Art Institute of LA
Hey polycount.
So as some of you know... I'm in the college application process. I've been looking at a bunch of schools and one of them is the Art Institute of LA. Last night I had a 2 hour phone interview that went really well. But I'm looking for some more information from alumni of the Game Art program.
I'm looking for any information/opinions on faculty, facilities, and quality of education. But I also would like it if only the people who have had experience with the school or are alumni's of the school respond. That way I know your opinion is based on your experience and not with what you have heard.
Thanks
Talbot
So as some of you know... I'm in the college application process. I've been looking at a bunch of schools and one of them is the Art Institute of LA. Last night I had a 2 hour phone interview that went really well. But I'm looking for some more information from alumni of the Game Art program.
I'm looking for any information/opinions on faculty, facilities, and quality of education. But I also would like it if only the people who have had experience with the school or are alumni's of the school respond. That way I know your opinion is based on your experience and not with what you have heard.
Thanks
Talbot
Replies
I still maintain that it is a better idea to get a computer science degree, and work on game art in your free time.
So can learning on your own but having a degree is a nice thing to have even though in our industry it is not a must have.
As long as you get the right teachers, it can be worth every penny. I recommend AI Sand Deigo. Carlos Dominges and Don Ott teach their. OC might be worth looking into. Dont talk to the REPS. They are full of lies. Talk to the teachers on the off hours or even students. Finally, look at their CURRENT portfolio work specific to game art. Worth seeing what type of work the school is putting out their that isnt 10 years old.
I work with a handful of graduates from the LA school here at High Moon though, and for the most part they seem to have had a pretty positive experience. If you really want some "insider" info, like others have said, look through some of the many school threads we have around here.
Definitely agree with what Paul is saying about current portfolio pieces. I see this at the school I attended as well as where I have taught in that what they are showing isn't always the most current, and they will only show a very small handful of student work. I completely understand why that is from a marketing standpoint - but if 50% or more of the students aren't producing current-gen quality art, start asking why.
The school did a fine job in pointing me in the right direction and the instructors do their best to keep slackers at bay and ensuring students are prepared with sharp portfolios before they leave. Just like any school however, it's up to individuals to persue their desires and invest the extra effort outside of school to succeed. I can't stress this enough. Graduation and getting a job is one feat, actually working in a Studio is where the real learning starts.
http://boards.polycount.net/showthread.php?p=888425
Really? I went to AI Chicago and had a majorly positive experience. You can get a lot out of the teachers there (especially now that certain teachers who got their jobs through nepotism have been shown the door).
There seems to be two types of students there, those who blame their failure on the school and those who shut the fuck up and try to learn something. I graduated alongside this guy, which makes me feel a small but humbling sense of inadequacy every day.
My main problem was that I was perpetually about three months behind the curve, which in itself is about three months behind where it should be. As my life drawing teacher put it "by the time you pass my class you will be ready for my class". I couldn't help but feel that the teachers I had who were working at Midway, while amazingly helpful, were operating on a level just out of my comprehension. Meanwhile, Dave there, he'd been in Zbrush since high school.
So in other words, if you are going to sign up make sure you've got a bit of experience under your belt, make some low poly characters for the 500 tris thread. Get some DVDs if you can, Gnomonology has some good stuff. Also, save up some money, because Sallie Mae is essentially legalized loan sharking.
edit: Ok, I just checked out your site. Yeah, you should be able to get a lot out of the school if the teachers there are as knowledgeable as some of the ones in Chicago. Still, avoid Sally Mae like the plague.
I second this. I did the AI thing. They taught me the basics, I learned the rest on polycount. Looking back I really wish I did a traditional art school. AI will teach you the tools, but they won't really teach you to be an artist. Just my two cents.
Nick Marks runs AI LA from what I heard and he knows his shit. I went to AIOC but I learned a lot from him and his videos. I also work with 3 guys who went to AILA and 2 are artists and one designer and they are the shit! I have also seen some of the other students succeed form there and their stuff is top class too.
I don't know if I would encourage someone to spend 70 to 80k though for what it is.. But read the threads here and see what others recommend and have to say. Good Luck.
Learning tools is easy compared to learning how to make good art. I'd suggest you look into doing more traditional art than digital stuff, but in the end it is always up to you to decide