Tips for selecting a VFX school


#1

Here’s some things that you should consider when you pick a School.

  1. Check out the School’s Demo Reel. Look for quality and variety in their work.

  2. Read the Program Outline. See what they are going to be teaching you.

  3. Go for a school tour if possible.

  4. Read the online reviews. The Good and the Bad. Usually I put School Name and the word sucks in Google to find out what bad things people say about the school and also see if there is any merit to their opinion.

  5. Ask to see previous student work, preferably all students demo reels of the last graduating class. A lot of school will only show you their top 5% and lure you in.

*I would also add ask to see all alumni reels and or speak to alumni (graduates) (and not just the ringers or top 5%, but all of them) Transparency means you have nothing to hide.

  1. Ask where previous students are working, don’t trust placement rates. Working in Starbucks is not considered job placement.

  2. Ask if there are full time instructors. If not ask how often part time instructors will be at the school.

  3. Ask if you have to share computers and book lab times. This means that when you want the computer the most, you may not have access to it.

  4. See if they offer foundational training and make a fair assessment of the necessity of such training.

  5. Cost of Tuition and Cost of Living. Don’t go into massive debts. Remember this is a contract based industry and you will not be making 50k a year right out of school.

  6. What kind of Resources are going to be available to you. This includes camera gear, lights, dollys, costumes .etc

See article on this link. http://aoverb.ca/article/things-to-consider-when-picking-a-school-to-learn-visual-effects/