Grad school or not? If so, which?

[Almaghest]

I don't know if Graphic Design would benefit you at all. My friends in that program (at SCAD) have said it focuses so strictly on static designs that it's almost the opposite of what someone in Motion Graphics would benefit from. I would honestly say film or visual effects classes would benefit you the most. However, you're right; you would probably benefit just as much from having a mentor and working a little harder. If you're just getting out of school, I would say chill out for a year and try to get into the industry. Grad school will always be there later and more people benefit from an MFA after working in their industry for awhile. I'm about to graduate too and I keep considering graduate school because I'm terrified of having to go out an find a real job, but I know taking a year off won't kill me and will allow me to clear my head and make better decisions concerning what I should be doing with the rest of my life.

Another thing to consider is that SCAD's alumni card is only good for 90 days after graduation, so stay and touch up your demo reel while you can.

Also if you do consider SCAD for graduate school, remember that portfolio based scholarships are the same as they were for undergrads - keep submitting until you get the money you need because you can't resubmit later.

[GoldenCamel]

Do not, I repeat, Do NOT waste your money for grad school. You can learn everything they teach you and a lot more by reading a few books and studying films.

you can start by reading On Film Making by Alexander Mckendrick.

[kelvincai]

The fields of CG need grad schools or postgrad educations are only R&D and software engineering. Then, master degrees or even PhD degrees in CS should help you. That is how the softwares and algorithms (REYES, subdiv, SSS, photon map, etc) were created and published in SIGGRAPH and other panels. Weta and many other studios are constantly hiring MSc/PhD graduates to their R&D dept to develop their in-house tools.

If what you seek is to animate or simply create pretty pictures, as in graphics and arts, practices and experience can teach you no any other courses can, once you got the basics of traditional arts.

[Ezurp]

I don't know if Graphic Design would benefit you at all. My friends in that program (at SCAD) have said it focuses so strictly on static designs that it's almost the opposite of what someone in Motion Graphics would benefit from. I would honestly say film or visual effects classes would benefit you the most. However, you're right; you would probably benefit just as much from having a mentor and working a little harder. If you're just getting out of school, I would say chill out for a year and try to get into the industry. Grad school will always be there later and more people benefit from an MFA after working in their industry for awhile. I'm about to graduate too and I keep considering graduate school because I'm terrified of having to go out an find a real job, but I know taking a year off won't kill me and will allow me to clear my head and make better decisions concerning what I should be doing with the rest of my life.

Another thing to consider is that SCAD's alumni card is only good for 90 days after graduation, so stay and touch up your demo reel while you can.

Also if you do consider SCAD for graduate school, remember that portfolio based scholarships are the same as they were for undergrads - keep submitting until you get the money you need because you can't resubmit later.

I agree that visual effects or film would be more in line with the motion graphics thing. Im not really scared about going out and getting a real job, actually I want to. Make my own money, get out from underneath my parents and I don't want to add another 30-50 grand on a loan.

[Ezurp]

Do not, I repeat, Do NOT waste your money for grad school. You can learn everything they teach you and a lot more by reading a few books and studying films.

you can start by reading On Film Making by Alexander Mckendrick.

I agree. I think I heard of that book before and I am thinking about getting it. From my experience at school I noticed that I learned more from the internet and people that I know than I did from professors.

[leptonish]

You could try seeing if schools around your area have a film club in which students get together to work on projects together. Another possible option is a local film society at which you could take low cost classes/workshops.

The book "What They Don't Teach You in Film School" briefly touches on what film school is like. And the book "Setting Up Your Shots" by Jeremy Vineyard gives you common camera shot breakdowns used in movies.

[Dare-o]

I agree. I think I heard of that book before and I am thinking about getting it. From my experience at school I noticed that I learned more from the internet and people that I know than I did from professors.

BUT when you attend school, you get connection which can help you obtain a career, if your sitting in front of your computer at home in the dark learning off tutorials, you dont really meet people. I guess posting on forums can help a little.

your right about learning more from people directly like friends and what not, but professors/teachers help you get going, after that it's all you.

[SanjayChand]

This is my first post on here, but I have been reading some other posts and feel that I could get some advice from people on here. I am currently at SCAD-Atlanta about to get my BFA in Motion Graphics in the summer. I am back and forth on whether I should go to grad school or not. I want to learn film, but I feel that I could buy my own camera, get some books and study on movies instead of spending thousands on school and end up getting that camera anyway. I also think I need some more help on design and was thinking about going for a MA in graphic design. But the same principle applies. I feel as if I was to get a mentor, or just put more time and actually work in the field I would be better off, but most places want you to have the degree. If I was to do film school I was thinking about the Art Institute in Miami. I looked into VFS but financially I can't do it. If I did graphic design I would try to do it at SCAD, but I really don't want to because I don't care for SCAD.

If anybody has any advise on if I should go to grad school or find ways on my own to increase my skills, or have any advice on which schools to try to go to for grad school I would appreciate it.
What do you want to eventually want?
A job in VFX?
To become a director?
A motion graphcis job?

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