Ariet

Hi! I was kind of hoping for a bit of advice.I am currently a product designer and I am more passionate about how things solve problems and less interested in the ascetics so I want to shift careers. Currently, I am learning python, taking a few undergrad math classes from ASU, & have about 6 years experience in the tech industry as a product designer. I get that I could likely go to coding boot camp to make the switch but I want more then just learning how to code. I want to understand why things work, I want to learn in an environment that would allow for experimentation, & I have a bunch of different interests in computer science so I am hoping that a master may help me narrow down those interest. I have a few different options to prep for apply in 2021 since I need more CS coursework and need to be able to code better. For most of the programs I looked at require additional math and CS coursework but nothing that couldn't be done quickly though ASU online. So far, here are my ideas: Go to boot-camp Get a post-baccalaureate in CS Do a DIY approach where I use a combo of free/cheap learning materials, hire a mentor, make a few things, take the prerequisites individually I am mediocre on paper as a student, I have a 3.1 since I had to work full time during more of college and my bachelors of science is in media and communication so additional course work in theory could bring my grade up but I have about 200 credits so I am not sure if getting a second BS is worth it. I am pretty good at independently learning since everything I currently know for work is stuff I learned on my own time. I know this topic or ones like it have been posted quite a but I was hoping for specific feedback. Technically this will be my second time applying to grad school but the first go around resulted getting in to 1/10 and me deciding to just gain work experience instead since I didn't get funding.

Thank you for heads up!

My background, I have a BS in communication at a mediocre school in OR. I really want to study PTSD and create effective treatments for veterans. I am currently a freelance visual designer and have been working in my field for 4 years. I think the best way to do this would be to go pre-med and try to become a psychiatrist. I have not started the hours of research to figure out what path I need to make this happen but I know I want this, bad. There is no much research lacking in that department and I know I can help people. I have also considered a hybrid degree involving AI, computer science, and medicine. So with a 3.01 undergrad GPA in communication, is this an insane desire? Or do I have a chance? I wanna add that the first time around I had an infant and was unmedicated ADHD, I am currently medicated and have a full-time nanny. I haven't taken the MCAT yet. So what are your guy's thoughts? Should I take the MCAT and see where I am at? give up entirely? focus on something closer to my field?

DrF8: Thanks for bring up Parsons. The program looks like it may be a really good fit for my interests though I haven't really finalized where I am applying yet. Good luck to you also. neetasharma750: No problem, I just figured if I could save someone else hours of monotonous research why not right.

It depends on where you go and how good you are. Having a awesome portfolio is always going to be the best option when trying to land a gig but out here(Seattle) companies hire from LWIT which is a 2 year program as much as they do from grad programs or undergrad. I personally don't think it matters to much as where you go as long as you gain the skill sets you need to be good at what you do. When I switched gears, I went back to community college for a few animation/game design courses and found that most of what I learned could be picked up online. biisis is right about Unity being a huge resource, also you may want to check out https://www.khanacademy.org/ or https://www.launchcode.org/resources to brush up on programming and http://www.lynda.com/ is also a huge resource for the animation side of things. YouTube is gold, I am currently working on my first interactive piece and YouTube basically acts as my personal help desk. Another big thing is location though, you are gonna want to be in a good market. For example Seattle has paid game testing gigs that are pretty much are a foot in the door for anyone without a formal education. We also have tons of studios making it easier to find internships and meet people. Networking is important and will get you hired, and that is an understatement. Check out conventions(PAX,E3,SIC...) and go to mixers, both are great for meeting folks and making connections. Good luck, hope that helps.

Oh and PennDesign also works for animation. Joshua Mosley does mixed media animation, so if your interested in stop motion or more avant grad and less industry this might be a good fit.

Thanks, I also spaced adding my short list since I was still researching when I posted. UW also has a Human Centered Design and Engineering MS program which I hear is pretty good. University of Michigan, Art MFA University of Denver, Emergent Digital Practice MFA UC Santa Cruz, DANM Virginia Tech Creative Technology MFA MIT Media Lab Hunter IMA

