By Kelly, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
Have you been drawing in a sketchbook since you were five? Did you receive national/international recognition for your fashion design work through competitions/awards? Are you involved with your community in arts-related initiatives such as mural painting projects? Have your photos been featured in top photography journals? Do you make documentary film shorts that end up in festivals? Have you developed an archive of your architectural drawings from your travels around the world?
If you answered yes to any one of these, then you may be wondering how to express your creative side in your college applications. This is the reason many colleges, including Stanford, all Ivy League schools, MIT, Duke, and most top liberal arts colleges, have developed an option for students to submit a creative portfolio supplement in their application.
The portfolio supplement allows you to add an additional component to your application to give it more well-roundedness, highlight the nuances in your application, demonstrate your creative talents beyond your academics, AND have your application reviewed by more than just the admissions office (standard practice is that supplemental portfolios are only reviewed by the relevant department faculty, NOT admissions officers necessarily). A strong evaluation from the reviewing arts faculty can have a positive effect on the overall holistic consideration of the application. Though a less-than-stellar evaluation may cause the school to wonder why the applicant submitted it, if not to highlight an advanced level in the art of choice.
The question to ask yourself is, “Should I submit a creative portfolio supplement, and will it help make my application more competitive?” So, let us examine what the portfolio supplement is, if it is a good option for you, how it can enhance your application, and how to submit the supplement.
What Is the Creative Portfolio Supplement?
The creative portfolio supplement is an additional/optional piece in the application that gives students who excel in the arts the opportunity to submit advanced quality examples of their work to highlight that talent (this can also include dance, music, theater, architecture, and creative writing, etc. and could be artwork, audio recordings or performances). Your creative supplement is evidence of your talent and a reflection of your commitment to that creative ability.
Some considerations for determining if you should submit a supplemental portfolio:
- If you intend to major in the subject – and the school offers a supplement option
- If your counselor, instructor, or professional in that field encourages you
- If you attended an arts intensive high school – your academic profile/performance scores should give you an idea of whether you stand out as a top student in your class
- If you have dedicated yourself to taking lessons and practicing for years
- If you have been recognized, published, or featured on a significant platform – in print, online, the media, on stage, or a major art institution
- If you have taken related AP (Advanced Placement) courses – and developed a portfolio through the course · If you have attended a National Portfolio Days event – and were told by art admissions reps that your work is strong enough to be admitted to the institution
It is NOT advisable to submit a portfolio supplement if any/most of the situations above do not apply. The supplemental portfolio is optional—so it is still possible for you to major or minor in that field without submitting a portfolio (unless the school requires it).
How to Use the Portfolio Supplement to Your Advantage in the Admissions Process?
Of course, if you are applying directly as a major in that field, it would make sense for you to want to highlight that skill and experience with tangible proof of your efforts and development. But additionally, for students applying in other fields who demonstrate a strong talent in a creative area, this added element can provide additional context about you, your commitments, values, innovations, and passions beyond your academic field. For example, if applying as an intended Environmental Engineering student, who also makes art from beach trash/recycled items, this could give an excellent boost to your application while also highlighting your devotion to sustainability, environmental awareness, and your “design/engineering mind.” Similarly, if applying as a Public Policy major with a particular concern for inner-city education systems, submitting a portfolio of your mural painting work with these communities would take your commitment to social justice to the next level while also highlighting your creativity and community involvement.
How to Submit the Supplemental Creative Portfolio?
The portfolio supplement is usually submitted online in the SlideRoom portal, which integrates with the Common Application. You only need to create one SlideRoom account, which each college will use to access your portfolio. Keep in mind that each school has its own specific portfolio requirements, so each portfolio may vary slightly. For example, when submitting a visual arts supplemental portfolio to Yale, you will submit 5-8 slides, including one drawing, and represent your advanced abilities in art (beyond the high school classroom level) – so the Yale portfolio can be an overview of your top work in art, covering multiple mediums/genres. Whereas other schools may have more strict guidelines, asking for submissions focused on one area/strength, such as painting or mixed media. In this case, it’s best to highlight works that connect well with the overall application and aspects that the student wants to convey about themself. For example, if applying to an Urban Planning program, works focused on architectural design, AutoCAD drawings, structural sketches, etc. could be a cohesive added context to such a path.
Supplemental portfolio instructions may also require a creative resume and an additional recommendation from a teacher who is familiar with your work in the area submitted in the portfolio. So be sure to plan ahead for this process, as the portfolio side of an application can often take as much time as the rest of the application elements to develop – it should be considered like putting an additional school on the school list.
Also, be sure to check the portfolio submission deadlines in advance, as they are often earlier than the application deadline. Though some schools, such as Princeton, require the application to be submitted first before the supplemental portfolio can be submitted.
Overall, if your portfolio is a direct reflection of your long-term dedication, enthusiasm, and recognition in your chosen creative area, the creative supplement can definitely boost your application!
At IvyWise we work with students on every facet of the college application, including creative portfolios. Our college counseling experts know what it takes to stand out when putting together arts portfolios and can provide customized guidance, whether you just need one-off portfolio support with a Portfolio Review or more comprehensive application and portfolio assistance in a senior program. For more information on our senior programs and Portfolio Review, contact us today.
