I recently posted about 'degree anxiety' as well. I'm going into computer animation and I'm getting my degree at a school that, well, isn't going to be recognized by anyone who reads my resume unless they happen to be from that area lol.
The thing is though, I'm still going to be learning the same software and the same concepts as someone from full sail and UAT does. But what I really need to work hard on is to be better than them out of the gate. If I can knock the socks of my instructors, pimp them for their industry contacts and then rock the hiring managers face off with my resume, then I don't really have to worry about anything. To them, as long as your work is displayed nicely, your good at what you do and you have that 'piece of paper' then your good to go.
That 'piece of paper' is much more than saying you know how to do something though. It also tells your employer that you can work towards goals, can meet deadlines, have a higher education, have been formally taught, and can follow directions.
Not only that, but if something falls through with getting into the industry (which is hard in and of itself), then you have a Bachelor of Science to fall back on. A BOS is a degree that rounds you out pretty well and makes you very marketable to any type of field relating to it. You could probably get into a job where you'll be coding medical instruments instead of video games. It's that versatile.
I recommend saving your dollars and going to a lesser known school and spend your time and energy into building a sweet portfolio.
"If I have seen a little further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants" - Isaac Newton
-Computer Animation Major @Baker.edu-
