Ari
College selection problem.
I want to pursue a career in video game design what college should I go to? #college #video-games #game-design #college-selection
3 answers
Mark Kreitler
Mark’s Answer
I work with a man who graduated from the University of Utah's Game Development program, and based on what he has told me and his level of ability, I believe that program is quite good.
I have also worked with graduates from Digi-Pen and highly recommend it based on what I have witnessed and heard.
I worked with a talented designer who graduated from Full Sail, but I can't speak to the effectiveness of its Engineering programs.
I also suspect, but can't say for certain, that the larger, more prestigious Universities that offer game development courses are probably of the quality level you would expect from such institutions.
But, one thing to remember about *all* college programs is that they return the investment that you put in. If you are prepared to dig into the course material, you can get a lot even from programs that may not be first rate. Given the expense of college tuition these days, it may not be possible for you to attend the college of your choice. Don't despair -- just be ready to wring every last ounce of utility from wherever you go. In the end, most of what you learn there will be out-of-date by the time you graduate, anyway. The value comes from understanding the foundational principles of your chosen field, learning "how to learn," and connecting with like-minded people who are willing to build interesting games *outside of class requirements*.
Mark recommends the following next steps:
Rachel Resnick
Rachel’s Answer
<span style="background-color: transparent;">Collegeboard.org is a great resource for this! I poured through the pages of universities all over the U.S. when I was a senior in high school. Collegeboard was my go-to site! They put all of the information in one place and it is very easy to use. They even have various filters you can apply to see only colleges that have programs you are interested. To determine academic rigor, look at the admissions requirements, G.P.A. of past admitted applicants, SAT/ACT scores, class rank etc. This will give you an idea of what scores and grades you need to be accepted. However, don't be discouraged your application will be reviewed based on the full picture! College-board will help you get an idea of what is most important to the specific school you are applying to.</span>
This professional recommends the following next steps:
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Chat with your Guidance Counselor</span>
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Create a Collegeboard.org account</span>
- <span style="background-color: transparent;">Start using CollegeBoard as a resource to look up schools.</span>
Natasha Mamoun
Natasha’s Answer
Let me know if there is anything else you need :) Good luck!
Hey there Ari!
I went to a school for game art and design and it was honestly no help at all. They were even supposed to help me find a job the first 6 months I graduated and I only heard from them once. Now I am in debt and honestly the only thing I got from my school was a good work ethic and motivation, which you can develop without a school.
The only thing you need to do is to start making games. I would test the waters with a couple Udemy courses from Ben Tristem. He has some courses on game design, unity and unreal engine. Most of all create a portfolio then apply for some jobs on gamedevclassifieds on Reddit.
I can say though that with hard work and dedication I am now a freelance game dev. If you got any questions feel free to ask :).
Cody Caro
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