Well I Met With The University Advisors...

[Jeff in BigD]

Here's the skinny...
I went to the university to find out how long the program would take. I was told that although having a 2 year degree usually means that you're locked to start from that point on without having to backtrack, it's not true with their art program. There's 2 classes I'll need to take before I can even enter the program. I could take them at the JuCo during spring.

Then, I'll need to have an entrance portfolio review (only done in May). I'll have to qualify to continue with any classes. There would also be a midterm portfolio review (my friend said that there's a major drop-off, in his case 60 people went to 18). There's a final portfolio review as well. They said that the program takes 5 years & if I were to transfer it would take a firm 3 years to complete the program (I'd be 30 by the time I was done).

I spoke with an advisor & then today with one of the heads of the department. He mentioned that it's extremely competitive & they very rarely use the computer. He said that they stress importance in problem solving & concept design & programs are a far second to that. I mentioned that while I do like print design (which this university primarily focuses on) that I'm more interested web design & animation. He suggested that I might want to look at another local university which now has a program like that (even though they didn't 3 years ago when I checked).

The advisor suggested that I should take an online course for the spring (while also taking the other courses at the JuCo), that way I'd be a registered student, but wouldn't have to move there until fall & as a returning student I'd get first crack at the art classes (which fill-up fast). I would need financial aid & grants for spring, which means I'd have to know pretty quick. I was also told that I would have to go to orientation (which they charge $30 for) & then the $40 for the admission application fee.

I did get a feeling that there isn't a lot of communication among the heads & the departments. I'm feeling pretty discouraged because there's a lot of "ifs" involved - if they were based on my actions, I'd feel a lot more confident, but so many of them are in someone else's hands. The more I think about it, the more I think that the other school may be the way to go.


Does anyone have any advice or comments?

 

[JohnTBap]

Follow your heart and go for your dreams, my friend. I graduated when I was 31. There is life after 30, you know....

 

[snowwhitemom]

Jeff...If you can be out of school at 30 that is not a bad thing...many people go back at 30. Good luck!

 

[Rajah]

I missed something -- what are you trying to do, Jeff?

 

[Serena]

He wants to go into computers. web design and animation right?

The school he was looking into doesn't really go into that much and suggested another school.



I suggest you look into the other school and a few more as comparisons, then go from there.

 

[skuttle]

If it's something you really want to do, GO FOR IT!! My DH started college right after high school, majoring in Music Ed. He went for 3 years, but didn't finish. He took about 2 or 3 years off and sold cars. He soon realized that he REALLY wanted to teach music. So, he went back in the Spring of 2001! Not many of his classes transfered and many of the music classes are offered only in sequence, so he was basically starting all over again...it's kinda funny because based on his hours, he's been a senoir all the years he's been back in school. He'll graduate in May 2005 at the age of 29. We originally hadn't planned on him going back to school until I graduated from law school (next May!), but changed our minds. Yes, it's taken a looong time. Yes, we've aquired a bit (okay, A LOT) of debt along the way w/ student loans. But, one thing I know for sure is that we'll both be happy because we'll both be doing something we both really want to do! And that's all the really matters.

 

[Serena]

LOL, Jeff, if you talk anymore about how oooooold you'll be once you graduate, I'll hurt you.

One day I'm going back to school and I'm almost 39.

 

[WDWHound]

Jeff,
I would contiunue looking and see if you could come up with any other options that better fit your interests. However, if you don't find anything by the time the deadline comes up for registering for the online class, I would take it. That keeps all your options open. You can still continue to look for other options while you take the class.

The important thing is to start moving toward your goal. Once you have taken action to pursue your dream, you will be amazed at the options that open up to you that you never saw before.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Hey, Jeff! I'm back in school in my 40s! Imagine that! Go for it. But I would look for a school that offers a good program in what you're looking for.

 

[WDWHound]

BTW: I was 2 months short of 30 when I got my degree. Its going to taking whatever time it takes. Would you be any younger in 5 years if you don't go for a degree now?

Get started now and don't worry about the time it will take.

 

[maleficent1959]

Jeff, you'll be 30 in three years no matter what decision you make. When you do reach 30, do you want to be able to say that you are doing what you want or do you want to be saying that you should have gone to school three years ago? Go to the school that has the program you want. Don't try to make the other school fit your needs.

 

[Rajah]

Oh, okay. I don't know how I missed that information.

Jeff -- I think there are (or at least were) some schools here in Houston that had computer animation tracks.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

BTW, the school I was looking at was UNT.

The other they mentioned is A&M Commerce & apparently the classes for the program are actually taught in Dallas. I'm really not looking to move more than 100 miles away from my folks & sister, but wouldn't completely rule it out provided that it was in the same state.

I currently have 2 two-year degrees (an AA & an AAS) coming from a school that places a heavy emphasis on learning the applications. I enjoy the program, but I want the extra job security a BA would provide, as well as be in a program that puts more of an emphasis on concept.

UNT's program is mostly traditional art & print design, which isn't totally unrelated to the area I want to go into, though I've been told that the profs tend to stick up their nose towards any media that isn't pencil & paper or paint.

A friend asked me, what my dream job would be & I said probably a conceptual attraction designer for WDI (though there would need to be a change in their current corporate environment), which I feel UNTs program would help me in that regard. But I also would really enjoy being a storyboard artist/director for animated shorts & features.

 

[annemariec]

I'm glad to see an update.

I think Mal was the one that stated go for the school that meets your needs, not the one that you will have to make it fit. That sounded like good advice to me.

It might help to work backwards. Go to the business(es) that you would love to work for and ask what they are looking for in terms of objectives for the job you are interested in. It may give you a better picture of courses you absolutely need to take.

Annemarie

 

[browneyes]

He suggested that I might want to look at another local university which now has a program like that (even though they didn't 3 years ago when I checked).
Does anyone have any advice or comments?

I'd check in with the other school. Colleges usually introduce new programs of study in the fall. In 3 years, I bet they've added a bunch of new programs, including the one that you're interested in. Check out their info online. They should have prerequisites, program of study info, and contact info to contact someone if there's a question you have that's not on their website.

Personally, I wouldn't want to get involved with the other school with their lack of being helpful and informative.

Good luck.

 

[Boots]

No advice and no comments since I don't really know enough to comment. But sending you a bunch of good luck pixie dust.

 

[Jeff in BigD]

I appreciate your guys' input. I asked my folks (as I do with most of the important situations), but they don't know what to suggest.

I was trying to get some advice, but the advisors at the university either seem to not really know what's going on or they're really big on talking up the school (even at the expense of it not being a right fit for teh student's ambitions) & the advisors at the JuCo aren't biased, but they're not as informed as they should be IMO. I have a friend that went through the UNT program & thinks it's a good idea & another that is currently going through the program & suggests that I might want to think about going somewhere else.

I think a better source would probably be talking to the animation teachers, as well as the suggestion to ask some businesses.

 

[annemariec]

I was thinking, when you go to the businesses, it wouldn't hurt to ask if they have apprenticeship programs. They may. They may have a number of prerequisites prior to entering the apprenticeship program (if they do have one). It would beat going to school for years! That is if the end goal is a good paying dream job, not the degree per se --- it wouldn't hurt to ask!!

Annemarie