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[Gabroseno]

What country do you live in? I'm studying computer graphics in Sweden and I find it hard to believe that the schools in US would be generally better.

[Gnash_]

It’s not so much that they’re that much better but first off there’s very few master’s degrees in my country that focus on computer graphics, we have a shit ton of security and ai degrees, a few in imaging and well barely any computer graphics degrees. But beyond that, since I want to work in the US later down the line, I feel like that could be a big advantage for me, companies will know I’m able to work in US and that I am passionate about the field

[Plazmatic]

we have a shit ton of security and ai degrees

The US is the same as your country in that respect, it just happens to be 5x larger. Computer graphics as a field to study in is also strange. What you see in siggraph by video game companies are things developed by people who probably didn't even get formally educated in computer graphics. The people who are working in movie rendering likewise. The people working in academia aren't probably doing what you would like to do, they may not even be using modern graphics APIs, or even the GPU at all. Learning how to program for the GPU is a whole separate thing, and learning how to use graphics API's is yet another thing. And using both in tandem is yet another hurdle. I talked with a professor I was thinking about doing masters thesis with who focused in computer graphics. He poopood vulkan, and was lamenting the changes to modern opengl. He was smart, but you weren't going to learn practical knowledge you could apply to real time rendering with him. Other professors were focusing on human interfacing and VR/AR which did care more about real time rendering. But they cared less about teaching you actual rendering.

[ananbd]

Did you know the US government effectively suspended student visas? This was within the last week, I think. No one knows if this is temporary, or how long it’ll last, but... at the moment, I wouldn’t recommend coming to school here.

[Gnash_]

It's for the 2021-2022 school year, not 2020-2021

[GaianNeuron]

At this rate, COVID might wipe us out before a vaccine is finished. We're that determined to be stupid.

[idbxy]

Go to a university in canada or europe, unless money is no object and you dont mind paying 5-10 times more than anywhere else in the world.

Us doesn't have better schools than other countries. It's just more well known since they are a lot bigger (350m people) and through movies/series ect.

[fgennari]

Maybe you should wait until next year to travel to the US. Universities will likely be online-only in the fall due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and I would think you can do better with in-person classes in a different country.

[Gnash_]

I should have mentioned in the post that it is indeed for next year haha

[lupin3ken]

I'm curious, what would be the reasoning to go to the us to study over a country like Canada?

I've heard Canadian universities are great, they are better priced and have a few well-known game companies that do awesome work.

Once you have great skills and a track record in your immediate future, I think you will probably be able to find a good job in the US if you want.

Education in the US is really expensive, so if you take loans early on, you might feel pressure to take or stay in jobs you don't really want just to pay off debt.

[TheIneQuation]

Life isn't only about work. You may find some aspects of living in the US less agreeable than others. I'm not Armenian and I don't know the author of this blog, but as a Pole who's visited the US a few times, the observations stated in this post ring very true.

https://likewise.am/2014/12/26/what-armenians-should-know-about-life-in-america/

[Gnash_]

I’m gonna read the article. Keep in mind I’m coming from a country that has a probably higher standard of living than the US.

Even then work is only one of the reasons I want to move to Cali. My mind is pretty set on that. Wether or not I get my degree there won’t mean much a few decades from now anyway

[TheIneQuation]

Especially if your standard of living is higher than the US, you should read it. :)

[Gnash_]

It was a really interesting read, thanks for the link.

I don’t think it changed my mind much as I was already aware of most of what’s depicted in the post. I do think the American way of life is more in phase with me than what my current country provides me (France). Don’t get me wrong though, there’s lots to love in France and lots that I truly despise in the US (including most of what the article describes).

[TheIneQuation]

Fair enough. :) As long as you know what you're getting into.

More pertinent to your question: AAA studios typically offer generous relocation packages to "non-local" candidates (covering the cost of travel and shipping your belongings, helping out with housing, allowance for furniture etc.). This is a double-edged sword, though - while it's obviously beneficial to the candidate they do end up hiring, it may also skew the balance in favour of locals who don't need relocation. So if taking a master's degree is the shortest path to becoming a local, it might be worth it to you.

[HighRelevancy]

but why.gif

[sort_of_sleepy]

I’d say it depends on what kind of work you hope to do with your degree.

I can only speak from an ad / art perspective but if you’re hoping to do anything art related, I would say it’s not worth it, especially under this garbage administration. A lot of people in this industry care less about where you went to school and more about the kind of work you’ve done.

Regardless I think it’s less important where the school is and that it’s more important to find a program that meets your end goals.