MICA, CCA or VCUarts?

mbarq90
Tue, 02 Apr 2013 06:33:19 +0000

I’m gonna be honest- if I could have gone anywhere three years ago (that is money was a non-issue) I would have gone to Ringling in a heartbeat (maybe SVA?). They actually (well…Dreamworks) gave me a good scholarship to attend, but it was still more expensive than what I got from CCA.

Like you said, CCA has NO REPUTATION at all. I’m not sure how important pedigree is in the real world- “pros” will tell you “it’s all about your work man, your portfolio is what really matters”, let’s be honest though, that’s just not the way humans work -networking, connections, and general schmoozing is, (un)forunately, very important. So, if you’re going to be paying the same at CCA as you are to RISD, then I might go with RISD.

Also, when I say “reputation” I don’t just mean the name. I mean everything that comes with it- the alumni at various studios, having reqruiters that know the school produces good crafts people, PR, and funding, etc.

I’m not totally acquainted with RISD’s animation program, it might be good, but…the only thing I know RISD most for is their illustration program- different beast than animation.

Again, CCA actually does have good teachers and the facilities aren’t the greatest, but you’ll learn. If you want to learn how to animate, you’ll learn, and you’ll learn from the best.

As far as school rankings go- those things really are highly subjective and I’d take them with a grain of salt. As I see things, Ringling and Calarts will always be the “ivy league” of animation, and as such smaller schools will always exist that may probably be better to actually “learn”, but won’t have the name brand.

So, try to talk to as many students as you can, visit the school, maybe shoot some e-mails off to current teachers, and even try to arrange to “sit-in” on a class to see if you like it.

As a side note, Animation is currently CCA’s fastest growing major and supposedly they’re planning on revamping the facilities. I don’t know how they’re going to do it because the CCA campus really is a small and cozy place and there really is no place for expansion, but sounds really cool.

good luck!