Wow, what a bizarre thread. I can literally go through this and see my career and the results of my determination to work in this industry. I really wanted it, I went for it, and I did it.
I have been back to Full Sail several times since I graduated, as a guest speaker. What is discouraging to me is their business model - not their program, not their staff, and not the students. They are very clearly a for profit company. The staff does the best it can with what they are given, but I feel like they grow apathetic with the redundancy of their situation. The students are still a mixed breed of those trying to escape real college to do something that looks fun (while their parents foot the bill), and those that are genuinely serious about having a career in the industry. Out of the many students that go there only a few actually make it.
Their business model is extremely profitable and they are expanding and doing very well.
It goes like this: A potential student sees the glamour of the entertainment industry and wants to work in it. This person does some research into different schools for what they want to do. They didn't hear about Full Sail from a TV ad or on the radio, but they might see that ad in the back of the industry mag they picked up, or maybe they ran across it online when googling schools. The website is one of the best designed you'll ever see. It is slick and will draw your interest quickly. The next step is a phone call with a rep, who eventually coarses you into a physical visit. This is where things get tough.
When you first see the school you don't really have any idea what to expect, since it's not a typical campus. Several nice glass buildings and a strip mall of space hide what's inside. They bring you in and the first thing they do is sit you down and explain the details of the program. They really sell you on the 24/7 classroom idea and the philosophy of getting out of school as quickly as possible. Skeptics get all their questions thoroughly answered before moving on.
Next thing you know you're in a small group and being escorted onto a tour. They pretty much floor you with the technology they have. The facilities are clean, painted, designed extremely well, and the equipment is top dollar. It's like being in a candy store and them telling you that you can have whatever you want. Then comes the hard sell.
After the tour most people are already convinced. Some final propoganda with smoke, lights, and a short film featuring successful grads highlights the day. They get you psyched and talk about dreams and being fearless. It's very philisophical and it's a good sell tactic.
At the end, you're given all the details and they send you on your way. It's like a car salesman. They know you're coming back...you already took the test drive, now you have to have it. It works, and people buy into it.
I went through the entire experience alone without having family or anyone in the industry to tell me what I should or shouldn't do. I had no clue about anything other than I knew what it was I wanted to do and I just didn't know how to learn about animation. Many people are at this basic level of knowledge when they enter the school and that's why they are vulnerable.
I've found this to be true at almost every 3D school I've seen. They don't all have the flashy show and the general acceptance policy, but they certainly have many of the same goals financially and they express this in one form or another. Full Sail is probably the largest of any of these schools and has the fastest program so it gets the most attention.
I say fine, let them run it as a profitable private business if they want, just let those of us who see something else get what we want out of it before they take all our money.
I certainly did, and I can say it turned out pretty good for me. Pretty damn good actually.
Best,
Joe
