“If you're serious about your dream, we'll take your dream seriously,” reads Full Sail University’s motto.
What pulled me towards Full Sail was that it is a technologically advanced, award-winning college in the world and the degrees there are over a 21-month period, away from the conventional four-year term. Hence, your expenses are cut down virtually by half.
I graduated this May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Recording Arts.
Full Sail offers a wide range of diploma, bachelor’s and masters degree courses that span a course of 12, 21 and 12 months respectively. The majors to choose from include film, music, video games, show production, animation and business studies to name a few. It’s a media college that prides on giving hands-on work than a theory-packed schedule. For every four-hour lecture you attend, you have a mandatory four-hour practical class with schedule for extra hours.
Honestly, after these two years, I remember not the laws and rules, but the why, what and how of the knobs I turned, the faders I pulled up and the microphones I recorded with.
They have everything the industry has to offer within months of each new product or software release. This means you walk out learning about the present and the future and not with and about the outdated stuff.
The college has excellent faculty. Most of them are multiple Grammy and other award winners who have worked with the legends and the top artists in the industry. Teachers aren’t just teachers. They are more like your buddies talking, eating and spending time like they’ve known you all their life. Being an international student never bothered me.
The career development department handles your job placements, and internships are easy to get. These people put you at the doorstep of the finest clients out there from Hans Zimmer, Chris Nolan to Sony Santa Monica. But it all depends on how well you can adapt, the work you’ve put out, and the promise you show.
At Full Sail, what you put in is what you reap. If you fail, you fail. Nobody’s going to push you around or force you to do anything. Getting help and working is up to you. So don’t get carried away by the laid-back attitude and lifestyle.
If you have trouble adapting to the international culture, you have an amazing International Students Department on campus, which can help you with just about anything!
Crazy schedules
Florida is rightly called the sunshine state, having a fairly tropical climate that reminds us of home. As for food, I would suggest you try out the various authentic international cuisines around. Indian cuisine is just around the corner but are expensive. So, if you crave home style cooking, try Thai food instead.
Full Sail also hosts ‘Hall Of Fame’ every year that brings you up close to the big names in the industry from whom you can learn, ask questions one-on-one and feel like you truly belong in an ocean of creative legends.
The lifestyle is completely different being a Full Sail student. You don’t have accommodation on campus, but there are amazing apartments you can share around the campus at walking distance. With schedules being 24x7, you might have class at 1a.m. or 5a.m. too. So don’t complain. I’ve actually shopped, baked cakes and gone for long walks at 3a.m. in the morning. It’s a great experience filled with fun, new friendships and intense schedules.
The writer graduated from Full Sail University, Florida and is currently in Chennai, setting up his studio.
Email: ashwinvinayagam@gmail.com
