CG/Animation at Art Inst. schools?

[narmacil]

I was wondering what advice I could get from the professionals working in the field before I sell my soul for student loans. I was looking into the bachelor programs given at several of the Art Institute schools throughout the country. I am looking at the school in philadelphia right now and plan to visit it in a few weeks. I was wondering if anyone has attended these schools or knows of someone who has, and if the education is worth the money spent. I had originally been working in the CAID departments in two large companies for cameras and sunglasses (hint) in western NY. learned unigraphics (large cad package used by gm/boeing/etc) indepth and became proficient in design studio, i then left after about 2 years and went to school taking some art classes and getting the basic stuff out of the way. Its been another two years since then and im looking to try and finalize some sort of degree and get into the computer animation/graphics field either in movies or games. Should I goto a school like the Art institute of Philly? or another private art school. It seems there are more negative posts than positive about life in the field, and relating to colleges that have degrees in these majors. If someone could give me a bit of insight into my next career step id be greatful..

thanks

Brandon

[zaipha]

I would say in general DONT GO to Art Institute schools, but thats just li'l ol disgruntled me. I went to the The Art Institute of Houston, and it wasnt a good school, nor a great experience. Needless to say, after some legal action by over a hunded disgrunted students, they have since improved their program. BUt they didnt deliver many of their abundant recruiting claims, industry standand equiptment, experienced teachers, good cirriculum , etc. etc. For more details on that, email me. I cant comment on ther other branches of the chain, but I'd be very cautious and do my homework. Do check out the school, visit, talk to students, see if they require a portfolio, see what their industry affiliations are, employment assistance, softwares they teach, and above all, see if the teachers do have any true experience in their field.

IMO I personally dont think it speaks really well of a school to have open admission. I started getting the gist of my crappy school when I noticed all my classes predominantly filled with slackers and stoners * not that I'm totally anti stoner*, riding on their parents money. I mean some Computer Animation students were folks I wouldnt have expected to be pursuing a higher educatin at all.

ON the up side, you can always take what you want from an experience, but putting the work into it. It sure would have helped having the guidance of experienced and talented instructors.

OH yeah, and be sure and check out how long the Computer Animatoin program * or program of your interest* has existed. THat should give you some sort of an indication of the quality of the program. I would say newer ones, are grand experiments and the people in charge are still trying to figure out what to fill up a computer animation cirriculum with.

[zaipha]

Oh yeah, one more warning..

Just in case you do go to an AIH chain school, pay close attention to your financial plan. They'll get you to sign a new one, very often, as your finanical aid changes or gets updated quarterly, make sure they dont slip in extra costs that they cant justify. STick to your guns. IF you signed it,and thay claimed it was correct, make them justify all costs to you.

[shashclp]

Why don't you apply to good 4 year art schools? Like Ringling, Pasadena, Cal Arts, RISD, etc. After what this person said, and all of their cheesy commercials why would you want to go to a "school" like that? Work hard and go somewhere with some competition. You'll come out with a portfolio better that any of those lazy Art Institutes.

[cedric-beltrami]

i recently attended one of those art institute schools in california, for computer animation and i had a horrid experience. I immediately dropped out after the first quarter with 3 grand in the hole.

they have administrative issues to resolve in their student loan
department, the teachers are poorly trained.

In reply to:
I was wondering what advice I could get from the professionals working in the field before I sell my soul for student loans. I was looking into the bachelor programs given at several of the Art Institute schools throughout the country. I am looking at the school in philadelphia right now and plan to visit it in a few weeks. I was wondering if anyone has attended these schools or knows of someone who has, and if the education is worth the money spent. I had originally been working in the CAID departments in two large companies for cameras and sunglasses (hint) in western NY. learned unigraphics (large cad package used by gm/boeing/etc) indepth and became proficient in design studio, i then left after about 2 years and went to school taking some art classes and getting the basic stuff out of the way. Its been another two years since then and im looking to try and finalize some sort of degree and get into the computer animation/graphics field either in movies or games. Should I goto a school like the Art institute of Philly? or another private art school. It seems there are more negative posts than positive about life in the field, and relating to colleges that have degrees in these majors. If someone could give me a bit of insight into my next career step id be greatful..

