Plan Your Career.
One thing that's always helpful to know is where you want to go in your career. Computer animation isn't limited to the film and game industries; you could seek a career in architechtural drafting, interactive user interface design, pipeline design for the oil and gas industry, three-dimensional medical imaging, or even military flight simulator design. The possibilities are endless; the only limitation is your preference, and how you choose to apply yourself. Many schools offer majors in specific areas of computer animation; if, however, you aren't yet sure just what direction you want to go in, don't let that discourage you. It's easy to start off with a major in general computer animation, and then hone your area of expertise further down the road.
Explore Your Degree Options.
Another thing to consider is the degree level that you want to attain. Do you want a certification, an Associate's, a Bachelor's, or even a Master's degree? While more and more animation schools are moving towards four-year programs or above, some schools or technical institutions only offer two-year or certification programs. If certification or a two-year Associate's degree is your goal, then you may be better off turning your attention to those institutions; if, however, you would rather pursue a Bachelor's or higher, seek out schools that offer the level of education that you desire in your preferred major.
Choose Your Environment and Plan Your Finances.
For many, another major consideration is the location; sometimes it's a matter of preference, or a matter of convenience--but often it's a matter of cost. Tuition costs and available financial aid are one of the largest factors in choosing a school, and for many the easiest way to cut down on tuition costs is to go to school in their home state. Out-of-state tuition fees can more than double the annual cost of tuition, as well as cost of housing; staying in your state of legal residence can save a great deal of money, and staying in your home town can afford the option of living at home and cutting down on housing costs. When choosing a school, it helps to research the average annual cost of tuition for your situation, and reason out what's within your budget.
Organize Your Requirements.
One trick that I've found helpful is to make a chart listing the above requirements as well as any other qualities that you desire in a school, before making a list of schools that interest you. For each school, mark off the qualifications met; then pick the top five that have met the majority of the requirements, and focus on those as your primary goals. Do a little more research, and don't be afraid to visit the campus to see how you like the environment, facilities and staff; most schools hold prospective student tours, and are happy to answer inquiries about those scheduled events. However, don't completely discount the schools that didn't make your "Top Five" list; there may be other benefits to those schools to make them equally worth consideration, and there's no harm in applying.
At that point, the rest of the process is a matter of college applications, essays, and interviews; however, the real work starts when you've been accepted and started classes. Regardless of what degree you've chosen, the years that you invest in your studies will be spent providing you with the tools and skills necessary to succeed in your chosen field. Your school will not only teach you technical and artistic skills, but also how to make yourself marketable; computer animation is a highly competitive field, with thousands of individuals vying for the same job. Aniamtion school will teach you how to recognize your strong points, how to hone and refine them, and then highlight them when presenting yourself to potential employers.
Most schools will require that you produce a demo reel and a portfolio; these will be the final testament to your skill and the techniques that you've learned, and a monument to how well you took advantage of the time and resources available to you. It's your time, and your money; your education is your key to taking your life into your own hands. Make the best of it.
