Steps to Finding a Video Game Design School

Once you have decided to pursue an education in video game design, you need to select a school. There are schools all over the country that specialize in video game design, or offer major and minor programs in video and computer games. But, how do you find the school that is right for you?

Steps to finding a School

Are You Sure You Want to Be a Video Game Designer?

First, read Video Game Design School to help you define your goals. Are you looking for a technical degree, an art degree or just a place that will help you justify playing World of Warcraft 24/7? Are you most interested in hard-core games or do you want to create interactive educational software? Whatever your goals, you need to know just want you are looking for when you start your search for your higher education in all things interactive.

Geography

Next, consider your geographic requirements. Are you prepared to move across the country to attend the video game design school of your dreams? Or, can you only enroll in a video game design program if it is local so you can continue to live at home and deliver pizzas for Uncle Louie on weekends? If you are having any doubts, now might be the time to find a local program and take one or two courses to make sure this is really what trips your trigger. After all, video game design school will not be all fun and games. (Sorry.)

Finances

Like everything else worth having, a video game design education costs money. The amount you pay can vary dramatically. You may be able to find very reasonably priced courses in video game design at local community colleges; major universities and private colleges charge substantially more for their curricula. If you attend an accredited college or university, financial aid may be available in the forms of scholarships, grants and student loans.

Picking a School

Once you have listed your requirements as far as programs, geography and cost, it is time to check the Video Game Design School Directory for schools that meet your criteria. Make a list of the schools that meet your requirements and contact each one to ask for an informational packet. Every reputable school will have a package they send to prospective students with information about the school as well as on the video game design program and how it fits in with their overall educational offerings. You will also need to find out what the requirements and prerequisites are for entering the video game design program. In other words, you may need to show grades over a certain standard, or preliminary coursework before you can be considered for the program.

This information should help you narrow your selection. Now, it is time to schedule visits to the schools. Call the registrar's office of the school and tell them you are interested in a tour. If you are unable to visit in person, due to geographic constraints, ask if you can arrange a phone interview with a representative of the department. Ask all of your questions about the program and how it would prepare you for your chosen video game career.

Make sure to find out how large the program is and what your chances are of being accepted. Some schools only allow a few entrants in their programs each year, while others offer video game educations to hundreds or thousands.

Once you have done all that, you are ready to make your applications. Good luck!