Flight Training + Masters Options

[gradpilot]

Hi everyone

Hoping to find some advice here. I have recently begun to look into a career in aviation.

My first instinct was to go to flight school with the goal of becoming an airline pilot (in India). The more I think about it and speak to people (pilots, others in airline management), the more I realise that maybe this isn't the best economic climate to set all my hopes on just being a pilot, because there will be a struggle to get a job afterwards. Airlines are unsteady, there are already lots of unemployed experienced pilots looking for jobs. So, I wanted to broaden my horizon a bit.

A career in aviation is a sure for me - that I've thought about long and hard. I already have an undergrad degree and a few years of work experience (non aviation related though). Although I would love to be a pilot, and I still plan to pursue it, I have been looking into various masters programs in aviation and aerospace. I have found a couple of programs which really stand out and I would like to pursue. I also think it's a good idea to have a masters degree in this field so that my job options are also broader. I'm just not sure how to go about prioritising and planning this now...

Assuming I meet the minimum requirements for both flight training and masters programs, and given the current climate of the airline industry, should I first pursue my degree? Or should I pursue flight school, and once done, pursue the degree if I don't get a job? Or should I do both simultaneously? I would be looking to do both the flight training and the degree in the US.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, and if I need to expand or explain myself with more clarity please let me know!

Thanks in advance!

gradpilot