There are a number of factors to consider when choosing the best animation college. These include researching the faculty, including their previous experience and achievements, and deciding on the type of animation you want to study. Other tips include learning about the school’s placement program, if they have one, and finding out about the types of equipment and software made available to students. The cost of the course also is an important consideration, although cheaper schools don’t necessarily provide the best value for the money.
Before choosing an animation college, it’s a good idea to research the people who teach the course. If a teacher has experience in the animation industry, then he or she is more likely to provide a practical course with advice that’s relevant to real-world situations. Course instructors with lots of experience also may have industry contacts that can prove beneficial after graduation.
There are many career paths one can follow after studying animation, so it’s important to decide which type you want to pursue. An animation college may provide a general course that covers a number of industries, or it may focus on one particular type of animation. Examples of possible career paths include film animation and working in the computer games industry.
An important part of starting out in the animation industry, as with most creative industries, is getting real-world experience. Many colleges and educational institutions assist their students in finding a good industry placement. This provides invaluable real-world experience and helps the student to develop a strong curriculum vitae (CV). Before signing up with an animation college, it's a good idea to check on whether the course includes help with finding a placement and where previous students have been placed.
Animation is a technical and fast-paced industry, so one of the advantages of studying at a high-quality animation college is having access to the latest equipment. For this reason, you should make sure you research the facilities available at the colleges you're considering. If a college only provides access to equipment that you could use on your own anyway, then it may be worth looking for a better alternative.
There are a number of other factors when choosing the best animation college. The location of the school is important, because some students are more willing than others to relocate large distances for the best college. Other things to research include the reputation of the school, including feedback from previous students if it is available, and how long it takes to complete the course.