APPLICATION PROCESS

What are the admissions requirements?

The following are required for all programs, Advanced Placement, and production tracks:

• Be 18 years or older upon the first day of class.
• Have a good understanding of the English language.
• Have intermediate computer software skills.
• Meet the minimum computer system requirements (see specific requirements for Advanced Placement and production tracks).
• Achieve a passing score on the Wonderlic test. This test measures basic understanding in math and verbal skills.

Additional Admissions Requirements

• Animation Fundamentals. Be a high school graduate, have a GED, or have the foreign equivalent to a high school diploma.
• Animation Fundamentals Advanced Placement. Submit a demo reel for review. Note: Evaluation based on understanding and knowledge of 3D animation.
• Character Animation Production Track. Meet Animation Fundamentals prerequisites.
• Character Animation Production Track Advanced Placement. Submit a demo reel for Advanced Placement review.
• Animal and Creature Animation Production Track. Meet Animation Fundamentals prerequisites.
• Animal and Creature Animation Production Track Advanced Placement. Submit a demo reel for Advanced Placement review.
• VFX Fundamentals. No additional requirements.
• Lighting Your Shot. No additional requirements.
• Maya Workshop: Animation Basics. No additional requirements.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Animation Mentor currently works with private lenders to offer alternative student loans across North America, Central America, South America, Europe, and Asia. Additional resources, such as industry and regional grants, may be available. We encourage you to contact our Student Financing Department, so that we may work directly to identify student financing options that work best for you. To begin, simply email loans@animationmentor.com.

Do you have Financial Aid?

Animation Mentor offers private alternative student loans through various lenders. See student loans for complete information.

How do I apply for a student loan?

Once you have been accepted into Animation Mentor, you may contact our Student Financing Department to schedule a pre-loan counseling session to help determine your loan eligibility. Once your pre-loan counseling has been completed, our Student Financing Department will provide specific instructions on how to complete an application online.

I have bad credit or am unemployed in the United States. Can I still qualify?

You may still qualify for a student loan if you are able to add a co-borrower to the loan who has a positive credit rating. Qualifying for private loans is based on credit criteria established by each lender. Credit qualification criteria can vary by the type of loan, by whether the borrower is a student or parent, or by whether the loan is backed by a co-signer. Some factors that can affect a loan approval include credit rating, length of credit history, verifiable income, and debt to income ratio. If your application is denied, you may reapply with a co-borrower to improve your application.

Who qualifies as a co-borrower for my United States-based loan?

If you have no credit or a poor credit history, you may still qualify for a loan by applying with a creditworthy co-borrower. Having a co-borrower with a credit rating better than yours can lower your interest rates and also increase your chance for approval.

When do I have to begin repaying my United States-based student loan?

Repayment (of interest-only payments) begins 30 days after disbursement.

Can I defer my other student loans while attending Animation Mentor?

Sallie Mae and other federally subsidized student loans have different requirements that apply only to accredited universities and colleges. Although we are able to complete deferments for your previous loan, the acceptance of the deferment by your lender is not guaranteed.

Do you have international student loan programs?

At this time, we have student loan options available in the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, Singapore, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Jalisco, Mexico. Students outside of these areas are also able to apply for student loans through Sallie Mae, along with an eligible United States Citizen or Permanent Resident co-signer.

Do you offer any scholarships?

Animation Mentor does not offer scholarships.

How do I contact your Student Loan Department?

You may contact our Student Loan Advisor at 510-450-7232 or loans@animationmentor.com.

LANGUAGE

Do you offer the program in different languages?

Animation Mentor is only offered to English speakers.

REFUND POLICY

What is your refund policy?

The refund shall be the amount of fees you have paid, less the non-refundable $75 registration fee and $99 lab fee (if applicable), and less the actual cost of any Sessions you have attended (unless cancellation occurred during the Cancellation Period). For example, if you drop after attending only 3 out of 12 Class Sessions, and you paid $3,225.50 in fees, you will receive a refund of $2,419.10 ($3,225.50 minus the $75 registration fee times [9/12] for Class Sessions not attended). Important: New students who enroll during the Winter 2013 term or later will not be eligible for a refund after completing 60% — Wednesday of Week 7 — of any individual class.

What is the “drop” deadline to receive a full refund?

You have until midnight of the fifth business day following the First Class Session to receive a full refund.

STUDENT SUPPORT

What kind of support is offered to students who have technical problems?

We have dedicated Care Teams available to support you.

