I think I doofed. Hard.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>This is... really embarrassing, but I think it's possible that I picked the wrong college. I am an idiot, I know, and I apologize if you loose any brain cells from this topic, but hear me out.</p>

<p>ANYWAYS, here's my story:
I am a Louisiana-born aspiring animator. It's my calling yo, even if my parents hate me for it. Ever since I was little, I wanted to work for Pixar and all that dreamy shizznits, but I'm HAHA, pushing my luck. Anyways, I was accepted into both Louisiana State University and University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Naturally I wanted to go to LSU, since it's "the" college of my state, the flagship university, the head hocho, the big daddy, the-- yeah. You know what I mean. It's a good school. </p>

<p>It has a "Digital Arts" major. I selected that. Here's the description:
LSU</a> Digital Art</p>

<p>"BFA students refine their skills in classes that provide a broad, integrated understanding of creative practice across blahblah... ~<em>3-D modeling and animation</em>~."</p>

<p>"OKAY," I said, and payed my enrollment fee, scheduled orientation, planned out all this cheesy shisnits with my friends, got a roommate, paid my housing application... all that good stuff.</p>

<p>Then I discovered that the other school I was accepted into had a whole program in Animation. At first I thought it wasn't a big deal, two LSU graduates went on to work as editors or something for big Hollywood animation companies anyways, and I could steadily go with my life plan in a major in Digital Art.</p>

<p>JUST TO MAKE SURE THOUGH, I compared the curriculum between the two majors and took a look at the classes that they both offered.</p>

<p>Well.</p>

<p>That's when I made this face. <a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lanaal3sTp1qafrh6.jpg%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lanaal3sTp1qafrh6.jpg&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>LSU has like, one animation class, and it's called "Intro to Animation". The other classes are called "Digital Art I, Digital Art II, etc." while UL had Alll kinds of animation classes, Maya, Color Theory, Story boarding, all that good stuff. </p>

<p>Holy crap, did I just pick the wrong college? I'm not really a fan of UL or staying at home and turning crazy, but... IM SCARED, SON. I still have time to withdraw and stuff, it's just... will I still learn whats needed to become an animator if I delve in the vagueness that is of a "Digital Arts" major? Or do I have to pull back and go to my local university instead?</p>

2

<p>I’m sure each college has a resource on alumni and where they ended up with each major. You could start by comparing those. College is what you make of it; if you think you’ll learn more and impress more people with the knowledge you learn from one college, then choose it. If one college has more hook-ups and internship opportunities that are relevant to your interests, then choose it. It sounds like you need to do a bit more research on each. Just the curriculum should not be a deciding factor. </p>

<p>My gut would be to go with which school sounds better for you. It sounds like you like the other school’s major and curriculum a lot more than your current choice’s. If it were me, I’d change my decision. Keep in mind I am biased though, because I love learning over preparing for a job. I’d easily take the path that would allow me to learn more (and also learn more of what I want to learn) than the path that would put me in a job quicker.</p>

<p>Remember: it’s the next 4 years of your life. Do you want to spend it learning some irrelevant digital art information and possibly having a better shot at landing a big-shot career, or following your passion and perfecting what you want to do most?</p>

3

<p>Reading this post just completely made my night!</p>

<p>You’re hilarious! Hopefully you’ll end up successful at either one.</p>

4

<p>There’s definitely no need to be scared. As far as I understand it, animation isn’t one of those fields that there are a few clear feeder schools and the rest are at a disadvantage. I don’t think that either LSU or UL will be better than the other for a career in Hollywood animation (Pixar is in the Bay Area, though). While one may offer more courses and such than the other, most of your skills and knowledge in animation will be self-taught, regardless of whether you attend LSU, USC’s film school, or Harvard. When I started college, I was also interested in animation (esp. the mathematical side of it), and discovered that most of the skills for animation that companies care about are gained by simply getting your hands dirty and gaining experience.</p>

<p>Most of the curricula that UL has in animation is available online, and if it isn’t, there’s plenty of other schools that do have their curricula online. You can follow those. What will end up mattering far more than which school you attended is your demonstrated abilities in animation. During your undergrad years, you’ll build a portfolio, and it’s that portfolio that will get you a job at Pixar or in Hollywood or anywhere else. </p>

<p>So in short, yes, you will still learn what’s needed to become an animator with a Digital Arts major, which by the way isn’t vague. If I were recruiting for an animation studio (this is just my guess, so take it with a grain of salt), your previous work would get the most emphasis, but seeing a Digital Arts major on your diploma would reinforce the belief that you’re prepared for animation.</p>

<p>I’ve known (or known of) 3 people who went on to Pixar. One was a super-mathematical type and developed software for simulating various physical phenomena; the other two were just passionate about animation and did a lot of work on their own.</p>

5

<p>You write hilariously. I don’t have advice but I think you’re going places in life.</p>

6

<p>A degree in art, more than almost any other area of study, is what you make of it. There are many great artists, animators, designers, etc. who never studied art formally, let alone take classes in color theory/paint-mixing/brush-holding, just like there are plenty of art school graduates who took the exact classes you’re salivating over, but can’t sell a single piece. What I’m trying to say is that your dreams are perfectly achievable even without an art degree, so I wouldn’t worry too much about not having access to a couple of ultra-specific classes.</p>

<p>That being said, if it genuinely bothers you and you feel it’s a legitimate obstacle to your future success, then yes, you picked the wrong school. Now what?</p>

7

<p>I would talk at an advisor at both colleges. You may be able to do a year at your local campus and still get a degree from the flagship. However, you would need to check the required order of classes in the major.</p>

8

<p>Since the deadline is not really until May 1, if you are NOW clear on the university program, then for pete’s sake, call admissions immediately and see if you can accept the university you want instead. Explain SAS (Senior Airhead Syndrome). I recommend making an appointment to have the conversation if necessary. There may be an appeals process once you said, “No” to the institution you really now want, but it may be simple. They may be delighted to accept you, but you will likely forfeit the coin you shelled out to Less-Than U. This is similar to the situation with being wait listed: You must accept a university by May 1, but then if Dream U accepts you, you take that spot and lose the money for your deposits. You really need to talk with the faculty, too, at the university you most now want. It is a specialized field and to some degree, internships are very important and the contacts faculty have critical to networking. So…as everyone here has said: you are a brilliant writer and if your art is 1/2 way as impressive, you will go far. But, from my perspective, get off CC and deal with the university you most want. Now.</p>

9

<p>One more thing: as a mother of a future animator (she’s a sophomore), I know much of her animated life is online with groups of like-minded Con-addicts. You really would benefit from some research AT the universities instead of online. I regularly drag my daughter off to the universities she is interested in for an animation focus to SEE her tentative choices. So before you bag LSU, GO THERE TOO!</p>