Need advice on art school in Canada

[enrigo]

Hi, I am currently a high school student planning to go to NSCAD for next year,
I am very interested in drawing,painting and 2D art. I've been looking for some information here about what course would be ideal for an aspiring concept artist, and mostly I heard people say illustration over fine art.

I look on NSCAD's website about their course and there's no illustration course that I could find, may be I missed it somehow. Anyway would it be a good idea to choose fine art if I'm aiming to become a concept artist?
or is there's some other stuff which I should consider ?

PS. I am very scared of some aspect of art school (like in the comic parody Art School Confidential), the kind of making collage from leaves and stuff to express state of human being and blah blah , you know what I mean.

[Apropos]

Speaking from experience (I went to ACAD in Calgary and have friends at OCAD in Toronto) if your interested in concept art as a profession then taking a Fine Art stream at any school in North America is going to drive you up the wall and through the roof. Don't do it. I wanted a Fine Art degree and still couldn't stand half the mentality in it.

I haven't, obviously, been to every, or even most, of the schools in Canada, but I have friends in a lot, and if you try and do concept art/design in a Fine Art stream your going to face... not hostility per se, but people wont be helpful.

Illustration is a good bet for a program but NSCAD might not be the best place for you in Canada (especially if it doesn't have an Illustration stream, don't go there if you can't take a relevant course). By reputation I hear its a good school, and pretty on par with ACAD and OCAD, but as far as I know OCAD has the best facilities of the three.

You honest best bet is to look into Sheridan if your willing to head away from home for post-sec.

[enrigo]

I guess moving to somewhere else wouldn't be a problem. It's just because my dad was a design student in NSCAD, and he's kind of strongly recommend (half forcing) me to go there. But if I can find some good alternatives and I have some good reasons to tell him then I guess he would let me choose somewhere else.

[Maxine Schacker]

If you are interested in concept art, take a look at the four year diploma program at Max the Mutt Animation School in Toronto. Max the Mutt has an excellent reputation in both the video game and animation industries.

This is a program that includes intense training in traditional representational art skills, as well as courses directly related to concept art. Check the website: www.maxthemutt.com. If you have questions, feel free to contact Van Olson (admissions@maxthemutt.com, or toll free 1-877-486-MUTT ).

Max the Mutt was founded by artists and animators. Our faculty are all skilled, working professionals. Class size is small, and the environment is friendly, but serious and professional. This is a difficult course of study that demands real interest and dedication.