I’m big on education. The more you know the better your music will sound, the more jobs you will get, the more money you will be paid and the more fun you will have. Last week I was talking to a friend of mine in Spain and he was telling me about his experience at the SAE Insitute over there. First off, he told me he paid about 9000€. Immediately I let out a big gulp. Teachers should be paid yes. Equipment is expensive yes… but still. I give him “props” as he’s not a native Spanish speaker and all his classes are in Spanish. Because of this however his grades are low. This doesn’t reflect on his music or drive because his tracks are well produced and he’s involved with some decent commercial work already. However, he complains that he can never get studio time at the school except for early in the morning around 8:00AM. He also mentioned that he has several rotating substitute teachers, none of which he has confidence in. He doesn’t like that they gave him the cheapest Mac laptop (the white one). I guess he should have known which computer he was going to get before entering into the program.
I know this post could be seen as a little controversial but I got the notion it was a good topic because over at the Sound on Sound Magazine forums a new bloak asks what people think about SAE almost daily. Almost daily the reviews are mainly negative. Here’s an example: click here
“i’d do a cost analysis: student loans versus potential income. hmmmmmmm, let’s see… potential income = zero” – Sqye, Gearslutz Forum Member
So are any of you currently enrolled at SAE? What do you think? Any allumni want to chime? Is it worth it? I think a lot of people coming into the music business want to know.
Some forum threads on the subject at Gearslutz: click here and another one.
This entry was written by , posted on October 25, 2008 at 8:37 am, filed under Uncategorized and tagged learning, SAE, school. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.
I wanna do web design and development in berlin sae.
is it safe ?
If not that college any other college in berlin plz
Hey dude, i wanna try Sound Engeneering course in Berlin SAE, going to Berlin on apr. 1st, i’m also interested in it and would like to see some comments, we can visit it together on Tag der offenen Tür and know more about all this stuff, just let me know if you would like to.
Paul.
Yea I would like to know but I will be joining in september. Once you go there tell me more. And contact me lasradovernon@gmail.com
I’d strongly advise NOT going to SAE as a substitution for going to college.. you will be highly dissappointed if you do so. For I know, I am. Everything they teach you at SAE can be learned via selfstudy, and sometimes, it’s just as simple as reading the manual of your favorite media software. They also don’t even go in-depth on subjects, they say “you can read a book about it” do it on your own. But honestly, some teacher’s don’t even know the in-depth matter of the subjects they discuss. In college you probably learn alot more about web-design, and IT in general on A REAL academic level, than you ever will at SAE.
In college though you will probably not be “making” as much websites as you will at SAE, but in the end, you will get much more in return, in terms of IT knowledge, if you go to a real college.
Unless you want to do something alot more easier and ‘scratch the surface’ of subjects regarding to web-design ONLY, and skip everything else IT, and get a year of “more practical” experience in web-design (which mainly is going to be your own effort, in reading the manual and things alike, than of things you will learn from them) … then sure you could go to SAE.
But in the end, having gone to college, would have been more worthwhile, and alot cheaper.
It’s your choice, this is just how I’ve experienced SAE so far… (Audio Engineering)
Could anyone of you tell me a better college in berlin for web designing and graphics please!!
Where do you study ?
If you were asking me then let me tell that I m in India doing nothing just wasting my time
I’m asking “m” about it +)
I’m in the Audio Engineering program at the Amsterdam location.
Hi, Im thinking about applying to SAE, audio engineering in Amterdam, I was wondering if it is a good choice, or if i will be disappointed in the outcome. please let me know asap
Dear Isabelle,
As in my previous posts, I try to argument about the fact that most of the SAE (incl. Amsterdam) aren’t really worth going to. Unless you’re really undisciplined and want to gain some more practical experience. Most of the practical experience you gain is basically to be learned if you read manuals of gear and software properly. Theory-wise, it’s crap, the tutors don’t know the scientific/researched (answers on the why question) reason of why things happen (like electrically for instance. So actually you could do a technical university, or music technology or something, and with the many you have left, you buy some nice rack gear to play with at home etc.
But depends really, did you finish high school and do you wanna study at university level. Then don’t go here, DONT EVEN CONSIDER DOING THE BACHELOR, its more in economical topics BUT EVEN THOSE LESSONS ARENT UP TO PAR with studying ECONOMY in college.
If you don’t wanna study at those levels, then you could go to SAE, but in my opinion, it would still be a lot of waste of money.
Regards
M.
Wow this guy is serious about his trollin. I suspect a rival college. How much are they paying you “M”?
The solution is simple. Call the college. Talk to a lecturer. Ask a ‘technical’ question.
Say ‘no’ to trolls. Say ‘yes’ to ‘REAL’ investigation.
After all, you don’t know who these comments are from. That goes for any type of product review, positive and negative.
Feed him a goat and maybe he’ll go away…. thats what trolls eat right? Goats.
PEACE
Interesting that anyone who has an opinion based on personal experience or real facts and investigation of SAE that isn’t a positive one, many illegal in fact, SAE employees try to verbally attack them as a form of intimidation. As if calling anyone with an opinion they don’t like a “troll” is supposed to show that poster in a bad light when all it really does is make people ask what kind of legal, legitimate company run by law abiding, legitimate people operates in this fashion. The the overreaction to these students, present or former, who post based on opinions of their own experience is to be bullied by SAE current or former employees is what thugs do and obviously touches a nerve for a reason. It’s also quite immature to say the least. Some people may have a good experience and opinion of SAE and others don’t including “M” and some law enforcement bodies but to try and gang up on someone who posts the latter just makes you look guilty.