This is an incomplete list of media arts/animation/interactive design MFA programs I came across during my search of programs to apply to in 2016. I thought this list may be helpful. The programs with * next to the names are funded, most programs listed have some sort of funding and some may be fully funded also but due to time constraints I stopped researching when it became clear program wasn't a good fit for my interests. So there is not complete funding info for all of them. Hopefully this helps someone, good luck and feel free to post any programs I missed. CCNY, Digital & Interdisciplinary Arts http://edm.arts.ccny.cuny.edu/diap/wpdiap/ Tulane, Digital Media* http://pandora.tcs.tulane.edu/art/studio_print_grad.html University of New Mexico, Electronic Art http://art.unm.edu/electronic-arts/ UC, Irvine, Digital Art MFA http://studioart.arts.uci.edu/graduate University Of Oregon, Digital Media MFA* http://art.uoregon.edu/academics/grad Alfred University, Electronic Integrated Arts MFA http://art.alfred.edu/graduate/mfa-eia/ Indiana University, Digital Art MFA http://www.indiana.edu/~finaweb/test/cms/fina/areas/digital-art San Francisco State University, Information Arts MFA http://www.sfsu.edu/~cdmain/ Rensselaer Polytechnic Electronic Art MFA http://catalog.rpi.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=4&poid=673&bc=1 SDSU, Multimedia MFA, http://art.sdsu.edu/areas_of_study/graduate_studies/ George Mason, New Media MFA http://catalog.gmu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=19&poid=17623&returnto=4105 UI,New Media MFA http://www.art.illinois.edu/content/graduate/admissions/mfa-studio-design/ Purdue, Interaction Design Mfa http://www.cla.purdue.edu/ad/industrial/interaction_design.html University of Georgia, Dramatic media http://www.drama.uga.edu/ University of South Wales, MA Animation http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/138-ma-animation Washington University in St. Louis, MFA Visual Art https://samfoxschool.wustl.edu/academics/college-of-art/mfa-in-visual-art CSULA, Animation MFA http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/art/MA%20MFA.php USC, Animation MFA http://anim.usc.edu/about/curriculum/mfa/ SCAD, Animation MFA https://www.scad.edu/academics/programs/animation/degrees/mfa RIT, Animation http://www.rit.edu/programs/film-and-animation-formerly-film Pratt Animation https://www.pratt.edu/academics/school-of-art/undergraduate-school-of-art/ug-digital-arts/emphasis/2d-animation/ Temple Interactive Design MFA http://tyler.temple.edu/degree/mfa-graphic-interactive-design Emily Carr, Master of Digital Media http://www.ecuad.ca/programs/gradstudies/mdm WPI, game design http://www.wpi.edu/academics/imgd.html Drexel, Animation MFA http://catalog.drexel.edu/undergraduate/collegeofmediaartsanddesign/animationandvisualeffects/ NYU, Game Design MFA http://gamecenter.nyu.edu/academics/game-design-mfa/ LSU, Digital Art MFA http://design.lsu.edu/art/programs/digital-art/ OSU Art and Technology MFA http://artandtech.osu.edu/grad.html CCA, Interaction Design https://www.cca.edu/academics/interaction-design Carnegie Mellon ETC Mfa http://www.etc.cmu.edu/ University of Connecticut, Digital Art http://dmd.uconn.edu/ Ball State University, Animation MFA http://cms.bsu.edu/academics/collegesanddepartments/art/graduate-programs/mfa-visual-arts/mfa-animation San Jose State University, Digital Art http://www.sjsu.edu/art/art_programs/undergraduate/digital_media_art_undergraduate/ NYIT, Animation MFA http://www.nyit.edu/fine_arts/programs/mfa/computer_graphics_animation/ SUNY Buffalo Media Production * http://mediastudy.buffalo.edu/ Clemson Digital Production http://www.cs.clemson.edu/vcadmin/dpa/ SUVA Motion Graphics MFA http://www.suva.edu/mfa.html Digipen, Digital Art MFA https://www.digipen.edu/academics/degree-programs/digital-arts/ UCSB, Digital Media MFA http://artsite.arts.ucsb.edu/graduate/ UCLA, Animation MFA http://www.tft.ucla.edu/programs/film-tv-digital-media-department/graduate-degrees/animation-mfa/ *edited for grammar & spelling

So far this is the only place I got in and I haven't been able to to get much feedback on the program. I was just wondering if anyone is familiar with it? Right now I am trying to decide weather I should go or reapply next year to programs that would be a better fit for me.Any advice would be helpful.

Has anyone heard anything about SUNY Bockport's Visual Studies MFA?

Just got rejected from University of Mass, Dartmouth and wait-listed for Maine College of Art, I still haven't heard back from PennDesign (who is posting decisions on friday), UMBC, Brockport, and University of Colorado but for some reason it just feel like I just didn't make the cut because I bombed my UPenn interview and sort of feel like my portfolio is really weak. I am trying to look at all of this as a chance to work on my portfolio for another year but the rejection really really sucks...

Since AAU has a 100% acceptance rate, a high staff turn over I'd recommend Syracuse. I actually applied to the video program at Syracuse and was considering AAU when I first started looking at programs. I did a decent amount of research on AAU and while there were a small amount of positive feedback most was very negative.I'd advise you to check out reviews for a better idea of what I'm talking about. Also, the price tag is WAY different, Syracuse is like 10k cheaper a year so inless you have like 60k(AAU admission estimate for 3 yrs) lying around I would strongly consider going to Syracuse. Hope that helps. ...

Here is the information I got when I called the school last month, spoke with Carol and found I did not make the cut. Their is a wait list that they have as a bit of stand by just in case the first choice folks don't go. From my understanding this list is not published nor has anyone been notified that they are on this list. I would call if you want to know where you stand, they will flat out tell you. I knew I had been rejected a week before they got the email out (2/24) and it seems like that if you have not been officially rejected at this point it is likely you are on the wait list if you haven't heard anything. Still no information I or anyone can give you will replace actually speaking to the department.

Received my rejection email from UCSB, I already knew but I'd thought I would post just incase anyone is waiting on word from them......God, I would kill for some good news about now.

This is how I am feeling right about now since I was officially rejected from Sryacuse(Art Video) via email and unofficially rejected from PSU(Studio Practice) and UCSB.(I called both schools) The only interview I have so far is with University of Pennsylvania, which was originally for the 12th but has been rescheduled twice so it is now this Thursday...Not really sure if I should read into the fact that they seem to be in no real hurry to speak with me. UPenn is my first choice so hopefully it doesn't mean to much.