I think narrowing down your options is the wrong thing to do.

Your just getting your degree, you need to cast a wide a net as possible.

Say you just want to do design, so learn and apply for design jobs. Focus on all aspects of design that might help and interest you.

Is your degree a games degree? or at a games school?

If so, how far in are you?>

Well,

Not to question your choice in school or degree, but you will likely not find a games job right after you graduate on your degree alone.

You need to be working on your portfolio, and have team and side projects.

Games Degrees are not the golden ticket into the industry as those schools market them to be.

I have 2-3 people I work with that have games degrees. and they are unable to find standard jobs in the industry or elsewhere.

Most recruiters and hiring managers outside of games, don't know what to do with people with games degrees and experience.

As I said before, your prematurely narrowing your options.

Your also assuming that an employer would be impressed with your degree, that they will give you a design position off the bat.

I'm Surprised Tom Sloper hasn't showed up to give you a taste of reality yet.

All I'm saying is to temper your expectations.

You would be supremely qualified for Indie teams, but many of them are Rev share. If you feel you are too good for that, or don't want to work for free, then sorry bud, your in the wrong industry.

AAA companies are notoriously selective, they get thousands of applications, what makes you different from all of those other people?

If your offered a non games programming role, I'd seriously consider it.

Also, Design is a mid level role.

School is nice and all, but most employers want to see how you applied the things you learned.

Yes

Join or start a team.

You can try:

the hobby classifieds section here

indiedb.com

Reddit game dev classifieds

Reddit INAT (I need a team)

@karina.roach It would not hurt your career chances if you narrow your focus to programming and design (two topics, that doesn't sound overly “narrow” to me). Another role you can take on via programming and design is level design. Try your hand at both gameplay programming and level design. Level designers are part designer, part programmer, part artist, and part architect. If you still have free electives, you could try an intro architecture course, to see if that sparks interest in your design side.

karina.roach said:
So at the moment, my best options are to make a portfolio and try to connect with a team?

Your main focus now needs to be to finish your degree.