Full Sail University Review By Ex Staff Member

19 Responses to “Full Sail University Review By Ex Staff Member”

1. DAndrae says on: 24 March 2009 at 3:07 pm

   I dont know what to do about this school. Ive been accepted already. Before and after ive been accepted ive been hearing bad things about how people are in debt. I thought this school would be cheaper than SCAD whose tuition is $27,000 a year for 4 years. Now I just dont know what school is for me anymore. What do you think?
2. carol says on: 6 April 2009 at 5:13 pm

   DAndrae- DON’T go to Full Sail. My son is 90k indebt and making pizza for a living. I co-signed all his loans and am paying $810.00 a month for the next 30 years! I am a teacher and this amount is all I can handle, so how in the world would he or anyone else like him do it. Even if you postpone payment on the loans until you can find any kind of job, the interst on the loans capitolizes. We have nearly 25K from that which is what makes this so difficult. We started out borrowing only 40K. If that is not enough to convince you remember he now can’t get anyone to accept ANY of his credit hours so he can go back to school and get a “real” degree. I don’t know what SCAD is but pick a traditional college where cost is low and you have lots of time to change degress or schools and your money and time are not wasted.
3. Allie says on: 16 April 2009 at 2:52 am

   what are the other school options for film ?
4. Greg Smith says on: 1 July 2009 at 3:20 am

   Allie – The University of South Carolina has a great film school.
5. Dan says on: 31 August 2009 at 3:16 am

   1st thing – youre just mad because you dont have your job there anymore so therefore you are trying to make it look bad so that everyone else will say no to that school.
   2nd thing – if you dont like it then thats your opinion
   3rd thing – you only talk about the bad things about that school and havent said anything about the good things that are happening in Full Sail.
   4th thing – “and most staff view full sail’ers as high school/ university rejects.” — weird that I graduated from high school and I got accepted into 10 other universities and colleges besides Full Sail
   5th thing – if you cant afford it then dont go. take some responsiblity for your actions, you know how much it is going to be and you accept it so therefore its your fault not anyone elses.
   6th thing – as a parent you co-sign for a loan and your son is making pizzas for a living…well maybe he should try a little harder im sure with a degree he can get a better job then making pizzas its called — tell your son to get a better job cause he has loans to pay he wanted to go there so he needs to suck it up and pay for it even if he has to work 40 hours a week.

   its life. deal with it.
6. Ann says on: 24 November 2009 at 10:01 am

   DAndrae: SCAD actually is a pretty bad scam, and the people I know who have gone there either have equivalent loans to Fullsail or way more. SCAD’s classes also do not transfer, but even worse you cannot transfer credits into SCAD, not even an English Comp course. At least you can test out of them at Fullsail. Go thoroughly google SCAD and you’ll find quite a few alarming things about it. It is like the hellmouth of art schools.
7. Gary says on: 20 January 2010 at 11:17 pm

   I am a co-founder of Full Sail. I am so sorry to read these negative reviews. At issue mostly is the money. I do know what a college costs to run it, and honestly this kind of college is VERY expensive to upkeep. Students demand what is NEW NOW, and that is costly, for sure. At issue is this: how does a school obtain excellent equipment and teachers and keep the price low to the students? Community Colleges are helped by the State to fund their expensive things, and to obtain good teachers. A private entity is designed to do it all by themselves. So, the question I have always wrestled with is “How do we present the best education, AND make it affordable when costs are so high?” It is a challenge for students to try to make those big payments when the tuition goes up so high, and the industry they serve won’t pay more than 40 bucks an hour for well qualified people. The entertainment business is changing so fast, each year the cost of creating film works, or recordings goes down. What a conundrum, you want to be in the biz, but you can’t afford the cost of school to get in because you can’t pay the LOAN back before you are dead. I don’t have the answer, it is up to competition to fix this situation. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or visit my website – http://www.garyaplatt.com for more information. I am currently a school consultant and I’m happy to help you in any way I can to discover your path to success. Gary
8. Jan says on: 8 February 2010 at 10:02 pm

   I am excited that a University like Full Sail actually exists. Can anyone give me some insight as to a private school Grades 8-12 that would have the same opportunities for creative, expressive students?Jan
9. Deb says on: 1 March 2010 at 12:40 am

   also went there, also taught there. I agree with a lot of what the initial poster said, but without so much venom. There are good people there that know a lot about the various subjects taught. And there are scum bags who want to be paid to babysit their kids and never come to work–while they make the lab specialists do all their work and take all the hits.