What if I have other questions or problems, who can I talk to?

Animation Mentor is always ready to assist you if you have questions or problems. In addition to your class mentor, you will have a Student Care Advisor assigned to you to answer any questions. Both the Mentor and the Registrar are here to help with any academic problems, and the School Director can assist with other concerns.

CAREER SERVICES

Do you provide job search assistance after program completion?

Animation Mentor offers job search assistance to all alumni of our production tracks. Career Services maintains an excellent working relationship with many of the animation and visual effects studios and other companies within the industry.

What kind of job search assistance will international students receive?

Animation Mentor has relationships with many international animation and visual effects studios and can offer job search assistance to alumni of our production tracks. For international students seeking to come to the United States for work, visas must be discussed directly with the human resources department of the studio offering employment.

MENTORS

Who are the mentors and what is their background?

All of our mentors are animation and VFX industry professionals who have been carefully selected for their technical ability and teaching skills. Our mentors provide you with video eCritiques and feedback on a weekly basis. In addition, our mentors host weekly Q&A web conference sessions where you may ask more in-depth questions about the weekly lecture and discuss additional class-specific matters.

Can I meet my mentor in person?

Mentors are animation and VFX professionals currently working in the movie, television, or game industries — and their schedules prohibit them from meeting with students individually. Mentors use the weekly Q&A sessions to address student concerns and offer clarity as needed — and to answer emails at their discretion.

Which studios are your mentors from?

Visit the mentor roster for details.

Will I get to choose my mentor?

Yes, you can choose your mentor and time when registration opens. To ensure your selection of both, be sure to apply early.

eCRITIQUE TOOL ®

What exactly is our eCritique tool?

Our eCritique Tool is designed to follow the “dailies” format that the studios use — in this case, mentors comment directly on your work. You also learn by viewing the critiques of all of your classmates.

Can I save my lectures, critiques, or Q&A sessions to my hard drive?

Because our learning platform is always globally available and accessible, you will find it convenient to reference past materials without the need to download. Note: Recordings and downloads are prohibited and will be subject to legal action.

ACADEMIC PROBATION

What is academic probation?

Academic probation is triggered when a student fails to complete two assignments in one class. Once on probation, Student Care coaches and counsels a student to help get him/her back on track. If a student has a grade point average below a C, he/she will be placed on Academic Probation. Students must pass each class with a C or better (C- is not passing) in order to proceed to the next class.

GRADING

How important are grades in the industry?

With respect to animation, the demo reel is the ultimate diploma and what studios will use to evaluate your skill level. Grades are used as one way for you to gauge how well you are doing in the program. Grades also alert us to when and where you may be struggling in the program so that we can offer additional support as needed — and make improvements in the instructional design when we see common patterns.

ASSIGNMENT

How long do weekly assignments normally take to complete?

Hours vary per student and per assignment.

Can I upload my “outside” personal work for my mentor to review, or only Animation Mentor assignments?

The program structure is designed to develop your skills through iterative changes to the curriculum assignments. However, we do understand that you may want to receive feedback on your personal work. For this reason, we have a “Public Review” area in your profile where you can post your work, including early versions of your weekly assignments for others to review.

DIPLOMA

What kind of diploma will I receive upon completing an Animation Mentor program?

We have several diplomas available to fit your needs:

• Animation Fundamentals
  Diploma in Animation Fundamentals
• Character Animation Production Track
  Diploma in Advanced Character Animation Production
• Animal and Creature Animation Production Track
  Diploma in Advanced Animal and Creature Animation Production
• VFX Fundamentals
  Diploma in VFX Fundamentals

How important is having a degree to getting a job in the animation industry?

A degree does not guarantee employment. Ultimately, your demo reel, interview skills, attitude, and assorted tangibles factor into your chances for employment. This is no different than many other sectors. Animation Mentor teaches you both the skills needed to create an amazing demo reel — and the healthy and supportive attitude you need to succeed in the highly collaborative industry.

Are my credits from Animation Mentor transferable to another college?

The individual college will determine if credits are accepted from other educational institutions.

SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE

What kind of hardware and software do I need? Can I use my own software?

Because we are an online school, you must have a computer with an Internet connection and webcam. The webcam allows you to capture images from your sketchbook, record video reference, and participate in class with your mentor and other students. Please see additional requirements.

Provided Software

Animation Mentor includes the following list of provided software to you as part of your tuition. To ensure the best learning experience within our production pipeline-based curriculum, you must use the Animation Mentor-provided software.