thanks

Brandon

[oroborus]

What I would tell you to look for in a college, if you are like most of us and want gainful employment after graduation. I would first look up as many student festivals as you can and see which schools seem to be fostering the most winning-work. (Last time I checked Cal Arts, Ringling, Sheridan, and Risd took 95% of student festivals I had seen) Then see how the job market in that area is and is predicted to be. Then see what fits your budget and your overall plan in life (if you are lucky enough to have one at this point). Try and find out as much as you can about the school, especially student reactions, because professors and administrators are usually (even if they are talented) oblivious to reality, especially the student experience). Take RIT for instance, if you are extremely interested in 3D and talk to the department they would have you believe its one of the best in the country, when its sorrowfully lacking in just about any conceivable area. The thing is you will get the same schpeal from every school you talk to, so if you can go visit the school during a weekday, find the appropriate computer lab (because if the school has a good one, a sufficient portion of the students should be present, and a weekday should reflect the average use of the lab, which if it is low (like RIT) is a bad sign). Also without a tourguide along (or any professors) ask how the students like the program, ask about what industry connections the school has, and ask what are the students major concerns and complaints with the school. Students (having a more pressing need for employment than staff) will usually have done more research and have better idea of how the school is than the administration.

Overall, I have to say don't trust the literature of a school, find out about real world results. It's a lot of work (especially from the perspective of a high school student) but it really pays off (and I mean literally). If I had asked the students and researched festival, and job market information before I went to RIT, I would most certainly be somewhere else right now.

[benreynolds4]

"The thing is you will get the same schpeal from every school you talk to, so if you can go visit the school during a weekday, find the appropriate computer lab (because if the school has a good one, a sufficient portion of the students should be present, and a weekday should reflect the average use of the lab, which if it is low (like RIT) is a bad sign)."

----Actually, at other schools with excellent equipment and in classses where the teacher knows the subject the labs are often empty becaue the studetnts are all so keen they have bought the now very cheap and affordable home machine.

"Overall, I have to say don't trust the literature of a school, find out about real world results. It's a lot of work (especially from the perspective of a high school student) but it really pays off (and I mean literally). If I had asked the students and researched festival, and job market information before I went to RIT, I would most certainly be somewhere else right now. "

I too am am at RIT now and wish you luck getting the knowledge you need, take advantage of your fellow students knowledge whoever you are.

[daanbanaan]

i went to art inst. of philadelphia. and i have to say that if i were to do it again...i wouldnt. I am acually considering going to get a real degree...even after 6 years exp...dont be like me and spend the money 2x.

---

i am in the land of the lost.

[narmacil]

I have already gone to visit the school, and I know not to believe what the admissions says, its their job to get people in the door. Im 23 and ive worked for some fairly large companies, and have gone to a few colleges. So I have enough experience behind me to cut thru the bull****. As for the houston school, im in houston right now and theres no way in hell id goto it. I already know about that one, and I know theres alot of art institutes that arnt very good. The one in philly seemed to be pretty decent, the students that i met were really into the work, and they seemed to intern with some decent companies. I know alot of it is personal ability, but alot is the schools philosophy and its teachers. Like I said it seemed decent, and I really dont want to drop 100k at a school in cali, because its not only tuition but also living expences. Ive looked into all the other big schools but im swinging this on my own, working a cheezy job at ups and home depot while getting some 2 year degrees out of the way. Im just wondering if its possible to break in from a Art Institute school, like it would be say from Cal Arts or CCAC etc etc. anywho, i dont mind dropping 5k if it doesnt work out, ive droped more befor doing other things. You guys did get me to think tho, i think i'll apply at some of the big ones in cali and if this doesnt work out then I have a door open for this fall. Anywho thanks for the info. I guess my problem is that I cant really get a great feel for the school in one visit, i guess i have to put down the cash for a quarter and just feel it out. as for the admin/financial aid people they all seem to have their act togeather. im just concerned about the quality of education at a AI compaired to a calart. if its going to be that sub par then i might have to rethink it..

