Getting into student debts?

fishy

Hey all,

I really need advice on something and I am still abit unsure on what I should do.

I graduated from animation about 2 years ago from a college I will not name. I'll have to admit the education was no where up-par with some of the high end art schools. In this industry, your either very good or you suck donkey balls. Now I've done some freelance work on and off, at times it was enough to actually sustain myself. But that hasent been the case for the last year.

Right now I work 6 days as a server at a restaurant, I really like all my co-workers and my managers alot. They are all very cool, and the managers have also been giving me new responsibilities recently which I have been working hard to make sure I'm doing everything right. I'm earning alot more money than I was when doing illustration that's for sure. I also have a social life I never had before becuase I can actually pay for a couple of drinks after work.

But somewhere deep inside me is telling me that even though I'm having fun right now, that this is some temprary state. Just about a month ago I recieved an email from a private art school I had wanted to attend. (graduate level) Asking me if I was still interested in the program from a higher up in the school staff, so I decide to check the school out for myself and talk with the person who sent the mail. Now all that artsy feeling in me started kicking in again, I then applied for FAFSA and apperantly my financial aid package has been granted.

School starts in February, and if I were to start I would go as a part time student and work at the same time. But when I think about it, when I graduate I'm going to be in over $ 50k of student loans.

It's a very good school, and I have met alot of people that graduated from there. Some are in Disney right now, alot of them work for social game companies, while that job may not be as fun but I heard the salaries are pretty good. Good enough to pay off student loans and still be able to actually live.

I dont know if it was fate that I had recieved that email, and that I should take my chances and go back to school and get a proper education if I want to get into the Animation/Illustration field. I mean it was always my childhood dream, but the economy just scares the shit out of me. With unemployment so high I feel very fortunate to be in a better situation than alot of other people seem to be in.

The course normally would take about 2.5 years if I went full time as student. But with the way I planned things out it will take about 3.5, so I have no idea how the economy would be after a couple of years. I mean I live only once, go after a dream? Or should I start consider something that seems alot more safe? I'm 23 btw.

thanks!

WildEEP

Going back to school for a degree isnt a terrible idea - however you need to be realistic about your field.

It is my personal experience that as a animator/illustrator/graphic artist...what really matters is your portfolio. An education is a nice resume line, but at the end of the day, they want to see your work.

So even if you go to school full time - you're going to have to do a hell of a lot more work than just what the course load requires of you. You have to establish a portfolio of work and get it in front of as many sets of eyeballs as you can. School won't teach you how to do that - the best they'll be able to do is establish a framework by which you can practice your art.

50K over that many years isn't as much as you think. Consider it like this - if I buy an Audi or an Infinity..I pay $65,000 for a car, and no one blinks an eye. In 10 years, that car will be practicaly worthless. You're asking to spend $50,000, on something that will only become more and more useful in 10 years, 20 years, 30 +years into the future.

That being said: Art is not a job to be lazy in...but there are many lazy art students.

If you ever want to be able to pay that money back and not live on Ramen until age 65...you cannot afford to be lazy. You have to create an impressive portfolio if you want a shot at jobs that pay.

bowen

Also avoid tech schools. Go to a bonafide university or college so you can get scholarships.

Thundyrkatz

Just remember that graduating from school does not equate getting employed. you have to do the coursework, but you will also have to get out to as many internships as you can. Also, like WildEEP said above, you need to have a solid portfolio of work. Otherwise you will have a fancy $50k piece of paper, to come home to from your serving job every day in 3.5 years.

Djeet

The rule of thumb is don't borrow more than the yearly salary/pay you might expect your 1st year out of school, meaning you should try to only borrow that much over the course of your education and try to make up the difference with scholarship/grants/work income. Though for things like a law or medical degree I think that rule is often broken due to the likelihood of significantly higher pay after some years of practice.