Gnomon vs. Fullsail

[fallencat]

My current palns are to attend Gnomon once I graduate high school. But in everyone's professional or amateur opinion.....Gnomon or Fullsail?

[pitou]

go to college first, then go to gnomon. you will seriously regret not going otherwise...

[jtk77]

agreed...especial in this kind of economy . Go hang out for a while , don;t rush into this industry .
I am very much feeling the pains of never having the colledge experiance and jumping right into life as it is.
but at the time my choices were not great.
In fact , if i win a large sum of money or do a lrge job . I'm gone for a few years to pursue a degree in somthing .

[fallencat]

It makes sence that I should have something to fall back on. But the only thing I'm pretty good at is artistic stuff working on the computer. And I know I can't do 3d stuff for a living. I know that once I wanted to leave, I wouldn't have anything to fall back on. But I dont know what to major in if it isnt Animation...I can't draw, so lets not go down that road again. I've got to be around computers....it's the only thing i'm good at. Little help here would be nice.

[jtk77]

honestly..I WISH I knew programming.
Heck , if not ...major in somthing like art history or decore and design is even better if you;re going for an art carreer after.
OR somthign i wish I did , photography.
and that way you could decorate your pad all cool or take pictures for playboy ( or Jimmy baur haha)
jsut some suggestions

[jtk77]

by the way .
check out what these people do. its based on design foundation , its basacally motion graphics, not 3d in a traditional sense. makes good money and thank god this industry doesn't seem flooded.

www.belief.com
www.attik.com
and a resource site for crazy motion design people
www.designinmotion.com

again , its based on a strong knowlege of color theary and design . I love it personaly. i wish i had a stronger background in fonts and color . Like a full on design degree rather than this crazy AA in FILm and another AA in Science.. haha . One day.

[ottscay]

..........Also, an ability to fall back on a stable IT profession such as being a Network Admin, would be helpful aswell. I personally can't stand it myself....I'd rather do my illustrations, paintings and animation, but I'm very good at Networking and Micromaintenance related tasks...and it pays the bills more than sufficiently (60K).
Just something else to think about....

[fredc]

Spig,
You say you can't draw, but are pretty good at "artistic" stuff on the computer. However, a degree in traditional art, such as graphic design will give you fundamental knowledge, such as color theory, 2D/3D design, figure drawing, History of Art and Architecture and a lot of other areas of study that will be very useful to anyone no matter what medium they work in. You may feel you can't draw, but I went to art school and I can tell you that most students can't draw either. Many art schools have classes in 2D and 3D software, so you might even be able to get a head start.

If you must have a computer major, then try computer science. There is plenty of math, but I've seen a lot of people get a CS degree that are as dumb as dirt. It is not an easy major, but If you dedicate yourself you can do this, and have a great paying job waiting for you when you graduate, or go onto to 3D school and have a very valuable skill that most other's wont.

How about Biology. You will get a good understanding of how the human body works, which can be very useful in this field. This is a BS degree so you can get jobs in other fields just because you have your BS. Chemisty or Physics are other good choices to get a good understanding how the universe works.

There are lots of other choices, but the important thing is, that an education is not just a means to an end, it will help you mature and grow as a person. When you get out you'll be much more disiplined and ready to take on 3D school. Most only get one chance at college. I know you are dying to get into this field, but it will still be their in 4 years, why hurry, you have your whole life ahead. If the market dries up in 4 years, then going to college will be all that much better.

Urp

[mnhan32]

In reply to:
..........Also, an ability to fall back on a stable IT profession such as being a Network Admin, would be helpful aswell. I personally can't stand it myself....I'd rather do my illustrations, paintings and animation, but I'm very good at Networking and Micromaintenance related tasks...and it pays the bills more than sufficiently (60K).
Just something else to think about....

Heh heh I'm glad to see I am not the only one that does that. I sympathise w/ you allllll the way too!

on the topic though definately go get your degree at a real college then go to further training if necessary. As far as staying w/ animation studies there has been many posts in this forum about which schools is better so read those and make up your own mind. Besides the economy still isn't too grand right now so you might as well spend a few years in college when it will be better.

[jtk77]

yea, and if the industry booms in 4 years , you'll be in good shape.
I don;t know about drying up in 4 years..its pretty dry now.

[fallencat]

Thanks for all of the information. I've decided to goto a REAL college...I'll just teach myself Maya on my own time. Just so I can get the bills paid and such. But I sure am glad that NO ONE answered the original question of Gnomon vs. Full sail.....oh well, I got ::more better:: information out of this thread than any before this. Thanks much!!!

[user_deleted]

seriously man , you're going to be much happier in about 5 years when the people getting out of gnome and Full Sail right now are burnt out.
This bizz is ruff man , it 'll be burning a man in ten years.

[mag]

maybe if you don't have any balls.

[pitou]

maybe if you don't have any balls.

Mighty big talk coming from a student. Why dont you come back and talk to us in five years, eh? I think you will find that "balls" aint got dick to do with it. A year or more solid of 12 to 14 hour 6 day weeks kissing some producers butt only to discover your name was struck from the credits and you've been laid off cause there aint a followup project might give you reason to pause. No, it didnt happen to me, but I know plenty that have experienced this - just ask all those guys that got laid off after Titanic...

[mag]

Well, thanks for assumptions regarding my life experience, and my ability to judge this situation, or any other. I am not an advocate of depending solely on this industry as a means to live. Maybe if you want to live poorly, or are the exception to the general rule. As far as having balls, or a dick, or any other sexual organs, in order to make it in the world...well, that really isn't going anywhere, now is it?

