I got one year till college...

[Zac-Donald]

I'm definitely planning on going into the CG industry after college, my HS right now does have a 3D program (that spans 3 years and is currently being taught by a graphics designer (yeah, it doesn't make sense) and we use maya on mac pros, bleh) but any way, I was wondering what colleges you've been to/have heard good things about? Where should I look and what to expect.

I know I need to put together a demo reel to show colleges, I don't have anything remotely thrown together now, but if you want to see where I'm at now... http://zac-donald.deviantart.com/gallery/

(oh and scholarships, but I'm not the best student :whistling:)

Basically I'd like to hear about how you guys got into the 3D field and any insider feedback you might have, especially info on colleges.
Any input would be great appreciated.

[EricTRocks]

Hey Zac,

I attended a county college for 2 years where I got most of my general ed classes out of the way. While doing so I studied 3D in my elective areas. I started with Maya (yeah I know, but it wasn't my choice) and learned that for about a year and a half.

I moved on to Rutgers University in Camden NJ. I had a good solid two years of study there where I learned XSI. It's a small program but will get you well informed of how to use the software. The program pushes the more artistic side of 3D but also allows you to learn the technical side of things as well.

There are many other great schools out there. But I will say this. You'll get out of the program you choose, whatever you put into it. No college program will give you 100% of the knowledge you are going to need when you get out. A lot of the learning is going to have to be done on your own through trial and error and reading the docs. That's how I got to be where I am.

Some colleges / schools to consider:
1. Rutgers University (NJ, USA)
2. Ringling School of Art and Design (Florida, USA)
3. Sheridan College (Oakville Ontario, Canada)
4. SCAD (South Carolina, USA)
5. Gobelins (France)
6. Seneca College (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Hope that helps a bit.

Later,
Eric T.


I'm definitely planning on going into the CG industry after college, my HS right now does have a 3D program (that spans 3 years and is currently being taught by a graphics designer (yeah, it doesn't make sense) and we use maya on mac pros, bleh) but any way, I was wondering what colleges you've been to/have heard good things about? Where should I look and what to expect.

I know I need to put together a demo reel to show colleges, I don't have anything remotely thrown together now, but if you want to see where I'm at now... http://zac-donald.deviantart.com/gallery/

(oh and scholarships, but I'm not the best student :whistling:)

Basically I'd like to hear about how you guys got into the 3D field and any insider feedback you might have, especially info on colleges.
Any input would be great appreciated.

[Jeremy]

Hey Zac,

Just thought I'd throw in some of my own experience - I'm currently a Junior in college and have been working for a small vfx company for almost 4 years now.

I remember in highschool I was always trying to do as much as possible. I went to a large highschool (5200 students) so there was always a club, sports event, etc that needed some sort of flyer or graphic media, etc. It was great for networking and I eventually met a teacher who knew the owner of a vfx/production company here in town. I started there as an intern for my senior year in highschool, and when I graduated they asked me if I wanted a job. I feel your pain though - we were learning 3D Studio Max 2.5 or Lightwave 6. We had the option because the instructors didn't know the software, they handed you the manual and said, "Make something." For me it was pretty difficult; I didn't know 3D at all so I was not only trying to learn the software, but the concepts behind 3D in general as well. Anyway, I digress.

There are tons of good schools out there - I'd say find a few that you think are putting out good work and visit them. You'll know real quick if you like it or not. I don't know how much money is a factor for you but there are always tons of scholarships available, you just have to look for them. For me, the more students the better - I'm always trying to see what other people are doing and learn from them. Like Eric said, alot of your own development is up to you, a lot of thing you will have to learn on your own and find out for yourself. Honestly though, with websites like this, XSIbase, the XSI user list, etc., you'd have to TRY to not learn something. Everyone is so helpful it's pretty difficult to not be learning something new everyday. I'm just a lurker but I always find that whenever I have a question, if I just search back over a month or so it's been asked and answered before.

Good luck with whatever you do, make good grades your last year and you'll have a much better chance of getting better scholarships. Let us know what you end up doing!

[Zac-Donald]

To be honest all I want from college is the oppertunity for a good job, price, I don't know exactly what I can afford, probably about the cost of a state college. I'm kinda hoping for a college near the west coast, but its not set in stone.
Thanks for the input!

[Shine]

Well I attended a similar course taught by poorly experienced tutors. I quit after 1 1/2 years and went straight into the industry. I had a decent enough portfolio at the time and was slightly lucky to get in. Still it never had a negative effect on getting more jobs. The course does give you time and pushes you into creating some work if you look at it from that angle. I would have spent more time drawing and working on traditional art during the time if i'd have approached it differently.

[mattmos]

I'd also say try to find a college that increases your understanding of art fundamentals - drawing, colour theory, sculpting - I did a 3 year fine art and illustration degree and a 1 year computer animation course, and developing my artistic eye in the early days has proven much more useful than I thought when I graduated from the first degree.

[Zac-Donald]

Well I attended a similar course taught by poorly experienced tutors. I quit after 1 1/2 years and went straight into the industry. I had a decent enough portfolio at the time and was slightly lucky to get in. Still it never had a negative effect on getting more jobs. The course does give you time and pushes you into creating some work if you look at it from that angle. I would have spent more time drawing and working on traditional art during the time if i'd have approached it differently.

Same here about the poorly experienced tutors, I've never seen any of her work and she claims to have been a graphic artist, but still a 2D graphic artist teaching 3D? and she expects us to stay after school for this class "cause its what you want to do."

I'd also say try to find a college that increases your understanding of art fundamentals - drawing, colour theory, sculpting - I did a 3 year fine art and illustration degree and a 1 year computer animation course, and developing my artistic eye in the early days has proven much more useful than I thought when I graduated from the first degree.

I'll definitely keep that in mind, I've taken art courses almost every year since jr high.

[Zac-Donald]

Okay I kinda am stuck in a weird place right now for courses next year, I can

A. Take a course at the community college instructed by a person that actually has exprience in 3D (was in the field), but not get a high school "ecomm endorsement" that my school gives out.

Or

B. Stay at the HS, get taught by a ex-graphic artist that has very little exprience in 3D, that believes that her class should be out main priority in life, and get the endorsement.

Previously the instructer at the community college was a instructor at my highschool until he left a year before I started ecom, and his spot wasn't really filled (the school kinda was like "you know a bit about 3D you can teach this course"), people that had the guy with 3D exprience as a teacher could do the course at the community college and get credit, but this is the first year that my school wont do that anymore, (to be honest the teacher at my high school really annoys me, and pretty much the rest of the class).

I'd rather get taught the right way the first time, but I don't know how much merit the school endorsement has, the teacher and the counsolers make it seem like a big deal but I'm thinking otherwise...

[RawMeat3000]

The teachers only want you to stay because it's their job to want you to stay. The school gets money by you just being there, and probably some sort of bonus, merit or monetary, from the endorsement. I doubt that some high school certificate would look better than actually going to college to study the subject you want to specialize in from an experienced teacher, all before you even graduate.

At least that's what I would think if I were interviewing you for acceptance into my college. But I'm not, and I don't own any colleges, and I may not know what I'm talking about.