is Academy of Arts a good school to go to

#1681

Yeah, I’ve been thinking a lot about AAU over the past couple years too but I don’t want to limit myself too much. I want to do animation/vfx and lighting. It seems like a good program but I kinda wish they would let you know what percentage of the portfolio grant you’re eligible for before you enroll.

#1682

Sadly, I have to say Pixar class was actually one of the main reason why I chose to study at AAU. :frowning: I hesitated the other schools, but I chose AAU since I thought of getting closer to the industry people who are in the area after all. I just so happen to reach the stage where I can apply for the class, then having it canceled out of sudden did came like a slap in the face. So Jeremy is right about choosing a school based on part time instructors, don’t count on it that much.

I can see that how the animation classes in AAU are actually formed and build up by the Pixar guys, providing the ready rigs and all where most of the other animation classes followed the suite as well. So I am still thankful for the Pixar guys although I didnt’ have the chance to get into their class… :slight_smile:

Still, for those who are wondering about enrolling into the University, I can’t say for sure how the future will be like for the school, I did heard that there are a lot of great instructors leaving the school, I’m not sure of the details however, so if any other current students could clarify this that would be great!

However, the Directors for the Animation Department are REALLY great and fun people, they are very helpful and honestly some of the best people I ever came across with. The directors teaches some class as well and I highly recommend them. If anything that makes the school’s program still great it’s the directors.

#1683

the thing about instructors from the industry is that many of them know that in order to stay relivent, they need to learn the new tools and everything.

This is just a reality of the industry. When I left the school, many of the instructors left with me. But then again, when I left, I probably knew more about Normal Mapping then any of the teachers did because they where full time teachers that had been teaching since before the days when Z-brush was actually relivent to the industry (Which is NOT that long.)

So on the side of many of the teachers, its tough on them because they have to stay relivent to what else is going on out there. But I know now since working in the industry, that when you have a family, and a job that demands long hours, educating yourself on new things is difficult, and I know at the VERY least one or two teachers who left the school because they felt like they had to “catch up” to the technology to stay relivent as an artist. And I can say from experiance, that there is no better teacher then “on the job training” in the actual industry.

So I wouldn’t worry too much about teachers leaving. It sucks that the Academy doesn’t do a better job of giving teachers incentives to stay abord, but on the flip side, it opens up the oppertunity for many teachers to come abord with a fresh skill set that is more relivent to what many might be now looking for in the industry.

#1684

I been hearing a lot about the animation major but how are the other majors compared to animation? Theres Modelling,Games,VFX and Layout Compositing.

#1685

Mind if I but-in and ask a couple of questions?
Does the AAU still offer a “Pixar class”? And do employees from the studio still teach there?
And how does the school compare with Calarts?

#1686

The Pixar class was actually called off this semester, its future at the academy is uncertain. This is what I hear from people going there at least, there might be some update I don’t know about.

#1687

Thanks for the info :slight_smile:

#1688

I’m going to AAU Fall '09. It will be a big change in life for me to move to America, but I’m looking forward to it of course. I’m currently looking for a studio apartment, but I’ll probably just get a bed in of the dorms.

I’m very interested in 3D. And because I’m going to live there for atleast 4 years, it would be nice to know how it is to live there. I have some questions (might be weird, sorry) regarding the social part of being a student in SF… Would be nice if someone could help me.

How’s the party-life? Are there any dedicated night clubs for students? Are there any AAU-parties? If you get a boyfriend/girlfriend, I suppose you need to find a hotel to make love since it would be ‘illegal’ and not very smart to do it together with the 2-4 persons you share your room with at the dorms.

Really sorry for those questions, but I couldn’t find any information on it and I don’t know what is normal for a student in US of A. =)

#1689

It’s weird,

I mean, not your questions… It’s very good for someone who passed the financial problems behind… I wish I could have a chance to leave financial problems behind. At least, paying the school tuition.

After that, I won’t have any problems with girls :slight_smile:

Take care in SF ! Good Luck…

#1690

How’s the party-life?

