Full Sail University Sponsor

[IBeRamen]

Hello,

I usually lurk around here but wanted everyone to know my experience with Full Sail University. From my honest experience when I applied and was accepted in late 2015/early 2016 I was excited. The more I looked into the school the more I figured it wasn't worth it. The school is expensive (At least on campus not sure about online). It's a private school. For many of their programs like Web Development, etc. you don't take certain Math classes, English, Electives, etc. they focus on your major which I found was a plus. But keep in mind if you want to continue passed your Bachelor's a lot of schools I asked in the area (Orlando, Florida) said they did not accept Full Sail University credit. I could be wrong but take it with a grain of salt.

Thanks.

[Volbet]

Full Sail University just seems like your avarage for-profit university. 

Everything that comes from them I would take with a grain of salt, since for-profit universities don't have the best track record. 

[Networking Wolf]

Its like ITT tech. The school claims they have all these things but in actuality almost everyone of the grads that talk in their commercials are paid actors. My father got a degree from them and struggles to find jobs in IT where as I found a nice position and all I have is an A+ certification. I talked with a local school in Michigan that has a great digital animation game design (if you want to know more private message me) and they have their students for their third year get real life experience meaning internships, then they come back touch up on  a few remaining classes and they get really nice jobs. Some of the grads have formed Indie teams for games. Plus its a lot cheaper than FullSail

[Remixt]

6 hours ago, Volbet said:

Full Sail University just seems like your avarage for-profit university. 

Everything that comes from them I would take with a grain of salt, since for-profit universities don't have the best track record. 

This.

 

I got fucked over by DeVry way back in 2008. Long story.

[meikat]

I think before you go to ANY college, you need to take a good hard look at yourself.  Most jobs today, especially in highly skilled industries care more about certifications that prove you know what you're doing, or your body of work (ie portfolio).  You can learn what Full Sail, or ANY college teaches you through online sources for free/cheap, and if you're one of the people who can do that AND you don't qualify for full scholarships, you should think long and hard about doing that.  Just having a degree in hand for anything in the tech or creative sectors doesn't mean very much at all.  Full Sail is great for people that NEED a scheduled curriculum and cannot push themselves to learn something on their own.  They offer tons of scholarships, especially for women.  They're also very very well known in the movie and game dev industry.  If you go for an interview, there's about a 30-50% chance one of the people looking at your resume is a Full Sail grad.  Now, with that said, no college will get you a guaranteed job. Full Sail has a TON of grads who fall on their face and fail and end up on a phone trying to explain to a customer why their Cell Phone bill is so high.  These grads are very vocal about their hatred for Full Sail, because there's no way it could be their fault.  

 

My girlfriend graduated with 7 awards and was the Valedictorian.  Here we are 2 years later, and her only industry related job was on a project she doesn't get paid for unless it makes a profit.  But we're moving out of state with a 1 year contract for a game related job... FINALLY.  How did she manage that?  She kept her networking contacts from Full Sail.  She went to every damn Game Dev conference she could.  When she didn't get a job, she asked why and worked on those areas of her Portfolio.  She was working two part time jobs plus working on her portfolio constantly.  It takes hard work, luck of knowing the right person, or a little of both to get into a competitive industry like game dev, movies, etc.  She regularly tells people the pros and cons of Full Sail, and insists she could not have learned what she learned there by herself and her $60k student loan debt was totally worth it.  That's for her and ymmv.  They do teach every student basic math and English classes if they are going for an accredited degree (this was not always the case since they used to not be accredited).  Most if not all credits you earn at full sail will not be transferable to another college because Full Sail has a different type of accreditation than most colleges. If you're thinking the Full Sail degree will carry any weight outside of the industry, it will not.  Many people will make fun of you for going to Full Sail because they think you wasted money.  Ignore what other people say, and speak to grads IN THE INDUSTRY.  Get their opinion.  Oh, and if you're not a competitive as hell person, choose an easier industry.  Most game dev positions get 200+ applications within the first few days of posting.  If you're not ready for rejection, get a business degree.

[IBeRamen]

Hell yeah I'm competitive. But I do have my sets of beliefs that you dont have to go get yourself a $60,000 student loan if you want to enter the industry. A degree means a lot of things but its worthless if you dont know what the degree says I agree with you on that. But it doesn't take $60,000 of debt to start out my adulthood shoved with payments for 20 years on the never ending interest that goes to the pockets of already wealthy folks so I can say I know how to program and I have connections. If you're good at something you follow that career and you keep going at it till you get what you want. You said it yourself free sources teach you many things. Yes I do believe going to college is important I wouldn't be writing this if I'm not going to college but I'm lucky I won't be going in debt because of it. Your opinion on full sail is yours and I won't laugh at anyone for going to the school I was accepted and decided I dont want to be in debt. Doesn't mean I won't know how to program. I'll still learn and my work and past experience will speak for itself.

 

PS excuse typos I'm on phone

[SLAYR]

42 minutes ago, IBeRamen said:

Hell yeah I'm competitive. But I do have my sets of beliefs that you dont have to go get yourself a $60,000 student loan if you want to enter the industry. A degree means a lot of things but its worthless if you dont know what the degree says I agree with you on that. But it doesn't take $60,000 of debt to start out my adulthood shoved with payments for 20 years on the never ending interest that goes to the pockets of already wealthy folks so I can say I know how to program and I have connections. If you're good at something you follow that career and you keep going at it till you get what you want. You said it yourself free sources teach you many things. Yes I do believe going to college is important I wouldn't be writing this if I'm not going to college but I'm lucky I won't be going in debt because of it. Your opinion on full sail is yours and I won't laugh at anyone for going to the school I was accepted and decided I dont want to be in debt. Doesn't mean I won't know how to program. I'll still learn and my work and past experience will speak for itself.

 

PS excuse typos I'm on phone

What types of fields are you looking to get into.

 

And degrees do have a purpose, if you want to go into engineering, or medical work you will need a degree from somewhere there is no possible way to get certified without a degree.

 

Look around for scholarships if you work hard enough you can earn more then enough to pay for college through them, though it is hard work to do.

[IBeRamen]

5 minutes ago, SLAYR said:

What types of fields are you looking to get into.

 

And degrees do have a purpose, if you want to go into engineering, or medical work you will need a degree from somewhere there is no possible way to get certified without a degree.

 

Look around for scholarships if you work hard enough you can earn more then enough to pay for college through them, though it is hard work to do.

Of course degrees have a purpose I never meant they dont! Anything is possible even going to college for free if you work hard for it and REALLY want it.

[wildcardNP]

Read my experience if you want my opinion, posted on another thread

 

https://linustechtips.com/main/topic/634246-hows-full-sail-university-online-game-dev/?do=findComment&comment=8234268