There are two types of industries available. Industries based on knowledge and industries based on talent. Animation is a talent based industry. School will not make your talent but will reveal it. Education will not increase potential, but help you reach it. School provides benefits for those interested in animation but I do not consider it vital for success. I know stories of good people at undesired schools, and bad people at the best schools. I have also met great animators that never even went to school. In case anyone is wondering a degree of any kind plays absolutely no effect on getting this kind of job. What gets this job is the demo reel.
  The demo reel has the most importance and what I look for in a demo reel are certain qualities of focus. No matter what background someone comes from the good animators follow a pattern of focus. It is true that a broad knowledge of all CG is desirable, but if we spend our time learning all there is to know about everything then we would get nowhere. What do you want to do? Do you want to light? Do you want to do visual effects? Do you want to animate, model, or rig? It is good to find out what you want to do so you can put most of your time there. 
  Almost all of my college reel consists of a low geo character with a nice rig and basic lighting. The less time I spend modeling and rigging means more time animating. We only have a limited time to learn and execute what we need to so how will we use that time? Good filmmaking follows the same type of pattern as well. What is the story about? What are the key sequences that are the most important? That is where the time and money should go. Obviously there are other elements to consider but the quality movie makers know where to put their efforts.
 When considering a college I would search for a place that won’t hinder me from reaching my potential. Most large universities halt me from reaching my potential because of other subjects I am required to learn. A specialty school that focuses on art and computers would be my opinion of the best route to take.