Making a choice to attend a college that
specialises in the art or design fields for some students can be
a tough decision. Not only do you have to go through many of the
same admissions requirements as four year universities, but also
have the added pressure of submitting a portfolio of your creative
work.
The portfolio is often the breaking point for many in the application
process and for some it may keep them from completing their application.
The portfolio needn't be scary or an obstacle to getting into the
college of your choice as long as it is approached in a thoughtful
and serious manner. Hopefully, this article will help ease some
fears and be a guide to creating the best portfolio possible for
each particular student.
PREPARATION
The portfolio as well as G.P.A. and TOEFL scores are an
important part of all art colleges admissions processes and for
some it weighs heavily in the determination of a students acceptance
or rejection to that particular school. It is very important to
develop a list of the colleges that you are planning to apply to
and contact each of their admissions departments to obtain their
particular requirements. Some schools only accept original art whereas
some only accept slides, and some have size limitations. The required
content of the portfolio may also differ from college to college
and each school's criteria should be followed as closely as possible.
There are also pre-college summer programs that give students a
chance to spend four to six weeks at an art school helping build
basic art skills in drawing, colour and design, as well as allow
for the opportunity to receive college credit and experience. Many
of the colleges offer housing and some form of scholarship to their
pre-college summer programs and should be contacted before April
1 for information.
THE PORTFOLIO
Selecting what to include in a portfolio should not be
a nerve-racking experience. Remember to check-out and write down
each college's specific portfolio requirements. A young artist is
usually their own worst critic, and should follow the advice of
their admissions counselor about what to include in their portfolio.
You don't always want to show your favourite piece, sometimes admissions
committees want to see specific types of works. These may include
a self portrait, observational still-life drawings, works in colour
pastels, or a collage. Listed are a number of specific terms used
by counselors and art schools when looking at and describing what
you may need to do to improve your portfolio.
Observational work:
Observational drawings are frequently the central part
of many schools' portfolio requirements. Observational work can
be drawing, painting or collage done from looking at a still life,
figure model/portrait, or landscape. The work should be produced
as you see it in person and not reproduced from a photograph or
from the artist's imagination (ie. from magazines, comics, or animation.)
Personal work:
Many schools may ask for "personal work." This can include
any art or design that you create on your own, usually in a medium
and style that demonstrate your strengths. Included in this category
are still or motion animation, photography, graphic design, film,
video, sculpture, etc. This is an opportunity to show your unique
abilities to the college.
Photographs:
Photography should be works that are shot and printed by you the
artist (do not use photographs printed at photo labs.) When it comes
to photography, schools are just as interested in why you chose
the subject matter as how well it was printed. You should always
give a brief description on the back of each photograph explaining
why you made that particular print or group of prints.
Graphics and digital media work:
When presenting graphic or digital media work, make sure that your
work is as complete as possible. The portfolio should include a
printed copy of the work as well as a copy on disk format with attached
instructions (check with each college to see what is compatible
with their equipment and what format they accept.)
PRESENTATION
Presentation of the portfolio is very important to some
schools and is less important to others. Always try to follow each
college's guidelines to the best of your ability and if you have
questions regarding your portfolio, don't hesitate to call the admissions
department of the school you are applying to for directions. When
presenting your portfolio in either slide or original format, always
include the following.
- Slides:
If you need to photograph your works on slides, always
take enough slides of each individual work so that you can send
them to all the schools that you are applying to (it's better
to have too many than too few.)
- Shoot focused and clear slides.
- Include your name, date, title, and dimensions of the work and
your social security number on each slide
- Include a separate slide description sheet.
Original work:
Do not include torn or poorly cared for work.
Include your most recent work.
Include mainly finished or completed works (avoid sending too many
studies or gestures.)
Include your name, date, title of work and your social security
number on the back of each work.
Photograph on slides all 3-dimensional/sculptural work (do not mail
3-dimensional work.)
Video/disk/CD-rom portfolios:
Do not assume the college will accept a new media portfolio.
Check with each individual college to see if they will accept new
media presentations and what format they can accommodate.
Requirements for international applicants:
All students whose native language is not English must
take the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and achieve
a minimum score of 550 and a minimum of 600 is required for admissions
to the graduate school. Accepted students will be tested for English
placement during Orientation Week. For those students who would
benefit from additional studies in English, many colleges offer
intensive ESL programs.
All applicants who have studied in a foreign country must submit
certified English translations of all academic records. Records
that do not have English translations will not be accepted and will
delay the admissions process. In certain cases it may be necessary
to ask the international applicant for a full evaluation of foreign
credentials. If this is necessary, forms and instructions will be
sent directly to the student.
International students accepted for admission who require a Student
Visa to enter the United States must submit two letters of financial
verification as described below:
1. A letter from the student's parent, sponsor or sponsoring agency
showing a guarantee of payment of the student's educational and
living expenses while attending Otis.
2. A letter from the parent's or sponsor's bank or sponsoring organization,
certifying that sufficient funds for support of the student's education
and living expenses is available. Communication should be in English
or accompanied by a certified English translation, and funds should
be in U.S. dollars. Address these letters to the attention of the
Otis Admissions Office. Only upon receipt of these letters and a
$1200.00 tuition deposit will an I-20 Form be sent to the student.
The student may then take this document to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
in his or her country to obtain an F-1 Student Visa. All tuition
and fees are due and payable at the time of registration.
The most important detail of preparing your portfolio for college
admissions is to remember to just have fun with it. It is almost
impossible to create quality work if you are nervous, just follow
directions and don't wait until the last minute, give yourself plenty
of time to complete the best portfolio possible.
The Author: Kevin D. Buck, Artist and Assistant Director
of Admissions, Otis College of Art and Design, Los Angeles, California
1997.
This article first appeared in Studying Abroad (WW5)
