High School student needs help

[agent-zero]

I am a high school student learning the fine art of 3d in Maya at my local high school. My skills have greatly improved since I started, and I am seriously persuing a career in 3d for either movies or games(Because I love both). I need some general adivice like schools to look at. Tips anyone can give me to persue this would be appreciated

[huric]

I just finished my freshman year at northeastern university in boston as an animation student and i did the whole search last year as a senior. what locations are you looking for? there are a ton of schools out west in california that deal in animation. I know the Savannah School of Art and Design in georgia has an amazing program. Many schools are developing 3d design majors, the program I'm in at NU is only 6 or 7 years old.

[fuzzbaby]

I

[wchamlet]

Top degree schools I've heard of:

Ringling School of Art and Design, Sarasota Florida
Art Center, Pasadena California

Non-degree schools:

Gnomon, Hollywood California
Vancouver Film School, Vancouver Canada

I thought about going back to college to learn 3D, but the price tag of some of the schools put me off of that. You guys seem young though, so if you plan right it might not be as expensive for you. For me, I got bills to pay and I really couldn't afford it. So I've been learning on my own for the past two years.

Don't do what I did though. Don't believe the hype about job placement. They are lying to you. Period. In reality the only way you're going to get a job in this industry is by proving you can do the work. The only way to do that is by showing them your reel. From everything I've learned these past two years, your reel means everything. Degrees on paper come secondary to your reel.

If I had to do it all over again though, I would have liked to go to Ringling or Art Center. Even though their curriculum is incredibly expensive, I know I would have had a much better experience in college than I did.

So do your research way, way in advance. Try and find alumni of the schools and ask them what they think of their education. That's where you'll learn the most about the school.

[visualbleeding]

Savannah College of Art and Design, Academy of Art in San Francisco, Vancouver Film School, NYU, and SVA all have excellent programs. But the other posters are right, the degree means nothing. Its ultimately your reel on which you will be judged.

[mikleing]

Pixar has a list of schools you might find useful:

http://www.pixar.com/companyinfo/jobs/schools.html

If you're coming out of high school, also look carefully to see where you'll get a good college education - Maya training and art courses by themselves aren't really enough to call yourself educated nowdays, and it doesn't always pay to get too specialized too early.

-jeremy

[rival2000]

I'll be a senior this year, and i make all As and Bs, and are in some AP classes... though i plan to go for an associates degree in Animation. I don't have the money to do both a regular 4 year degree and a 2 year degree, nor do i have the patience. What do you suggest? I'm working on a huge project now that will be a movie incorporating all of my skills, do you think i should stay full on track with my Animation or get a more "educated degree" ?

oh, and is Fullsail a good college? i've been considering them for a while now.

[japunto]

I've got a friend who went to Full Sail and really liked it. I also know of a few excellent character TDs who when through that program.
-JP

[jtk77]

Full Sail is what you make of it however, you really must consider the cost

[japunto]

Woah, I just read a post about the cost. You're not kidding!

[daveb]

Full Sail, Avoid it at all costs. Look at other boards. They have a horrible reputation and for a reason. Not only for poor primitive instruction, but for scamming students out of money that they dont deserve. So many other better options. Weigh them out. Being out of High School, I would go to a good art school for a base then check out Gnomon. Full sail will do no more than read manuals to you... Except there tutorials are a bit more cherry coated. While in full sail I was so disappointed with the program I had to order difficult gnomon dvds to challenge myself. Plus you get to keep the Gnomon DVDs and the intructors are legit and have a background.. Check out the background on Full Sail instructors.. Just sharing my personal experience.. You be the judge.. Good luck.

[daveb]

Full Sail, Avoid it at all costs. Look at other boards. They have a horrible reputation and for a reason. Not only for poor primitive instruction, but for scammin student out of money that they dont deserve. So many other better options. Weigh them out. Being out of High School, I would go to a good art school for a base then check out gnomon. Full sail will do no more than read manuals to you... Except there tutorials are a bit more cherry coated. While in full sail I was so disappointed with the program I had to order difficult gnomon dvds to challenge myself. Plus you get to keep the Gnomon DVDs and the intructors are legit and have a background.. Check out the background on Full Sail instructors.. You be the judge.. Good luck.