[Liser Studios]

Hello,
I've just been thinking about college. I'm a senior in high school and am looking around for a good college to go to for art. Basically I think I want a place that will give me good training. Heck, if I could get one on one training with Pat Lee, Marvel, or any other pro for a big company; i'd take that over college. I thought that employers look more at how good your portfolio is.
But someone else told me that it doesn't matter how good your portfolio is, what matters is which school you go to. They said that employers won't look at your portfolio and it doesn't mean that much. I think this person is BSing me, but I'm not sure.
So can you honestly tell me what you think is more important, name of school or portfolio?

[Jezebel]

I'm not a pro... but personally I would believe portfolio is more important than the name of your school. But of course having a strong portfolio can also be a direct side effect of going to a great college.

It seems rather silly to me than someone would accept a crappy portfolio from someone from a well-known school over somebody with a great portfolio who studied at a community college for 3 semesters and dropped out. The better artist will always be obvious, no matter what sort of education they have.

But that's just my opinion, I can't speak from experience

[ October 27, 2001: Message edited by: Jezebel ]

[Steven Stahlberg]

In the 3d industry at least I know for sure that the showreel is All Important - we pull the tape out of the envelope first, slam it in the video, and if it looks like crap within the first few seconds, we take it out and toss the whole envelope in the "No" bin without even looking at the cv.

I'd be very much surprised if companies that work with 2d art did it much differently than that.

[Socar MYLES]

No-one's ever even read my resume to the best of my knowledge, let alone asked about my education. Almost every job offer I've ever had has started as follows: "Hello. I saw your art at [venue], and was wondering if you'd be interested in [job]." Or: "We looked at your portfolio, and think your style suits this project."

No-one has ever mentioned where I went to school, or even whether I went to school, to my great annoyance. (I finish my degree this Christmas, and would have liked to think my four years of wasted time and money had gained me SOMETHING...apart, that is, from a permanent dislike of teachers who don't know their students' names by the twelfth week of classes).

[StrangeFate]

uh, whoever told you that the school is what matters must have been on crack.

The portfolio is all what matters, noone cares if you can even spell properly, thx god.

[eyewoo]

Portfolio, Portfolio, Portfolio...!

Underarm and online...

[ October 28, 2001: Message edited by: fleabrain ]

[J Bradford]

The school is important for giving you direction and impoving the portfolio/reel you will show off.

If you can do it on you're own, than go for it. But by going to an art school, if you put in the effort (meaning if you don't it's a lot of money down the drain), then you come out strong.