The Art Institutes Reviews of Bachelor's in Video Game Design

I did online classes with the Art Institute of Pittsburgh Online Division (I was living in Detroit, MI at the time). When they called me, they managed to get me to enroll even though I had no interest but ended up enrolling, they did waived the enrollment fee for me, however, when I was going through the student loan BS, they didn't explain it well, they told me to just sign it and they will take care of it for me. They claim that they are taking student loans on my behalf but I never consented on... Read More doing so. Classes were not even related to what I'm majoring in. I was majoring in Game Art & Design (I'm a PC gamer). I'm now and still am stuck with minimum wage jobs, but luckily, I didn't stick around too long so I'm stuck with $5K debt but after reading other reviews, I'm glad I dropped out before it was way too late. Right now because of Ai, my credit score is trashed when I finally was closed to getting it fixed. If your enrolled, drop out now before you collect too much debt. Didn't enroll yet, good, don't enroll. I got a family to take care of so I can't deal with student loans. I'm about to be enlisting myself into the US Army so I can take care of these debts unless I can find a way to clear it. Last thing I need is a bankruptcy in my credit report.

I started here in 2010 in hopes of getting a BA in Game Art and Design. Before I enrolled, I asked if I would have enough financial assistance to get my degree and was assured multiple times that it would be no issue. About 6 months after I enrolled, I was told I would have one week off a year from classes and that each class was being shortened to just 5 1/2 weeks. This was not an efficient nor appropriate amount of time to learn anything and having no real knowledge of the software, it was a miserable... Read More experience. There were a few times I had a teacher not sign into a class for over a week, leaving me and other students wondering what to do next or how to fix our work. I even had a teacher tell me that I couldn't have help to understand an assignment that was already graded because it was against AI policy. Then half way through my degree I was told I would have to pay out of pocket because my financial aid was used up (again after I was assured to have enough to cover my education). When I would ask for scholarships or payments options, my financial advisor would tell me I was "ineligible for any assistance" or would tell me to find information on my own. Another shady thing about this whole situation? Constantly getting different advisors every class. You never had the same person twice and it made trying to ask questions or get into the right classes difficult. STAY AWAY FROM THIS "INSTITUTION". They are not out to help you, and you can get a better quality education at a community college for not even close to this price tag.

The most I got out of this program was learning the correct terminology to use when searching the internet for tutorials. Some teachers were dedicated and taught well, however they were far and few between. 85% of the teachers were there to do the minimum they had to do and that was all. Some teachers would pass students just so they wouldn't have to deal with them the next quarter; This is not speculation it was direct from a teacher to myself that the student had passed so that the following class... Read More didn't have them dragging their feet in their team project. Another teacher didn't even hand out a single graded project the entire quarter, groups of 3 spent 2 weeks recording footage that was never used. This teacher was consequently let go the following quarter which should have been a clear indication that the class was not taught properly but faculty did nothing for the students in this class. I was forced to eat the grade this teacher had given me which was a D the only class that I was given a grade below a C, I graduated with a 3.0 for reference that I was not just getting rolling Cs for every class. The only guarantee you can expect from these schools is that you will be paying student loans for the rest of your life. Upon leaving school I was one of the few to get a job in my field, I have been making payments on my loans since I graduated and I will be lucky if I even touch the principle of some loans by the time I'm 45. My advice, don't do it, you are better off teaching yourself on youtube and having a good portfolio going into a job interview than mediocre work and a degree from a school that is frowned upon.

First, I was shown fake job placement statistics, in an effort to get me to agree to sign up despite the monumental costs. After signing up and repeated assurances they'd "work with me" regarding my low income (barely 19 at the time, and during the recession), and my schedule because I had to work, they repeatedly tried to get me to quit my job and pull private loans instead of pay the remainder out of pocket, despite being rejected for the private loans and having no co-signer. They took no credits... Read More from my associate degree to charge me for more classes. The equipment was sub-par most of the time - there wasn't enough to go around and at one point, they put in the wrong video cards so for a WHOLE SEMESTER people were unable to use the computers to work on 3D projects, because they wouldn't change them. My teachers were often graduates with no actual work experience. Many referred us to YouTube tutorials or pdfs based on old versions of programs that couldn't be translated or looked totally different. On top of that, it was an "all or nothing" schedule - not only was the schedule not flexible, it was a struggle to get them to work around my work schedule - and they would berate me for not dumping my boyfriend who had been laid off, leaving me as the only income source in the house. Towards the end of my time there, people with balances or behind on payment, even a day, would have big red envelopes sent to them in every class and insisted the teachers hand them out to embarrass the students. I did have a few good teachers, but they were all gen. ed or traditional art - nothing to do with my actual major.

I am not sure how long this school had this program active, but it was horrible. Out of all the years working towards this degree, you can fit all of the actual game classes in one year. The curriculum that was taught was not up to industry standard (behind a few years) and the program only had one instructor who had a game background - and she started teaching right out of school. There was no career placement assistance, and the school is laughed at when I submit my portfolio and resume to employers.... Read More Not to mention they have been sued many times from the Department of Education for shady practices.

I see a lot of reviewers saying that it simply takes drive, passion, and a commitment to learn the necessities for your degree. I agree entirely, but if one has such qualities, they should not waste their money here. Self-teaching is absolutely an option and I strongly encourage taking that route if it is at all possible for you. Paying for programs the school gives a discount for (such as Maya, Mudbox, ZBrush, Photoshop, ect.) and thoroughly studying tutorials on said programs is a much better idea... Read More than paying for the tuition. Chances are that researching your program will provide evidence that one doesn't even need a degree to pursue this career. To become successful, one must have drive, a good portfolio, and a big network. One of my teachers who had found a job in my field during his youth confessed to me that his experience at the Art Institute only gave him one thing he didn't teach himself: networking skills (which, in my opinion, is not worth $100,000+).

I have learned more and gained more solid skills with Digital Tutors $45 bucks a month with access to thousands of tutorials. After I signed my life away to Sallie, falling for the "Live your dreams" Commercials on T.v., I discovered, from all Game Art Instructors, that what REALLY MATTERS is your DEMO and portfolio, not a degree. I always finish what I start so I graduated and came to the reality/horror that the skills taught by The Art Institute, intended to get an entry level position, did not... Read More even come close to cutting it. Your skills have to be top notch (and I am not even exaggerating )when it comes to getting a job in the game industry. There were a few really great teachers, whose instructions I still remember when doing my work. Most instructors though, were in between jobs and really could care less about your career, I heard one of them even say it out loud! If you want a degree go to a real university, but if you want to get a job in the game industry, do not go to this school. Instead sign up on one of the many inexpensive tutorial web sites (like 3dmotive, Digital Tutors, Eat 3d and many more) and put together a demo on your own.