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#9582

I just got my acceptance email yesterday for the Winter Term. I’m in the same boat…money, money, money.

#9583

Yeah I’ve went to every local credit union (About 5 here in this small/medium town) and every last one of them turned their nose up at me and treated me like I was a piece of crap after I told them how much I needed.

Why doesn’t the government fund this school? They’re stupid not to… We’re the ones who will come out of this school to make animation that they watch and makes THEM laugh…lol The least they could do is support our school and give the students some funding federally haha.

So now this is where I shoot Victoria an e-mail and tell her to defer my enrollment until the summer so I can save up to pay out of pocket which is going to be really hard. I can’t actually afford to do it out of pocket, even if I save up… Eventually I will run dry. :frowning:

#9584

Hi, Dren. Sorry to hear about your financial problems with getting into school. My situation is a bit different but we’re not entirely in different boats. Can you pay for the springboard class and take that while you save up for the spring term maybe? I’m filing bankruptcy so can’t get the loan myself, but I earn pretty good money now that I’m working again. I can’t get anyone to do the loan for me that will qualify but if I can pay for the first two classes out of pocket, the amount of money you earn that would qualify you for the loan for the remainder of the terms goes WAY down. It will make it much easier to qualify. For example, right now you need to earn about 2.5 times the loan amount. 18,000 x 2.5 = 45,000. If you pay cash for the first two classes and work while attending school to keep funding those classes, well now the loan you need to finish the remaining 4 terms is 12,000. 12,000 x 2.5 = 30,000. So I say take the springboard so you get in the door at AM and work full time during the springboard and through the first two classes. That takes you through about 9 months and at $6,500 for the springboard and two classes that’s $722 a month or $180 a week you need to earn working. Don’t look at it like $18,000. Take it in smaller bites and it’s easier to swallow.

#9585

The problem is I don’t make enough to even pay for the first two classes or the springboard. I would have to save up for the first two terms to even begin to think about paying for the first job. I’m not paid very well – it’s not much, trust me!

#9586

I’d say your best bet then is to look into a more traditional school and get a regular student loan that may be more flexible in it’s underwriting and approval terms. I know everyone wants to get right to the bread and butter and not take all the classes they feel they don’t need, but trust me, there’s alot more to college than just the classes. It helps you grow as a person in ways you will need when in the workplace. It shows employers you have what it takes to learn and “stick with it”. Most of what you learn in college, even in your major, is not going to prepare you for work…everyone gets retrained. I trained as an accountant and my first accounting job took us all into a 3 week training course where we learned again from scratch the way that company wanted it done. But again, the 4 year education told that employer something about me and got my foot in the door. I understand accounting is not animation, but the long term benefits to having that degree under your belt can’t be underestimated. I’m at a position in my life where I can pay for the classes, but I’m 38. 20 years from now you’ll be in a different position in your life too…heck 5 years from now you’ll be better off most likely. Sometimes the shortest path isn’t always open to us. Another thing to consider…animation is what you want to do right NOW. I started in accounting, moved to marketing, then to banking, now to animation…but that 4 year degree helps me move around more freely. Good luck with your choices, and remember, they are choices…not dead ends.

#9587

dren: I’m sorry that the bankers don’t like you :frowning: it sucks to have a dream squashed due to money problems. All I can suggest is that you save up for the course and maybe attend in a few years. I know this might seem a long time now but 3 years in the grand schema of things is not that much time. Remember to practice and learn new skills all the time, keep your goal in focus and make sure that you stay committed.

Rant[
Try and get a job that’s got something to do with the CG industry if possible! although you don’t need too. Whats most important is that you gain life experiences and don’t just stagnate while you wait. You may find that in the long run the skills you learn while saving will put you in a better position when you do the course.

After leaving school I found that one of the skills that I learned very quickly was how to manage my time. I used to only manage a few hours learning CG a week between classes and leisure. But after doing one job “that sucked” for a few months and not making any time to learn CG I realized you have to MAKE TIME. Now I manage about 3 hours a day on top of working full time at a CG Studio “TV is your Enemy”.
]Rant End

Anyways best of luck in what ever you do!

#9588

Hey Robert,

Hows it going so far?

#9589

Who’s attending the Coffee meeting tonight?

#9590

I’ll be there. So i’ll see you later then!

#9591

DigiBob: See you later! and look forward to learning along side you!

#9592

I got my funding for the Winter!!!:bounce::bounce::applause:

#9593

What coffee meeting?

#9594

well im not gonna b at the coffee meeting…what about the webinar?? anyone gonna be there tonight?? :]

#9595

yay congrats! must feel great to not have to worry bout that

#9596

Thanks pstrick! It does feel great! :cool: Can’t wait to start. I’ll be starting the Maya Workshop in Jan then ill move on to the 18 month course.

#9597

That’s great, DreamThinkLive! :beer:

I’ve got everything taken care of and underway, in fact just on Friday I was e-mailed that the AM enrollment agreement for winter 2010 that I signed has now been signed by the admissions department and filed.

What’s next? When do I expect to get an Orientation e-mail? How should I use this time to prepare?

#9598

Important Info from the Coffee Talk.

Payment of first class. Due: Nov 27 “make time for thanks giving holidays”
Sign enrollment agreement. Due: Nov 27 “make time for thanks giving holidays”
Send ANY ONE proof of education. Due: Nov 27 [i]“make time for thanks giving holidays”

[/i]From what I gathered Orientation is from the 9th to the 18th of December. At this time we will get access to the site and get our student ID. There will be video instruction on how to get the Student version of Maya $400.00. As well as what reading materials to buy and what preparations are required in order to start the course in January.

From Dec 19th to 4Jan the school will be closed for the holidays and it will NOT open until the 4th of Jan so it is important to get Maya before the 18th Dec. After the 4th Jan classes start and we are on our way to becoming Pro animators :D.

This is my understanding, but it might not be correct! if you have any questions I would talk to someone in the know at AM!

As for preparations at this point, we were instructed to get our houses in order and relax watching films/games taking notes and to start thinking like an animator! If we have everything else sorted!

#9599

Thanks! I have not sent in my payment as yet. But im going to handle that today. So im guessing ill get that Orientation email after you.

But im curious, Do i get an orientation email even though im just going to be starting the Springboard in Jan?

#9600

I just spoke to someone at Animation Mentor and I was told that I have everything sorted :D. And am ready to start in the new year!

And that I “I assume all who starting Winter10 as well” would receive an orientation E-mail on the 9th of December.

I don’t know what is happening if you are taking the springboard, why don’t you ask AM?

#9601

No No, its no biggie. i was just curious. I will be speaking to Victoria like tomorrow so if anything i can ask her then. But i was just curious. Im sure i would get it if i needed it. So imj good:) Thanks for the advice though!