brandon

[kuma]

Well I'm currently at the Art Institute of Colorado, in my 1st quarter. Last day is tomorrow WOOHOOOO!!! Anyway... Im going for the bachelor's degree in animation. I personally wouldn't go for anything lower, cause you probably won't get a lot out of it. So far I have no complaints. And it's not one of those schools that are set in getting you out in a few months or a year, and gives you crappy training in 3d studio and that's it. (A lot of people seem to have that impression) My 1st year here is pretty much going to be fundamentals, design, drawing, LOTS of it , painting, the usual. I know not all the schools are exactly the same. Some are REALLY crappy. But everything here seems to be pretty good so far, classes offered, labs, software used, teachers...
But you're doing the right thing w/ checking it out. Maybe go there a few times if possible. And I think you get out whatever you put into your school work. You dont HAVE TO go to a big school to get it, not that it hurts though. If you've got the talent, you'll make it

[peter-starostin--2]

Hey Narmacil. I'm currently at the art institute of Philadelphia. It's my 1st quarter here. It's a 3 year program, bachelors degree.

In general I think the school is not as strong in 3D animation side as I would have liked it to be, but it seems pretty good in other areas.

If you decide to visit Philly school, let me know harmonic01@yahoo.com I'd be glad to meet you and show you around the school. Or if you got any specific questions about the school, let me know.

[palodich]

I'm going to the Art Institutes in Minnesota. I'm a year and a half into the 3 year Media Arts and Animation degree. I think it's safe to say that all Art Institutes schools are not created equal, I can only speak for the MN one.

I think in the past they had some serious problems with their associate degree in computer animation. The problem is they have very open enrollment and quite a bit of the classes are general ed and general art, so the student ended up with very little 3D time. So they just up and dropped the associates and went full out with the bachelor's in Media Arts and Animation. As opposed to cutting out drawing or graphic design classes.

I like that the school builds you up from the ground up. I simply didn't have the traditional art skills to get into a school like MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design), which has strict portfolio requirements. The many traditional art classes reminded me how much I used to love art before high school. And the other classes have shown me that if all else fails, I can make a pretty good graphic designer. I've found the 2D animation classes to be extremely beneficial in understanding the fundamentals of animation in general.

More than anything I appreciate the instructors. True, the admissions people feed you with loads of bullshit, but the most of the instructors are totally frank. There's a particular instructor who teaches the first drawing class, no one every forgets the verbal abuse in his classes. Obviously there's the problem with random people just sort of stumbling into the program not really interested in animation, but they're weeded out by the level 3 3D class, which has a "mid-career review" where ALL of the instructors will evaluate your progress up to that point. If you're not up to snuff you'll be told to get your ass in gear or get out.

A weak spot is the gen ed courses. While the English and Art History classes are great, a lot of the other classes are taught by part time instructors who sometimes aren't very interested and seem only half-there. But then again, I'm not going there for general education.

No matter what you do, you only get what you put in. Yeah, I'm gonna be in student loan hell for the rest of my life, but I consider interacting with the instructors and other students invaluable.

On another note, a fellow student--who hasn't even graduated yet--won an animation festival hosted by Showtime. You can see it by going to alt.sho.com, go to herSho, and watch "Seven's Doll." It's much more representative of current students, rather than the current demo reels, which are still the remaining associate students.

[goesb]

I'm attending Art Inst. of Los Angeles. I'm in my 5 quarter and loving it. Not all A.I.s are created equal. L.A. is a great place, since the school is like 5 minutes away from 100+ special FX houses