Hey All! Looking for school advice.

[paulpratt]

Hello everyone.
I'm new to posting in these forums and I'm hoping to become part of this awesome community.
I'm currently getting ready to enter college for what will hopefully become an art position in the Entertainment or Gaming Industries.
I'm currently living in Wichita, KS. and I have enrolled into school at Wichita State University. I start school in august and I'm in the drawing and painting major with the school and curious if this program could provide a solid foundation for moving onto a better school later or, in the worst case scenario, be a full enough education to finish and move on into life with?
My entire education will be paid for through grants while going to this school.

Here is the link to the program. It's the painting and drawing degree. There is a full class checklist at the bottom of the description.

http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=FA_Painting&p=/index/

Hopefully I've made the right call. Thanks in advance for all your help, folks.

[Storyboard Dave]

It seems as though it COULD provide you with a solid foundation but I don't really see this program doing anything beyond that. What concerns me (from just a cosmetic standpoint so far) is that why don't they provide us access to any of their students' art? What's the competition like? I see a list of instructors, but are they any gateways or templates into what it is you want to do? Are they working in the industry you want to get into or are they just professional instructors?

Sorry but I'm just not one to solely trust a checklist of classes. The titles might be impressive but what's the work required of you and what's the eventual product that will be produced??

While it's great that you can go there without having to pony up one red cent, is it really going to give you the solid platform to launch yourself into the market? Sure a lot of it will depend on your desire and determination, but it's also akin to running a race against the fat kids? Are you really going to be pushed to your hardest to compete here??

[paulpratt]

Well trust me, it's not the fact that I'm wanting to go to school here. My wife is in the military and this is where we are currently stationed. Some of us (namely me) had to make some choices that led to putting college off for a few years. So I want to begin making things right. I don't suspect we'll be here any longer then two more years.
If that is the case i want to make sure that if we move and i can get into a better program will this give me a solid start?
If we don't head out of here by that point what are some of my options? Not many unfortunately.
Would it help to go talk with some of the professors and find out how hard they push?
It's such a confusing time and I'm going through some very serious "career depression" at the moment. I don't want to half ass it. I'm very determined and i want to be the best i can be.

[Storyboard Dave]

Would it be worthwhile for you to look at the ideal school you want to go to and see what classes you can take at Witchita that will transfer over? I'm figuring that after the two year commitment to the area and to the school (darn military at times!), the both of you guys can concentrate on YOUR education.

As far as the professors there, just be proactive and let them know your eventual goals. Maybe they can help start shaping their assignments to your own individual tastes or perhaps getting an independent study. I'm sure professors there will push you hard but I just want to make sure it's in a direction that will do you the most good.

[Elwell]

From what little I can see of the drawing and painting faculty work, I don't think this is a program that will give you the skills for a professional art career. I could be completely mistaken, but they don't provide much evidence otherwise.

[Storyboard Dave]

From what little I can see of the drawing and painting faculty work, I don't think this is a program that will give you the skills for a professional art career. I could be completely mistaken, but they don't provide much evidence otherwise.

Agreed. Now it could just be an extremely boring website or it could be them just trying not to show their weaknesses.

But I'm thinking recruitment wise for an arts program would be chockful of students' works.

[paulpratt]

There is an exhibit with the thesis projects for the Masters students that is running all month long. Would it be wise to go check these projects out and see what type of masters students they are producing?

I agree that they should probably have some sort of sampling of the students work available online, but I honestly think it's because they aren't thinking about it in that way, if that makes sense. But, on the flip side of that, them not "thinking" of that may also show that they aren't very serious about their program.

In this first semester I'm only enrolled in the general studies to get those out of the way first. I will probably continue with as many general studies throughout the first year as possible so that i can have those credits transfered mostly anyway. Hopefully we will move before then into an area where their would be a school more appropriate for getting some intensive study for a professional art career.

Obviously, i can only have my wife put down some possibilities where we would like to go next, but where could i begin doing some research about schools that would offer what I'm looking for? Coastal states are more likely to offer more of these programs then anywhere else I'm sure.

I want to say thanks for all the comments and advice. It is very much appreciated.

[Storyboard Dave]

Hey Paul,

Just to be safe, I'd still look into making sure that you have an eventual school to transfer to before you start taking those general studies classes. While I understand the practicality of taking them I'd still want to be sure that those classes are transferable and what they transfer in as. A 400 level English class there might only count for a 100 level English class or might not even transfer at all depending on the program you're taking now or where you might be headed.

It's best to safe than sorry and why waste the time & money on classes that won't help you towards that eventual goal?

As far as places to go check out, scour the map they offer here at AICAD...
http://www.aicad.org/bymap.htm

There are plenty of highly accredited and acclaimed schools there that might work out for the both of you guys. Again, good luck.