Colleges that I got accepted to

[anonymouspunk2]

Hey guys... My parents are really crazy for rankings right now, and as of now I'm not too sure about how good a couple of the colleges that I got accepted to, how they rate for film/animation major and how they compare to each other (I have applied as an undergraduate)

I got into these schools with the film/animation major listed above:

CCA- California College of the Arts
LCAD- Laguna College of Art and Design
SVA- School of Visual Arts
UCLA- University of California, Los Angeles

I'm still waiting for SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design), so I'm asking you guys, where would be the best place to get a good edcuation for film/animation?

I thought I was only going to get into SCAD, but I was expecting all the other colleges to pile in...

Some feedback/help would be much appreciated :)

[Storyboard Dave]

Hey guys... My parents are really crazy for rankings right now, and as of now I'm not too sure about how good a couple of the colleges that I got accepted to, how they rate for film/animation major and how they compare to each other (I have applied as an undergraduate)

Some feedback/help would be much appreciated :)

No offense to your parents when it comes to rankings and such but there's currently a movement by a lot of those high ranking schools to boycott such things.

I'd be more concerned about what school fits your individual needs. Who cares if you went to the number one ranked school if it didn't meet your educational needs? It's YOUR needs that need to be fulfilled, not anyone else's.

I would ask each school to see where their immediate grads are working (no percentages please). How does their student work look? Is it impressive or something you think you can handle in a few years? Are the faculty working professional people (not just professional educators) still active in their field? What's the housing like? Do they allow you to have a car on campus? Is there parking? What about an on-campus bookstore? Does it have a job placement program beyond graduation? What about things like an alumni association? what about their equipment and facilities? Are they up-to-date?

These things need to be answered to your satisfaction before you plunk down any tuition money. More importantly I'd suggest you physically go visit each of these campuses and get a feel for the place. Talk to the students there; see how they feel about the place. Try to gauge to see how well you'd fit in that environment.

Again, all of these things are going to be about your experience in school NOT about any rankings. You're the one that has to ultimately attend this place- you should feel comfortable there (and if not, transfer out). What works for one student or a group of students might not be right for you. It's a very individualized thing that you have to determine. School's only going to be four years (ideally) of your life and then from there, it's onward to a career in your chosen field. Make sure you can choose a place that can give you the skills, connections and have people help launch you onto the next plateau. It might seem like a huge decision now, but four years in the span of a lifetime career is nothing.

Good luck with it all and congrats for getting accepted!

[panchosimpson]

Note: this response assumes that you are taking about character animation, not experimental animation, scratching on film, etc

Absolutely listen to Dave, I can say from personal experience that the man is full of useful advice!

I would say don't go to UCLA for undergrad...there's no real animation major only an animation concentration for people doing the film/tv program, only 3 classes that you take when you're an upperclassman. To hell with rankings, I ended up going to USC for animation based on its supposedly good rep (and the huge scholarship they gave me), and the school isn't a good fit for me....you really have to look at what YOU want out of your education. I'm transferring and this time around, you bet I'm looking for a place that meets my needs, and no one elses, you should bear this in mind too. Out of that list, my vote would go to Laguna college (which is one of the places I'm considering transferring to, albeit to the fine arts major). because of the strong figurative emphasis and traditional curriculum.

-Ramon

[Storyboard Dave]

Note: this response assumes that you are taking about character animation, not experimental animation, scratching on film, etc

Absolutely listen to Dave, I can say from personal experience that the man is full of useful advice!

I would say don't go to UCLA for undergrad...there's no real animation major only an animation concentration for people doing the film/tv program, only 3 classes that you take when you're an upperclassman. To hell with rankings, I ended up going to USC for animation based on its supposedly good rep (and the huge scholarship they gave me), and the school isn't a good fit for me....you really have to look at what YOU want out of your education. I'm transferring and this time around, you bet I'm looking for a place that meets my needs, and no one elses, you should bear this in mind too. Out of that list, my vote would go to Laguna college (which is one of the places I'm considering transferring to, albeit to the fine arts major). because of the strong figurative emphasis and traditional curriculum.

-Ramon

Thanks for the props there, Ramon.

Also keep in mind that if for whatever reason your initial choice doesn't pan out, have the courage and the bravery to jump ship. It might even cost you a few credits (chalk it up to experience), a scholarship, and a bit of time- but in the end it'll be worth it. Ramon here did it and I'd like to think that not only is he being mature and responsible enough to take charge for his own education, but he's going to be much much happier with it in the long run.

Choose your path. We're not saying don't diss the parents and their advice, but can they truly speak from a place of knowledge? They want what's best for you too, BUT it's ultimately got to be your decision as to where you'll think you'll do the best.

Again, good luck.

[anonymouspunk2]

Alright Thanks guys!