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02 February 2007 @ 03:40 pm

...

Hoooooooly shit.

Just found out I got accepted into the GNOMON high-end CG certificate program.

The good news: it's taught by people who work or have worked at Disney, Dreamworks, Sony, Lucasfilm, EA...you name it. It's designed to train you in 3D and then find you work with the big dogs. Hell, the last term includes a course in Pixar's Renderman. There's an 83% hiring rate out of it. They only accept about two dozen students internationally every term.

The bad news: It's $43,000+ total. I'll be paying off those loans for the rest of my natural life. And that's doing it full-time: I could go part-time, but it's almost $3,000 more. That means I couldn't work during that time. And I'd be spending 60 or more hours a week trying to conquer Maya.

And what about my comics? I'd pretty much be giving up on publishing anything for two years.

Hell. I have no idea what to do.

...The sad thing is, at this particular moment in time, I'd rather plop down 43 grand I don't have than spend another month in this office.

Tags: gnomon

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indescribable

15 comments | Leave a comment

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sbcpanuru.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 12:21 am (UTC)

Given that bachelor's degrees have become the new high school degree, post-college education tends to pay for itself faster than the alternative, debt notwithstanding. (I.e., without a master's or a technical equivalent, you have to be both very lucky and very dedicated to land at some point in your life a job that doesn't just suck.) The only real issue is where you'd get the loans from--is the program subsidized by government loans, for instance, or are you pretty much on your own in terms of finding funds?

With those kind of demands on your time, you'd become a different person in the process too, but that's unavoidable in any case, seems like.

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lynxgriffin.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 12:34 am (UTC)

There's just one student loan/financial aid service that the school uses, which is Sallie Mae loans. They said that they would go over financial aid options with you in the rest of the acceptance letter stuff. But considering neither I nor my parents have that kind of money, I'd pretty much have to take that loan.

And yeah, the time demands are kinda scary, too...I'd practically be living at the school. o_O I'm afraid I wouldn't get to see my friends, live or online, as much as I'd like. (Feh, then again, I hardly see them now, either... XP)

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sbcpanuru.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 01:04 am (UTC)

Sallie Mae is a good provider; even better if they're subsidized, but even the unsubsidized ones are better than anything you'd get outside of education.

Don't worry too much about the loans; there are plenty of options for repayment, including things like forbearance for financial hardship, and they're very flexible about repayment options. It also counts as a plus on your credit record, rather than a minus like most debt does--student loans are the safest debt you could hope to have (credit-wise).

The only real issue is whether or not you want to make the lifestyle change in exchange for a practically guaranteed future in animation. It's an investment for sure, but it's your call whether the tradeoff is one you want to make.

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lynxgriffin.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 04:43 pm (UTC)

Now I'm curious as to how student loans are actually a plus on your credit rating. I've never heard of that before.

I think now it's actually the lifestyle change that scares me the most. I know some things wouldn't change (I wouldn't be moving out of the house unless I had to move back in with my parents...not to Hollywood, anyway, since it'd just end up being more expensive and less safe, and the commute's not horrible as it is) but just getting a lot of time cut out of time with my friends, free time, fandom and other personal projects is the most frightening. I know it sounds kind of shallow to be afraid of losing fandom time, but it's how I feel. ._.

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sbcpanuru.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 07:32 pm (UTC)

Kelli and Sean could give you more of the details on that, but the gist from what I understand is that it gives you a positive credit history (provided you keep up on payments or make arrangements otherwise)--if you owe several tens of thousands in loans, you are, for whatever reason, considered a better investment for subsequent loans than someone who has never had loans or a credit card. It's goofy, but that's the way the system works.

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aishiteru.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 01:02 am (UTC)

....

That really is a tough decision. There's so many different pros and cons.

I'd have to say, though.... do it. This is one of those "it will pay off in the long, long run" things. As in, five to ten years down the road you'll be very happy you did it. Hardly instant grat, but... it could very well be worth the loans you'll be paying off.

at the same time, that IS expensive. 43k total for how long, exactly? And besides loans, do they have anything similar to work study programs?

and... how long do you have until you have to make a final decision about it?

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lynxgriffin.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 04:40 pm (UTC)

Yeah, I think it would be one of those things that does pay off in the long run. I'm not sure when or how, but I know there's certain jobs in that industry that pay six figures. o_o

It would be 43k for 21 months total. (Obviously that doesn't count gas money to Hollywood and back, noodle bowls for lunch eeeevery day, etc.) I suppose that's how much Pepperdine was for one or two years, but I didn't actually pay for that tuition so I don't quite grasp it the same.

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loveotter.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 01:18 am (UTC)

If it's what you really want, do it. If you get a good job out of it and you're on the career path you want, even paying off that $43,000 won't look so bad.

(And serious congrats to you!)

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lucky-dance.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 01:44 am (UTC)

congratulations!!

my friend always says God will show the right path. So, hell, I have no clue, but I bet he does. Good luck in whatever decision you make, I think you can pull off the right one.

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daisy-the-mage1.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 02:07 am (UTC)

Wow - at least well done for getting accepted!

But of course it's a tough decision, because of the money.

Well, good luck in your choice and I hope that you make the right one!

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venis959.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 04:44 am (UTC)

Good grief, I say go for it. It's something you really want to do, and it'll lead to some super big things. Yeah, you'll be paying off a student loan for a couple decades (I'm still paying off mine!), but that's normal and, as long as you pay it, it'll give you a good credit rating. After you go through the program and rejoin the rest of the world with a kickin' job, you'll get back with your friends and your comics. Heck, a lot of the Pixar animators dabble in comics themselves, so it's nothing odd.
-Dan!

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lynxgriffin.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 04:52 pm (UTC)

Yeah, I have heard that animators do a lot of comics stuff on the side, or switch back and forth between them on occasion, so that's some comfort. Considering both things are SO time-consuming, it amazes me that people can do them sometimes both at once. o_o

And hey, you draw Realms of Ishikaze! That's one of my favorite Wirepop comics! XD So now I must watch you.

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princealia.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 04:46 am (UTC)

.....wow, but hoshit XD

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aopt.livejournal.com on February 3rd, 2007 07:21 am (UTC)

Do it! This is important. More so than the comics, I personally think.

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angelsbaby0910.livejournal.com on February 4th, 2007 04:10 am (UTC)

WOW!!!!!!!!!! Twin, thats awesome!!!! I am so happy/proud!!!!! Your going to be awesome!!!! If you do it that is! What did your parents say? Even if you don't go, thats still a HUGE honor to be chosen, right?? I think your amazing! Congrats!

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