I have been making YouTube videos and have edited all kinds of videos for years now and have come to really like doing it, I do like making videos a lot, but I like the editing part more. I was just wondering from anyone who’s ever taken a video class at any college, I know every single class, teacher, and college is different and varies, but in a video editing class do you record any of the videos you edit, or do you mostly edit other people’s videos? Also I’m going to a community college right now for computer hardware and building computers, what would be the major and or degree for video editing if I wanted to switch from computer hardware to video editing?
Stay in hardware and get as much out of it as you can (that knowledge is a bonus for editing). If you haven’t already, look into getting a good editing suite (or two): Premiere Pro (Adobe), Final Cut Pro (Apple), Media Composer (Avid), Vegas (Sony). Hardware specs are important, as you know (e.g. http://avid.force.com/pkb/articles/en_US/compatibility/en365919). Research the pros/cons to subscribing or owning the software. You can find help online, such as: http://www.videomaker.com/video/watch/tips-and-techniques/18013-qa-should-you-buy-premiere-pro-cc-or-final-cut-pro-x
With your own curiosity/initiative, and the info available online, you should be able to learn the software, in-depth, on your own. You’ll end up needing video to edit, so you’ll produce a bunch of stuff yourself, as you’re doing now. If you have the software, you’ll find lots of people who need their own footage edited, too.
Eventually, when you’ve exhausted your own means of learning and when you want to add formal credentials, look for an academic program in film/tv production (undergrad or grad). Many schools offer this; your choice really depends on what you can afford, your grades, your interests, etc.
But IMO, you’ll rocket to the top of the class in film/tv production if you immerse yourself in production/editing on your own for several months/years. The other advantage is that you’ll have a much better portfolio/experience to help with admission to a more reputable academic program.
Also, you’ll be miles ahead of the game if you really pay attention to the art of narrative (conflict, pacing, tension, story rhythm, etc.) and aesthetic theory. Watch this vid: http://nofilmschool.com/2013/12/a-masterclass-in-storytelling-through-editing And lots of vids from the same guys here: http://2reelguys.com/
My point is, editing is an art form, so if you want to become an excellent editor, consider studying something like English/Lit in undergrad and learning what constitutes a great story, then tackling a formal film/tv/editing program in grad school. Go after the foundational knowledge in narrative technique first, and couple that with your own monkeying around in production/editing. At that point, when an instructor in grad school tells you something about editing technique or theory, it’ll sink in much deeper.
In the state schools I attended we did a mix. Most projects that we edited we also shot, but we had a couple where we had to edit someone else’s video. That was actually a great lesson. It’s really difficult to salvage bad footage. The projects I completed at a private university were mine from start to finish. I did all the writing, shooting, and editing.
Video production majors go by a variety of names: broadcasting, radio-tv, media production… Check your school’s catalog for editing classes to see what department they fall under, then check that department to see what majors they offer.