hello.
just looking for some peoples opinions, as im out of ideas and getting genuinely depressed at this whole situation.
I started at ARU last year (2008-9) doing forensic science after getting decent a-level grades (in social sciences) and then an access to science course (to focus my studies)
when i got there, the course was a shambles, lecturers not being there, being taught the exact same thing in 2 lectures in a row (thats the same 2 hour lecture on the History of a microscope, twice in a row...by the same person!)
the people who i met on the course, who like me, where there for the course, not to be students, were also annoyed, and both left before i did.
(i finished the year)
because it was such a joke, i spoke to the careers people, and moved courses, and at the Uni, there are 2 similar courses "Computer Gaming and Animation" and "Computer gaming and VFX" and i know the stigma around games design courses, but according to them, they've had graduates go onto decent companys, and have good connections.
so i spoke to the course director of the first, and he explained the course, and then went to the other, who explained that this was a new course, designed after speaking to companies in the industry, and shaped around what would be their perfect graduate. and it was apparently based around the entire development of the game. (Programming and back end, as well as graphics), which would enable us to get into a technical director's postion on graduation, or pursue further qualifications such as an Msc computer science
So the course starts, and when i get to the induction, it's "Cambridge School of Art" so im thinking "err...okaaayyy..." and in the class we get a 20 min break down of Autodesk maya, and then are asked to animate a pre-modeled and rigged character to wave.
fair enough.
next day, after we all struggled with this, the response is "okay cool, now animate a two person dialogue, with lip syncing, and an enviroment"
and other lectures involve an old lady telling us about the history of PrintMaking, and discussions of film grammar, and Bram Stocker's Dracula.
So far we've hardly learnt anything (and nearing the end of the year) and speaking to some programmers that came in, we're in no way going to be qualified to get a job after we finish. and speaking to those in the year above, they spent almost their whole first year learning Maya, whereas we've had maybe 2 hours tops?
i spoke to the other people who are working their asses off like me, and they've said they're really annoyed too. (the lazy people dont seem to care)
The problem is now, i only have 2 years of funding left, i wont get a job out of this, and its unlikely i can go onto a Masters (which was the plan as im saving some money by staying at home that can to go towards it)
so i cant really go elsewhere.
really dunno what i can do now, i feel lied to by the university, who simply wanted me to sign up, and then messed me around till the fees deadline, so i owe them this year's funding too. and i know this qualification is going to be useless, and not what they said it was going to be.
Are there any other options to go from A-level/Access to get into the computing industry? in a similar timespan as finishing a 'real' uni course and moving on?
or do i just have to kick up such a stink with the few people on the course who feel the same that it somehow magically changes?
really run out of ideas myself now, as ive worked my ass off for the past few years with work and college/uni and it just feels ive got no where, and wont get anywhere.
sorry for the really long rant, just hope someone has some advice.
thanks in advance
just looking for some peoples opinions, as im out of ideas and getting genuinely depressed at this whole situation.
I started at ARU last year (2008-9) doing forensic science after getting decent a-level grades (in social sciences) and then an access to science course (to focus my studies)
when i got there, the course was a shambles, lecturers not being there, being taught the exact same thing in 2 lectures in a row (thats the same 2 hour lecture on the History of a microscope, twice in a row...by the same person!)
the people who i met on the course, who like me, where there for the course, not to be students, were also annoyed, and both left before i did.
(i finished the year)
because it was such a joke, i spoke to the careers people, and moved courses, and at the Uni, there are 2 similar courses "Computer Gaming and Animation" and "Computer gaming and VFX" and i know the stigma around games design courses, but according to them, they've had graduates go onto decent companys, and have good connections.
so i spoke to the course director of the first, and he explained the course, and then went to the other, who explained that this was a new course, designed after speaking to companies in the industry, and shaped around what would be their perfect graduate. and it was apparently based around the entire development of the game. (Programming and back end, as well as graphics), which would enable us to get into a technical director's postion on graduation, or pursue further qualifications such as an Msc computer science
So the course starts, and when i get to the induction, it's "Cambridge School of Art" so im thinking "err...okaaayyy..." and in the class we get a 20 min break down of Autodesk maya, and then are asked to animate a pre-modeled and rigged character to wave.
fair enough.
next day, after we all struggled with this, the response is "okay cool, now animate a two person dialogue, with lip syncing, and an enviroment"
and other lectures involve an old lady telling us about the history of PrintMaking, and discussions of film grammar, and Bram Stocker's Dracula.
So far we've hardly learnt anything (and nearing the end of the year) and speaking to some programmers that came in, we're in no way going to be qualified to get a job after we finish. and speaking to those in the year above, they spent almost their whole first year learning Maya, whereas we've had maybe 2 hours tops?
i spoke to the other people who are working their asses off like me, and they've said they're really annoyed too. (the lazy people dont seem to care)
The problem is now, i only have 2 years of funding left, i wont get a job out of this, and its unlikely i can go onto a Masters (which was the plan as im saving some money by staying at home that can to go towards it)
so i cant really go elsewhere.
really dunno what i can do now, i feel lied to by the university, who simply wanted me to sign up, and then messed me around till the fees deadline, so i owe them this year's funding too. and i know this qualification is going to be useless, and not what they said it was going to be.
Are there any other options to go from A-level/Access to get into the computing industry? in a similar timespan as finishing a 'real' uni course and moving on?
or do i just have to kick up such a stink with the few people on the course who feel the same that it somehow magically changes?
really run out of ideas myself now, as ive worked my ass off for the past few years with work and college/uni and it just feels ive got no where, and wont get anywhere.
sorry for the really long rant, just hope someone has some advice.
thanks in advance
