Top schools for designing video games?

I'm passionate about video games and I'm interested in designing them. What are the best colleges for designing video games? I'm looking for programs with strong tech and creative elements.

There are a number of schools that offer strong programs in video game design. Here are a few institutions you may want to consider:

1. University of Southern California (USC): USC’s Interactive Media & Games Division has been consistently ranked as one of the top game design programs worldwide. It caters to both the tech and creative sides of game development.

2. Carnegie Mellon University: Carnegie Mellon's Entertainment Technology Center offers a strong blend of both technical and creative skills. Students work on multidisciplinary teams and gain experience in professional-grade productions.

3. University of Utah: Their Entertainment Arts & Engineering program is strong in both technical development and artistic design of video games.

4. Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT): RIT offers both a B.S. and a M.S. in Game Design and Development. The program encourages collaboration between artists and programmers, providing a holistic understanding of the game design process.

5. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT): MIT doesn’t have a specific game development program, but their Comparative Media Studies program offers a concentration in Games & Interactive Media. This program is more theoretical in nature and investigates the cultural and social impacts of video games.

Make sure to explore each school's specific curriculum and see what suits your interests best. Also, check if the program focuses more on the programming side or the artistic side of game development, according to what you’re most interested in. Remember, a great way to strengthen your college applications is to demonstrate your passion for game design through relevant extracurriculars like coding clubs, digital art portfolios, or even game design competitions. Good luck!