Zetsubun
June 6th, 2010, 04:53 AM
My entire life has pretty much been uprooted in the past couple of days and I need some hard core advice, fast. :[ The long and short of it is that the school I'd planned on transferring to suddenly decided to scrap their animation B.F.A. program last month without telling anyone.
A background may be helpful: Over the past year I've researched, and researched, and researched to find out what it takes to become a good animator and to find out what schools in my state offer programs that could offer me classes along those lines. I know that animation is a hard, glamor-less career to pursue, and I know that it involves much more than just learning the computer programs as some schools may have you believe. That's why I liked this particular school's animation program - it didn't focus solely on the computer aspect but also on the traditional studio foundations that an artist needs in order to animate successfully. It was a healthy mix of traditional processes and digital application, and to me it seemed like a dream come true because none of the other schools in my state (and in my price range) offer a degree program that focuses on more than just the digital aspect of animation.
Moreover this program was in a price range that more closely resembled something feasible, and they also required a portfolio review for entry which encouraged me because to me in was indicative of their caring about more than just money. I scheduled a sit-down appointment with one of the school's department advisers last January and made a trip there to find out more about their program and campus to make sure this was the place for me. After being advised and having them look at my portfolio I decided that thier Animation B.F.A. program was absolutely what I wanted to do hands-down.
I focused my efforts on improving my illustration skills and building my portfolio in preparation to continue my education in animation. During that time I had several email conversations with department advisers and even the animation professor himself to make sure I had all of my prerequisites covered as a Junior transfer student. I submitted my portfolio for them to review back in March ($87 FedEx one way, no less!) and was accepted. For the past six months I've dedicated my life to planning my eventual move to the campus, finishing my last semester of A.A. at my current school, squaring away my financial aid and took out student loans to cover my transfer, scouting out a place to live, and completing all the necessary go-between procedures to facilitate my transfer as a Junior.
Two months away from the beginning of the fall semester and I scrounged together enough change to make a trip to the campus to attend my Transfer Student Orientation this week, which was mandatory in order for me to sign up for classes. (Returning students could begin their Fall registration in April.) Through a series of vague and confusing revelations, I found out yesterday that due to budget cuts the school has quietly eliminate my planned major completely not even a month ago. No public announcements. No notifications. No anything. It's just suddenly mysteriously missing from the college catalog. After all the work I've done, the money I've spent, and time I've wasted diligently trying to transfer myself into it. (And being coached by the department along the way.) Two months before class starts! And I've already put down a deposit on an apartment and blown the rest of my money just getting down there for their orientation!
I virtually broke down on campus and tried to appeal my situation. I believe that this should almost be explicitly illegal, but the school is saying that there's nothing they can do, that this is just the way things are now, and that I either have to switch my major (which would require me to complete more pre req classes and possibly push me over the number of classes financial aid will help me with) or choose another school. They have another animation major that I could switch to, but it involves more of the computer aspect and almost none of the art. In my opinion it really has nothing to do with what I want to learn. I've actually got the heads of the Transfer Services department on my side and trying their best to get the school to reach some sort of compromise with me, but I'm really doubting that anything will get the school to consider me a special case.
So my question to you all is this --what should I do from here on out? I'm lost. Hopelessly lost. This just happened at such the last minute and I have no IDEA what to do. I have to make a decision whether or not to move 400 miles away to a new apartment in 20 days or I lose the deposit on my apartment, but I really don't know what business I'd have if any in that town if I'm not attending that school. Do I just settle for a plain studio Art B.A. and hope to improve my illustration to the point where an animation studio would hire me even without knowledge in computer animation programs? I don't know of any other schools in the state (Florida, by the way) that I can afford that offer a decent animation program. I'd barely even be able to pay for school I was planning on going to even with financial aid and student loans at their max amounts. Do I do nothing? -just stay at home with my mom and stagnate?
I'm stuck, guys. What the hell can I even do to get a leg up now?
