Hey there! Prospective class of 2022 going through midlife crisis.
I went in as a CS major, but with the intention of focusing on the aspects of CS that involve web development, digital media design, 3D animation etc. (the arts)
The other schools I got into (like USC and Penn) have specific digital arts programs or graphic design offerings, but unfortunately, I can’t afford those schools (Harvard aid tho).
Financially, I’m pretty much set on Harvard, but I’m having a lot of difficulty finding the proof that there’s a way to learn digital art in classes.
Does anyone have insight to how I can pursue things like this over the course of four years? (note: I know clubs exist but the digital art club hasn’t posted since 2013 and I really want to dedicate EC time to dancing and writing for the crimson because journalism and communication aren’t available majors either. In addition, does anyone know if there are any classes related to journalism I can take)
Also generally speaking, how many elective courses can you take per semester that are outside your major requirements?
Harvard teaches what is known as “classical computer science” meaning student’s are required to understand how to build a computer as if computers did not exist today. For some student’s that’s fine, but for other’s it’s tedious and boring, as they want to learn the more “creative” aspects of CS. For example, at Harvard you will NOT find “fun” CS courses such Computer Vision, Animation, Motion Capture, Game Design, or Virtual Reality – which are all taught at the undergraduate level at other colleges such as Stanford, Brown, and Carnegie Mellon.
My son was in a similar situation at Yale. During his sophomore year, he became disillusioned with how Yale was teaching CS. He found the courses and professors to be boring and uncreative (his words). Ultimately, my son switched majors to Psychology, but continued to pursue what he considered to be the “creative aspects” of CS on his own.
Senior year, when it came time to look for a job, my son was not interested in pursuing Psychology, and applied for CS jobs. Even though he did not graduate from Yale with a degree in CS, he made it to the final interview for Google, Facebook, Drop Box, Box and Spotify. He’s currently the youngest data analyst/scientist at Spotify (everyone else has their masters or PhD in math or CS).
Bottom line: If you attend Harvard for CS, you will need to purse the more creative aspects of CS on your own.
This is the kind of thing for which the cross-registration program with MIT is really useful. I gather it's a pain in the butt -- it takes longer than you would think to travel between the campuses, and exam/vacation schedules are uncoordinated -- but I'll bet that MIT offers a whole bunch of things that are smack on your interests. I would also bet that you would get support for working them into a VES concentration at Harvard. Maybe CS, too, but small humanities departments are often much more flexible than large STEM departments.
Have you tried to negotiate with USC or Penn about financial aid? It's not every day either of them gets a win vs. Harvard. If you call them up and say "You have exactly what I want, and Harvard doesn't, but my parents won't pay $X,000 more for you than for Harvard, and they are saying I have to go there. Is there any way you could get to within $2,000/year of what Harvard offered? I would be able to make it work, then" I suspect you would have a pretty good shot at success.
What major did you apply into at USC? If youre looking for computer animation, you’re best bet out of those three schools is to attend USC (as their animation and digital arts is ranked 2nd behind calarts). Penn computer science (in terms of animation) is the techincal side of animation so their major is focused on making the software and code and does not involve creativity in the way youre looking for. If you have any more questions PM me! I got accepted into USC animation program and I know a bunch about other animation programs in schools.
The best digital animation/motion design schools that will lead you to,places like Pixar are not necessarily traditional colleges. For that, you have to go to a school like Ringling, as an example, as they are directly tied into the major studios and their curriculum is designed to get you a job. I would not pass on Harvard…the cache is too good. Instead, there is a $15k online course that’s offered…can’t remember by whom, but you could find it that may supple,met what you’re getting elsewhere.
Look at the Dept. of Visual and Environmental studies at Harvard. https://ves.fas.harvard.edu/ (Note the mention of animation)
There is also Visual Arts and Film.
Harvard has enhanced the applied aspects of various art forms in recent years, I would add.
In our experience, Harvard offered everything a student wanted but it may not be obvious from the website or published materials.
I would say “of course you can study digital art at Harvard.” But you won’t find programs specifically targeted to certain careers. Harvard offers a more foundational approach.
If you enroll (and the price can’t be beat for some!) try to take classes related to your interests and see where you end up in terms of a concentration. You don’t have to declare until end of sophomore year. Take advantage of gen eds as well as classes in the visual arts and CS departments. You may not even want to major in CS.
As for journalism, in once house in one year alone I know a writer for Saturday Night Live, two authors of well-received books, a writer for the New Yorker online and a writer who gets cover stories and is on staff at Newsweek. Those are just kids I know personally.