How hard for a international student finding a job?

[joeyyoung]

Hello guys. I really expect some advices from you.

I've been working in game industry as project manager and designer for 4years in china. Now I have a plan to take a master program to US, and of course find a job here to balance the budget of the tuition after graduated.

Why is it so important for me finding a job in America? If I went back to China back to my former game developing career, it will take much much longer to recall my education cost.

I am considering:
FullSail - Master in Game Design
http://www.fullsail.edu/admissions/i...s-requirements

SMU - The Master of Interactive Technology (MIT) in Digital Game Development
http://guildhall.smu.edu/Video-Game-...ter.195.0.html


According to your exprience, which one could bring me a better job prospect?


How are the career opportunities at the present time？
How much chance you think for a international student like me would have?
thanks for helping!

[tsloper]

Originally Posted by joeyyoung

1. I've been working in game industry as project manager and designer for 4years in china.
Now I have a plan to take a master program... and... find a job [in the USA] to balance the budget of the tuition after graduated.
Why is it so important for me finding a job in America? If I went back to China back to my former game developing career, it will take much much longer to recall my education cost.
I am considering:
FullSail...
SMU...
2. According to your exprience, which one could bring me a better job prospect?
3. How are the career opportunities at the present time？
4. How much chance you think for a international student like me would have?

1. It sounds like cost is a big consideration for you, and I think that's appropriate. I think you should make cost a highly important part of your decision grid, I think you should de-prioritize for-profit schools in your decision grid, and you should consider more than just two schools in your decision grid. And I need to ask: why are you getting the masters degree? What are you going to learn that's going to make you a better candidate?

2. No idea. You might not be able to get a good answer to this question for your decision grid - which means that other factors will need to weigh more heavily in your decision.

3. The economy is bad right now.

4. If you have legal working status in the US, then your China experience will help a lot. It's likely that nobody will care much that you have a masters degree.

Read these:
http://www.igda.org/games-game-june-2011
http://sloperama.com/advice/lesson25.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/m70.htm
http://sloperama.com/advice/m72.htm
http://www.igda.org/games-game-august-2011
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For-profit_education

[joeyyoung]

Originally Posted by tsloper

1. It sounds like cost is a big consideration for you, and I think that's appropriate. I think you should make cost a highly important part of your decision grid, I think you should de-prioritize for-profit schools in your decision grid, and you should consider more than just two schools in your decision grid. And I need to ask: why are you getting the masters degree? What are you going to learn that's going to make you a better candidate?

2. No idea. You might not be able to get a good answer to this question for your decision grid - which means that other factors will need to weigh more heavily in your decision.

3. The economy is bad right now.

4. If you have legal working status in the US, then your China experience will help a lot. It's likely that nobody will care much that you have a masters degree.

Thank you very much, Tom.
I went to the links and now believe decision grid is a good way helping me to weigh my ideas

I think I can afford any 1-2 years period program（but it's still a sort of big number even for american students, which means 6times bigger for international students from China according to the wage gap and exchange rate ）. So that cost recall is my biggest consideration.

As your articles tell, for-profit university is more risky not because of their education quality but the fund input. Since I am considering Fullsail, can I have some personal ideas from you about this school? Well seo, a.d is everywhere, the banner a.d is even showed on gamecareerguide....... is it a fourflusher or worth considering option in your opinion?
Haven't heard from SMU, but Fullsail claims their Master in Game design has a more than 81% placement rate, and I take that a good news.

I know I may get an idea from my decision grid, but I don't see the facts you see from internal America. That's why above I still ask about your opinion.
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3. The economy is bad right now.

I know the economy depression, but have no idea how much game industry suffer from it.

Do you feel jobs opportunities are seriously getting fewer at the present time? Which rank of people you feel fit the lowest requirement of getting a job, outstanding or proper students?
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4. If you have legal working status in the US, then your China experience will help a lot. It's likely that nobody will care much that you have a masters degree.

Do you mean how well I am capable of is the key to the jobs over a paper of master’s certificate? I couldn't agree more
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Thank you again,Tom!

[Destin Bales]

Hi Joey,

Here is some info that may prove helpful regarding the hiring element of your question:

http://www.ineedtomakegames.com/blog...evelopers.html

Best,

- Destin