I’ve never flown a plane before, but I’m serious about starting flight training in the US and becoming a commercial pilot eventually. I want a school that’s structured and will take me from zero experience all the way up. Any advice from people who’ve done this path? Especially interested in options that are international-student friendly.

I was in your shoes not long ago, and ended up going with https://pelicanflightschool.com/ They’ve got a full program that’s literally built to take you from no experience to commercial level, including the CFI step if you want to build hours. It’s in South Florida, so you’re flying year-round, which is a big plus. What really helped me was that they assist with F1 and M1 visas, and they’re used to working with international folks. Prices are transparent too, and they’re running a deal now because of their 40-year anniversary. Definitely worth a look.