Overseas VFX Education: 4-year art schools or 1 year programs?

[holdenfx]

Hello there all, I need some advice and help on my education choices coz I cant really seem to decide after reading and researching up around online…I posted at cgtalk,conceptart forums and recently found this amazing site as well..lots of good info down here..but I am still undecisive.

I am looking especially Academy of Art, VFS or SCAD but I don’t know if this big investment (108k fees for SCAD!!!) is justifiable for a career in CG and the 4 years long education compare to VFS 1intense year…is it all worth it after all?! I mean after 4 years, you would still start from a junior position like everyone else, just that the most important thing is the visa grant into US and a degree.

I dont live in the states or UK.. I live in asia…do I really need to go through a 4 year degree? I was thinking going to VFS 1 year & then work over at Vancouver/Canada or maybe try my luck at Europe,UK but I read the vfs threads in cgtalk that even exceptional students have difficulty in getting work due to visa.

I thought of AAU for long since I would like to be living in SF (lots of studios there as well) but their spring show seem to really disappoint me compared to quality like VFS or Gnomon where its definitely better (http://media.academyart.edu/springsh…ann/index.html) & there are posts on CGTalk concerning AAU profitable mentality and lack of teaching quality now. Should I consider elsewhere? UK? Bournemouth, Hertfordshire, Lost Boys & Escape sounds good but escape is a short cert program which I cant get visa and have to go back?). Why it seems that 1 year cert programs have better student quality reels than 4 year programs from what I see (VFS,Gnomon,LostBoys,Escape).

Edit:I didnt put any details about me, I would like to go in either vfx (probably 3d compositing/effects) or environmental modelling. Which one will have better job demands in the coming years? I have a 3-yr dip in multimedia backgrd and working in archviz company now but having no fun and wasting time thinking of where to study. Meanwhile, I am ordering Ron Brinkmann’s Comp book for a good read and intro. Am also thinking of doing a short NUKE term course from FXphd before studying a VFX course.

[tscholton]

There is no one right answer for everyone. I will say that whatever you do I would look for opportunities for practical experience and to start forming relationships with people in the business. This may be via internships sponsored by a school or by locating yourself in an area where there are places you could pick up some experience on your own. This is a people business so getting started as early as possible and making yourself known is very important.

I think you will find fxphd to be a great adjunct to whatever you do. We have designed it to expose you to many people in the business as both professors and classmates via the forums, we give you access to high quality footage for use in creating your demo reel, offer access to software during courses where possible via VPN licenses… and it is priced very attractively. Courses like this terms background fundamentals where we have interviewed a variety of major players in the visual effects business is not something you will find anywhere else. I think fxphd can complement other studies quite well.

I would also seek out recent graduates from institutions you are looking at and see if you can have a conversation about the school and how it prepared them for the work and the world. Also maybe you could try to talk to some recruiters from the larger places about what they are looking for, they would also be a good resource concerning Visa issues as they likely have experience in this area.

Best of luck,

Jeff

[Sofia de Almeida Pereira]

Thanks for the advice Jeff. I did seek out recent graduates from VFS an AAU especially. VFS grads did have a good overall opinion of the school and most got jobs after school or even before finishing them but there were also lots of bad and average students from what they mentioned. Of course its up to the individual’s effort. The vfs cert has problems with even exceptional students getting visa application and have to go back to their country to work since immigrations need a sort of ‘degree’ to process through. While AAU doesnt seem to be impressive in the student works to VFS and most had mixed opinions (good and bad) and I am having some doubts about school even its in a great place SF and lots of studios are there. I cant seem to decide which one to outweight more.. getting a 4 year degree and securing a visa to work or going to a private school with a faster 1 year route but having difficulty to get visa application. I do want to work overseas and some in the vfx field have told me taking a 4 year degree in vfx is a waste of time. Do you have any comments regarding about the degree in VFX at SCAD? That would be much appreciated. Thanks.

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