Here is my DA Portfolio for everyone's reference: http://sarahmcnulty.daportfolio.com/
And also my spare-time amateur animation show reel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31w0RkWZQp8
A background may be helpful: Over the past year I've researched, and researched, and researched to find out what it takes to become a good animator and to find out what schools in my state offer programs that could offer me classes along those lines. I know that animation is a hard, glamor-less career to pursue, and I know that it involves much more than just learning the computer programs as some schools may have you believe. That's why I liked this particular school's animation program - it didn't focus solely on the computer aspect but also on the traditional studio foundations that an artist needs in order to animate successfully. It was a healthy mix of traditional processes and digital application, and to me it seemed like a dream come true because none of the other schools in my state (and in my price range) offer a degree program that focuses on more than just the digital aspect of animation.
Moreover this program was in a price range that more closely resembled something feasible, and they also required a portfolio review for entry which encouraged me because to me in was indicative of their caring about more than just money. I scheduled a sit-down appointment with one of the school's department advisers last January and made a trip there to find out more about their program and campus to make sure this was the place for me. After being advised and having them look at my portfolio I decided that thier Animation B.F.A. program was absolutely what I wanted to do hands-down.
I focused my efforts on improving my illustration skills and building my portfolio in preparation to continue my education in animation. During that time I had several email conversations with department advisers and even the animation professor himself to make sure I had all of my prerequisites covered as a Junior transfer student. I submitted my portfolio for them to review back in March ($87 FedEx one way, no less!) and was accepted. For the past six months I've dedicated my life to planning my eventual move to the campus, finishing my last semester of A.A. at my current school, squaring away my financial aid and took out student loans to cover my transfer, scouting out a place to live, and completing all the necessary go-between procedures to facilitate my transfer as a Junior.
Two months away from the beginning of the fall semester and I scrounged together enough change to make a trip to the campus to attend my Transfer Student Orientation this week, which was mandatory in order for me to sign up for classes. (Returning students could begin their Fall registration in April.) Through a series of vague and confusing revelations, I found out yesterday that due to budget cuts the school has quietly eliminate my planned major completely not even a month ago. No public announcements. No notifications. No anything. It's just suddenly mysteriously missing from the college catalog. After all the work I've done, the money I've spent, and time I've wasted diligently trying to transfer myself into it. (And being coached by the department along the way.) Two months before class starts! And I've already put down a deposit on an apartment and blown the rest of my money just getting down there for their orientation!
I virtually broke down on campus and tried to appeal my situation. I believe that this should almost be explicitly illegal, but the school is saying that there's nothing they can do, that this is just the way things are now, and that I either have to switch my major (which would require me to complete more pre req classes and possibly push me over the number of classes financial aid will help me with) or choose another school. They have another animation major that I could switch to, but it involves more of the computer aspect and almost none of the art. In my opinion it really has nothing to do with what I want to learn. I've actually got the heads of the Transfer Services department on my side and trying their best to get the school to reach some sort of compromise with me, but I'm really doubting that anything will get the school to consider me a special case.
So my question to you all is this --what should I do from here on out? I'm lost. Hopelessly lost. This just happened at such the last minute and I have no IDEA what to do. I have to make a decision whether or not to move 400 miles away to a new apartment in 20 days or I lose the deposit on my apartment, but I really don't know what business I'd have if any in that town if I'm not attending that school. Do I just settle for a plain studio Art B.A. and hope to improve my illustration to the point where an animation studio would hire me even without knowledge in computer animation programs? I don't know of any other schools in the state (Florida, by the way) that I can afford that offer a decent animation program. I'd barely even be able to pay for school I was planning on going to even with financial aid and student loans at their max amounts. Do I do nothing? -just stay at home with my mom and stagnate?
I'm stuck, guys. What the hell can I even do to get a leg up now?
Here is my DA Portfolio for everyone's reference: http://sarahmcnulty.daportfolio.com/
And also my spare-time amateur animation show reel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31w0RkWZQp8