Loans, Worth It?
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- jimzyk0
sounds a bit mental to me.
i came out of design school without any debt and fuck im glad now as i've just got a new mortgage for our home.
if you're already in the industry and think you can improve yourself i would say keep going in the real world working and pushing yourself.im not so sure that would be time & money (especially that much!!) well spent.
but who knows, i could be very wrong.
- Jaline0
I'm with airey and sputnik on this one.
Don't spend that much. However, I would suggest that you go to a university (as Mimio pointed out) with a lower tuition and find a program that works for you (hopefully a design one). If you can work for a year or something and get some money for school, do it. Otherwise, I don't think a smaller loan is such a huge deal if you have a plan in mind (and if you can try to work while taking classes).
As airey said, you have to determine a few things about yourself first. Are you a better learner in school, or out in the field? Or both? Some programs have internships and jobs available after you graduate. Design is more focused on portfolio work compared to your education.
However, unless you are an amazing designer, I would argue that most positions require some kind of education if you want to move ahead later on during your career or if you are competing with someone else. Plus, it gives people the illusion that you have the skills (ie. time management, organization, following instructions, critical thinking, teamwork, versatility, etc.) taught in school, whether you learn that stuff and retain it or not. It just allows you to have more of a chance with certain employers.
Whenever someone tells me that school is useless, I point out that there are things you learn in school that you would never have thought of otherwise.
As I said above though, it really depends on what kind of a learner you are, and if you can find a school that works more for you without you needing a huge loan.
- Jaline0
I mean, you could argue that, in order to be "an amazing designer" (as I said in the previous post), you should be getting more "real-world" (whatever that means......school = real world, in my opinion) experience. That's why I asked what kind of learner you are. I still think going to a university may do more good than bad in the long run. Just don't pay the kind of money you are planning on paying for this specific program without some kind of plan. Work at the same time, at the very least.
- Agreed. For some people school is the best way to build a sick portfolio.Lo_Fi
- kerus0
120k is more like 200k++ when youre done paying interest
still worth it?
- sputnik20
at the last 3 companies where i worked (2 dot-com, one design studio) a bachelor's was mandatory. you wouldn't even get past HR to show your portfolio with the first 2, and you had to be a shit-hot designer to bypass the degree issue with the latter. it's not just about design skills, it's also about maturity, working with direction and structure etc.
this could mean a bachelor's from a cheaper uni or a top design school...i'm just saying that nowadays, degrees open a lot of doors.
- vespa0
Does sound like a lot of money, can you research how well their students do in getting work afterwards and what sort of work is they are getting?
Your decision should depend on what your longer term goals are, what sort of design you ultimately want to be doing, i.e. something you won't be bored of in 2 year's time.
I always used to think having a degree didn't really matter because no-one ever asks to see it, but the other day someone reminded me that if you ever want to live and work overseas it's easier if you have official qualifications.
- sputnik20
surely there's a middle ground between no degree, and a $120k degree?
- ukit0
There are two things you can gain out of a design degree IMO.
One is the skills - learning the software, design theory and technique, etc. Ask yourself if it's worth 120k to learn that, or if you can just learn it on your own, or for cheaper.
The other is just the fact of having the degree itself. Not having a degree at all is definitely going to inhibit your ability to find a good job, but having a degree from SVA may not help that much. Companies tend to look much more at the work you have done.
So overall I would say having a degree is important, in that it will be an impediment if you don't have one at all. But don't count on it helping you that much in getting a job. If I had to choose between having a degree and a shit portfolio, or a kick ass portfolio and no degree, I would choose the second one.
- cannonball0
Art school is like waiting to start life... and paying for it. The job is actually moving on with life, and getting paid for it. Both make you do work.
- skelly_b0
You don't want a giant loan, hovering over you for the next 20+ years. I have too many friends that are being held back by student loans.
Do you need the education? To be a designer, no. If you have the desire to learn go to a university and get a more generalized education while working as a designer on the side. Learn to write, study art, computer science, philosophy, and whatever else you are interested. Be a well-rounded human first. If you continue to enjoy design, keep working in the field.
Now to pay for that don't put your whole life on loans for five years. You will work it off for many years if you do that. Borrow as little as you possibly can. Work part-time and live as frugally as possible.
Don't go to art school. Loads of hogwash for kids who don't know what to do with themselves.
- RussellBeazell0
Thank you everyone! As of right now I'm thinking that I'll find work as a designer and go to a cheaper university simultaneously...That might change but that's what I'm thinking right now. I realize now that I wanted to go to SVA specifically for the experience of going to a fancy art school and not because it will improve my life after. I want to get a bachelors for the education and because I need it to get in some doors. Thank you everyone I really appreciate it!
- Please don't let a QBN thread influence your choice for higher education. Actually, yeah do it.Lo_Fi
- maps0
What is the studio that offered you the job?
- Lo_Fi0
Educate yourself and use the loan to invest in real estate.... or buy yourself a Ferrari.
- funkage0
Don't mind if I butt in.
I find myself in a somewhat similar dilemma to Russell's. I've got a diploma in 'Digital Media Design' and have started working since I've completed my mandatory 2-year military service. The thing is, I'm getting sick of doing web and have discovered an interest in the print sector of our industry. I have been contemplating going over to the UK to study visual comm and typography and found an institute in Bournemouth offering what I'd like to pursue.
Like Russell, I've been wondering if I should take up a loan and just head over to the UK, or save up on my current salary and jump when the time is ripe.
What say you?
- two things to keep in mind: 1. print pays less. 2.UK colleges charge 3 times as much for overseas students :(vespa
- cannonball0
Print falls under design. See all the rationale above.
- Just wondering if I should invest in a jump from web to print. Thanks, anyway.funkage
- epete220
you better get a masters for 120k
- nikdaum0
Having that much loan over your head will put too much pressure on making money. Personally, I don't think it's worth it. You could spend a lifetime paying that shit off.
- spookykat0
I guess you already have a general consensus but I live in New York and went to FIT. Its not worth the price for SVA, maybe Pratt or Parsons but definitely not SVA after evaluating their work. True they do have better workshops and teachers but that doesn't buy you experience.
I would got to a CUNY or SUNY and absorb as much as I can, as well as work at the same time. Debt is never worth having. Good luck.
- You can accumulate a lot of life experience traveling on 120kLo_Fi
- Lo_Fi0
I just finished paying off my student loan (nothing close to 120K), and I can tell you it's such a relief. In hindsight though, a degree is really meaningless in my field but the discipline I gained and connections I made were probably worth the expense (being in a creative pressure-cooker was good too). In the end whatever you decide to do will be right for you, as long as you have the right attitude going in and can learn from the experience it will be worthwhile. Just make sure you don't do it for the diploma alone, if you do it will never be worth it.
....Dr. Phil has left the building.
- peddy28isgreat0
However, remember folks if he doesn't go get a degree, he'll probably vote McCain.