Personally I have nothing to feel guilty about. The only investment I have made in SAE was the tuition. I dont work for SAE,nor do I have a vested interest in what happens to SAE. I personally had a really positive experience at their NY branch and thats what I tell people when they ask. What drives me nuts is when some one with a vendetta tries to tell me that I am some how wrong, or in cahoots with SAE. You want to talk about overblown reactions? After doing a little research of my own, it seems that the ‘students’ doing a lot of the negative posting on this thread are actually the same person, a ‘conspiracy of one’ if you will. So, take my opinion for what its worth.
The thing that drives me absolutely nuts are the folks who claim that you can learn it all on line or by reading manuels. You will NOT get a job in the industry by just reading a book or watching a tutorial on line. If you want to be a bedroom producer, fine, thats great, more power to you. That was me for years. But then I decided I wanted to make a living…. now I work in the film industry. If I hadn’t gone to SAE and gotten my foundation together I wouldn’t be where I am today. So, many paths up the mountain. Many schools to check out. But don’t let one or two guys with bad attitudes and personal vendettas diswade you from looking at ALL your options and making a FULLY informed decision. Before I chose SAE I tracked down a number of Alumni, and not through SAE, I did it on my own. I wold suggest anyone interested in SAE do the same. Dont just listen to the folks that post on this thread. There are a lot more resources out there then just this place…. or that ridiculus blog that was put up years ago and never maintained…. and no one ever visits.
Well, that’s kind of my point alum. No one said you were wrong. You had a positive experience and that’s great. I’m only pointing out that just because yours was positive doesn’t mean someone else at another branch didn’t have terrible one. Whether it is for a good or legitimate reason they had a bad experience is always subjective just as your good one is. There are former SAE students such as yourself who may have had a great instructor and good management etc. and then there are those who didn’t. As far as there being “one” person with a vendetta, that I don’t know. I’m not sure how far this thread goes back but I believe it was 2008 and there seem to be detailed issues from specific campuses in various countries, not that they can’t be made up by one individual but considering the legal actions brought against SAE in different countries by different people and entities, I’m not so sure. You do make excellent points on getting jobs in the industry and the best way to go about that and again it’s great advice but someone else may have a different angle that works for them that doesn’t make either of you wrong. I wasn’t specifically referring to you as far as verbal attacks in the previous post although I do think it’s unfortunate and a little unfair to call another student who had the opposite experience that you did a troll, that’s just my opinion.There are however, others who go way beyond that unleash serious verbal insults which is very unprofessional and over the top, again my opinion. Anyway I do agree people should find out as much as possible before attending. My greater concern is the proven illegal activity by those who operate this company not an individual instructor, student or manager here and there. That may be an issue for future students if the company is charged, that diploma/degree may be worthless.
The diploma will not be rendered null if there are actions taken against Misner. But he no longer owns the school. It was actually sold when I was a student. If you you go back in the thread… and really who has the time to read this WHOLE thing, I have been attacked for posting my opinion by ex-students who had bad experiences. Also, there are some ‘trolls’ on here, just like ANY thread. I have to admit that I do take pleasure in getting them wound up. It doesn’t take much. Not saying that is very mature on my part, but its a harmless hobby.
Most of the students that I met while in attendance at SAE that did not do well in the program expected that they would just be ‘handed’ things. They barley worked at their studies, and then complained about the program. I, and a core group of others, busted our asses and have done well. The others pretty much just accrued a large debt and a bad attitude. So you can see my position. I am not saying that there arent bad branches of SAE out there. Just saying that just because one is bad doesnt make them all bad. And I am not wrong for saying that.
Cheers
Agreed, you shouldn’t be attacked either. Misner did sell the company but that’s just the monetary aspect, he’s still a big part of it which is on the website and in interviews he’s given. I’m not arguing with you at all I just want to make that point that he didn’t sell and walk away and Misner selling doesn’t leave SAE in the clear ever for future prosecution. Good on you for working hard and doing so well alum. Good luck to you.
Cheers
I ‘m not a forum person at all but this subject really got my nerves going, so here’s SAE in a nutshell for you (I did it about 1 year ago, audio engineering full time that is, believe me):
Teachers: good till excellent, they will take the time for you and and can go into great depth
about any subject regarding audio.
Studio’s: good equipment in the aspect of mics/consoles altough basic hardware like mic stands
really sucks even in the bigger studio’s. But let’s not put the blame at the school itself,
you would be surprised at how much of my fellow students even later on in the
programme didn’t even know how to handle something basic like a stand or how to roll
up a cable properly.
Practical excercises: Are nice to do but nearly all of them are graded with a pass or fail. This
means you can put a lot of effort into a excercise (I did) and you will just get
a pass or you can just not put a lot effort into a excercise and you will still
get a pass (this is seriously how it works).
Theory Test: Multiple choice, this kind of always worked demotivating for me seens I would
always study quite hard but the multiple choice questioning always kind of screwed
with my head.
Studio time: very limited seens the school is packed full of students, altough if you spend a lot of
time at school, studio’s sometimes just pop open. Everybody also noticed that the
booking system turns you into a kind asshole
Can anyone guess which SAE i’m talking about here ?
Sounds Like NYC to me. When bookings got to tight I would go talk with administration and they found ways to get my class more time.