To transfer or not to transfer....

College Search & Selection
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<p>I'm an Animation/Game Design + Fine Art Drawing/Painting double major/freshman at Kent State University. Love the campus, love most of the academics, the small group of friends I hang with all the time; hate the stereotypical amount of jockheads and ditzes who like to be loud till five am in the dorms who all look and act the same. My career interests major-wise include Animation, Game Design, (including concept art by digital painting etc; career options=Pixar, Ubisoft, InfinityWard etc.) and fine art/event photography (slightly more passionate about, but I have pretty much decided to get the degrees in Animation/Game Design and continue with self taught photography as also a huge part of everything I do; career options=weddings, creating fine art prints etc).</p>

<p>The problem; Kent's Animation/Game Design program isn't the best I thought it would be. Just starting to be its own 4yr degree next year. Not as many game design classes. I, at first, planned on doing these two majors for the four years-six years at Kent, then going to a SCAD/MICA/USC (even though they're 30k/40k/50k :| ) for graduate school in game design. I decided to tack on the Fine Art major to strengthen drawing skills so I can teach myself digital painting to use for concept art in any potential career portfolios. (Which I'm unsure about if I should continue that or not if I even went to MICA/SCAD) BUT I did not realize how different the curriculums are until recently when I compared the classes side by side. SCAD/MICA seem to have such a more in-depth Animation/Game Design/Interactive Art degree class-wise, and I so afraid that by doing the two less in depth majors at Kent, I'm wasting time when I could be doing more career/art oriented classes that are serious and more enjoyable. </p>

<p>I am just so torn between all the possible decisions because I'm such an indecisive person and no matter how much I ask around, nobody can give me any good advice ): So this is pretty much my last straw in finding good advice... and if anyone has any, I would honestly appreciate it like no other. Should I be transferring to SCAD or MICA by my junior year if accepted, or wait it out and skip their great education, make the best out of Kent, always wishing to be elsewhere, and have the greater possibility of not even making it into those places for grad school because of the possible lack of skills learned from the Kent education... :|</p>

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<p>First, can your family afford the SCAD program? Second, have you looked into what it takes for admission to the graduate program? If so have you compared it to the courses you would take at Kent to see where you would be short?</p>

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<p>I’m not sure :\ They never tell me what they make a year etc etc and I’m polite enough not to ask, but I wasn’t allowed to apply to any ‘art schools’ because they thought they won’t get you anywhere and it’s overpriced. However with my major, in a booming career field, I I’m confident to find success and still do what I enjoy. Also, I feel no matter what school you go to you’ll be paying off SOME loan for a while…but since I have a career in mind that pays decent, along with making money with photography and bettering myself with that, I don’t mind having to do that for a few years, ya know…? </p>

<p>To get into SCAD all you need is a darn good portfolio that has to be major specific… I’m experienced in every other medium thanks to making a fine art portfolio in high school ( w/graphite drawing, acrylic paint, printmaking) but not animations. So that intimidates the heck outta me but then again I am only a freshman and though we don’t seem to be doing a lot right now, I know we’ll learn so much more and hopefully I’ll start to do more things on my own with it… so that’s those requirements. </p>

<p>I mean, I may be overthinking it and all, but to “help you help me”, here is a link to Kent’s coursework for the Animation/Game Design…
[Technology</a> - 2+2 Option Program Requirements](<a href=“http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2010/collegesprograms/ct/ug/tech-2p2-progreq.cfm]Technology”>http://www.kent.edu/catalog/2010/collegesprograms/ct/ug/tech-2p2-progreq.cfm)</p>

<p>And here’s SCAD’s BFA and MFA coursework for Animation…
[SCAD</a> > Programs > Animation > Bachelor of Fine Arts](<a href=“BFA in Animation | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation | SCAD.edu”>BFA in Animation | Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation | SCAD.edu)
[SCAD</a> > Programs > Animation > Master of Fine Arts](<a href=“M.F.A. in animation | SCAD.edu”>M.F.A. in animation | SCAD.edu)</p>

<p>And BFA and MFA for Interactive design and game development…
[SCAD</a> > Programs > Interactive Design and Game Development > Bachelor of Fine Arts](<a href=“http://www.scad.edu/interactive-design-and-game-development/bfa.cfm#programButtons]SCAD”>http://www.scad.edu/interactive-design-and-game-development/bfa.cfm#programButtons)
[SCAD</a> > Programs > Interactive Design and Game Development > Master of Fine Arts](<a href=“http://www.scad.edu/interactive-design-and-game-development/mfa.cfm#programButtons]SCAD”>Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Interactive Design & Game Development | SCAD.edu)</p>

