 20,000 accident/incident free hours in every part of the Globe.......It is my personal opinion that your major means nothing. Have basic High School math skills, and a mechanical background similar to your basic teen age motor head so you understand systems classes, good hand/eye coordination, and balance, and LEARN TO SWIM. I'm not for sure, but I believe that admission to the Navy Flight School now requires some private time. Get all of that when you can, maybe work the ramp at a FBO close to your school in trade for some seat time. I would not really worry about Embry-Riddle and stuff like that, there no broads. Have a great time in college, scratch for all the private time you can get, screw your brains out, but remain single, watch your health, the guys in Pensacola will freak over a zit on your ass. If you pick a school with a fair amount of action, join the Naval ROTC, if you don't really care about hard PT and hot women join the Air Force ROTC, and don't forget to graduate. Although I am a die hard Marine Aviator at heart, If I could do it all over from the start, I would go Navy, screw them on tight, and get ready for the time of your life.

I've known a couple fighter pilots who majored in music and were commanders of fighter squadrons. It was a shocking revelation for me.