I’ve been practicing 3D at home, but my work doesn't look professional enough for the big studios. I’m looking for a place that teaches the actual production pipelines used in the industry. Does anyone have experience with schools that focus on hands-on projects instead of just theory?

If you want to go pro, I’d suggest you visit program site at https://vfs.edu/programs/3d-animation-vfx. I personally know that Vancouver Film School is highly respected because they train you using real studio workflows. From my experience, the intensive focus on modeling and animation there is exactly what helps you build a reel that actually catches a recruiter's eye!