<p>My daughter does not have a lot of EC's for her college apps as she does not participate in school activities in general and does not play any sport. She does not really like any sort of competition either and does not pursue any type of leadership positions. She has always been an artist though, and spends a lot of her free time creating pieces of art, or taking classes at a local art center. She already knows that she will not be studying art in college as a major because she wants art to remain her escape, not a chore.
If she is not applying to an art program, do you think she can/should send her portfolio anyway as a way to reflect her passion and time committed to art? Do you think ad-coms would consider that for a non-art major in the admissions process? She could also get recommendations from a number of people at the art center as she is very well liked there.
Also, she has worked since she turned 16 approx. 20-25 hours a week. Before the job she did do volunteer work at the art center as well, but does not have time with her job.
Thanks for any advice you can share in how to best present herself.</p>
<p>First I will say I am not an expert in the area, but also have an artistic daughter who will not be an art major. She did not include any of her pieces with her applications, but played up the role of art in her ECs and in her essay. She has created watercolor paintings for a national organization that they then turned in to holiday cards and sold as a fundraiser. She has also sold a lot of art over the past five years and donated the proceeds to this national association (in excess of $5,000 to date). I tried to get my daughter to slip one of the holiday cards in with her application, paste in a small copy of one of her lovely iris paintings at the bottom of her EC list, but she refused. She said, "They are always telling you NOT to do that on applications." She also listed the art awards she has received in her ECs. She wants to experience art at the college level, but not major in it.</p>
<p>I am going to major in business and have taken photography classes for three years...a total of 5 classes involving photography. Three of them were wet lab phtoography and the other two are photojournalism classes, where I take pictures at school events, classrooms, and sports. I think it really added another dimension to my application. I didn't apply to any ivy schools, but I got into the Honors College at my school, and my academic grades aren't absolutely wonderful. I think it really shows that your D doesn't spend her entire life revolving around school and work. Plus, it's a different type of EC that most other students have (like orchestra, piano, chorus).</p>
<p>For the Honors App, it said to list 10 activities you are involved in or any awards you have received. I listed my volunteering and academic involvements, but I also listed my last three as the awards I've gotten and my participation in photography. (I'm also my school's photo club president...so that probably helps). I wouldn't necessarily make it your number 1 activity, but definitely mention it.</p>
<p>I sent my art portfolio supplementing my application to almost all my schools, and I applied as a biochemistry/neurology major (depending which schools had my major). </p>
<p>However, I'm CONTEMPLATING double majoring in studio art and biochem in college, but I did not mark that on any of my applications - send it it anyways, it can't hurt.</p>
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If she is not applying to an art program, do you think she can/should send her portfolio anyway as a way to reflect her passion and time committed to art?
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<p>PA Mom, Yes, your daughter can definitely use art as an EC. </p>
<p>Colleges, especially small to medium sized schools that have the luxury of evaluating the "whole" person, like multifaceted, talented kids. At the most academically rigorous it's quite common for students to double major or major/minor in fields as diverse as science and art. Your daughter needn't declare a major when she applies; however, her involvement in art would imply that she will take studio courses and in general participate in the school's art scene. This is what they are looking for in admitting a diverse class, not necessarily a commitment to a major.</p>
<p>I would also encourage your daughter to expand her portfolio to a complete arts package. This could include along with her slides, a resume that lists her accomplishments and awards, a course list, a recommendation from an instructor or mentor, a few (one or two) press clippings. She could also make sure that her interest in art is reflected in her essays, especially the one that asks "what EC means the most to me?"</p>
<p>I submitted a photography</a> portfolio with all my applications, even though I'm more likely to major in the natural or social sciences (neuroscience/biochemistry in particular). I've taken classes for three years, which involved traveling for an hour to a local darkroom because my high school doesn't offer photography, was featured in a juried exhibition of student photographers from the DC area, and am the photography editor of my school newspaper. I can't say if it helped -- I haven't actually been accepted anywhere yet -- but I like to think it adds some interest to an otherwise not-so-unusual application (journalism, Amnesty International, hospital volunteering, and so on).</p>
<p>Yes - but ifyou're going to submit an art portfolio or whatever, you should say that you'll major in it, because then you can IMMEDIATELY reduce the size of your competition. Instead of competing w/ everyone, you're just competing with those planning on majoring in art. Many schools deny that the intended major doesn't affect admissions, but I don't think that's exactly the case. If you say you want to major in Art, and yet you are clearly a sciences person, they'll be like, w-t-f? and in fact be annoyed with you for putting that down. </p>
<p>BUT - if you have a history of doing well in the arts, etc, sending in a portfolio and indicating that as your major can actually be beneficial in the process.</p>
<p>cameliasinensis - btw - I don't know anything about photography, but your work is very cool!</p>
<p>I think I wrote down art as one of my "potential" majors, along with neuroscience and maybe something else... I can't remember right now. Hopefully I didn't do anything stupid.
cameliasinensis - btw - I don't know anything about photography, but your work is very cool!
Thanks! :)</p>