How to choose a CG School

Whatever type of education and training a CG artist wants to receive it's wise to set the context of your research on solid objectives. This is a set of questions to help students on how to choose a school to to learn computer graphics, 2D or 3D, animation and visual effects for films, illustration, videogames and similar fields.

What do you want to learn?
What are you interested in? Do you want to acquire a general knowledge in computer graphics or do you want to specialize? Do you want to draw still life or to animate? Are you interested in animation?

What do you want to become as a professional?
Computer graphics, animation and visual effects are broad fields: are you thinking about a specific role? For instance: concept designer, storyboard artist, illustrator, texture painter, shading artist, lighting artist, 3d modeler, character designer, character modeler, environment painter, matte painter, character animator, layout artist, rigging/animation setup artist, visual effects artist, ect...

In which CG field do you want to work?
Creating 3D images has several application fields: which one do you prefer among: film, television, advertisement, ilustration, videogames, simulation, research, visual communication, design, architecture, engineering, theatre, art installation, arts?

How much money do you want to spend?
Give a range: a minimum and a maximum budget.

How long do you want to study?
Are you interested in full-immersion courses or longer ones as a semester, a year o three years?

Where do you want to study?
Are you willing to travel and to relocate? Have you thought about living costs in that area?

Do you have a computer?
What configuration does it have? RAM, hard disk, operating system, etc...

Do you have the software tools needed to practice?
You will need a digital painting software and a full 3D modeling, texturing, lighting, rendering and animating package. Are you willing to buy them if needed?