Alt Title: Picking a degree to match your career field and what you really want to do.
I’m going, to be honest with you, most programs right now that are popping up with a “Bachelors in Esports” you should be wary of. If they do not come from an accredited university, there is a chance you’ll get scammed in the long term.
An example of this would be everyone who went to Devry University, The Art Institute, and the plethora of other diploma-mill colleges that were prominent from the 1990’s-2010’s.
Wikipedia
“A diploma mill (also known as a degree mill) is a company or organization that claims to be a higher education institution but provides illegitimate academic degrees and diplomas for a fee. The degrees can be fabricated (made-up), falsified (fake), or misrepresented (practically useless).” (Wikipedia)
So how can you pick a college or career in esports and what do you do?
I made a quiz to help you at least work on a path that you can take towards your ideal career to start. Keep in mind, most people job hop every 1-2 years now, and may even change career paths every 7 years. So if something doesn’t work out now, just try again!
So! Let’s get into it. How can you break into the Esports and games industry?
A quiz to help you determine your path.
One: Do you want to be a professional player?
A) Yes! Absolutely.
B) Professional Streamer, please
C) I’d rather do something else.
D) No
Two: Do you play team games or solo games?
A) Team Games
B) Solo queue all the way. (Including fighting games)
C) Neither. I like cozy, casual, simulation (insert non-competitive game style)
D) Board/Card games
Three: How many hours are you spending gaming?
A) 12+ hours a week
B) 7-12 hours a week
C) 2-6 hours a week
D) 0 Hours
Four: What has your skill increase looked like over the past six months?
A) I’ve noticed a steady improvement and increased skill ranking in tournaments/matches.
B) I’m top level in my rank and working to improve every day.
C) My skill has not improved and I’ve not grown in ranking.
D) Not Applicable
Five: If you could do any of these jobs, which would you pick?
A) Player/Streamer
B) Programmer (coding) or UX/UI Design
C) Content Creator/Media Relations
D) Other
Okay, so add up your totals and see which one fits you best. Which category do you fall into?
Mostly A’s (or A/B):
Professional Esports Player
or Streamer
Streaming and gaming huh?
Well, you have to be dedicated, skilled, and personable. The good news is you don’t need a degree to pursue this, but you do need access to a powerful PC/stream setup (which is still more affordable than university).
Mostly B/C:
UX/UI, Programming, Tournament Organizing, Research
You probably like really organized plans, data, research. There are also a ton of opportunities in this area as it’s a growing field. If you’re on this path, then you will want to look into coding programs or a degree in computer science, research (in a science field including social sciences), and/or connect with your local community.
Mostly C/D: Content Creator, Community Manager, People relations!
You most likely are drawn to the creative and people side of Esports and gaming. The great thing about this is you aren’t limited in your options or choices! Degree options can look like: marketing, public relations, communications, English majors, business majors, journalism majors.
For freelance work focus on building a brand, and consistency.
So which avenue will you take?
Deciding a path can be scary, challenging, and difficult but I know that you can do it!
Interested in learning more about each of these career options? Leave a comment below and let me know!
rina-lo.com 