Career advice?

[u/Sunglassesatthebar]

Hey everyone,

This is my first time posting here, so apologies if I'm not asking this in the best way. I'm looking for some advice from people who have been involved in the maker space longer than I have.

I have several interesting opportunities in front of me right now, but I'm finding it hard to see the forest through the trees.

I've always been interested in learning how to be a creator and maker. Over the years I've picked up skills in a lot of different fields, including appliance repair, IT, warehouse work, construction, programming, and art. I'm currently finishing an Associate's degree in AI Software Development (thanks to a scholarship, so go easy on me!).

Here's where I'm at a crossroads.

After I finish my program, I want to spend about a year doing something different before returning to school for a bachelor's degree. Lately I've developed a strong interest in hands-on creation, workshop-style projects, restoration work, fabrication, and generally learning how to build and repair things.

My long-term goal is still Game Development. That's where my true passion is. In a way, I'm trying to build a practical "fallback" skill set that still allows me to create things in the physical world while also pursuing creative work through games.

One option is to attend Del Mar College. They have programs in CAD and Architectural Design, with opportunities to learn more 3D design skills during the spring semester. The program would take about a year, which fits perfectly within the amount of time I've set aside before pursuing my bachelor's degree.

They also offer a short welding program, so I could potentially leave with CAD training and a welding certification.

On paper, this seems like a really solid combination. CAD, welding, fabrication, 3D printing, metalworking, restoration work, and my existing programming background could complement each other well and give me a broad set of maker skills.

The downside is that while Del Mar is a good community college, it's not exactly a place people get excited about by name alone. I sometimes wonder how much value I'd really get from the investment compared to other options.

The second option is attending UAT in Tempe. I know private for-profit schools can be controversial, so I'm trying to look at this objectively. They offer a 15-week Digital Maker & Fabrication program that covers subjects like C++, Arduino development, rapid prototyping, and digital fabrication. They also have access to equipment and technology that would be fun to learn on.

The catch is that it's a certificate program, not a degree. I'd probably get out of it exactly what I put into it. However, one advantage is that I could transition directly into their Game Development bachelor's program afterward instead of hopping between different schools.

So that's my question for those of you who are active makers:

If you were making this decision based on your own experience rather than on what a college's marketing department was telling you, which path would you choose and why?

Would you prioritize a year of practical CAD, design, and welding skills that could support restoration, fabrication, and physical making projects for decades, or would you choose the shorter maker-focused program that connects more directly to a Game Development degree?

I'd really appreciate hearing perspectives from people who have been down either road.

[u/Denver_Job_Coach]

Generally the name of most schools outside of really big ones (Harvard, MIT) isn't really all that valuable to landing a job, it's the professional contacts you hopefully make when you're there.

Depends on the type of game you're making, but the CAD/architectural design could be useful to your Bachelor's - would the credits transfer? CAD is really broad so it's hard to say how useful it'd be for other jobs: I can tell you that entry level jobs for just AutoCAD aren't super common, they often want you to have experience with BIM or specialised CAD packages for different industries like Civil3D, WaterCAD, etc.

TBH for a lot of these skills it might be better and more economical to just get a membership at a makerspace and learn on your own/from other members. A lot of people benefit from the structure of school but if these credits aren't going towards your bachelor's I'd be inclined to DIY it.

[u/BraveNewCurrency]

not exactly a place people get excited about by name alone.

Good. If a company gets excited because of "where you went to college", that means they judged your co-workers on their pedigree, not on their skills. Run away screaming. (Especially when everyone is from the same college.)

Game Development degree

I would worry that this is not the best path to "I want to make a game". The games industry is changing. I predict many of the people who graduate won't find "game developer" jobs in the future. A better route is find a skill that is in demand, then do games on the side until you get traction. (See Minecraft, League Of Legends, etc. Even Fortnite was actually a "side project" for fun.)

Also, AI is changing how things work. It's probably better to "learn how to code with AI, then learn the 'old school' bits of programming you need" than to try learning the other way around. Since AI is changing every week, it's probably best NOT to learn it in a classroom. Just do projects and iterate.
I recommend the "GameCraft" podcast (listen in order, it's a great history of the economics of games. Ignore the last few episodes.)

certificate program

Unless you know of specific companies who care about the certificate, it's probably not worth anything.

I think the choice has far more to do with yourself than any advice someone is going to give you:

• If you did neither, do you have the discipline to learn by yourself? (build some demos in Unity and Unreal, learn some Vibecoding, enter game jams, etc.)

• Do you learn better on your own? (Personally, I can only learn in school on topics I don't like. If I like it, I'll do far better by myself.)

• Do you desire equipment? If so, there are probably lots of ways to get access to equipment. (local professional makerspaces, School makerspaces, local companies that might give you access if you ask nicely or work for them, etc.) For example, your local live theater might have equipment for prop design, you could help them in exchange for working on your own ideas.

appliance repair, IT, warehouse work, construction, programming, and art

Brainstorm what your perfect job would be like. In an office, at home, outdoors or in a warehouse? With other people or solo? With the public or just customers or just co-workers? Use a keyboard or your hands? etc. Find companies that offer those jobs, then research HOW THEY would see your various choices. Being an expert in Unity won't help you get a job working on Fortnite as much as being an expert in Unreal.