Full Sail - A factory for professional talent
I spent the majority of last week in Orlando evaluating 2 different Bachelor of Science degree program offerings from an interesting school named Full Sail. At present, Full Sail has degrees in Computer Animation, Digital Media, Entertainment Business, Film, Game Design, Recording Arts, and Show Production & Touring. I was invited to evaluate the new degree pertaining to Web Engineering, but also participated in the Digital Arts and Design curriculum evaluation as well.
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised by and entirely impressed with Full Sail. They are working hard to create a unique, energetic environment that supports creativity and encourages participation. The staff, equipment, and curriculum are personalized and professional, with a substantial amount of focus placed on independent development and self-determination. The school has a very distinct mandate, graduating professionals who are capable of hitting the ground running and positively influencing whatever company has the wherewithall to offer them industry positions. Perhaps most impressive is their job placement rate, which amazingly is above 80%!
Full Sail is definitely a viable option for someone looking to learn cutting edge, well rounded skills for today’s media industry … and no, I was not paid to say any of this 
Caleb,
There was a time when prep school landed you in college to earn the supremely nebulous BA. Technical schools produced mechanics and plummers - practical professionals whose skill sets quaranteed work but not necessarily big bucks. It’s all changing. Today’s “vocational” schools produce tomorrow’s cutting edge animators, designers, etc. - specialized professionals who exist at the forefront of the media landscape. While I remain proud of my shmanzy BA, that 80% placement rate is indeed tempting. It will be interesting to see whether the western canon of education will evolve or disintegrate altogether.
Comment by Laurie — November 21, 2006 @ 10:21 pm
Don’t go there!! they will wine and dine you until thee is a problem. the other big issue is there high priced schooling does not have transferable credits!! Got to ARTI in orlando!!! Much beter and a real placement rate not inflated like Full Sail
Comment by william schmitt — December 15, 2007 @ 8:41 am
sorry for the mis-spellings no glasses today. Full Sail does a wonderful PR job and it ends there. ARTi has better equipment and smaller class sizes. Full sail packs you in like cattle. Stay away!! I went there and got screwed out of 20K in the first two months!!!!
Comment by william schmitt — December 15, 2007 @ 8:43 am
Don’t Do It, That 80% placement rate is an illusion in their little minds
Comment by Debra — December 27, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
I called Full Sail and talked with an admission specialist to get answers to the following questions? What is the Grad rate and what is the placement rate for 1, 2, 5 and 10 years.
The grad rate is about 88%. The placement rate is 75%. What they don’t tell you is - is the 75% only the current grad class or the past 2 yrs or past 3 yrs.? In other words, if a grad class has 100 students, only about 90 will graduate. Of that 90, only 68 will get jobs in their chosen profession. This is the best case scenario. Over two years, only about 83 students will be placed out of 200.
Comment by Mark — December 28, 2007 @ 12:19 pm
A bit of advice those who DONT know such as MYSELF go to many resources…including WIKI which by ROLLING STONE review in 2005 “highly recommend” the school on their production house only behind NYU and 1 other. To be 3 on that list is pretty f’n good.
But hey thats just an opinion.
Comment by Ray — January 14, 2008 @ 11:26 pm
As a current student at Full Sail my opinion might sound biased to some, though I am not here trying to convince anyone. Im only here to give my two cents of the experience i’ve had so far.
“Don’t go there!! they will wine and dine you until thee is a problem.”
Wine and dine you? From the moment I heard of the school to now, it has been made very clear to me and other students that their schedule tries to reflect each industries (Film, Recording Arts, Show Production…) real life work schedule as much as possible.
“there high priced schooling does not have transferable credits!!”
True many classes do not have transferable credits, some classes you are required to take regardless of any previous schooling you might have, and many classes you are given the opportunity to test out. I can only speak for the Film degree, but there are several classes that are eligible for credit transfer. I HATE algebra, and there’s no way i’ll take it again, I have fulfilled all my math requirements at a community college in my home town and I am in the process of transferring those credits to Full Sail at this very moment. But anyone in their right mind would/should know this before filling out the enrollment application. As for the “high priced schooling” well if you think its too expensive for you then don’t go there, no one is forcing you to enroll at Full Sail.
“ARTi has better equipment and smaller class sizes.”
I have absolutely no clue as to the equipment used at ARTi, but if ARTi does have better equipment I can’t imagine it being much better than the equipment at Full Sail. Once again, I can only speak for the Film degree, but the equipment that Full Sail uses rivals that of many Hollywood studios. As for class size true they do have rather large class sizes, but for example many if not most classes have anywhere from 20 to 60 students give or take, but the students are divided into smaller groups of about 6-10 depending on class size with each group having its own teacher, or as its known here at Full Sail a “Lab Specialist”
“The grad rate is about 88%. The placement rate is 75%. What they don’t tell you is - is the 75% only the current grad class or the past 2 yrs or past 3 yrs.? In other words, if a grad class has 100 students, only about 90 will graduate. Of that 90, only 68 will get jobs in their chosen profession. This is the best case scenario. Over two years, only about 83 students will be placed out of 200.”
“The grad rate is about 88%,” “a grad class has 100 students, only about 90 will graduate.” huh? the last time I checked 88% of 100 is 88, not 90.
According to the numbers you claimed to have gotten from a Full Sail admission specialist in a class of 100, 88 will graduate, and 75% percent of that 88, will get a job in their chosen profession which is 66. So in a class of 200, 176 will graduate, and 132 students will graduate AND get a job in their chosen profession. But according to you “only about 83 students will be placed out of 200.”
Comment by Jean Choiniere — February 27, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
yeah Jean Choiniere that was an awesome response to everything. FILM!
Comment by christian ocampo — March 10, 2008 @ 6:31 pm
Does anyone know anything about the Master Degree Programs? Thanks!
Comment by K.Miller — June 10, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
It’s interesting, the different personalities of people who reply to posts like these. I’m a Full Sail student too, and yeah it’s on the expensive side, but the learning quality is good. If you’re willing to learn, then you’ll get what you deserve out of it.
Anyway, ARTI is an Audio school. What about digital media, web, show pro, film, and the business degrees? If you didn’t make it through Full Sail then don’t take it out on the school. Even though it’s not right for you, don’t discourage others to look into it.
Comment by dsm — June 18, 2008 @ 3:48 pm
I’m currently a Full Sail student going for Game Development myself. To respond to the comment about how Full Sail is expensive, in my opinion you can’t put a price on your education. I have personally found Full Sail’s class sizes rather small compared to most conventional Universities.
On another note the quality of schooling you get here is absolutely amazing.
In regards to the transferable credits issue, the general education classes you take here are transferable. The others are not however, and with good reason. The amount of stuff they teach you in these classes is staggering compared to other schools.
Coming to Full Sail was easily the best choice I have ever made. I highly recommend it to anyone who is truely serious about pursuing their dreams.
Comment by Jonathan Clark — August 4, 2008 @ 12:58 am
I am considering Full sail. What about the housing situation. Are you able to get adequate housing and since I am from out of state, I am wondering if the housing is scattered or close to each other?
Comment by bonita — August 7, 2008 @ 8:21 pm
I am also currently a Full Sail student in the Film degree program. I can’t complain about my experience here. I believe that you get out of Full Sail what you put in to it. Another issue is that Full Sail should not be responsible for ADULTS that are failing classes. The housing situation is pretty good if you ask me. If you drive further out you can find cheaper housing but there are a few good housing options close by. Especially if you have roommates.
Comment by AJ — August 23, 2008 @ 6:00 am