This topic really should be a sticky
But, as I always say to this question, my recommendations.
Do you initial training and hour building in gliders, you'll save money and be a bit of a better pilot for it, also as a greenhorn CPL with all their time in a 172/PA28 is a dime a dozen, this sets you apart when getting those first jobs which can be hard to get.
Good place to find schools
http://www.ssa.org/WhereToFlyMap.asp
Get into a flying club and try to do your land add on in a small tailwheel plane, find a free lance CFI who has put food on his table as a working pilot before, ideally find a ATP/gold seal CFI, it doesn't mean everything by any means, but it is a good sign that they take pride in instructing, are at least a little good at it, and probably won't be jumping ship for some regional airline midway through your training.
Don't blow money on expensive stuff you don't need off the bat, you won't be getting a job initially in a multi, so don't bother getting your multi unless you've scouted out some job that'll put a 250 hr pilot at the helm of a multi, you can add this on later after you start making a little money as a greenhorn, find the rift employer and prove yourself and they might even help ya out with it.
Same if you decide to go the CFI route, don't go blowing money on a II or MEI, make some money as a CFI and most flight schools will help/hook you up with the add ons.
FSI isn't bad, I go there for every 6mo for recurrent sim training, they offer a product, not a bad place, but for primary training it's not what I'd want.
The biggest handicap of most greenhorns is debt, the guy who managed to get their CPL in bum**** nowhere for 35k is going to be miles ahead of the embry riddle kid who got the same CPL for 120k, those first jobs are going to not pay much, there have been more people I've seen wash out of aviation after getting their CPL than on their way to getting their CPL, those first couple jobs are going to test you, both in the cockpit and on your present and past decisions and budgeting (what's the cost of living by FSI vs a farming town in a "fly over state", and how bad you want to be in the industry.
Depends on the time of year,you would probably get more flying days in vero beach,unless it’s summer.
Did all my initial training in the north west, the more flying days per year is mostly marketing or CFIs who can't work out side of clear blue and 72, learning to fly in somewhere with dynamic weather will also make you a better pilot, heck when people to send their kids to college they look for the best school bang for the buck, not the college with the easiest to pass classes.
