<p>I think all methods for ranking schools are a little wonky. LOL. I appreciate that USC’s terrific program has been well ranked, of course, but I really don’t believe the ranking of a particular program/school should be a very important factor in decisions. They can be great to lead you to researching a number of schools or alerting you which schools are well thought of, but… Programs such as these are extremely new and wont to experience growing pains, transitions of faculty, etc. Even USC IMGD has gone through a lot of growth and change since my first son was a freshman. However, schools that invest a lot of $$ in facilities should be expected to keep their commitment to grow these programs. I think schools that attract a large number of internships, have formal career fairs, have a career-office to guide students specifically in game design, post a list of companies who attend their functions, and, even better, have a history of producing well-attended showcases for undergrad student games are some keys to look for. It’s also impressive to see current students/alums nominated for and winning awards at the GDC and other competitions. </p>
<p>My son is a junior and is interested in computer science/game development as well. He is trying to choose between doing Carneige Mellon’s 6 week National High School Game Academy and USC’s 4 week course on Introduction to Video Game Design. Does anyone have experience with either program or thoughts about which one would be preferrable? </p>
<p>I am not familiar with the CMU game academy (sounds cool!), and I only know 2 students who attended the USC 4 week course during HS summers–but I will just say (anecdotal info cannot possibly be truly valid–and yet…) both those boys ended up being admitted to USC IMGD and attended. </p>
<p>Does anyone have any experience with UCSC? My son is also interested in marine biology so UCSC would be a first choice for the combined interests. UofU is on our list because of its high rankings. For the record, we’re atheists too but he’s used to being different. Not a skier though! I’m not sure how that will be. </p>
<p>My son did the CMU 6 week program. He certainly learned a lot and had fun. The cons are that it is really taught by TAs who don’t have any real world experience and many of the kids that go don’t care about Game Design- they are just there to show CMU they have “interest”. So my son ended up doing more work on one of his teams bc some kids just didn’t really care. It’s an expensive program given not everyone is engaged.</p>
<p>dustyfeathers, I’ve heard that UCSC is a very good program. It may fall more heavily on the compsci programming side of game design, if that is of interest.</p>
<p>@GameGal27 and @ madbean and any others. He has now been admitted to both the USC and the CMU summer program. Not sure if the USC program is more of just an overview of the industry than hands on, if he would learn as much as at CMU’s game academy, if its in the IMGD facilities; if it is taught by TAs. etc. Which would you choose? Do you think either program is better preparation or would be considered a more valuable experience in the eyes of either the student or either their or other colleges’ admissions officers?</p>
<p>I really don’t know the IMGD Summer program but it must give them some kind of edge if they want to apply to that program eventually. One important consideration is do you think they will walk away with some assets for their portfolio or the skills to be able to create something for their portfolio after the program is done. My son did use assets from the CMU program for his portfolio as well as new programming skills to do some things on his own. I still wasn’t loving the whole “taught by TA” thing though.</p>
<p>Last year I read an article in a local Bay Area newspaper about the UCSC video game program. It came off as very positive.</p>
<p>@GamerGal27 great point. I do see @ CMU they will produce some work product which is great. Reading back I notice CMU was not on the list for your son and USC IMGD is his first choice, but that he choose to go to the CMU game academy. We live in LA so the CMU program would be more costly unless he was to apply for and receive a scholarship. Just making his list of possible colleges. He is willing to go anywhere that has the program he wants and USC, CMU, UC Santa Cruz, RPI seem to make the short list thus far. IMGD requires a portfolio I see. Do other colleges as well? Since we are just starting any guidance appreciated.</p>
<p>CMU only has a grad Game Design program. RPI had an optional portfolio this year but said they are making it mandatory next year. I really like Ben Chang who heads up that program but I see pros and cons with that program. We hear back on March 8th. I heard RPI gives good merit.</p>
