Atelier or University

[Chicken-Tooth]

All right, I'm trying to figure out a plan for myself and I hope I could have some of your input as artists. Now I want to be in the animation field (storyboarding, concept, directing, whatever I like them all). Right now I'm a MCTC in Minneapolis but I want go to California to CalArts but if I'm not accepted I want transfer to Academy of art University. During the time I've been trying get better at my art for my protfolio I've taken some weekly classes at The Atelier (http://theatelier.org/) which turns out to be near by. Now part of me has a heart for paintings and illustrations in that classical sense and I feel my skills aren't developed well enough yet. In fact I kinda want to take the whole full time program. But that would take 4-5 years and it would be all day every weekday. I feel that kind of knowledge to would cool to apply to something like concept art and other things. And while I do that I could go for a film program.
There also the fact my dad really wants me to get some sort of bachelor's degree (not force but highly suggests it) saying that some people hiring like to see you came out of some sort of college and had a 4-year commitment.

Or that wouldn't work? If it did should go for if I don't go to Calarts: the Academy or The Atelier?
Is the Academy good at all for that matter?

[xensoldier]

The 4 year degree paper itself is pretty useless unless you're tringt apply to more traditional top companies like disney. AAU is good depending on the major you're interested in (current Illustration student). Of course every school has their good and bad apples when it comes to instructor quality. RatemyProfessor is your best friend when it comes to figuring that out.

[Chicken-Tooth]

The 4 year degree paper itself is pretty useless unless you're tringt apply to more traditional top companies like disney. AAU is good depending on the major you're interested in (current Illustration student). Of course every school has their good and bad apples when it comes to instructor quality. RatemyProfessor is your best friend when it comes to figuring that out.

I wanted to get in the animation program. I'm finding a lot of 3d animator success stories in thier Alumni portfolios . Not really thin involving 2d animation which I'm usually in favor of. Though I could definitely storyboard, concept, and write for 3D though.
Should I consider a illustration degree instead?
It just that I kinda dream some day of being a sort director of something animated like a film or TV show. I feel much more of an idea person