Need help choosing school for animation

777cat
Mon, 09 Apr 2018 23:12:03 +0000

We started researching animation programs with our DD last summer after she finally decided that’s what she wanted to major in in college. We took trips down to SF and LA before school started in the fall and toured a bunch of schools with animation programs. DD eliminated several that didn’t feel like a good fit, then threw out a wide net and applied to all of the others. Each program only accepts ~ 25 animation students each year, so chances of getting in to any were slim, especially since DD has just a basic high school art background (no animation experience). She ended up with 6 acceptance offers! After comparing the schools and programs as best we can, we thought we finally had it narrowed down to 2 choices, but now we are questioning ourselves. Decision day is looming and we cant seem to make a final decision! Here are the choices along with an estimated 4 year total COA after scholarships (Yikes college is expensive!) and some of the thoughts we have about each:

LMU $206,000 This was our favorite campus after our tours. Gorgeous! Near the industry for internships and things, but up on a bluff so feels like a different world. It’s also the most expensive, the animation facility is not as nice as Chapman’s, and it’s a BA program. Since she has other options, she’s thinking a BFA program would be stronger. Correct?

CHAPMAN, $202,000. Nice campus with lots of other things to offer (she is very involved with music), fabulous new digital arts facility. When we toured, a concern we heard from current students was that the career center did not have much to offer the dig art students. It seems much of the focus of Dodge is on the film program. (Ex, there is only one animated short out of 6 films featured on their First Cut DVD.) At one point DD thought it was the best fit, but now she’s saying she is 98% sure she’d like to major in animation. She’s thinking maybe she should go to a school with other art majors, like illustration, in case she finds she doesn’t like the actual animation part. Though we think she’d have a wonderful college experience here, she’s not sure it’s worth spending more.

LCAD $192,000. Upon arriving to the school during our CA trip, we almost didn’t bother going on the tour! It’s just several buildings spread out up and down the highway. We decided to tour anyway since we were there, and were pleasantly surprised. Because there is only one small dorm and no cafeteria, I still didn’t think it was the best fit. DD did not end up applying since she received admission offers from several other schools that were higher on her list. They have other art majors and a rolling admission though, so it might still be an option.

OTIS $193,000. Close to the airport and studios, and other art options, but small campus. Liked SCAD better for less

SCAD, $176,000. It was a long, tiring day of travel coming and going from the west coast, and far away from studios for networking and internships, but we liked Savannah and SCAD. The only ranking for animation schools I have found is ACN, where SCAD ranks the highest of our choices. The animation program has way more animation students than any of the other schools, but more teachers too, which might be a good thing. They have a new GRADpath program where you can earn an MA in 4 yrs or MFA in 5 by going to school during the summers. Not sure if that might be a good thing to consider? Classrooms have an odd set up. They are in a big long room one after the other with partitions between - no doors or hallway. The bus system seemed to be the biggest negative mentioned when talking to current students.

WOODBURY, $139,000. A small college in Burbank (I think it used to be an old catholic girls school) right in the heart of the industry. Big plus for that and the price! Disney Animation, Dreamworks, Nickelodeon and many other studios are all within a few miles. The small campus didn’t seem to have too much to offer, and there are only 200 dorm rooms, so probably more of a commuter school. Animation facilities were in an old gym turned into classrooms which wasn’t very impressive.

Local state college $80,000. no animation, but a good graphic arts program. DD is not excited about this option, but selfishly I’d love to have her close to home and she’d save a ton of money. She’d have to do Animation Mentor ($22,000 for the course) or something online on her own. Anyone have thoughts on that?

We’ve been trying to compare schools, programs, teachers, reels, etc., but being non art parents we are really overwhelmed and don’t really know what we’re looking at. We only have 3 more weeks until decision day. Any thoughts on any of these schools or programs from personal experience, good or bad, that might be helpful?