Study Overseas

Which One Will You Choose?

According to recent news and industry reports, there is a growing demand for qualified, experienced new media specialists such as Web Designers, Webmasters, Project Managers, Promotion Specialists and Web Administrators. In response to this, many training institutes, educational facilities, colleges and universities are now offering full-time programs and part-time courses in new media technology. With so many options, how do you choose which one is right for you?

There are several different types of education to choose from and they range from more traditional university format to non-traditional, immersion-based programs. To decide which is right for you, you need to understand what your long-term goals are. Then you can choose the best way to reach those goals.

In order to help define your goals, ask yourself what you expect to gain from a new media program? What is your financial and personal situation? What are you willing to sacrifice in order to concentrate on your studies? How many months or years can you realistically commit to your training? Is there a specific job that you want when you graduate or do you want to explore several possibilities?

Answering these questions honestly will help you to understand the best method of learning for you. Keep in mind the changing technology - how does the length of your chosen program impact on the expanding technology in the industry? Is the length of your studies relevant to industry demand? When you graduate will the demand still be as high or higher? In a year? Two years? Four years?

The best way to find answers is to ask questions. Find out all that you can about several schools, universities, colleges and institutes and about the industry itself. Do your research! Your decision should be an educated one. Ask questions of the school registrar, the program head, the professors, teachers, current and graduate students. Go into the industry and ask the companies that hire. Cover all of your bases - it's in your own best interest. After all, it's your future.

Below is a list of questions that will assist you in making an informed decision.

1. What are the prospects for getting a job in the field of my choice upon completing this program?

Given today's ever changing job market, this is an important question to ask. Where are graduates of this program now working? What is the placement rate in the industry for graduates of this program?
Ask to speak directly with graduates working in the industry and ask them what they feel that they got from the program.

2. Do they have an internship program?

Internship programs are invaluable in providing you with work experience. In this setting, you can put to practice the skills that you have learned and gain valuable work experience. The companies that partner with schools in internship programs often find new employees through these programs. Often, talented students are asked to join the company upon completion of their internship.

Ask to speak with the companies involved in the internship program about what they are looking for when they place an intern and also what they look for when they hire full time.

3. How long is the program?

What is your current situation - will your financial and/or family situation allow you to take the amount of time necessary to complete the program?

Full time programs in new media run anywhere from a few months to several years. Keep in mind -- the multimedia field deals with technology that is quickly changing, evolving and advancing. Will the technology that you learn still be current when you graduate?

4. What is covered in this program?

Does it concentrate on lecture driven courses or is it hands-on? When you graduate, what knowledge and skills will you have? Do these skills reflect market demand? Upon graduation, will your skills and experience open doors in your chosen profession?

Ask for industry references and call companies within the multimedia industry. Ask what they look for when they hire. Compare their needs and expectations with the program content. Ask companies in the industry their opinion of the program.

5. What type of equipment will you have access to?

Is the equipment up-to-date and compatible with what is being used in the industry? The school should be able to tell you which of the leading companies are using the technology they are teaching. If technology is changing - will the program change with it, providing you with access to equipment and programs that will still be considered current when you graduate?

6. What is the ratio of equipment to students?

You want to be in a course where you get to work on the equipment yourself. This is the best way to learn. Be sure to check how much access you have to the equipment. Are the labs open 24 hours a day? What are the limitations to your access to the equipment? Having full-time access to the equipment makes a big difference in the level of learning.

7. What is the experience of the instructors/teachers?

Ask about their knowledge of the technology and the industry. You want an instructor who knows what the workforce is really like in your chosen industry. Look for instructors who still maintain contacts, who return to work in the industry on occasion and have done so recently. The best teachers will be the ones with one foot in the industry and the other one in education. They are the people who know what is going on in the new media work force - what skills, expertise and experience you need to get a job. They will also have networking contacts for you to make use of.

8. What type of atmosphere does the school have?

The new media industry calls for artists, technicians and entrepreneurs. Does the school encourage growth in all of these areas? Does the atmosphere stimulate creativity? How is the school run - as a production house, where the students work on projects similar to those that they would be working on in the industry?

If the school has an information session, go to it. Speak with the person conducting it, ask to speak with students. As you tour the school look for positive energy, activity and professionalism.

9. What is the cost of the course?

There is more to this answer than just dollars and cents. What is the value of the program fee in relation to your future earning potential? When you graduate from this program will you be skilled, knowledgeable and experienced?

Amortise the cost of your education over the number of years it will take you to graduate - for example, a one year course will make you eligible to join the work force earlier than a four year course. Look at the big picture - when can you expect to start earning money instead of paying it out in tuition, living expenses etc. How marketable will you be - your skills, your experience - upon graduation. This is where you will find the true value of the course.

Author

Ruth Anerley
Vancouver Film School