Study in The States

[Lazy]

Hey I have two questions I hope you guys could answer.
I am 18 years old now and i am about to study my last year at "Mediegymnasiet" in Sweden, I am studying Graphical Communication which also incorporates art but more in the ways of design.

Next year I graduate and I would like to continue studying in the United States, I would like to attend a school to study "Illustration", I will now specify more how i mean.

I would like to work in the fields of illustration for the entertainment industry, lending my services for use in for example illustration for book/cd covers, concept art for video games and movies, storyboards, character/environmental design.

I know that is a wide perspective but you could sum it up as an "illustrator" that's what i would like to become, i know there is not a special degree in "Concept Art" so that leads me to art schools and perhaps a "illustration" degree.

I work in a mix of traditional and digital, drawing with pencils and I own a wacom tablet for further rendering in "Adobe Photoshop" and "Corel Painter", like many do here on the conceptart forums.

Now the question is, can you guys recommend any good schools that give out a degree in the field of what i want to achieve, i have heard good things about "Academy of Art University San Francisco", "Ringling School of Art and Design" and "CCAD/Columbus College of Art & Design" to give as a example. If you have any good schools to suggest more than these two, please do, the more schools the better, but quality over quantity.

Can you guys help me in my search?
I appreciate any answers.

[Lazy]

I would really like your guys help and opinions, im sorry for bumping but anyone?

[Ryn]

I may be biased since I have my heart set on Ringling (I'm a 17 year old highschool student atm), but it seems like Ringling would be a solid choice for concept art. Certainly not the only choice, but it's a safe bet, given that many people working at Massive Black attended Ringling. It's hellishly expensive, though, and will run you about 120k a year.

Make sure you check out the avaliability of student loans from the Swedish government. I am Canadian, for example, and the Canadian government will only give me loans for certain pre-approved American schools. Unless you're loaded, of course, and don't need loans at all.

Also look into what you will need to legally study in the states and whatnot.

There is plenty of information on these forums for picking the right school for you. Request catalogues of schools you think may be good for you, they can be very helpful. Goodluck!

[PHL]

Art Center in Pasadena, or Academy of Arts. Find schools where you have working concept artists/ illustrators teaching. Make sure your skills are solid before attending.

[Storyboard Dave]

Art Center in Pasadena, or Academy of Arts. Find schools where you have working concept artists/ illustrators teaching. Make sure your skills are solid before attending.

Make sure your skills are capable of competing there. You're there to learn and grow. If you're rock solid and good enough to work in the business, you might not really need a school or college. Just be good enough to get in and then once you're there, soak it all up, grow, mature and work like a madman to improve.

Check out:
http://www.aicad.org/

for other places as well.

[PHL]

True, if youre rock solid you dont need school.
But a good majority of the instructors on the Analog Gnomon Dvds, graduates of Art Center, have had BFAs before attending Art Center, or took some night classes there. They went there with a solid foundation already.

"being good enoughto get in" varies greatly from school to school. Just because you were accepted by a major art school doesnt mean anything.
Schools are great for networking though, and thats one of the good things about them.

[Seedling]

I posted information on the Rhode Island School of Design here:

http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53778

And by the way, illustration is the best thing for you to study if you want to be a concept artist.