Firstly, graphic design is something a bit different to what you're asking about. Graphic design is traditionally the craft of designing logos, IDs, etc for corporate advertising, etc. 3D is usually involved in industries like film, game, tv, industrial design, architectural previsualisation, etc.c
SLiPKNoT wrote:1)Are there alot of opportunities for 3D designers?
I'll be honest and say that yes, while there are a fair amount of job opportunities, you have to be really good to get a job these days.
2)I've chosen to work on Maya 7.0, is it a good choice to begin with?
That depends on which field you want to go into. Maya is very dominant in the film industry, and is slowly becoming dominant in games. Max is also very popular in games (as well as architectural previz). Softimage|XSI is popular in both game and film. Other packages tend to be used in industrial/engineering design.
I don't know why Y0da recommended Houdini because it's mostly only used in the high end film industry for particles, liquids and other FX.
3)How does a good qualified designer's salary compare with those of a doctor
I have no idea what doctors make. But my first job in a VFX studio paid me only R3200 a month (this was in 2001), while I was earning approximately R35,000-R40,000 per month just before I left South Africa. I won't say how much I earn now..
4)If I want to go forward with designing, where is the best places to master it. university's?
Most 3D courses offered internationally do not prepare students for the workplace, so I would recommend doing traditional arts and learning the software in your own time, or on a part time course. However, formal qualifications are not considered essential for the vast majority of positions in the various 3D industries, as your portfolio is your most important asset.
However, it is worth noting that having a formal qualification in something related to the arts can be important if you want to obtain a work visa for a foreign country, because let's face it, the 3D industry in SA sucks.
5)What is the qualifications for such courses?
You should have some kind of artistic skill.