on your future if the rate at which student land jobs is 90%? And you'd get access to internships, 12:1 student/teacher ratio, and all new equipment?

Or would you go a cheaper route?

TWW POLL

1/30/2009 11:20:03 PM

depends on the profit you can make in your industry.

but i would only spend this much personally for law school or you are becoming a doctor...not for photography...

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 11:22 PM. Reason : s]

1/30/2009 11:22:03 PM

^

1/30/2009 11:23:11 PM

Frankly, hell no

Unless we're talking about med school or something like that (but med school is the only thing I can really think of where it might be worthwhile)

also, I would look into whether this 90% job-finding rate has been a consistent thing over many years, and whether it is likely to continue into the future

but with this limited data, it sounds like a huge fucking mistake

1/30/2009 11:24:57 PM

Ya man, it's like wtf r u srs?

Why the hell does a school have to be that freaking expensive??

1/30/2009 11:28:40 PM

I am assuming this is grad school... if so, 90% doesnt sound particularly great

1/30/2009 11:31:50 PM

If you're talking about art school, I'm gonna say no.

If you're not talking about some professional degree like med school or law school and you'd still have to pay $160K for it, then you might be part of that 10%.

1/30/2009 11:32:16 PM

Yeah, Photography undergrad.

They just updated their entire photography department. It sounds sweet but at that price tag I'm really having a hard time justifying it.

Problem is I'm not impressed with anything else in the region thus far.

1/30/2009 11:33:56 PM

fuck no

$160k is too much

I'm getting a graduate degree in NYC for like $50k

1/30/2009 11:37:57 PM

In on page 1 before Ronny and Woodfoot troll this to 15 pages.

1/30/2009 11:38:07 PM

LOL

160k for photography



[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 11:42 PM. Reason : lol]

1/30/2009 11:40:17 PM

Thats more than my Optometry school! You better make that much when you graduate in order to pay it back!

1/30/2009 11:40:59 PM

^^^Your leaving out the principle trolling of JBaz

(who does actually give good feedback but some don't respond well to criticism)

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 11:42 PM. Reason : fast moving troll worthy thread]

1/30/2009 11:41:40 PM

For the money I'm sure you can update your entire photography department too.

It all just doesn't make sense. Not sure what kind of career or full time job most photography majors end up in after school, but the handful of amazing photographers I know certainly don't make much money from it.

Two examples: One is a pharmacist that taught himself over the past few years, basically for fun, and is currently showing an exhibit at a Chicago art museum. Another did go to school for photography and design and barely pays her bills working for multiple newspapers/catalogs/etc.

What's the average income of someone with this kind of degree? Seems like a huge financial trade off for something you could probably teach yourself as a hobby over the years.

1/30/2009 11:42:46 PM

you should teach yourself photography

buy books, look at other people's work

but most importantly, as with all crafts, do it every single fucking day
give yourself photography assignments

1/30/2009 11:45:04 PM

^^^ don't mess with the professionals here!

1/30/2009 11:46:03 PM

Quote :

"on your future if the rate at which student land jobs is 90%?"

But what kinds of jobs are these?

Do they pay more than 30k per year?

For 160k total, you better be making what a lawyer or doctor makes fresh out of school.

1/30/2009 11:46:46 PM

They have internship programs through National Geographic and etc and really the school is apparent shit except for their arts, equestrian, and culinary programs.

I don't know what the average pay is for one of their students leaving the school, she didn't tell me.

I was also told the school almost went under financially last yr, o rly? Because you're charging 160 for freaking photography!~

Snewf I am. I hope to find someone in the business that I can follow too, it just would have been nice to have it all at my fingertips.

[Edited on January 30, 2009 at 11:48 PM. Reason : not for 160k though]

1/30/2009 11:47:33 PM

what school is this?

1/30/2009 11:49:19 PM

I mean, without scholarships I say absolutely not

but maybe with 33-50% (or more) covered by scholarships and grants...

