Six Questions You Should Ask Before Choosing an Animation School
Read these tips for choosing the right animation school for you.
As you think about choosing an animation school, you'll get lots of opinions. Your friends might encourage you to apply to schools that are highly respected in the industry, while your family may tell you to save money at an animation school close to home. In the end, the decision is yours. There are many factors to consider when choosing an animation school, and only you can determine what your priorities are as you start your animation training.
Answering the following questions can help you narrow down your animation school search:
1. What aspects of animation are most interesting to you?
Are you interested in working in the gaming industry? Do you want to work in an animation studio producing feature length film animation? If you know exactly what you want to do with your animation degree, you may want to look for schools that offer classes that match your interests. If you are still unsure about the kind of job you want, you may want to look for an animation school that will allow you to take a broad range of classes.
2. What technology will you have access to?
As a student, one of the main perks can be getting the opportunity to experiment with equipment and technology that you wouldn't have access to on your own. While software is constantly changing, and many animation studios may use their own animation programs, having experience with state-of-the-art technology at an animation school can be a valuable experience that will help you prepare for your future animation career.
3. Who are the faculty?
Have the faculty worked as professionals in the animation field? Learning from teachers who have first-hand experience can be a great benefit. Not only will they be able to impart real-world knowledge and advice, but they may have industry contacts and be willing to help connect you to opportunities that may arise.
4. How long is the animation degree program?
Do you want to focus your studies on animation and complete your training as quickly as possible? If so, you may want to look for a school with certificate, diploma or associate's degree programs. These usually range between one and two years in length and will give you the skills you need to enter the field quickly. However, if you are interested in a well-rounded liberal arts education, you'll probably want to look at schools with 4-year bachelor's degree programs.
5. Where do you want to attend school?
Is it important to you to stay close to home? If so, you may only be interested in looking at community colleges and universities near you. On the other hand, if you're willing to relocate to attend school, you may want to consider schools that are near animation studios or other companies where you would like to find internships and jobs.
6. What is the school's reputation?
Look for a school in your price range that has a solid reputation. Find out if an animation school is respected among industry professionals. Find out if the school is accredited. Accreditation is a good sign that a school meets high educational standards. It can also ensure that your credits will transfer between schools, and that you will be eligible to enroll in graduate-level programs at accredited universities upon graduation.