While I was a student I didn’t really party. There are a couple of parties during the year put on by the Academy, most notably is the “Boat Party” where they have live music and alcohol I believe. I haven’t really heard of any student specific clubs/parties, the Academy does not have fraternities or Sororities and should not be considered a “party” school. San Francisco on the other hand, is a Party City though. The night life is quite happening for those who are over 21. If your younger you might have a harder time getting into clubs.

I haven’t heard of anybody having to find a hotel to be intimate with their boyfriend/girlfriend. I guess that might be a little more common in the underage dorms than the 21+ Apartments, but I know plenty of people that were “getting it on” while their roommates were out of the room. There were plenty of times when people would have co-ed pajama parties and wouldn’t really get in any trouble.

If your coming to the Academy of Art University, I should think that these social agendas should be low on your priorities. One regret I have is not spending more time on my studies while I was a student. I encourage all student to get involved with the clubs and take advantage of the Academy sponsored events, you do need to balance your social life.

#1691

Thanks for sharing your experience with me. Really.

Now I just need to get a health insurance before I can apply for the dorms., and then I’m ready to go. Did you live at one of the dorms? If so, wich one?

#1692

You looking to get laid or to learn? Awful costly either way.

#1693

I lived in the 1080 Bush Apartments for 2 years. Lot’s of fun. Met lots of friends (2 girlfriends too!) and some that I’m still in contact with after having graduated.

I think you can get health insurance from the school if you need it. I can’t remember how much it cost though.

#1694

Whoa, thanks for telling me all this. I would love to live together with Americans (think it would benefit my English aswell).

Do you know anything about the Bluxome Apartments (they’re quite new)?

#1695

From reading this thread, the dorms seem like a bad choice. Anyone know an estimated cost for rooms for rent near to aau or transportation to aau? I wonder, is it cheaper/better then the dorms? Because I hear you cant have parties or alcohol in the dorms.

#1696

Yeah, I heard the same, but dorms is nice to get friends.

#1697

in case you were wondering:

http://splinedoctors.com/2008/12/academy-of-art-and-the-pixar-classes/

#1698

Thanks akocan

#1699

I’ve got some problems with the rational behind the reasoning that the students aren’t driven to make their own films. And the comment that they where not knowing enough of the basics.

Personally, after going through the program at the academy, I was not bothered in the slightest by the former, and although I agree a bit on the latter, I believe that it goes hand in hand with three things, the Teachers, the class layout, and the students themselves. And should not just simply be laid on the shoulders of the teachers themselves.

First thing, I would clarify is that through the masters program, they do in fact HIGHLY encourage those going through the program to begin work on their own personal creative film. But the undergraduate department is unashamably all about one singular thing. And that is getting a job as quickly as possible out of school. And in the end, the long and short of it is that the industry only hires the “creative” film makers if their films are actually creative and good to begin with. And even with high profile schools focusing on the “student film” thing, the reality of it is that only a handfull of student films really rise to the top to stand out from others. So while it might seem glamerous that a few people might be able to stand high and proud off of a great acheivement that they have done, what about all the other students?

The reality that I’ve seen is that if your going to be getting a physical job in the industry, then shot animations are going to pretty much be the bread and butter of what you will need to do on the job. And since it a highly competitive industry, I really see no problem in focusing on shot animations to get a wide range and styles of animation in a consistant reel to not only make the animators seem more versitile, but also get more hands on training and refinement in their animation work without worrying about the other maticulous things that go hand in hand with making your own short film such as everything from modeling, to rendering.

Focusing on the basics and specializing is a good frame of mind for those that do indeed want to work in the industry, and while its true that CCA and other Art schools do have fantastic shorts come out of their schools, I personally think that highlighting the few people that are able to pull off those shorts doesn’t do credit to thouse that might have been able to tap into more of their potential given the oppertunity to refine on a singuler skill, and not focus on the trials of an entirely self contained project.

#1700

I went to the Academy. I agree with others who feel that you get out of it what you put in. I learned the basics and made contacts and that helped me get into the industry. However, I learned practically everything else once I got my first gig on a commercial. I do work for Ilm now but it took me 4 years to get here. People are different. Many artists do not go to college and are tenfold in their skills than I am. If you want a life experience, college is good, if you just want to cut straight to the job you are better off seeking mentors, workshops, independent courses, or other means of getting your portfolio ready. Good luck to all of you.