I have many devices and projects that I’ve assembled myself, and am planning on building a game and an operating system this summer as a part of my ideas to tackle list, and also to submit to MIT to show my passion in making things. However, I’m not sure if they’re creative or advanced enough to submit. My projects have meant a lot to me as I’ve built them, but I’m not sure if a handheld radio built from a kit I bought online is complex and qualified to be on the portfolio, for example. Is it okay to include all the things I’ve built, even small ones? Or just present my best projects? I’m just a rising senior girl interested in technology overall and would like a little bit of advice.Thanks.
I am no expert but I would not submit a project that you built from a kit unless you added something significant or turned the kit into a different project all together. Kits are a good starting point and show your interest and ability to learn independently; however, I think the make portfolio should be original work.
The maker portfolio generally is supposed to focus on one thing that you’ve made, not many projects. Pick one thing that you have done, and I agree that it should be something you have done independently, not from a kit. I believe that there is a “gender gap” in maker portfolio submissions with far fewer submissions from girls, so I would encourage you to put a portfolio together that shows your passion for making. You can google “MIT maker portfolio” to find some videos of prior submissions to get an idea. There is a wide range of projects - what is most important is that you pick a project that shows your creativity and passion for making.
@renaissancedad I’m currently working on a simulation setup of a maglev train specifically for a lego robot, a Linux operating system from Scratch, and a game based on Alan Turing. Do these sound alright to choose from? Thanks.
did you make it? then the answer is “yes.”
“The maker portfolio generally is supposed to focus on one thing that you’ve made, not many projects.”
this is no longer true (it was only true for the first year of the portfolio).