   The classes are not designed to teach much, but rather to regurgitate information that is taken directly from other sources and to keep the customers (that would be the students and their parents whoa re spending money) happy. Once you’re out of school, they will do nothing to help you unless you’re already rich and connected and they can make money off supporting you. They don’t make any money off helping you, so why do it?

   You have to rely on yourself and your own ambition. If you really want to do _______ (insert career) then you will. In the grand scheme of things, you get what you put into it and Full Sail (while providing interesting information and maybe one or two contacts that do more than TALK about doing what they want to do) will have very little to do with your success or failure.

   They have a wide variety of students. I liked most of mine. There were a few that were young and hot-headed and just didn’t understand that this wasn’t a party college and they needed to get their butts in gear. I think part of it is the generation that’s there right now. Kids always think they know everything–especially this tech-savvy bunch.

   Entertainment is a cut-throat business. Do your homework and watch your back. With so many people willing to work for FREE just to get experience, you can’t afford to make a mistake. Full Sail will feed you to the wolves, accuse you of insubordination, and take away everything you worked hard for. They take your dreams, seriously.

   That’s my opinion of the place.
10. Ken says on: 30 March 2010 at 1:45 pm

    I agree mostly with Dan. First off it is who you know, not what you know. You must have connections, and expierience to succed in the field. Full Sail si a great school, and again with the debt. It is a shame because there are so many stupid people in the world. IF YOU CANT AFFORD IT, DONT GO! Simple as that. Its like these new cars being sold to people who cant make payments on them. Do what you can afford. If you have financial situations, thats your problem, and remeber you make the ultimate choice, not the school. NO SCHOOL CAN GARANTEE A JOB. You have to get out, advertise, do whatever you have to, to secure a job in the field. Again connections and networking are a must. I am now personal friends with some great Audio Engineers, who are on Tour, becasue they worked hard fo it. You cant rely on anyone but yourself to write your future. This is a great school, and I am getting sick of the people fired writting bad things about it.
11. Robbie says on: 31 March 2010 at 6:36 pm

    $810 a month x 12 month in a year x 30 years is $291600. Obviously you’re an idiot what inflated the facts on what you’re paying or how long you’re going to pay it.
12. Antonio says on: 5 April 2010 at 3:13 am

    I’m getting into the Master of Science Entertainment Business program at Full Sail. Just like life..school is what you make it. Like the saying goes…IF YOU CAN’T RUN WITH THE BIG DOGS STAY ON THE PORCH! PERIOD.
13. Antonio says on: 5 April 2010 at 3:16 am

    Oh one more thing, SCAD is not a scam. The real proble is lazy students because I just graduate from a University–they complain there too!
14. Ben says on: 12 April 2010 at 11:52 pm

    I know a guy from seattle that graduated from full sail in film and he has a great job with lots of perk! He is now three years later filming porn! I never hear him complain about his job! maybe full sail isnt so bad? Follow your dreams you dont need a fancy school to do that unless you want to be a doctor… then go to school seriously.
15. Julie says on: 30 April 2010 at 1:47 am

