If you had the opportunity to work for a studio or get a BFA in animation what would be more valuable? In the long run what would be the best for your career financially?
School vs Experiance?
leigh
#2
It’s not really going to make a difference financially. People don’t get higher salaries because they have a degree, if that’s what you’re suggesting; look, professional experience is important. However, these days an education may be important too, but for different reasons - with the increasing globalisation of the industry, it’s possible that you may, at times, consider moving abroad to keep steady work. In which case a degree is helpful for visas. Also, an education is never a bad thing to have; I’d say that if you can afford an education, go for it, because you’ve got nothing to lose from it.
NLWebster
#3
Studying for a batchelor of arts in an area you’re interested in is (hopefully) an amazing experience, you get to really explore and muck about, have leading people in your area teach you and crit you, and you find out what specific elements you’re good at/enjoy the most. Saying that, I’m a Scot and the average person doesnt pay tution fees in Scotland, so I would be more cautious at spending those years faffing away enjoying myself if I had to pay £9000 a year like the students in England now.
Go with your heart and dont look back!
LASanchez
#4
If only Education was free here in the States!
I ask the original question not for myself. In fact I am Professor and have been teaching Animation for the past 6 years… I have seen many of my students go on to be successful and am very proud of what many of them have become. I wholeheartedly believe a degree can help make you a better all around.
With that said, I do question the amount of money we can pay for an education in art. In most traditional Universities you take a lot of classes in-order to get your degree, and I think these classes are beneficial, but a lot of time that means you only get limited classes in the specific field you want to go into. This can be great if you don’t know what you want to do. However for those that are determined and driven towards 3D animation is it really worth it? Unfortunately their are not many other options.
I ask the question more to discuss it, rather then to get an answer…
sacboi
#5
Commenting as a past recipient of both tertiary and non-tertiary level education on occasion over the past 30yrs or so, via academic streams inherent too most member states of the British Commonwealth of Nations, this circumstance was in fact to an extent [Gov’t ie: subsidies, loans scholarships] the case up until the abolition in total of University fees in the mid 1970s. However due to significant alternative tuition funding strategies rolled out over time, at present here in Australia a host of mechanisms, lets say, currently exist specific to ones situation when proposing to enrol into an Bachelor level under/post graduate discipline of study, but personally having witnessed firsthand an incrementally increasing groundswell protesting in recent years, over assumed disparity driven by in large, a certain quota of internationally biased full-fee paying applicants, subsequently narrowing already limited available places to highly contested courses, such as Medicine, Law and such like too domestic students, so IMHO not without some facet of controversy either way you look at it.
I wholeheartedly believe a degree can help make you a better all around.
…total agreement in most respects, aside from obvious beneficial outcomes a working artist is inevitably confronted with, in the context of the myriad visa protocols/constraints encountered whilst travelling internationally from studio to studio through out his or her’s career. I might also add, the formal educational environment, well at least in my experience had imbued a sense of in depth relevant knowledge base, a raft of pertinent skillset easily referenced on occasion, that I’d liken to riding a pushbike, once learned never forgotten, in general not wholly embedded through self-taught online avenues per se, although not without saying increasingly leveraged by most creatives’ these days.
With that said, I do question the amount of money we can pay for an education in art.
…if one were to extrapolate on a global scale, especially those institutions residing in the West for example, then yes I’d be inclined too agreeance. This seriously is an personal bug-bear in a manner of speaking with me in respect to the onerous debt incurred by the present generation of students in the main. As I’ve alluded to above having availed myself of subsidised tuition, thereby on course completion mostly ex gratia repayments specific to my financial position form that period in time.
In most traditional Universities you take a lot of classes in-order to get your degree, and I think these classes are beneficial, but a lot of time that means you only get limited classes in the specific field you want to go into.
hmmm…this question respectfully is almost moot when considered against most academic curriculums in place ATM, in other words surely the purview of the University board of governors’ to determine a course of study structure on a case by case basis?, hence invariably culminating in available places per term/semester?.
This can be great if you don’t know what you want to do. However for those that are determined and driven towards 3D animation is it really worth it? Unfortunately their are not many other options.
Anyways there are highly regarded schools providing requisite industry workflows ie: VFS would be IMO an acknowledged candidate on most peoples application for entry list.
Cheers 
revilo3D
#6
I think the key is schooling that emulates a studio environment, while also maintaining an academic learning environment. Let’s face it, a large portion of the industry is tight deadlines, dailes, people, politics and production. Too many schools don’t prepare students for this :shrug:
Saf
#8
Its a personal thing. In hindsight had a done it all again, I may have gone straight into the job market - but i think I would have returned into education to polish off my skills - when I went to University 19 years ago, there were few internships in VFX/animation studios and online delivery was but a whisper. However, I do strongly feel that an education provides something quite special - life long skills and a temperament for learning. Its not just the immediacy of a job after school. Better universities will emulate studio life, best practises and work ethic; however it should never dictate the academic delivery that underpins the more vocational side of the subject. Otherwise its just a training course. Understanding art theory, the moving image, design principles, research methodologies, maths and scripting will give your career longevity and give you the transferable skills to adapt in a very fast moving industry. Graduate trajectory and career progression is normally faster (depending on the course you undertake) than someone who didn’t do a degree, whilst most graduates will earn a better salary over their lifetime - http://www.theguardian.com/education/2013/feb/07/rising-number-postgraduates-social-mobility
Social mobility is also important, as mentioned earlier a degree or Masters will make it a lot more easier to get a job overseas via the Visa application process. This is based on personal experience; and those of my grads.
I’m not for a minute suggesting that all university degrees do this; and sometimes univesity is not for everyone. As I said earlier internships are readily available as are other delivery methods for education. At he same time, you need to remember that a lot of students from around the UK are also applying for those internships - many of whom have a 2 year degree behind them and pretty good showreel. My last point, is a University is more than just studying; think of all the life skills you’ll pick up, the independence, the people you meet, the social aspect and of course the community - which I have to say has yet to be emulated via online delivery (I’ve done a fair few, so I say this from experience).
Cheers