>>3317301>USA vs Florence for Arts degreeAre you seriously even debating that?
Most European Union universities are free or have nominal fees, and the quality of education is great, because they're state funded and audited/scrutinised. Many are research intensive with publications being churned out at a steady, pace.
Conversely most unis in USA are degree mills where you are a customer directly paying your professors' salaries.
You're gonna be in huge debt for a degree from a subpar institution.
US is only worth it if you can get in the top 10-15 institutions, i.e. Ivy League, Juilliard and the like, or slightly lower ranked ones but with a hefty scholarship. Still, you could do the same in Europe, aiming for Oxbridge, ETH, EPFL, Imperial, DELFT, Amsterdam etc.
Life is also very different in Europe, let alone places like Florence. The whole city is an open museum, your exposure to all forms of art will be constant and unavoidable. Also think of all the exhibitions and Biennales.
>Are photography degrees worth it? Would it increase my chances of becoming a successful photographer, and give me connections and resumé that would put me on the path to success?
Yes, definitely. Even though most disciplines can *in theory* be self taught, STEM included, nobody practically has the discipline to teach themselves to tertiary education standards without lectures, deadlines and exams, neither the vast amounts of times and dedication to do so without proper guidance from supervisors.
In that sense, a uni degree will force you to actually study, do assignments and unavoidably improve.
Also a degree is a testament to being able to learn new things at a higher level, be examined successfully on them, stick to deadlines and produce work (dissertations etc.). That's a plus on *any* kind of job instead of having fuckall to present other your highschool diploma.
Finally, the connections through your professors, and semi-mandatory networking events are a huge headstart.
