[quote name='zbell91' timestamp='1302570700' post='4797330']
Yeah, I believe there are six graduates from DigiPen working at Valve Software alone. That is a good sign for these game-centric degrees. I'm thinking that the type of degree won't affect my chances in the industry and I'm sure that with my work ethic I'll be able to pull through.
The group that got hired for valve was a very special case. They created narbacular drop, which was pretty much a prototype for what turned into portal. Valve was so impressed by it that they were hired. I think it had more to do with having a great game than being from a great school, which I happen to think Digipen is anyway.
The problem with trade schools is more that their degrees are question marks more so than they are bad. There are some awesome trade school programs, but they aren't held to the same standards as traditional degrees.
To the OP, make an impressive portfolio, make a finished product, enter it into award shows, and network and your education shouldn't matter that much.
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That's the plan! I've been scheduling studio tours and information interviews while working on outside projects and studying. Any suggestions on portfolio stuff? I have heard that it is more beneficial to complete a simple project in C++ (Pacman, Tetris, etc), rather than have full games created in Unity, Flash, or another engine. On the other hand, a lot of companies say that examples of team work is also necessary meaning that a project of a larger scope comes across as more beneficial.