1/30/2009 11:50:50 PM

Virginia Intermont College which would be very close to where I'm moving.

1/30/2009 11:51:01 PM

ick a Baptist school?

it seems like they have a good photography program
or at least that they can claim that a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer graduated from there

but it looks like a REALLY small school and it doesn't have a very large endowment

1/30/2009 11:58:33 PM

^^^ double post suspend

1/31/2009 12:00:12 AM

I know

Boo

1/31/2009 12:01:16 AM

I have never been suspended and I don't plan on starting
my double post is hardly the most egregious offense

I'm reading about Pulitzer Prize winning feature photographers and they seem to have very diverse educational backgrounds

I'm not sure you should sink $160k into such a specialized skill set - you maybe should develop many skills in tandem

1/31/2009 12:06:04 AM

alls i know is that college cost roughly $15k a year (including all my living expenses - including a social sorority) -- so my undergrad education cost $60k. which is about what i was making a year, before getting laid off and all, so that was a pretty good ROI.

i couldn't justify the extra 100k to myself unless it was an awesome higher level education program at an awesome school

1/31/2009 12:10:20 AM

i'd spend $160k for a night with kiwi & rjrgirl

I'm Big Business and i approved this message.

1/31/2009 12:10:45 AM

hmmm, i mean, i could use an easy 80k. i bet i could get the bf to agree to it, because of my financial situation lol

1/31/2009 12:12:45 AM

sl0000t

1/31/2009 12:18:20 AM

hahaha

1/31/2009 12:22:30 AM

Guess I'll figure this out another route.

1/31/2009 12:28:19 AM

i'm pretty sure you don't need to go to school to be a good photographer

1/31/2009 12:30:05 AM

Nah, but it'd be nice to access to it all and get to learn a little of each aspect of photography.

1/31/2009 12:32:55 AM

Hmmm...12:1 student/teacher ratio. So 12 students x $160,000 = $1,920,000 per class. They're probably paying the teacher $50k and the rest of the equipment for 12 students probably cost another $150k. Then they have to pay some rent and utilities.

Anyone want to start a school?

1/31/2009 1:03:09 AM

they say it's non profit and from what I've read is they spend a lot of money on scholarships.

sooooooo yeah

1/31/2009 1:06:13 AM

skack, usually i find your posts entertaining and informing

but sir, you fucked that one up

1/31/2009 1:07:17 AM

I'm sorry. I may or may not have become crunk this evening.

1/31/2009 1:12:46 AM

it's ok

crunk is the order of the evening so it's a-ok

1/31/2009 1:13:48 AM

:Carlface:

Seriously? Brooks is cheaper than that and it's one of the best photo programs in the country. I think they are about 100-120k 4 yr program, plus they are out in beautiful Cali. Wish I could be at that school, maybe after RCC, last semester at NCSU and apply for BA in photography. The only way you will make money in photography is in three areas. World renounced awesome photographer working for international magazines who wins awards left and right and where people know you, Commercial photographer, or a Wedding photographer.

There are other ways to make money off of a photographic degree such as a color management specialist, print specialist, lab tech, layout designer, and most recently multimedia production. There's actually quite a bit of graduates going into dental, medical, and crime scene photographers and still make a good bit of money.

Another way to make money is marketing. You don't even have to be a good photographer for selling shitty prints to the masses, but I just exclude them since it's more about business than photography, but they make bank. There's a guy in Florida that does family portraits and makes 6 figures and he doesn't know shit about fundamentals, probably leaves it all on the green box...

Don't go into photojournalism unless you absolute love it and have other skills for other jobs. Even National Geographic photographers don't get paid as well as you'd think. You can still get internships with National Geographic if you want and have a good portfolio, no matter where you come from. If you suck at photography and spend 160k, doesn't mean NG has to pick you over some random kid at a community college in bumfuck nowhere... A 90% job placement rate isn't much to brag about if the school is small and has a small student/teacher ratio. Shit, College of Textiles at NCSU has a job placement of like 95%+ each year, but to be fair, its #1 textiles school in the world.

