<p>Hey y'all. I am a freshman planning to transfer from a University of California after I complete all of its GEs because my UC doesn't offer a degree in animation. I'm looking for animation programs offered at public schools in California because almost all art schools are out of my price range :( I'm also going to apply to UCLA just for kicks.</p>
<p>I'm unsure of which would be my best bet. San Jose seems to be the most noted, but I'd like to hear some of your opinions. Maybe any of you have any testimonials on how it is at SFSU/CSUF/SJSU? If you're not in any of their art programs, I'm also curious about what each campus is like, i.e. party scenes, other students, school events, etc. Anything is greatly appreciated!</p>
<p>SJSU is amazing, great weather but girls are horrendous. CSUF is all hipsters. SFSU, everyone gets high 24/7 so…In terms of art programs…you should probably go to an art school.</p>
<p>imdone420:
Haha, I heard that SFSU was the hipster-infested campus! I assume college kids everywhere will be experimenting with weed, but I know my stance on that issue so it won’t matter much. I kinda wish I could’ve gone to an art school, but I’m fine with going to a public one cuz I believe in GEs. Do/Did you go to SJ? What do you like about it?</p>
<p>UCBalumnus:
Thanks for the tip. I’ll keep the 3.4 in mind. My school does not offer anything like animation, no.</p>
<p>Hi Lunith,
You may want to post this in the Visual Arts forum (under Colleges/Majors); there are very knowledgeable CC folks there who can offer you great advice. We are new to all this and have found it extremely helpful. </p>
<p>Our son just applied to 3 cal states and, like you, he plans to major in animation: CSU Long Beach, Fullerton and SFSU. (He didn’t include San Jose and perhaps should have. Oh well). This is what we’ve learned so far: Long Beach seems to have a good rep and a neighbor who just graduated there is now doing an internship (unpaid) at DreamWorks. Fullerton seems to have a nice program that evidently has ties to Nickelodeon, where many of their kids do internships. SFSU: we know less about it, but it seems to have a nice rep. </p>
<p>Our son is a HS senior and he applied to 4 UCs, but they are back ups only. As you point out, we were disappointed to discover that the UCs offer basically nothing at undergraduate level in animation. There is only UCLA, and that is more or less a graduate program. Since they don’t allow anyone to apply directly to that major as a freshman, going to UCLA from HS is a real crap shoot (very low acceptance rates even for UCLA sophs who apply for the major).</p>
<p>Did you look into Chapman/Dodge at all? They are known to be fairly generous with merit aid. Might be worth checking out. Just make sure you inquire into transfer merit aid, as it is different than freshman aid. Son applied there, as well as LMU and USC. And you are right, Lunith – they are expensive.
Best of luck!</p>
<p>I went to SFSU and graduated in 2002. It’s a big commuter school. Meaning almost no one lives on campus. There is almost no school spirit. Everyone is a working stiff going to school in their off time. Atleast I was. When I graduated the Founder of Bebe had just made a big grant for a media arts center. I would say SFSU doesn’t really feel like a college. People are there just to get business done.</p>
<p>Laguna College of Art & Design has a newish, up and coming animation program that’s significantly less expensive than other art school programs. They offer, as I recall, an average break of about 5k$ off the year, as well. They have a new Disney guy there and we’ve heard great things about it. May be way out of your range, but thought I’d toss it out there.</p>
<p>Hi, so i see you wrote this a while ago but im curious. I’ve applied to all three CSU’s you have stated though i do not know which i should choose. Have you made a decision
?? As to which would be the best one to go to for animation…??? IM DYING trying to make a decision…i want it to be right. what did you choose? if you cant help its okay. but please write back i need some input because im rly leaning towards fullerton but i do not know. Though the deadline is coming fast!</p>
<p>@Xinification Sorry for the late reply. I’m currently applying to some CSUs. I have heard good things about CSU Fullerton, but where ever you are, please, just make the most of it. There is no right/wrong choice. Just test the waters, then commit yourself fully, and dive in! Good luck.</p>
Do/Did you go to SJ? What do you like about it?</p>
Good luck.</p>