Would it be a smart choice to base the college you go to on whether or not it has programs relating to the job you want to have?

short answer is yes.  Going to college with a particular job in mind is a smart idea.  I agree with the previous answer.  You might change your mind, or it might be changed due to unforeseen circumstances.  Work on the practical aspects of learning about the field and selecting your major based on that.  Good luck

Hello Aliyah,

Great question, but a little hard to answer since you did not mention the job that you are hoping to have. You mentioned aviation programs, but aviation covers a lot of area.

A pilot job is mostly based on flying experience, which you can get thru a flight school. Most companies do not require a college degree for pilot positions, just so many hours of flight time. In this case you may want a college that will prepare you for the other duties that you may encounter as a pilot, like customer service or business and accounting decisions. Items that may help you as you advance up the ladder of success, or that you can fall back on in case your health deteriorates and you loose your medical. Yes, pilots have to pass a medical examination every year in order to maintain the ratings.

A mechanics job is based on your Federal Airframe and Powerplant license, or experience with avionics and electronics. Again, you don't really need a college degree to enter the field, but a college degree will make you more marketable and will open doors as you advance into management. Most management positions require a college degree, but do not have to be aviation based.

An aeronautical engineer job is highly based on your education, so an appropriate engineering degree from a specialized college would be helpful in this case.

I live in New York, where I attended Vaughn School of Aeronautics and received my BT degree. This was a good school if you are interested in aircraft maintenance, but I found it to be a little weak in the academic side. In my current position, the A&P license got me here, but I wish I had more accounting and business skills that could help me with the challenges of running a business.

Recently the Governor passed a bill where New York State residents can attend state universities for free. This opens up some huge benefits for you, where you can get a great education and save your money for other things.

Research the position you want and see what the requirements and prerequisites are, then choose a school that will either help you get the job or open doors and options later.

Good luck.

I would suggest attending a college that has the program you are interested in because that will prepare you for the job you really want. In your case, I would look at colleges with aviation programs that also have all the other majors that most colleges offer. Many students change their minds and majors during their college careers so I wouldn't select a school that only has aviation programs but there are many that have aviation programs along with all the other majors offered at most universities. That way you will have the option to change majors without having to change schools.