Best way to get internships is being pro-active, go out and meet people, join photo associations, clubs, or volunteer in the community. Go to trade shows, seminars and lectures when you can afford it. Networking really is the best way, other than being bold and enthusiastic (of which not everyone has). It's hard to be bold in our chaotic, techno savvy culture, it's easy to get lost really fast in the noise.

160k? Jesus H Christ, you might as well buy 300 tons of rice and throw it in the ocean instead of feeding starving people in Africa. Don't go into a program and have high expectations because you have this idea that spending a shit ton of money helps. I'm not discrediting them, but 160k seems a bit over the top...

Btw, their website sucks, boring, broken, and Holy Hell; it's from 1995... btw, our 30,000 sq ft studio trumps their puny 20,000 sq ft studio. They also seem to have the same number of instructors as us and we probably average out to 12:1 here as well.

http://www.photomajor.com/
http://www.photomajor.com/goto/prospective.html

I laugh at their alumni poll question:
When shooting an event digitally, how much CF storage is enough ....
* 1 gigs
* 2 gigs
* 3 gigs
* 4 gigs
* more than 4 gigs
* what the heck is CF storage?

[Edited on January 31, 2009 at 3:03 AM. Reason : ]

1/31/2009 2:57:51 AM

:Carlface:

Seriously? Brooks is cheaper than that and it's one of the best photo programs in the country. I think they are about 100-120k 4 yr program, plus they are out in beautiful Cali. Wish I could be at that school, maybe after RCC, last semester at NCSU and apply for BA in photography. The only way you will make money in photography is in three areas. World renounced awesome photographer working for international magazines who wins awards left and right and where people know you, Commercial photographer, or a Wedding photographer.

There are other ways to make money off of a photographic degree such as a color management specialist, print specialist, lab tech, layout designer, and most recently multimedia production. There's actually quite a bit of graduates going into dental, medical, and crime scene photographers and still make a good bit of money.

Another way to make money is marketing. You don't even have to be a good photographer for selling shitty prints to the masses, but I just exclude them since it's more about business than photography, but they make bank. There's a guy in Florida that does family portraits and makes 6 figures and he doesn't know shit about fundamentals, probably leaves it all on the green box...

Don't go into photojournalism unless you absolute love it and have other skills for other jobs. Even National Geographic photographers don't get paid as well as you'd think. You can still get internships with National Geographic if you want and have a good portfolio, no matter where you come from. If you suck at photography and spend 160k, doesn't mean NG has to pick you over some random kid at a community college in bumfuck nowhere... A 90% job placement rate isn't much to brag about if the school is small and has a small student/teacher ratio. Shit, College of Textiles at NCSU has a job placement of like 95%+ each year, but to be fair, its #1 textiles school in the world.

160k? Jesus H Christ, you might as well buy 300 tons of rice and throw it in the ocean instead of feeding starving people in Africa. Don't go into a program and have high expectations because you have this idea that spending a shit ton of money helps. I'm not discrediting them, but 160k seems a bit over the top...

Btw, their website sucks, boring, broken, and Holy Hell; it's from 1995... btw, our 30,000 sq ft studio trumps their puny 20,000 sq ft studio. They also seem to have the same number of instructors as us and we probably average out to 12:1 here as well.

http://www.photomajor.com/
http://www.photomajor.com/goto/prospective.html

I laugh at their alumni poll question:
When shooting an event digitally, how much CF storage is enough ....
* 1 gigs
* 2 gigs
* 3 gigs
* 4 gigs
* more than 4 gigs
* what the heck is CF storage?

1/31/2009 2:59:46 AM

this is one of your worst ideas yet.

1/31/2009 3:04:01 AM

this is one of your worst ideas yet.