I tell you what I do know is a certainty though: It doesn't matter who is better than you out there. If you are willing to outwork them, you will prevail over them.

The rest is to the guy trying to decide what to do, as far as school, or a career, or whatever it is you want to do. From what i've been able to conclude from your 2 posts is this: First, you are not certain about anything in your life right now. Second: You are easily persuaded.

I went through the same thing, and it's not easy. Please don't let negative people discourage you from persuing art and trying to make a living doing it. If it makes you happy, then you have every right to do so. I am really getting sick of people thinking they are all high and mighty, and not encouraging new artists. The economy will rebound, it always does, and there will always be reccessions, and you'll be out of work again. You just have to make the best of it.

I am hesitant to give you my opinion on a 4 year degree, because I don't want you to ponder over it too much, but I would hope it is some encouragement. I feel a 4 year degree is waste of time and money. Why? Unless you are going into a specific field which requires that degree(art doesn't, especially 3d), then you really don't have a need for it. If you want to do art, you need the talent. In the case of digital art, you are going to need a small amount of knowledge(at least compared to being a doctor). If you want to do art, and feel you have the talent, get the most knowledge you can, in the least amount of time. Some people that are doing this never even went to school, they just dedicated their time to it. If you don't think you can get a job without a 4 year degree, making good money, then you will never get a job. Have some faith in yourself.

[fredc]

DC states: "It doesn't matter who is better than you out there. If you are willing to outwork them, you will prevail over them."
I am affriad to inform you that you will probably always be better than some of the other artists out there, and there will always be other artists better than yourself. It is a fact of life. Yes, hard work can make a big difference, but it never hurts to have other options.

We are talking about decisions that effect someone's entire life here. Investing 4 years in a college edjucation means that if "just in case" you don't make it in 3D, you have something to fall back on. There is nothing wrong with choosing a different path than college, but I think it is quite wrong to try and persude others not to go. What are you going to tell this person 5 years from now, if he fails to make it in 3D?. Are you gonna say "We'll, atleast you got balls".

This is a great field. It can be a lot of fun and be very rewarding...but let's all face it- There are only so many good jobs to go around. The majority of the artists in this field are doing assembly line work, or get paid barely enough to live on. The economy getting better is not going to change this- it's a supply and demand problem. So what harm is there if someone wants a little insurance? Good or bad economy, no one can take an edjucation away from you. I personally think it takes the biggest balls to do the right thing, not the easiest.

I have a question for everyone? How many of you who have jobs are still spending your evenings doing 3D on your own time, so you can get a better job? How many don't even have the spare time to try?" It's kind of hard to have a life isn't it?

Just my two cents,
Urp

[zaipha]

I have a question for everyone? How many of you who have jobs are still spending your evenings doing 3D on your own time, so you can get a better job? How many don't even have the spare time to try?" It's kind of hard to have a life isn't it?

Right on Urp. You just asked the real questions.

z

I'm doing the former. And thinking of going back to school for fine arts. Quite a crossroads.

[mag]

My whole arguement was that you don't need a 4 year degree to fall back on. Personally, I do real estate, trade cars, and sell stuff on eBay in my spare time. It takes up about 10-15 hours a week of my time, and I enjoy it. Like I said, that was my OPINION on having a 4 year degree. If you know how to work for yourself, you'll never need it, in my opinion. There's that word again, opinion. Heh Oh, and my "outwork you" theory is true, it's so true. I'll prove it again with 3D. 100+ hour work weeks, classes on the side, no wife and kids. Oh yeah, tell me that's not an advantage? So what if you can you do it in less time...you're more experienced and i'll do it cheaper. Every business is the same. There's supply, and there's demand.

Oh another thing....this is America..if you can't make it here, go somewhere else. Don't complain. Seriously, somebody, somewhere else, has it much worse than you do. They'd kill just to be here. I think about that alot- it gives me motivation to do my best.

[gmask]

My whole arguement was that you don't need a 4 year degree to fall back on.

Depending on what you want to do.. yeah maybe you don't need a 4 year degree. What I find shortsighted in your opinion is your apparent disdain of a college education. Personally I wouldn't trade my time in art school and that degree for anything. The degree itself doesn't do anything for me but the friends I made.. who I'm working with currently 8 years after graduating seems invaluable to me. The experience was worth it .. I had fun in school.

Oh another thing....this is America..if you can't make it here, go somewhere else. Don't complain. Seriously, somebody, somewhere else, has it much worse than you do. They'd kill just to be here. I think about that alot- it gives me motivation to do my best.

Well if what your spouting is that capitalism rules.... then how would you feel about losing your job to a third world country even though you sacrificed everything with the 100+ hour weeks and all?? Oh yeah .. employment doesn't matter to you because you sell real-estate and trade cars.. why do you even bother with computer graphics you've obviously figured out a better way to make money

[j9k-80]

Oh yeah .. employment doesn't matter to you because you sell real-estate and trade cars.. why do you even bother with computer graphics you've obviously figured out a better way to make money

I think u miss the point. yes, 4 year college is a great experience, friends, parties, yada yada yada. But too many people go to school for 4 years just to make more money, not because they have a hunger for learning. What -dc- is saying i think, is that if its just a financial matter, college can be a waste of time. I have a few friends back home who graduated last year or or going to graduate this year with pretty good grades and only one of them has a job related to his major. Heck, every bartender in RI has a bachelor's degree in something. Anyway, to sum it up: If you find something you are passionate about and want to learn as much as u can about it, great, go to college. If you are just looking for some way to earn cash if your dream job doesn't work out then you should think twice about the whole college experience.