Good grad programs?

[smaragddrache]

Well, I have been kind of just checking things out around here, trying to get a feel for the atmosphere. But I truly do need some help on this topic.

I am currently a second year student in the art program at UC Santa Cruz (yes I know, not specifically an art academy, and with it seeming like everyone here going/went to specifically art schools, I'm afraid to say it :bashful:) and I really had plans of trying to hone my skills through graduate school, either in illustration or concept art. But I'm not sure where to look for good graduate programs, what I need to start doing to prepare to apply, or if I should just be in an art school now... Any ideas, comments, help in general would be much appreciated.

[Storyboard Dave]

I guess the question always arises as to WHY you want to go to grad school. If you want to teach collegiately, that's fine... but realize just because you have an MFA, you still might be the most qualified instructor.

Personally I'm all for people having REAL experience in the field and then teaching it much later on. Think about the best instructors you have now- more than likely they're the ones that bring their real work experiences to the class room- they're not the guys regurgitating materials culled from academic resources.

So don't think I'm trying to tell you not to get an MFA, but I'd like for you to think about WHY you want one in this field.

[smaragddrache]

Well, actually I thought that it was necessary if I wanted to just get a job in the concept art field. At UCSC, they don't really have any program to deal with hard core computer graphics, so I am getting a strong traditional foundation, but not so much on the technical side. I thought that I would be able to somehow do that in grad school?? I don't really know, but I got the impression that I needed to have more schooling in the computer side of it if I didn't manage to get it through the art program here at UCSC.

[Storyboard Dave]

Well, actually I thought that it was necessary if I wanted to just get a job in the concept art field. At UCSC, they don't really have any program to deal with hard core computer graphics, so I am getting a strong traditional foundation, but not so much on the technical side. I thought that I would be able to somehow do that in grad school?? I don't really know, but I got the impression that I needed to have more schooling in the computer side of it if I didn't manage to get it through the art program here at UCSC.

No degree really needed for this field. I've never been asked once if I was degreed nor do any jobs in this field I know of pay extra because you have an MFA. It all comes down to your portfolio and can you realistically do the job. Again, I'm not knocking anyone for taking in more education but I just hope it's money served towards what you really want.