Posted: 9/27/2005 10:05:59 AM EDT
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My son is autistic. He functions pretty well but is pretty inept in a lot of things. He does very well in Math and Sciences and is on the opposite end of the spectrum in other subjects. Here's my dilemma. For most of his life he's wanted to grow up to play the young Luke in Star Wars. He's spent a good majority of his time reading everything he can get his hands on about the Star Wars Trilogy and can even speak fluent R2D2. As his mother I've tried to be supportive of his 'hobby' while pushing him to pursue more realistic goals.  About two years [maybe 3] ago he started really getting into Star War Games on the computer. He and a friend of his also started "writing" their own games. This was on paper mind you but they wrote out scenarios and objectives and had a grand time doing this. I picked up on this and started giving gentle hints that this "Game Designing" could be a good career goal for my boy. It took off. He's also gotten into building robots [he builds them out of his kenexs but hasn't built a new one in over a year] so now he tells me his Top 3 choices for careers would be 1: Game Design 2: Robotics Engineering 3: Acting [mother's influence has been working!  ]So my question to all ye Urban Commandos is this: He's a junior in High School. We live in a very rural place and he's not getting the services he needs to do well in subjects like Social Studies & Language Arts. He's currently taking Physics, Calculus, Horticulture  , Drama [ ], Civics & 11th grade Language Arts. He isn't geared to be able to graduate with his class because last year he failed 10th grade social studies and 10th grade language arts. In order for him to graduate he'll have to repeat those grades. I have no idea how he's doing in 11th grade classes - they rather opt for the mushroom parent. I spoke to the college he wants to attend: LINK And they contend that most important is his grades in Physics & Calc [our school doesn't offer computer classes] but he should get an over all GPA of at least 2.0 in order to be accepted. THey also said that it doesn't matter to them whether he graduates from HS as long as he does well in Calc & Physics. Now Digi Pen is very expensive and I'm not sure I can swing it - I've done some searching for similar schools but haven't found anything other than this: LINK That sounds at least accredited. I can pull him out of all his classes but Physics and Calc and home school him the remaining classes so his GPA doesn't suffer [he can actually learn these subjects, it just takes a lot of intervention] or I can enroll him into our local community college for these classes. I guess my question is - what do you think is most important? Do you think this is a good career for him? Where did you get your education? Patty |
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For what this is worth: My job is programming. It is boring and unflattering, but hey it is easy for me and pays the bills. I never took calc or physics, but they type of programing I do (generic & business related) does not really need advanced math, etc. Computer games, however probably would need calc and physics because of the math needed to calcuate how light reflects off various surfaces and how a body will fall of a building, etc. That type of programming will probably need the advanced math and general understand of the subject. Hopefully someone else will chime in. |
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I currently work (at walmart) with a guy who went to digi-pen. He's now working at wallyworld paying off close to 100k in student loans. I graduated in May and I'm still looking for a software engineering / application development or an IT job -- So I wish him the best of luck, but please realize it won't be easy, even after he gets out of school. |
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Hi Patty Call digipen, get all the details on the wasl program, also, ask them about prepaying tuition, lots of schools do this now, basically you start paying now, at todays rates, and they guarantee a spot when the time comes, no matter how much the costs have gone up. Also, start funding a 529(k) right now, it will be pre tax dollars for you, saves a bunch. check out the financial aid stuff at http://www.digipen.edu/admissions/finaid/ if you haven't already. there are very few things in this world that a parent can do for a child besides raise them right, and an appropriate education is one of them. if he qualifies for wasl, and you qualify for stafford loans, and you take advantage of every creative option, the costs should be very manageable. don't settle unless there is truly no other choice. Fish |
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100K is way off according to their website Total Cost -- B.S. in R.T.I.S. & B.S. in C.E. US $53,130.00* (154 Credits) If he can qualify for wasl, that half off of that, and you're are looking at a total of 25-28k for the full progam, all four years. The guaranteed student loans will cover that easily, currently 7%, which he should be able to pay off from earned income when he lands his first job. This is America, Baby, where there's a will, there's a way!!!! |
Patty
We're looking into grants. Because he probably won't be able to graduate from HS though he will be limited. We're going to play his autism card as high as possible. He's also applying for social security. When he gets a job that will stop coming [if approved]. I was able to get through college with out any loans but my annual tuition was under 2K a year then. Patty *ETA* I don't think we'll qualify for the EASL grants since we're from Oregon. 
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I know this isn't game design but it may be worth looking into for ya. www.us-cert.gov/press_room/schlrshp_srvce.html |
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I am a Unix systems admin/security anaylyst and I program in a few languages. College is NOT the only option it might be a lot cheaper to consider other options. Certifications and home computer programming courses can be a lot cheaper and sometimes better for people who might learn at a slower rate like an autistic child. Programming Bootcamps are available but might not be the wisest choice for your son these are basically cram periods at the end of which you are graded. Sometimes 15 -20 days of just cramming information into your brain for 9 or so hours a day its literally a information overload. These bootcamps can be costly around 6-10 thousand dollars including lodging and neccessities. They do have class's that are spread out over months instead of the straight up bootcamp. Online courses are cheap and decent too but I personaly found them to be a bit frustrating cause its nice to be able to actualy be in a class room taking notes than to read a forum. I'm really stabbing in the dark here I am unaware of a autistic childs capabilities but from what I am told they vary from person to person. I learned to program from mostly books and websites before I got certifications which will go as far as a college degree sometimes, of course having both doesnt hurt. If he truely is seeking a job in game design then programming is a must IMHO. I am not a game designer but my girlfriend is shes a senior at Savannah College of Art and Design. She also had a interview with LucasArts this year and they have requested another with her. She takes various courses on game design/programming but she also takes a lot on just normal art like watercoloring and sculpturing. My advice will proboly differ from a lot of others but my suggestion would be to pick up a few books and some programming software like VB or Java and let him tinker see how he adapts and then decide whether to take it to the next step. Or try moving up to a harder language like Visual C++ which many games are made in. My brother got his certifications first and got a job and worked his way through college. A cert can pretty much get you the same paycheck as a stand alone degree. Thats just my advice it isnt too pretty or grand afterall I am just a 21 year old unix/gun nutball with a hippy chinese girlfriend. |
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I don't think my son is capable of doing any crash course type work. He's slow and methodical. He's going to work this summer as an intern for a computer consultant who does mostly repairs and builds. I think that will help him. He also takes game design classes through Lewis and CLark college in the summer. Last summer he took a basic design class. I have bought him some books but right now with Calc and Physics his plates pretty full [oh and football too]. Patty PS thank you for your help. I know my son would love to talk with your g/f - his dream is to work for Lucas Arts! |
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Take this as you want, and anyone correct me bacause I have nothing to do with Video Games (hey, Flight Simulator is as much as I play and it isn't really a game). Everyone I have heard on this says that the game market is so saturated now that only 5% of people that graduate with those degrees really get a job in making the games themselves. Like I said, I may be wrong and 5% is not exact, but when you think about it there is not really a big calling for video game programmers. That said, if he is really, really great at this and very bright then almost anyone will hire him. Just my .02. Oh, btw, robotics will be the next big thing imo. ETA: Check out this stuff: Video Game Jobs Open in the US This Article May Help |
+1. It is extremely competitive, and you have to be able to find people who know people. |