Ferris State University-Grand Rapids

I went to Ferris State University as a naive 19 year old thinking that any college would prepare me for whatever career I wanted to seek out. What I learned when I graduated in 2008 was that not all colleges or college programs are created equal. In fact not only are they not created equal but some of them should probably be shut down for not having the adequate teaching staff and resources to prepare their students for their professions real world work environment.

Ferris State University's "Digital Animation and Game Design" program is one of those programs. Stay away from this program at this school, it will put you in large amounts of debt and leave an unemployable mess when you finish. Anything taught in this program can be learned on Digital Tutors for 45 dollars a month. In fact to be fair to Digital Tutors you can learn a great deal more on their website than you can while attending this school.

Also avoid David Baker and do not attend any classes taught by this man. He has been moved to head the program recently because of a lack individuals willing to take the position and he will be no help to you and your future as an industry professional.

If you truly want to work for an animation or video game company find a school that has real industry professionals who work for big name companies that teach during their spare time and always do your research about a program online and in person. If something doesn't feel right follow your instincts and keep looking. Putting yourself in debt is a serious commitment and you better be sure you are learning what you need to make it in the real world or it could ruin your life.

You cannot file bankruptcy for student loans its a burden you will carry your entire life.

[fall of 2015] currently enrolled and a junior in the program. My experience so far has been pretty generic, and don't consider this a good thing. If you plan on going here, take some time to consider how much you will invest going here. If you believe you could stomach a couple grand more here are a few schools that will actually prepare you for the games industry.
http://www.scad.edu/
http://www.ringling.edu/Game-Art
http://www.colum.edu/academics/media-arts/interactive-arts-and-media/
\/ Expensive but worth the cost \/
https://www.gnomon.edu/
https://www.digipen.edu/

Likely if you go to ferris, here is your experience in waiting. First few semesters are hopeful but slow, prodding through learning 3dsmax, photoshop, C#, and baby level drawling. Then you will likely hit a road block in animation 3, this class is easy but you will get annoyed with the insane work load difference between your other classes. After this you will consider suicide via Jake classes, he will continually prove to you that you have made the wrong choice. Pretty much a large man child who repeatedly will get on his "soapbox" about what ever fucked up shit he wants to subject the class to. Then you reach where i have, taking vehicle class. Your task is to play guinea pig for smiths new lesson plan, and boy will it be shit and poorly thought out. After this you have to look forward to "Crapstone" where you likely will lose a lot of sanity over the fact that even though you've been here 4 years there is no way you can accommodate these perfection seeking idiots.Take a hard long look instructors, if the students are creating poor final products its because: 1. There is no student unity, 2. The class is one measly semester, 3. Students capstones get gutted in favor of the twisted ideas of you fools.

Instructor break down:
Marty: Nice guy/10
Nick: 6/10
Jay: 4/10
Smith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvGXCisAaR4 / 10
Baker: Avoid like the plague/10
Anderson: Pointless /10
Jacob: Hi jake! I'm sure you have read over some of this and you have pointed out the grammatical errors, trust me just hold on were almost done here. I am not attacking you, and before you cry that i am please for once take ownership over the fact that you cant take critque. Please re-evaluate your thinking and your ego! / 10

And that concludes this review, like a good burger this review is hard to swallow, i hope you take to review all my points and if i could meet you personally i would give you job for simply sitting through this "Soap Box". I have spent a lot here at this college and trust me my voice is not heard, so im left to warn the future of the roadblocks they will face.
Best of luck,
Mitch

This is a terrible ass school to go to bed bugs infested this whole school I been trying to switch my room because I have bed bugs and they tell me that's not a good enough reason to wanna switch rooms I showed them 3 bed bugs I killed and nobody's switching my room don't go to this school everybody around here is bit up and just so don't know they living with bed bugs 0 STARS