Success with Full Sail University: Fact or Fiction

As I considered going back to school to sharpen my skills and obtain a master’s degree, I decided to look into Full Sail University.  Full Sail is a Florida-based college that offers courses in entertainment business management, game design, film, music production and other studies related to the media and entertainment industries.  A few friends of mine already attend the school and it seemed to be the only college of its kind that offers an online education.  However, the more I researched Full Sail online, the more statements I found about the school being a scam. 

Because Full Sail is a for-profit higher education institution, many people feel that the institution is in it for the money and not to provide an exceptional education.  While Full Sail is more affordable than some of its four-year institution competitors, cost is an issue for Full Sail students as the institution gives out little financial aid.  With Full Sail’s high costs, low placement, troubles with credit transferring, and not being regionally accredited; the institution has even drawn criticisms from its own students.  

“Full Sail is a scam and there is no question about it.  You can verify it yourself by simply talking to any other college or government agency about Full Sail degree or transferring credits from Full Sail and you will hear it.”

                                                                                                studentsreview.com

The naysayers should beware.  There is no business like show business, and like any business this is a competition.  Full Sail provides their students the knowledge and skills to give them the competitive edge in today’s marketplace.  When weighing Full Sail against more affordable institutions you have to factor in the university’s academic strength and alumni success stories. 

Thirty-eight Full Sail graduates worked on the production of seven different Academy Award winning movies.  61 graduates were credited on 47 projects nominated in 36 categories.  The credits on this year’s Emmy Award nominees show Full Sail alumni working on hits like “Game of Thrones”, “Mad Men”, “Girls”, “Breaking Bad”, “American Horror Story”, and many more.  Full Sail alumni have also been credited on gaming projects like “Halo 4” and “Dishonored”.  Some notable alumni are Gary Rizzo Oscar Award winner, three-time Grammy winner Phil Tan, four-time Grammy and eight-time Latin Grammy winner Sebastian Krys, director and screen writer whose credits include director of Saw II, Saw III, and Saw IV; and JD Harmeyer, Head Producer on The Howard Stern Show.

Full Sail University provides the tools and the education that I need to not only get into the entertainment industry, but to get into the entertainment industry and be successful.  Trust me, going back to school was the furthest thing from my mind.

After receiving my bachelor’s degree a decade ago and still living with college debt I told myself and others that going to college right after high school is not worth it.  My reasoning for this is, because many like myself graduate from college expecting the world to be ours when in all reality, the majority of us end up back at home living with our parents in deep debt with no experience. 

At the age of 18 I wasn’t truly sure what I wanted to be when I grew up.  At this point in my life I do, and a few months ago I figured out how I was going to get there.  I decided to go to back to school, because of the up-to-date education, networking, opportunities, and doors that will open with attending Full Sail. Full Sail University gives their students the competitive edge and an experience way beyond face value. 

“Full Sail gave me a great base, and then you take that knowledge and apply it to wherever you need to.”

DJ Swivel

DJ Swivel’s credits include Jay Z, Kanye West, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Rick Ross, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Wale and more!

"Deep in the Heart of Texas."

As I surfed the waves of the Internet searching for plausible outlets for my artist Chris DeVille to perform, I stumbled across a true treasure. What I found was a website called sxsw.com, formally known as, South by Southwest.  South by Southwest (SXSW) is a set of film, interactive, and music festivals and conferences that take place every spring in Austin, Texas.  This is an event that started in 1987 and it has grown in size every year since.  The SXSW Music Festival is the largest musical festival of its kind in the world.  The event is the ideal platform for any musical artist.  It has the perfect audience and the best crowds for networking with over 25,000 industry representatives and fellow musicians combined, plus over 3,000 media members and thousands of fans in attendance.  The music festival has grown from approximately 700 registrants in 1987 to nearly 12,000 registrants.  This event has hosted many acts during different stages of their career, including acts such as Prince, Bruce Springsteen, LL Cool J, Stevie Nicks, and Kendrick Lamar.  Aside from the music festival, SXSW Film and SXSW Interactive events have grown every year as well, most recently bringing around 15,000 to 20,000 registrants to Austin every March.  

“The ever-expanding South by Southwest festival might cover film, tech and comedy, but to most people, after 27 years it’s the music that matters. Every March people travel from across the world to Austin, Texas to see bona-fide legends as well as the next big thing.”

TheGuardian (UK), March 23, 2013

SXSW has become the industry’s premiere event.  It is a huge opportunity for any aspiring artist or anyone looking to break into the music industry.  The deadline to apply for next year’s event is quickly approaching.  For those interested in applying for next year’s event scheduled for March 7 – 16, 2014, you must submit your application by October 11, 2013.  

“TED Talks and why I listened.”

I was introduced to TED Talks when I sat down with the principal of my hometown high school just a few months ago.  My high school, Johnstown High, is one out of a hundred high schools across the globe to have a TED ED club and I was asked to be on a committee to help organize their TEDx event.  When the principal first explained to me the concept of TED, he presented me with a short video by a guy by the name of Derek Sivers.  I found the concept of TED Talks very intriguing and Sivers’ presentation even more fascinating.  Sivers’ TED Talk was titled “How to start a movement.” I felt that this talk was very interesting because it not only explained how to start a movement, but it also showed the importance of the first follower.  In life we are told to be a leader and not a follower.  In school we learn about leadership skills.  As children we are asked by our parents “If your friends jumped off of a bridge, would you do that too?”  We are programmed to almost believe that leaders are winners and followers are losers.  However, after watching Sivers' video I realized the significant importance of the first follower. 

It is the first follower who actually makes a leader the leader.  Wow!  This now makes the first follower as powerful as the leader.  As I watched this video the principal was using to explain the concept of  TED, I kept thinking to myself how this was such a valuable lesson in leadership.  As a leader you need to be aware of the importance of your followers and more importantly your first follower.  Leaders must embrace their first follower as an equal.  “The first follower is actually an underestimated form of leadership in itself,” Sivers said.  The idea of equal importance between the leader and first follower is so powerful.  With gaining the first followers the leader has now gained credibility and as Sivers’ says, “it becomes less risky for others to join.” 

Let’s face it.  We all cannot be leaders.  We need followers.  Sometimes the person with the must guts is not the leader at all, but instead the person who decided to follow that lone person and make them a leader.