If you have decided to go to an audio engineering school in Hollywood, you will quickly find that, despite your relatively narrow geographical location, you still have quite a number of options to choose from. This is because audio engineering is a popular field of work, particularly in Hollywood, which is the heart of fame and stardom. Hence, it is vital that you take the time to consider your option and to think about all the important things that matter to you, but also to those in the industry who will eventually come to hire you.
Not Every Audio Engineering School in Hollywood Is Created Equally
There are so many audio engineering schools all over the world that geographical location must be one of your first considerations. Because music is global, you could quite literally consider schools anywhere from Canberra to Washington. Location is generally not related to the quality of the school, however. Other things are far more important and tell you more about the quality of the school itself. Furthermore, if you have already decided that you want to study in Hollywood, you can significantly narrow down your list of possibilities.
Then, you will likely start to think about the cost. College costs vary tremendously depending on location, whether the school is private or public, and what type of degree is offered. A bachelor’s degree, for instance, costs more per unit than an associate’s degree. Furthermore, different schools have different prices depending on whether you are an in state or out of state student. However, as tempting as it may be to focus on price, this should not be your main consideration. Education is always expensive and you may have the opportunity to apply for federal financial aid, scholarships, or grants.
Last but not least is the school’s reputation, which is probably the most important thing of all. This tells you whether the school is respected not just among its existing students and alumni, but also among industry experts – the people who will be hiring you soon. A school’s reputation usually starts with its accreditation, so do look into that. If it also has programmatic accreditation, then it is even better. Reputation is also built on what the school itself offers and on what is included as part of the curriculum itself. Furthermore, the technology they have available, which is very important in the world of music, is of importance as well.
Another thing that is likely to drive the reputation of the school, is its faculty. If they are industry experts, who actually work in the world of music and audio engineering, who have been at the forefront of technological developments, then you have found a school worth considering. Take the time, therefore, to properly investigate who teaches at the school, how long they have done so, and what their industry background is. These professionals are likely to be the first in your network of professional contacts, introducing you to others, so they are hugely important to you.