New Media Programs
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 |