    I am getting more sick to my stomach the more I read about Full Sail. From what I am reading is pretty much what I have been feeling as Parent that has a son attending FS. I would like to agree with the ones that have a bitter taste about FS. For those of you that seem to like it, may it be you are still so young and really do not understand all the cost after the degree and broken promises that may follow. Yes, how fun it must be to be away from home in the sunshine state. Around all the new tech. and all the great things they tell you. Well let me tell you they do mislead you. As parents we have been there from day one. We were not sold on this school from the get go. But we did what our son wanted and attended the Backstage Tour. WOW, that was an awesome place, oh Gary J. President did give a very good job on selling FS. Next step meet your Admission Adviser. Nice guy,did his job mislead us. We were told you do not need to take any per-rec classes to attend here. Now what he should of said if they were honest. If I was you I would go back home and take your classes at a community college. Did you know that is cost 1,900.00 per-rec class? We didn’t, they just roll everything in a bundle and tell you what it is going to cost. I am wondering if the former FS employee that posted is the one that did this to us. I did hear he is no longer at FS. So our adventure starts. Son does not need to take any classes so he goes to work. Everything is set to start Jan 10. Then we find out that he has to take those $1,900.00 classes. Also that they are crammed into one month 2/week. Hum! That is a lot of money for a young child to get into the first month plus cost of living. For those of you that want to give a parent crap about the break down of all this, maybe you were raised with a silver spoon in your mouth. My son has a passion for what he wants to do. Should he have to pay the highest price (no sleep, lost weight and stressed) We have put 2 other children through 4 year college and NEVER have I seen such pressure and stress put on young adults as I have at FS. Does FS staff really understand or are they just students that could not find a job working for FS? Makes me wonder the more I do searching. Hind site, never would of let it happen. I hope this is not true should my son not be able to get through his per-rec’s, which he had to be out on ADD Med’s to stay focused that if we or he decides that FS is not what he thought that we are not out thousands of dollars….I really would like to talk to Mr. Gary Jones. I did click on his link to contact him like he asked if we needed. Nothing there but a brain……I was told we could talk to him but need to make an appointment. That is fine. I will drive 8 hours for that. That is how concerned I am. If any Parent can give me some positive I need to hear it.
16. Julie says on: 30 April 2010 at 1:55 am

    Sorry I posted Gary J as the site to go to it is Gary P a school consultant.
17. Rowe says on: 30 April 2010 at 2:55 pm

    Full Sail University is my dream school. I understand the costs. But all of this sounds like people pissed off ranting about debt because they didn’t succeed. (Your fault, You’re Broke) I can’t base what I’m gunna be off of this. I go to a poor, low-expectation high school with everyone around me telling me the same shit I’m looking at now. Lies. All you need is the MONEY. If you don’t have that, of course you’re gunna fail. In my case I’m set. I refuse to be a slave of listening to people telling me what I can’t do. Lies. Watch me prove you wrong.
    -Nebria Rowe
18. Ren says on: 13 May 2010 at 9:21 pm

    Funny, at state schools all you need is a brain, and grant, scholarships, and much smaller loans will take care of the money. At Full Sail, a year’s worth of Pell Grants doesn’t even pay for one semester and the rest is supposed to be loans.

    Of course everyone is broke!!
19. severemikeymike says on: 30 June 2010 at 11:33 pm

    Dan..you’re an idiot.
    Gary, as a former student (2nd video/film class ever from 1989) I have had a successful career after Full Sail but, my career had nothing to do with my attendance there, it was all on my own steam. I learned so much more about television and film production as well as audio in the “real world” than I ever did at school.
    The instructors I had were former half baked students and usually didn’t have a clue or quit before the courses ended because they as employees didn’t get what they were promised. There was very little direction and training on the film and video side, better on the audio side though. I have to say, going to school there was more like “playing” than getting an education.
    At one point in my career, I worked for a large corporate company in the audio visual staging industry and about 80% of the warehouse guys were former Full Sail students and now loaded trucks for a living. Out of that 80%, maybe 1% move up to be an AV tech after a few years of grunt work. This is where your “placement” department was putting your grads. These guys made minimum wage and worked long hours so they could pay back those high dollar loans. When my nephew wanted to apply to Full Sail, I took him to work with me one day to show him what he would be doing after graduation and explained just how much debt he would be in just so he could “play” with the best gear. I told him to just skip Full Sail, apply for the warehouse gig and after awhile, play with the company’s high dollar gear for free. I’m happy to say, this demonstration and my guidance showed him the light and he chose getting a real degree at Florida State University instead.
    My point here is that you do not need to spend $35 to $75K to make your dreams come true, you just have to have the passion for what you love to do, then find the place you want to work and start at the bottom, sweeping floors if necessary. Once your foot is in the door, learn as much as you can learn and by all means network. Whether it’s Audio, Video, Film, creating games, etc, it’s all about who you know.
    There have been a few success stories, but I believe these students are “diamonds in the rough.” They had skills before going. You can’t teach passion.
    I’m sorry Gary, you were always a nice guy but these kids need to know what’s what. Be careful where you spend your money y’all!

    R.I.P. Pat Yacono, best former student/lab teacher ever
    http://www.reelchicago.com/story.cfm?storyID=1738

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