10 Things You Need to Know About Full Sail University

Full Sail University was not a college I chose on a whim. I knew what to expect going into it, and I made sure to compare them to their competitors. In fact, I surprised the student liaison with how much I knew about the college.

Needless to say, I was not a bumbling fool out to fall for a good scam. I was an industry professional seeking to pursue a formal degree. Level up, as some would call it.

I knew what career path I wanted, and I knew what to look for. Full Sail University was a good choice for me. I did not go into it blind.

Everyone is different, though. I met several people that seemed to have jumped in feet first, eyes shut tight. Don't be those people.

Here are some points they struggled with:

The workload is unbelievable.

To say the workload was heavy is an understatement. The classes are a month long, and you have finals at the end of every class. Whether you're in class or not, you have to practice and practice hard. It's not a college for mediocre students or lazy people.

Full Sail doesn't set you up to fail. Their college is for passionate, creative people. Their aim is to prepare you to compete with talented people more experienced than you.

Show your passion each and everyday.

You are not unique or special.

Full Sail University is full of people like you. Everyone is a talented creative with a story to tell. All of them are competing for the same goal. What makes you different? How are you going to stand out and rise above the rest?

Having experience or believing in your own success doesn't matter. There's plenty of that to go around, too. Look around you and realize that you're a face in the crowd.

Do you know what, though? That's the true beauty of Full Sail. Everyone is like you.

Who cares what industry a student is from? Trust me, their talents and knowledge will still help you all the same. Grow as a professional, creative and person with them. Network with people and maintain those connections after college.

Better yourself by opening up to the potential around you. Don't go into this thinking you won't or can't learn from other students.

Success is not guaranteed.

No college guarantees you success. That is not their obligation. Colleges are a place of learning, and receiving a degree means you did that. Don't believe that you're paying to land a job out of college.

You work for it (like everyone else).

Creative industries are competitive. Many people graduated before you, and you're competing against all of them. That's true for any college you would've attended. If you don't want much competition, then become a nurse. Choose an industry that's starving for new blood.

Success takes dedication, focus and passion.

Dedication will catch a person's eye. Focus will gain you respect and passion will sell you. Admiration comes when you can exude all three.

I cannot stress to you how important that is.

A full-time job isn't recommended. Seriously.

I worked full-time and attended Full Sail. I had family obligations, and I struggled with a disability. It made life at Full Sail very hard on me. I fought for every single grade both good and bad.

I lived on coffee and creative frustrations. I barely had time to breath?let alone eating and sleeping. Most of my college life is a blur because I was high on caffeine 95% of the time.

Three places knew me by name: Starbucks, Yum Yum Donuts and Alberto's Tacos. (No, I'm still rather slender. Stress kept me thin.)

Full Sail life will do that to you. It's like finals week for 2 years straight. Do not repeat my mistake.

Full Sail is harder than a normal college.

College is hard. It's not high school, and nobody will coddle you. Every action has a reaction, and nobody is going to protect you from that.

College is about rising to the challenge?going above and beyond it. You've set a goal and made a plan. Now, you're executing that plan. College is about learning to adult in a professional setting.

Full Sail is harder than a normal college. It doesn't give you a semester to fix your mistakes. If you miss a lesson or fail to turn in an assignment, you could fail the entire course. It's fast paced and expectations are high.

Practice. Practice. Practice Again.

If you want to succeed, you need to invest time and effort into getting there. No matter where you are or what you're doing, sharpen your skillset. Don't laze about and expect results.

Earn it.

Forget that down time exists. Your new life is about learning new stuff and sharpening your skillset.

It's not a competitive free-for-all.

Full Sail doesn't set students up to compete against each other. It's a fun college full of creative people.

Together, you develop your unique favor of art. You refine, sharpen and develop that unique flavor with others like you. There's no ladders to climb. Like I said before, everyone is like you.

The person you're competing against is the you of yesterday.

Save everything.

You're going to need something to show potential employers. If you don't have work experience, classwork is a good way to show your potential. Give your best to every project because you may need it to shine later.

Ask me anything.

I worked hard and graduated. If you have a question, feel free to ask me. For now, though, the above advice is what I have to give you. Good luck.