F.I.R.S.T. Institute isn’t like most schools. We don’t stuff lecture halls with 300 students, we don’t offer 4-year programs, and we definitely don’t want our students reading out of textbooks 8 hours a day.
At F.I.R.S.T., we believe in learning by doing. Our programs prepare students for work in creative industries: we help people become musicians, producers, filmmakers, cinematographers, graphic designers, web developers… These aren’t your typical day job, and you’ll have a hard time learning the ins and outs with a traditional education.
Ask any of our students what they love about our school, and they’ll say two things: small class sizes and hands-on learning.
Our Teaching Methods
All of our programs are focused on intensive, practical work. At only 11 months in length, they are designed to efficiently teach you the skills you need in order to get you out of the classroom and into a studio, film set, or design space.
Our classes move fast. You’ll learn from instructors who are working professionals in the recording, film, and graphic design industries. The majority of your time will be spent working with industry-standard equipment, learning what it takes to make a living doing what you love.
Small class sizes mean that you’ll have more one-on-one time with your instructor, receiving critical feedback on your work. You’ll also network with fellow creatives who share your passion! Networking is a huge part of any creative industry – and upon graduation, you’ll develop a group of alumni who you can call your friends, colleagues, and perhaps even future coworkers.
Getting a Leg Up
Getting a job in a creative industry is a process that’s different than any other. A diploma is important, but having a great portfolio is crucial. Your portfolio is a collection of your best work… and you won’t make an incredible portfolio by reading textbooks.
Our courses focus on giving our students the tools to make great work. Whether you want to produce music, work on film sets, or design a logo for the next big tech startup, our classes will give you the skills and equipment you need to express yourself and show your merit to employers.
We also require all of our students to secure an internship during their time at our school. Your time spent being an intern is valuable in learning what jobs in these industries look like on a day-to-day basis. It’s also a business opportunity – many of our students receive job offers from their intern work, securing a job they love even before they graduate from F.I.R.S.T.!
We’ll Always Be Here
Before our students graduate, they complete two courses in Career Development. This is an extensive overview of all the best practices to find meaningful employment. You’ll learn helpful information on making a distinct resume and business card, writing cover letters for submission on Indeed and LinkedIn, creating career goals, interviewing techniques, and even the steps you can take to start your own business.
After you graduate and start putting this knowledge to use, you can always reach out to F.I.R.S.T. for help. Our Student Success Coordinators help our alumni spruce up their business documents and explore new job opportunities. We also regularly update our website with recent job openings, industry events such as music and film festivals, and more.
When your time at F.I.R.S.T. comes to a close, that isn’t the end of our relationship. For many alumni, it’s just the beginning! Over the past 15 years, countless students have graduated from F.I.R.S.T. and gone on to work on big-name productions… and come back to give thanks (and brag about their work!) You can watch what our grads have to say in our Graduate Spotlights!
