Quote: Original post by Insideac
No :( I live in RI, and since this is instate, its even cheaper than usual, but still wicked expensive. I have looked at the other schools and their programs that are equivalent to this, and seem extremely lacking compared to it. This one covers programming languages such as C++, C# and Java, game design, game art, 2D and 3D, projects after each semester with a small team, learning how to make games for online (php, flash, and AJAX), as well as for PC, consoles, and mobile/handheld devices. Looking through the syllabus, they actually have us do all this stuff, so it seems like its exactly what I need, but I was debating if it was worth the amount they are asking for..

Consider pursuing a computer science degree in-state instead. It's probably cheaper than the various "specialized" courses that cover things like game design as part of their curriculum. Also, your computer science program may offer a game programming elective - my alma mater (a state school) does, and even though it wasn't terribly impressive when I was there, I've stayed in touch with the professor and seen him grow it into two distinct, respectable courses over the past five years; you will likely have better options.

The specialized game courses and schools are taking advantage of intense interest by people who think they need that to get into the industry, or even that it inherently gives them an edge (it doesn't... yet) to jack up their prices. A four-year education at my school, the State University of New York at Stony Brook, costs about $35K for a state resident. If I had been an NYC resident at the time and attended one of the CUNYs, I probably could have saved even more.

Make sure you explore all your options and don't settle on a narrow course of action too soon. Look at all applicable degrees, a mixture of junior college and four-year schools, and anything else that may lower your overall costs.

Good luck.

Quote: Original post by Promit
I pay around 20K/semester for tuition and related expenses -- that's excluding living. There is no way in hell the education I'm getting is worth that kind of money, and the same goes for most programs at any tier 1/Ivy school. But getting a degree is a damn sight better than not having one, at almost any price point. Even if your school is a rip off.

Most top private schools have outstanding financial aid programs. For example, for many people Harvard is significantly cheaper than their state flagship university. In fact, for quite a large number of students Harvard is free due to its having arguably the best financial aid in the country.

Now, that's Harvard, and few people have the privilege of going there, but there are still many good private schools that have great financial aid.

This is another reason why it's absolutely worth it to spend that extra effort in high school trying to get into good schools--the financial aid programs at top private schools simply dominate the financial aid programs at public state schools.

[This is all in reference to the United States.]

Quote: Original post by nilkn
Most top private schools have outstanding financial aid programs.

intrest86's word, "bitter", is entirely accurate. I don't consider loans to be financial aid, and most financial aid are loans or work study. Work study's alright (pays around $8/hour), but loans are just the school or government telling you that they're willing to wait for the cash, on usually favorable terms.

Most students get financial aid. Most students are burdened by that financial "aid" for several years after graduation.

Quote: Original post by Promit

Quote: Original post by nilkn
Most top private schools have outstanding financial aid programs.

intrest86's word, "bitter", is entirely accurate. I don't consider loans to be financial aid, and most financial aid are loans or work study.

He's actually talking about the scholarships and grants available at, say, Harvard due to its historically robust endowment fund. The problem is, Harvard's endowment has been eroding along with everything else in the economy, while the costs of education continue to rise, so Harvard will either have to aid - and I mean truly aid, not "aid" like the government does - fewer people or provide less aid to each.

The bottom line remains that school is becoming more and more expensive, for less and less benefit. For too long American corporations have inflated credential requirements - jobs that can ably be done by people with high school diplomas or G.E.D.s claim to require bachelor's degrees, and everyone scrambles because they "won't get a job otherwise." If, instead of heading to college, you start as an intern or assistant and work your way up over for years, the combination of experience and insight and lack of debt will put you ahead of your peers in many disciplines.

In summary, I reiterate my stance that unless you have a wealthy benefactor or a scholarship - ie, unless you don't have to borrow to pay for school - don't go to college.

Quote: Original post by intrest86

Quote: Original post by ricardo_ruiz_lopez
Here in Spain is almost free, about 200 Euros per year. And every European country more or less the same.

The only problem I see is that sometimes you can see people that do not really like to study.

And this is the problem with publicly funded schools being cheap: you actually think it is free? You'll pay for it every day of your life, even if you never went to school in the first place. And you are paying for it for every person who went and slacked off, since they feel they have little personal stake in it. This is why I prefer knowing exactly what it cost me.

I don't think anyone is doubting that. The cost of publicly funded university education is paid for by the people, and when I pay my taxes I'll be paying for other people's education.

The thing is, education is to the benefit of all society. It's for the same reason you pay your taxes to maintain the road networks even if you never drive. IMO there are some things whose costs should be distributed amongst everyone - especially if it's a benefit to society as a whole.

It also means that university admission here is based entirely on merit, not financial or socio-economic status. There is only one barrier to entry to the finest educational institutes here: academic performance (which is a function of how hard you work). If one works hard, one can attain entry to the best universities in the country - regardless of financial position.

To me, that just seems fairer - and more in line with the concept of "equal opportunity". If, in the future, my taxes go towards ensuring the best and the brightest recieve the education they deserve, I would gladly pay it.

EDIT: Whoops, I just realised that this is almost entirely off-topic.

I have decided to bite the bullet and continue with my education; I will go on monday to finalize my papers. The main reasons for my choice was that I would learn more in less time, get hands on experience, work with a team, and get a bachelors.

EDIT: Here are the schedules for the classes, what do you think?

Associates: http://www.neit.edu/index.cfm?pg=303&title=Courses-Offered

Bachelor: http://www.neit.edu/index.cfm?pg=326&title=Courses-Offered-Game-Development-Bachelor%27s

Christ, why would you pay $70k to go to a private that doesn't even have a big name? URI would cost you $40k and provide a much more rounded (and thus useful) education.

Quote: Original post by Insideac
I have decided to bite the bullet and continue with my education; I will go on monday to finalize my papers. The main reasons for my choice was that I would learn more in less time, get hands on experience, work with a team, and get a bachelors.

EDIT: Here are the schedules for the classes, what do you think?

Associates: http://www.neit.edu/index.cfm?pg=303&title=Courses-Offered

Bachelor: http://www.neit.edu/index.cfm?pg=326&title=Courses-Offered-Game-Development-Bachelor%27s

If you're set on going to school, consider going to a regular school for a regular CompSci/SoftEng degree. You can always do game development in grad school if you decide you still need it, but really if you take your spare time in school to make your own game projects you won't need it.

Consider that the NEIT program doesn't appear to include any math or physics classes, both of which are certainly involved in a majority of games made today. Where are they going to squeeze them in? Take that as an indicator of the quality of their program.

I was taking a look at the URI website, but couldnt seem to find any information relating to anything computer science based, would I have to pick out the courses myself?

Quote: Original post by Insideac
I was taking a look at the URI website, but couldnt seem to find any information relating to anything computer science based, would I have to pick out the courses myself?

Ten seconds of looking through the URI website.