Hello all, I am a Student of 3D. My Q is for the professionals out there. What would be better a degree or a certificate? At my School they offer both. I have to take the same amount of courses, but with a certificate I don’t have to take math, English, or any of that stuff. I can take more art and computer classes to possibly create a better and more broad portfolio. But when it comes down to it. I’ll want a nice job after school. So what would look better to a 3d animation houses, a BFA or a certificate?
thanx
Wes
P.S. The Placement of the American Flag is Awesome on this site!!!
go with the degree, no doubt.
Certificates can be very easy to get. You can go to an AW class for a week and get a Maya certificate.
Degrees usually mean you invested a significant number of years of your life to this process of learning. Degrees show that you can achieve your goal no matter how hard and how long you have to work for it.
Plus, it’s good to have a well rounded education, while focusing in on your specialty at the same time.
I realize your certificate would take a long term comitment as well, but you probably dont want to have to explain this all the time to prospective employers.
I’m sure many will disagree with me, but dont listen to them 
have fun,
Gustavo
what Gustavo said… most definitely!!!
__________________
hmmm…
http://“http://www.3dluvr.com/blender”][image]http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~pavel/blendy.jpg[/image
Don’t forget that without an impressive demo reel, your degree will mean close to nothing when looking for employment.
don’t forget, that a good demoreel is the reason you go to get an animation or some such degree… so, generally speaking degree=demoreel
at least that’s why I went to get an animation degree
my .02c
__________________
hmmm…
http://“http://www.3dluvr.com/blender”][image]http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~pavel/blendy.jpg[/image
that’s a bit oversimplified. A “good” demo reel doesn’t automatically come with the degree. Read this thread and get some information from some folks who have some experience and opinions on how “useful” attending schools are toward the goal of attaining employment in 3dcg and more.
http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&group=comp.graphics.apps.lightwave&selm=3BAA30D8.6F7D813A%40rowsby.comhttp://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&grou…3A%40rowsby.com
i definitely have to agree with you..
as a matter of fact, my university doesn’t even have a 3d program… I had to declare my own damn major…
so it really all depends on how much you want it… you go to university to learn a lot of things, but if you are not willing to put in the time on your own “without people looking over your shoulder”, then yes… degree =/= demoreel
__________________
hmmm…
http://“http://www.3dluvr.com/blender”][image]http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~pavel/blendy.jpg[/image
u declared u’re own major? how is that goin? cause that’s
kind of my prob right now… i want a bachelor’s but my univ
doesn’t offer 3d. there’s a junior college not far from me
that offers 3d, but they only offer associate’s program.
so i was thinkin of combinin education from both schools
n juss declare my own major. but i never knew u could
do that tho…
so lemme kno how u’re situation is goin so i could make
a better decision whether to stay in my univ n declare my
own major, or go out of state to get a degree in this field…
it all depends really.. you can learn to be a good artist without going to the Academy of Art, or some such school… it’s all about what you wanna do..
I go to a state school in California, and I declared a special major in CG and Animation, because my school doesn’t offer any 3D majors… However, we do have a little 3D following here, and people have been doing exactly what I am doing for a few years now. I am graduating this December, and definitely looking forward to it.
I compiled my major our of a bunch of Computer Science(cause I started as a CSCI major) and a lot of Art… drawing, sculpture, color theory, art history .. etc.. and pretty much learned 3D on my own..
It’s up to you to decide really… if you feel that you can go to a smaller school with no 3D program, and apply yourself like CRAZY - then do it… you learn most of the stuff on your own anyway.
hope this helps..
Peace!
__________________
hmmm…
http://“http://www.3dluvr.com/blender”][image]http://www.ecst.csuchico.edu/~pavel/blendy.jpg[/image
Thanx Everyone