Digipen(solved)

[3DModelerMan]

Hi I was wondering if anyone has experience with Digipen institutes?.
Are they good? and do they use C++?.
Thanks.

[rogerborg]

No, don't know, don't know.

From perusing their web site, they look pretty convincing. I'd imagine that C++ will still be the primary language, although they should be teaching process and technique rather than any particular implementation.

[zeno60]

and do they use C++?.

Why? Is that all you want to learn? Haven't you looked and researched their course list?

I've never attended, looked at it a while back when I was searching for colleges, but decided not too. Don't let that discourage you, I hear its a great school and after seeing some of the work that digipen students have created I can see why, just really be sure you want to go to the school and can deal well under pressure. I know the dropout rates for freshmen is staggering compared to general colleges. Also be aware that with these types of specialized schools, most courses do not transfer, and with the degree you get, you are limiting yourself to game-design jobs.

The better option I can suggest would be to go to a local college, get a Computer Science or generalist degree in engineering, etc. then take workshops at Digipen in the summer. But if its the whole "game design" degree glitz and glamour that is enthralling you, know that a lot of colleges have those, so check locally to compare.

If this is a serious question about your future in college, please please do your own research. Its serious business.

[rogerborg]

I'd echo that. The dropout rate among students on game development courses is very high, as the slackers and stoners get weeded out pretty fast. You must be highly motived and a self-starter. Having to ask what's on the curriculum when that information is readily available is a pretty bad sign. Finding stuff out yourself is a core skill.

[dlangdev]

Here's my side, hope you get something out from this one.

I'm currently attending night school, taking up Accounting at a local community college. Basically, I'm just taking it really slow, not really in a rush to finish it. As I'm doing it to pass some of the time I have, it doesn't really hurt my schedule though, simply because its only 8 units per term.

Let me tell you what it's like to attend a community college. Well, for one, your classmates will vary from total slackers to geniuses, the slackers outnumber the geniuses. These slackers come in and just sit, while the geniuses, well, I'm not going to tell them about it, as they usually get the top scores.

Moreover, since I'm taking it really slow, I am now looking for a night school for law students. Unfortunately, there is nothing like that here.

That's aside from the fact I have a BS-CS degree and also contemplating on going to Masters soon. I just don't know yet what kind of specific study I should be going to.

Now, I don't know you or what kind background you come from. I guess it depends on how you were brought up. If you're the kind of slacker who will sit and watch in a class, then I'm telling you now, you'll waste the money. Don't do it, you'll end up miserable and you'll sourgrape for the rest of your life.

Now, if you're really motivated at the moment and really feel you really want to do it, then why not give it a try. Take some classes at a local community college and see what it feels like to be under stress from studying. Give yourself 3 to 4 months and wait, at the end of the trial period, check yourself if you really are still into it. Then decide whether you want to go higher or simply quit.

Remember this one and don't forget: Don't be a slacker. Aim higher.

[3DModelerMan]

Well I was just wanting some opinions so thanks.
And I live in Washington so it's actually a local college.
The reason I want C++ is because that's what the industry requires.
Thanks.

[wyrmmage]

as the slackers and stoners get weeded out pretty fast

No pun intended?

I've been looking at colleges lately, and what I would recommend is going to tons of well-known, commercial game-development companie's sites and looking at the requirements for being hired there....what I found is that most of them said "Computer Science or [some other degree here]", so I'm going with Computer Science.

From what I can tell by chatting with my coworkers, colleges that teach solely Java tend to leave their students with a very partial education, so I'd say you're right to look into a school that doesn't teach just Java, but that doesn't mean it has to teach just C++, either

Just my two cents....I'll probably be able to offer better advice in four years
-wyrmmage

[Halifax]

Well I was just wanting some opinions so thanks.
And I live in Washington so it's actually a local college.
The reason I want C++ is because that's what the industry requires.
Thanks.

Well I would say that C++ isn't exactly the standard in the game development industry. Now if you are looking for a specific position, then that may be true. But if you are just looking at the industry, then I will just say that you may want to know Java, C#, and PHP as well. It all depends on what position you are looking to acquire.

[BlindSide]

From what I can tell by chatting with my coworkers, colleges that teach solely Java tend to leave their students with a very partial education, so I'd say you're right to look into a school that doesn't teach just Java, but that doesn't mean it has to teach just C++, either

I'm slightly impartial to what my university teaches (Yes so far it's mostly Java, but in later years I'll have more freedom as to what papers I take etc, ranging from low level assembly to opengl graphics), I feel I already have all the required skills for anything I want to do, I just need a traditional degree to go along with it.

Ofcourse, I'm not saying I'm not going to take advantage of the education, I am still learning new things everyday, and getting assessed frequently on my points of knowledge ensures that I have a complete and well-rounded understanding of all the essential programming principals.

stoners get weeded out pretty fast

XD

Cheers

[3DModelerMan]

Thanks for the replies, I think I'll use your advice.