Creative Portfolios for College Applications
A portfolio is an excellent opportunity to showcase your unique creative work to colleges. A creative portfolio is ideal for displaying your creative, technical, and marketing skills. It is a powerful tool to connect with colleges and leave your mark. A portfolio allows you to connect and communicate with the admissions committee in ways that go above and beyond the application alone. Aspiring visual arts and performing majors will benefit extensively from submitting a creative portfolio.
A Visual Arts Portfolio consists of work such as painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, printmaking, digital art, ceramics, textile arts, graphic design, architecture, film and video art, and installation art. A Performance Arts portfolio can include recorded performances, monologues, dance routines, music performances, and audition tapes for disciplines such as theater, dance, and music.
Portfolio Requirements Vary by College:
The portfolio requirements are specific to each program at colleges. A portfolio may be required or optional by the college. Colleges typically ask for you to provide specific pieces of your best pieces of work (10 to 20 items). A good portfolio should include different mediums and demonstrate strong technical skills. Your portfolio should display creativity and a strong personal voice.
The Creative Portfolio Supplement For The Common Application:
Many colleges accept the creative portfolio supplement for the common application. The creative portfolio supplement often requires students to submit their portfolios through Slideroom.
Slideroom:
Slideroom is an online platform that many colleges use for the submission and review process of application portfolios. Slideroom is integrated with the common application for the creative portfolio supplement.
How to Access SlideRoom:
SlideRoom Account:
Uploading Your Work:
Length of Timed Media:
Most portfolios will require a specific length such as 5 or 10 minutes for timed media. You will have to record and compile your recording precisely to convey the essence of your portfolio within the specified time.
Presentation:
Ensure high-quality lighting, focus, and presentation of your materials. Refrain from over-editing.
We have included examples of portfolios created by students who have worked with our Senior Lead Counselor Madhuri Dasmohapatra below. These portfolios highlight the impact creative expression can have on the evaluation and connection to a student’s work. The first is our student Sophia Lyttle’s art fundraiser. The second is our student Riyana Rampal’s Dance for Life performance to raise funds for organ donation.
Student Portfolio Examples:
Sophia’s Art Fund Raiser: Art for a Cause:
Riyana’s Dance of Life Performance to Raise Funds for Organ Donation
Please check out our upcoming blog by Senior Lead Counselor Madhuri Dasmohapatra about our student Riyana Rampal’s Creative Portfolio Journey.
