Hello, I'm Stephen. I'm 21 and currently have an associates degree.
skip to the bottom if you don't care about me haha.
After graduating from a junior college with an associates degree, I planned to initially minor in business administration and then partake in achieving a law degree of some sort. However, recently I have come to the conclusion I would rather do something I would actually enjoy for the rest of my working life. Preferably: game design, programming, etc. I have been intensely interested in gaming since I was young, and not necessarily in just playing the game. Rather, how it was made, what made what work, and how I could possibly learn to do this.
I have fiddled around with c# for a while, though I am not proficient with the language. I know the basics. However, as a very creative person (in my opinion), I perceive myself as being more up for the design agenda. I am not necessarily graphically inclined, so that kind of shoots it out of the window. I am very idea oriented. I see things from different angles and I think that is what widens my creativity. However, I'm not here to talk about myself.
As far as school goes nowadays, I know many people who have taught themselves many of the programs professionals use to design/program/create today's games. This is not stating they have professional level jobs and make a higher-than-average salary. I want to know how far a game design degree goes (obviously higher than self-taught) and what schools professionals can see on a résumé and say, "I want this guy to work for me."
I have heard a lot on both sides of Full-Sail - the negatives and the positives. It seems very inviting and interesting, but the finances seem a bit overwhelming. I have read quite a bit of bad reviews as well.
tldr; I want to know what a game design degree is worth, and if it is - where should I pursue it? Note: I would prefer regionally accredited schools in response - depending on what professionals respect in 2015.
Thank you in advance.