College help?

College Search & Selection
1

I’m new to posting on any kind of college forum, but I was hoping to get some help in finding a college or university that suits what I plan to take, besides my own listing. Maybe some suggestions or recommendations from anyone who took a similar course path to the one I’d like to take.

I planned to take only art/animation courses at first, but am now thinking of doing a double major in the art field as well as one to do with computer programming or something similar (no specifics just yet, just concerning computer science) but I’m not sure which colleges allow students to do that and to what extent. I’m limited to mainly the east coast, so that’s where I’ve been looking so far.

Another matter is whether I’m even capable of making it in, but at the moment I’m just trying to figure out all the choices I might have.

2

This may get you started: https://www.animationcareerreview.com/articles/top-50-animation-schools-and-colleges-us-%E2%80%93-2017

But, to be honest, it’s not where I would start. I would start with finances and ability to get in.

Where are you from? And what sort of budget are we talking?

3

Ahh I see, I figured it wouldn’t be very simple.
I’m from the state of Virginia (unless if you meant ethnicity; I’m Pakistani) and don’t know my full budget details at the moment, but I have around 10k sitting in my own savings. My parents are also willing to support me for the most part but I’ll likely have to be looking for scholarships or anything of that sort.

4

Nope, I meant VA, lol.

Let’s start at the beginning. State schools are frequently the most budget friendly, so why not take a look at the VA State college/ university system. I’m from NY, and have absolutely no knowledge of computers or animation, but start there to see whether any of the VA schools have what you’re looking for.

You don’t have to limit your schools to the typically most affordable, but it’s certainly a good starting place.

5

One you might want to consider is VCU Arts. It is a top art program and a full university, so you could possibly study computer science as well, although you’d have to research the rules crossing over from VCU Arts to courses in other schools. I don’t know the nuts and bolts of that. VCU is in downtown Richmond (RVA), a very popular city with students and young professional these days. We’ve known lots of students who’ve had great outcomes there. I consider it a school that is actually much stronger than its typical national ranking. VCU is a public university, so you’d get the in-state rate, besides any financial aid.

The downside, it does not seem to have straight up animation, though it does have graphic design and filmmaking. Maybe you could explore the website to see if it would work for you. Would this VCU professor be working in a close enough field?

https://arts.vcu.edu/graphicdesign/faculty/steven-hoskins/

Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) might be an option. I know it is great for animation. I have no idea what the bottom-line cost would be for you. Savannah is a spectacular city. You’d have to see what the school offers in terms of computer science. Basically, you’ll have a choice between art schools (like SCAD) and colleges/universities with art programs (like VCU).

https://www.scad.edu/academics/programs/animation

Another art school: Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA)–it is close enough to visit from VA. It is on the north side of downtown Baltimore, and, like VCU, is an urban school.

https://www.mica.edu/Programs_of_Study/Undergraduate_Programs/Animation.html

Another, Cleveland Institute of Art

https://www.cia.edu/academics/animation

I see Purdue on the Top 50 list in the above post. That is an outstanding computer science school. It is very competitive and would probably be too expensive, but can’t hurt to run the Net Price Calculator (NPC), which is available on a school’s admission page, to see what it might cost for you, given all your info.

I also see Drexel on the list. That would be a great choice. Just don’t know about financial aid. You could run the NPC for it as well.

Be realistic about cost of attending a school AND understand that you may not have to pay the “sticker price.” Many students get financial aid (need-based) and merit aid. It just depends greatly on the student and the school. With limited info, it’s very difficult to estimate very accurately what a student might end up paying in the end. You’ll have to explore that on your own, mostly by running the NPC at a school. The news is often disappointing, but there can be good news as well. What helps? Being a first-generation student (first in family to attend) and having strong stats for a school. For example, if the 75/25 ACT range for a school is 24-28 and an applicant has a 32 and other strong elements in their application, then they would be a good candidate for merit aid, if the school gives it.

http://drexel.edu/westphal/academics/undergraduate/ANIM/

Good luck!

6

VCU would be a great in state option. If you want to go OOS, how about College of Charleston? They offer some type of art in computing major. I don’t remember the exact name. D18 just started there as a studio art major.

7

Thank you for the suggestions! I’d already looked at a few of those before, but I think only SCAD and CIA were to my liking for their animation programs.
The the other problem I’ve run into when looking is that I primarily want to work with 2d animation rather than 3d, but most schools that have both computer courses and animation, only work with 3d and visual effects.

My main concern other than the cost is trying to find a school that isn’t fully art oriented because then they seem to not have any computer course I’m looking for, but then the same goes for the more tech-oriented schools not having a good art/animation courselist.

I’m a bit overwhelmed because when I do find a place that seems suitable, I end up dropping it due to mixed reviews from students that went there, tuition costs (plus any additional cost if it’s out of state), or because I just wouldn’t be able to get accepted because I don’t meet the requirements.

8

Ringling doesn’t have non-animation-oriented computer science, but they have a phenomenal computer animation program. https://www.ringling.edu/Computer-Animation

9

@drewsmom17 It’s called the Computing in the Arts program at CofC . It is heavy on the CS side . One of their alums has won an Oscar for How to Train a Dragon.