<p>The 2d animation and things like claymation stopmotion don’t really interest me as much as the Pixar-ish and video game aspect of the technology, though if I go just for MFA it hopefully is more concentrated with 3d… I also don’t know if it’s worth double majoring in both things at SCAD if I transfer and leave out the fine art degree…which I still feel would help with practice because I’m also extremely interested in being able to be a great digital matte painter well for concept art. SCAD does have a concept art “minor/concentration”, though I there looks to be only two ‘concept illustration’ classes where digital painting would come into play… So many decisions ): </p>

<p>Anyway, sorry for my ranting hah, but to really answer your questions~

  1. I’m not entirely sure, and as much as I don’t like asking that personal info I would be willing to. And I don’t think I would mind paying off a loan or two, and I would look so much harder for scholarships if they let me go.
  2. Yes, though with the new 4year Animation major that kent will be making for next year, I’m afraid they’re going to make it more “engineering” rather than “game design”-geared. There’s already 3 or 4 animation classes , a few other modeling/light/design classes and the yucky programming classes… but I really won’t know until the dean releases information on the future coursework… </p>

<p>In your opinion, looking at the links I gave you, is it worth the 4 years at kent, not really knowing how much the curriculum will change, and then work harder to make a portfolio for grad school, or do I transfer… I mean, now that I think about I COULD be over worrying about Kent, it’s just that knowing what courses go on elsewhere, I feel like I would be slightly missing out… even though I love a lot of certain things about Kent. so many darn decisions hah.</p>

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<p>Also, a very kind person told me that it’s smart to stay at a state school with a good program, and then move onto better things, because I’ll have more options later on. Which I do believe in…that’s why I am at Kent with bigger plans later on. But it’s just hard to make myself believe that 100%.
I guess I’m just really curious as to what others think about this situation, I apologize if I’m overthinking everything, but I truly appreciate anyone and everyone’s response :)</p>

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<p>Also, I don’t know if I would be able to go to grad school straight out of college or after an internship, I’m afraid that it would take a few years to make some money on my own, so I guess that’s also why I’m itching to get that more in depth experience at a SCAD, MICA, USC etc under my belt as soon as possible… ech, I don’t know. :|</p>

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<p>Hey I go to Kent also. I am transferring to OSU next year though. First, I would compare the courses at SCAD to Kent’s design courses and see how different they will be. When I considered transferring I talked with an advisor at OSU first and got their take. Email an advisor at SCAD and tell them your dilemma. They really can help. I’d say go ahead an apply because based on your post it sounds like you really want to go there. If that’s what you want to do, go for it. If you don’t get it, stay here in Kent for another semester, work on that portfolio and try again.</p>

<p>P.S. Yeah, there are a lot of ditzies and jocks here. Glad my dorm is one of the more quiet ones. Last year it was reeeeaaaally bad.</p>

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<p>Awesome! :smiley:
Hm an advisor would be best… I think I’ve probably been emailing the wrong people at SCAD. But that sounds like a really good idea. I’ll try to be nonstop working on a few portfolios and talk to the advisors too then. Thanks (: </p>

<p>ps, I’m SO glad someone else feels the same way about the people here hah!</p>

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<p>You’re welcome! Best of luck to you.</p>

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<p>SCAD is a fine school in a wonderful city. Its very well known in that field. BUT…its an art school…so artsy. Savannah is an artsy town. So not sure you get away from the party animals. </p>

<p>Kent State is respected on many levels. Some of the party animals there will calm down…grades do that. Flunk out or parents get involved. And sometimes they get tired of partying. Maturity takes hold. So sometimes persevering is the answer. Focus on your work and not on the animals. Even Harvard and Princeton have irresponsible party animals. Fact.</p>

<p>You are in a high demand but highly competitive field. Sometimes its about contacts…and contacts often come from faculty…and then internships which develop into real jobs. So do an assessment of that.</p>

<p>Be rational, objective and fair. Transfering is often overrated. But sometimes its needed for specific situations. </p>

<p>I am generally in favor of staying put and working through problems…as that is a good life lesson in and of itself. And school is not just about raw academics/prestige. Its about growing up and transitioning to adulthood. Good luck.</p>