1/31/2009 3:04:46 AM

Best way to get internships is being pro-active, go out and meet people, join photo associations, clubs, volunteer in the community as a photographer or best yet, go out and assist pro photog's. Call up local pro photog's asking them if they need help for free, in return you'd labor for them.

Go to trade shows, seminars and lectures when you can afford it, specially if you are in driving distances and/or can tag along with friends. Networking is good way to get noticed, other than being bold and enthusiastic (of which not everyone has). It's hard to be bold in our chaotic, techno savvy culture, it's easy to get lost really fast in the noise.

1/31/2009 3:06:48 AM

Im going to agree with this. The 160k equals how much $$ after grad? It would be one thing if it landed you a 100k job, but its photog and will be just as good as an interesting portfolio almost.

I dropped ~26 on a master's (out of state) at ncsu, which is nice because itll pay for itself within 2-3 years and I get to start at a better job and be in line for more promotions.

Think about what the degree will get you, and if its worth it afterwards.

Id say CC is the better route. Youre looking to learn, not impress with a degree. IMO photog is about youve done/can do vs a paper resume.

1/31/2009 3:08:40 AM

When I made this thread I was 98% to the omg [no]. This was more of a WWTWWD than a PLEASE GUIDE ME TDUB thread.

I've learned a few lessons in money management and a good investment vs a bad one in my time here on Earth. Despite what you people think.

Anyway, good call on the networking thing. I've already looked into the Bristol Photographers Association just to see what's out there. I figure if there is a school nearby that "boasts" a good program there may be some great influences/resources locally and err... less expensive. I just want to be on location and hit the ground running.

ha I was just wondering if normal people would honestly say a Photography degree had the same money value as a law or medical degree.

1/31/2009 3:10:59 AM

When I made this thread I was 98% to the omg [no]. This was more of a WWTWWD than a PLEASE GUIDE ME TDUB thread.

I've learned a few lessons in money management and a good investment vs a bad one in my time here on Earth. Despite what you people think.

Anyway, good call on the networking thing. I've already looked into the Bristol Photographers Association just to see what's out there. I figure if there is a school nearby that "boasts" a good program there may be some great influences/resources locally and err... less expensive. I just want to be on location and hit the ground running.

ha I was just wondering if normal people would honestly say a Photography degree had the same money value as a law or medical degree.

1/31/2009 3:11:39 AM

Anyway, good call JBaz. Best advice yet, thanks!

1/31/2009 3:13:26 AM

Quote :

"Im going to agree with this. The 160k equals how much $$ after grad? It would be one thing if it landed you a 100k job, but its photog and will be just as good as an interesting portfolio almost. I dropped ~26 on a master's (out of state) at ncsu, which is nice because itll pay for itself within 2-3 years and I get to start at a better job and be in line for more promotions. Think about what the degree will get you, and if its worth it afterwards. Id say CC is the better route. Youre looking to learn, not impress with a degree. IMO photog is about youve done/can do vs a paper resume."

most def. Most jobs won't even care where you studied photography or film. If you have the portfolio and references of past jobs to back up your proof of work, you're set. Most other "regular" degree's tend to be the "foot in the door" or open more opportunities. In photography, it's up to your eye, level of skill and quality of work that speaks your resume. You don't need a degree in photography, shit just include most arts, but it doesn't hurt, it's just not as important.

Photography used to be more of a master/apprenticeship relationship in the old days, which still technically is now and still is the best way to learn.

Quote :

"ha I was just wondering if normal people would honestly say a Photography degree had the same money value as a law or medical degree."

Depends on what you are after. Commercial really is the only section of photography that I'd be willing to invest in an expensive education since it's really the only thing that pays big big bucks, but it's also one of the most difficult subjects to master. And that's what I'm doing at RCC.

1/31/2009 3:19:10 AM

i say got for it just so we can get hear the drama and see the pics

1/31/2009 8:51:47 AM

Quote :

"this is one of your worst ideas yet. "

1/31/2009 8:56:13 AM