online school advice

#1

Hi guys

I have been learning modeling for tow years now and I am focusing on characters mainly and would like to take a course or to be specific a degree to help me find a descent job and there are tow I am confused between them.

first one is :http://cgmasteracademy.com/

second one is :http://www.fullsail.edu/

If any one can advice me which one deserve to put my money in please tell me

regards samy

#2

Man, the online Full Sail degree comes out to almost 60K. I know I’m always a Negative Nancy on these threads, but that degree just isn’t worth that kind of investment.

#3

so is the best way to learn is by tutorials and practice?

but what makes me want to take a course is that most companies goes to people graduated from school :sad:

#4

Obviously tutorials and practice is a great way to learn. Posting your work and participating on sites like this is also a great way to learn. :stuck_out_tongue:

I would just steer clear of the expensive online animation degrees. They may not even count for a visa application. (maybe someone with more experience than I can chime in on that.)

#5

I totally support AJ on this one.
One thing is you already have been practicing Modeling from past 2 years.
As far as I know you dont need a full time degree now only to hone your skills and get a job, by spending tens of thousands of dollars.
You can register for some short-time courses … like the ones they are offering here on CGSociety, click on the workshops button on top of this page.
If you are planning to move out of your country for better prospects, and if you believe that by getting a student visa and then after completing the course it will be easy to settle, you might be wrong, coz theres no guarantee about getting a job after your studies.
Better take some time…like 3 to 4 months… attend some online courses like the ones on CGSociety … u can check for other websites also …and then try to build a good demo reel with some help from your online teachers and give it try.
This is my opinion though, keeping in view that you already have been working on Modeling from past 2 years

#6

You can check my blog for all ONLINE 3D schools and training:

http://lart3d.blogspot.com/2011/07/3d-schools-workshops-and-training.html

#7

I read your write up you have some good stuff on there. I am taking classes at 3DTI myself and I quite like them but like you said you have to put in the work. I will check out those other schools you had also.

#8

http://www.animationapprentice.org/ Also take a look at this animation course.

#9

I know if you want a visa to come to work in Australia, you need to have a university degree. I’m not sure about the US or Canada, but I would assume you need one for a visa there as well?

#10

Thanks man this is a great link. I think you sum up all of them in one place easy to check

#11

Degrees are great for visas, but generally speaking they don’t carry too much weight in this industry. Learning on your own is great and can save you a lot of money, but here are things you actively have to search out.

  • Feedback - This is absolutely critical. You need good, honest critiquing from professionals who know what they are talking about. Working in this industry is not only about being a good artist, but being able to go into a critique, process the notes being given to you, and effectively improve the work in a short period of time.

Something like this:
http://td-u.com/insta-critique/

  • Surrounding yourself with other artists - This is big too. If you work in a bubble you won’t be pushed and inspired by those around you. The thing that always inspired me was when I saw someone else working on something beautiful and it inspired me to improve too.

  • Connections - Having a great reel is important, but I normally get job offers based on my connections. Many of those connections were established early in my career/schooling so you need to make sure you are becoming familiar with others in the industry.

Hope this helps!