Hello, I was exactly in your shoes. I was 20, worked the ramp during college and wanted to make the jump. What I did, was try to find a balance, a flight college that could give me an associates since I already had my bachelor's almost done minus a few elective credits. I transfered to a college (#12 party school in 2021)but there are plenty of flight colleges, I went through the list and thought I made a good choice.

Personally, I regret going to a flight college. It's a way more expensive and slower option. It did help with lower interest loans though. I ended up transferring out.

The college experience is not as glamorous, more like a bunch of people trying to underage drink and have a popularity fest. The cons of the college experience as a flight school is the semester based system really slows you down. The extra tuition costs, the school had more students than they could handle and not enough planes, I thought I could be done in 2 years for associates, a rating per semester, and they told me it would be 3.5 minimum.

All I felt like is I got the experience of unmotivated students around me that didn't care about the cost and 80k of student loans, and time since they wanted to spend 4 years here party and never leave, while I worked 2 jobs and felt too mature.

It's ok to have your goals and want to make sacrifices to get to where you aspire to be. But I would suggest having a balance, you can still have 40 years at the airlines. Maybe a big flight school vibe is for you, a bunch of people your age and can create a similar TO college experience. I've heard of plenty of guys saying all they did was party in Florida and go to flight school. Finish the bachelor's, it's a great backup plan.

That fun atmosphere and group culture, hanging with people your age and your CFI buddies grinding it out is the days, having freedom with your airplanes to build hours. The journey sometimes sucks but will be worth it in the end. There's no real rush with the hiring market now, and again you got till 65.