<p>@sewingdeedles Other colleges to check out are WPI, RIT, Drexel, DePaul, and Champlain. </p>
<p>My son graduated from USC CS Games last year. Couple of things that might be of interest. CS games is not at all art oriented whereas USC IMG is but IMG is not very focused on coding. They are completely different that way. The CS Games degree requires many of the engineering core classes- math & physics which can be tough for kids who aren’t that math proficient. Take note that the CS games is not really a generalist CS degree and does not set up graduates well for anything but a job as a gaming coder. They cannot step into another CS fields easily. Almost all of my son’s classmates (about 30 out of 35 graduates) had jobs lined up before graduation - starting salaries were about 65 - 75k. These were all coding jobs. I don’t think many IMG kids would be hired as pure coders unless they had taught themselves. Any questions, just ask!</p>
<p>Actually the IMGD program is more about storyline, level design, how to make games fun and engaging, etc. It does have an asset production component as well as one programming class. It offers an interesting sound/music design minor as well.</p>
<p>I knew the CS (games) degree prepared one to be a coder but I thought it was easier to move into other CS roles than what you are saying. It is good to know it may be more difficult.</p>
<p>It’s easier to move into general programming with a CS games degree than most people think. I’ve known several people with games degrees who ended up doing UI programming on non-games projects.</p>
<p>Yes, migrating to UI programming would not be that difficult but that is fairly lightweight as far as programming is concerned. I any case, for most CS Games students at USC, they tend to focus on CS classes/aspects that are exclusive to the gaming industry. It prepares them VERY, VERY well for the industry as coders and they find employment easily since they can step into jobs and contribute productively starting from day one.</p>
<p>Yes, the IMGD program requires ONE coding class. I would suggest that students there should elect to take more during the school year or summers, if possible, or self study beyond that. It will improve employment opportunities dramatically.</p>
<p>Many IMGD students are making mobile games and use Unity 3D, etc. They are not, as a general rule, looking to heavy coding jobs in the future. Some go into Producing, many others level design, but the forward wave are developing their own apps. Take a look, for instance, at a new app released last week produced by an IMGD grad “Threes” which charted as the top mobile paid app on iTunes for a week. Warning–it’s addictive. 
For the person who loves CompSci, the Games specialty is perfect. But for those who want to create the stories, characters, puzzles, etc, they tend to prefer IMGD. In fact, many switch from (Games) to IMGD after they arrive at USC.
As for jobs, virtually everyone who wants a job is employed before graduation. The coders get top dollar right out of college, while the designers make less, as a rule, but if they are entrepreneurial and create their own games they often open their own companies. </p>
<p>Hi again @madbean I always enjoy your posts. How difficult is it to transfer from games to IMGD?</p>
<p>Thanks, GamerGal27. I think it’s a little easier for CompSci (Games) students to transfer to IMGD since they take several classes with the IMGD majors Fresh/soph year anyway. They get to know the IM professors and can build a rapport that may carry over to LoRs and having great portfolio pieces–but they go through the formal application process, must submit that detailed SCA supplement and wait. I believe IMGD does open up a few more slots in the major down the road, too. That said, there is a different culture between Viterbi and SCA, so each seems to be the right fit for their own students. </p>
<p>“Yes, migrating to UI programming would not be that difficult but that is fairly lightweight as far as programming is concerned.”</p>
<p>That really is a very uninformed comment. These were excellent programmers who also had to deal with middleware and databases. Not all UI programming simply involves HTML and Javascript, or doing simple, little interfaces for mobile devices. And most programmers couldn’t program a usable UI if their lives or careers depended on it.</p>
<p>The CS vs. CS Games debate is discussed all the time on the Computer Science/Math forum. From what I can tell, the people who say get a CS degree instead of a CS Games degree are the ones who are still in school or never moved beyond academia. The “so theoretical as to be useless classes” like Analysis of Algorithms or Automata that academics love so much aren’t as valued by employers. The latter would rather have people with hands-on, practical skills.</p>