is Academy of Arts a good school to go to

#1621

Thanks alot again, price range was what i was expecting. Ill check out those areas

#1622

HA!

theyā€™re more than twice as much as market value. I read an article in the paper a few years ago that said that they were 3 times market value.

#1623

Well Yeah!! I also read that articleā€¦ When you compare to apartments, which are usually 800 dollars and upā€¦ for studioā€¦ Dorms are considerably cheaper when you compare to that eventhough you are going to get less space and not your own bathroomā€¦ itā€™s pretty acceptable considering San Francisco.

#1624

ā€“ā€¦

#1625

Iā€™m planning to apply to AAU for MFA in Visual Effects. Iā€™m currently working as a lighting artist in india and would like to improve on my skills. I would like to focus on programming,scripts, shaders , sort of more technical aspects. Would any of the current students recommend AAU for the same?

thanks.

#1626

Iā€™m an MFA student, who has decided to focus on being a TD, but was also trained in compositing. Unfortunately, the school does not offer many options for programming.
They have a decent Intro class for Renderman, but its hard to advance from thereā€¦ Perhaps you could find a tutor for your directed studies, after your first year. They could also hire new faculty.

#1627

For those students that are currently at the school and wish for certain classes to be opened up, remember that the directors are your friends.

When I was getting to my tail end at the AAU, there was no renderman class, and I remember that it was a student potition that got the class started.

If enough students want to take a class in something, then the school is more then happy to ramp up for those classes. Or at the very least, start a ā€œSpecial topicā€ class. Remember this is how the school moves forward, and how both the Renderman, and the Z-brush classes got started before they became a standard in the list of classes.

So if ANY students are ever not satisfied with the lack of certain classes, form up a group, talk to Chris Armstrong, and get a potition going to get the classes on the books.

#1628

Hey for those in quebec, Iā€™v been studying at CĆ©gep du Vieux MontrĆ©al. Usually cegeps are understimated for these kinds of things, but iā€™v done 3 years of 2D animation plus 2 years of 3D, and it really is worth it. Itā€™s a lot less expensive than private schools and the results we had are really really nice for a cegep. We did during 1 year long, a little short of about 45 seconds, and they are all really nice.

#1629

Iā€™m leaning towards the academy of art right now is because I took part in their summer art experience and I loved it. the problem is, I want to go for their modeling BFA, and the classes that I didnĀ’t like at the summer art experience were 3d modeling and video gaming(basically another 3d modeling class), because I didnĀ’t feel like I learned anything. I know the summer art experience is probably nothing like going for real and it depends on the teacher but it just scared me a little. Also I havenĀ’t heard anything about how good they are at modeling, IĀ’ve only heard about their animation. I was wondering if anyone here has gone through the modeling BFA that can give me some info on it and how they liked it?

People are saying that itĀ’s a good idea to get liberal arts credits out of the way before you apply. Would an AA most likely cover that?

#1630

Hello NIVaG,

I am going for my Masters in modeling but what I have seen of the undergrad work it is very good. Actually my roommate is an undergrad and he says he is learning a lot from what he is doing. I have never done the art experience so I donĀ’t know how the classes are set up. I would guess that it would only be a broad overview of the software. What I do know is along with classes they have what are called workshops where they focus a little more on certain topics and in the library you can chk out a bunch of tutorial dvd to further study. In my opinion no matter what school you go to you are going to need to do some extra work on your own to get really good. The academy is the only school that I have seen that gives you access to materials for further learning on your own for free.

#1631

I didnā€™t know you could check out dvds from the library. Thatā€™s great!

#1632

Well, i am going to the thing on march 8th.

I have a list of questions:

Does anyone know if they tradition animation along with 3d animation?

Ill repost if i enroll.

#1633

I enrolled in. I will be attending either summer (if i get the grant) or fall. I hope to see you there. Oh, and does anyone know if i should bring a laptop? Any advice before i go?

#1634

They do tradition, even expirimental. Do you need a laptop? Depends, is it your only computer or do you have a desktop? You wonā€™t be using a laptop to take notes in class if thatā€™s what youā€™re wondering.

#1635

I do have a desktop. But i dont feel like packing it and bringing it all the way to san francisco with me. Oh, and what about parties or any fun activities to do there? Because, i didnt really dig there ā€œgaming roomā€ when i own a ps3. They own a old xbox, ps2 and n64. yawns boringā€¦

#1636

I couldnā€™t live without my Desktopā€¦ but I also didnā€™t have a laptop. A computer in my opinion is essential (Iā€™m a Visual FX/ Animation graduate). For me the idea of a laptop is more appealing in a city like San Francisco where there is a lot of wireless hotspots, besides everybody else has one and I kinda feel left out. Be very aware that San Francisco is a pretty BIG city and theft of computer laptops is pretty high (even on campus/dorms).

For fun the city has a little bit of everything, so youā€™re probably covered. Thereā€™s clubs and restraunts and parks and museums and shopping andā€¦ well lots of stuff. I was kinda shy moving here so I didnā€™t venture too far from the dorms, but donā€™t worry the Academy has got you covered there too because they organize ā€œfield tripsā€ to places like Berkley, ice-skating, go-cart racing, paintball, snowboarding, and the local movies. Most everything cost money though and everything is relatively more expensive here too. I found that my first semester I did all the activities organized by my dorm and some of the big ones from the Academy, but after that it was more about hanging out with some close classmates and doing homeworkā€¦ I should have spent more time on homework :frowning:

#1637

Ah, ok. Yeah, if i brought my alienware laptop, and it got stolen by a room mate or someone on campus does the campus have a way of getting it back or do i loose 5k? :expressionless: and it sounds like fun. Plus since ive never been to san francisco except this one time to check out this school. Ill probly explore alot more, like alchatraz and stuff.

#1638

Just be aware of your surrondings and donā€™t leave your stuff laying around. I doubt your laptop would get stolen out of your dorm room, but I know several have disapeared in the Library. Iā€™m pretty sure you would be out the 5k if anything happened. Iā€™d still reccommend bringing a computer that you can get school work done on. Oh, and Alcatraz cost $25 to visit.

#1639

Yeah, thats the only place i would have it is in my dorm. Unless i was going to go to a lan party, or something like thatā€¦

#1640

I graduated from the Academy back in 2003 with a MFA in Computer animation.
Lap tops are great to have, but you donā€™t need one. If youā€™re a computer arts major, bring your desk top. I guarantee your ass is gonna be sitting in front of that computer for 3-4 years, 8-12 hours a day, so you might as well make it comfortable:)

my 2 cents.