[game_preservation] Game graduate school?

[Michelle Hinn]

>> Most important thing about grad school is understanding what you want to

>> do. You don't go to grad school on a whim.

>> 

>> The second most important thing is finding the right program. This

>> involves two things. One, what is being taught there and Two, who is

>> doing the teaching. If you know who you want to work with for the next

>> 2-6 years, then this makes it a better decision. Also - make sure that

>> professor is going to be there while you are working! A lot of times,

>> they just go on sabbatical!

> 

> Definitely go where the people you want to work with are. I'd recommend you actualy pick a place with more than one person you'd like to work with. You never know what will happen... Also, once you've applied and (hopefully) been accepted, DEFINITELY visit the places before making a decision.


I cannot agree more!! I got stuck in this position, had no one doing anything in gaming by the time I was working on my dissertation (thus having to convince a committee of anyone I could find to agree to have their name on *anything* gaming -- especially something positive about gaming rather than *games ruin our brains* studies), and I taught the ONLY course on game design on a TA salary and an overcrowded student situation (I had students just ask to sit in because there was nothing at all for anyone, especially undergraduates).

I'd suggest (sorry if this has been suggested already and I didn't read it thoroughly) coming up with a list of schools (maybe a top 5) and including (1) why the program is appealing (2) faculty you want to work with and then maybe posting (if you want to put it out there for debate) here and on the game education SIG list) to see what people have to say. Too many schools are saying that "oh of course we offer game studies" because it's trendy only to drop it quickly due to budget cuts, people moving (getting better offers elsewhere usually!), etc.

Good luck -- and DON'T consider University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign if that was at all on your list...no support here and nothing going on.

Michelle