<p>Hello. I'm going to be applying to Swarthmore and would like to send a few of my best pieces of art and a couple of my musical compositions. However, Swarthmore's guidelines say that one must send no fewer than ten pieces of art and two scores with optional audio recordings.</p>
<p>I only want to SUPPLEMENT my application, not send a whole portfolio as would a potential art or music student. </p>
<p>As for the art, I have four pieces that I would like to send (ideally, just the one best piece that I think would help the most), and for the music, two pieces that I composed on the computer using a MIDI sequencer and samples. I don't score my music as I learn by ear.</p>
<p>Essentially, would it be fine if I were to send what I have? Must I observe the Swarthmore guidelines absolutely? They don't really apply in my case.</p>
<p>There’s no steadfast rule that you must adhere to application guidelines but remember, these people made that rule for a reason and they are the ones reviewing your application.</p>
<p>If it were me, I would either send the required pieces or not send it. I was in the same boat as you in regards to the artwork, I had ten pieces but not all were suitable to be sent so I was left with 8 I loved, but I decided not to send it in. </p>
<p>A major part of my application (Common Application in general) is my composing music by ear, so writing about it and not sending materials would seem rather strange. From what you just said, I don’t think that Swarthmore or any school would hurt me for trying to demonstrate my passions and talents.</p>
<p>Actually, the problem is that with schools other than Swarthmore, the Common Application Art supplement is required, and THAT asks questions about my choosing art as a major, or my portfolio. Again, I would like to demonstrate my interests in areas other than the liberal arts, but it seems that I’m being prevented from doing so. Unfortunately, most of these schools are closed until past the deadline, so it looks like I’ll have to do some guesswork. Would anyone be able to link me to or give me some information about the art supplement in general? Is there a way that I can just send my work?</p>
<p>EDIT: The arts supplement requires a teacher recommendation that I don’t have.</p>
<p>I would send it along with an explanation as to why it is a little different. As long as you don’t go over 10 pieces, I think you’re fine.</p>
<p>What about me? I have been putting photos I have taken for awards in the additional information section on the common app. Should I do this for swat? It’s about 5 pieces.</p>
<p>I know that I started this thread in the Swarthmore section, but is there any way that I can send my material to other schools without having to use the Common Application Art supplement? I don’t have the required teacher recommendation and I simply want to strengthen my application.</p>
<p>One option would be to put a link to your artwork in either your essay if it fits or put the link in the ‘other’ section in the activities portion of the common app. I know that other students have talked about doing that in the past.</p>
<p>Ah—but I sent my common application to another school already. It’s locked. hmmm. I assume that colleges wouldn’t accept anything past the deadline am I correct? They won’t open their phone lines until January 1st (most of them anyway).</p>
<p>You can create a new version for the common app. Search and there are a bunch of threads explaining how. What I have done is made a pdf listing the awards and showing my photos. Would this be a good or bad thing to submit to Swat? One of my teacher recs is my AP art teacher so that kind of covers the recommendation part. Anyone have ideas for my situation?</p>
<p>My understanding about Swat and some other highly selective colleges is that the creative supplements are sent by admissions to the applicable departments for their faculty’s opinions. Those departments pick a very limited number of candidates they believe have a high enough level of talent that faculty would be happy to take them on as majors in their department. This might amount to 5 out of 100 candidates submitting art supplements at a place like Swat. Maybe you could get away with fewer than the 10 pieces if the quality of the work is outstanding. The recommendation could be important to validate that the work is your own.</p>
<p>I am a current junior, but I was hoping to expand on the question. I am planning to submit an art (and maybe writing supplement) because I go to a magnet school force arts (think Fame) and want to show them my passion/how I have spent three hours everyday for the past few years and a good bit of my summers, but I am not an intended art major. Will it still be judged as critically as if I was an intended art major?</p>
<p>Just an FYI Swarthmore does not use the Common App art supplement. You must submit your art via slides or CD. I would suggest calling or emailing Swat about how the supplements are viewed, in terms of context. I am guessing if you write that you don’t intend to be an art major, but value the time you spent on accumulating a strong portfolio or 10 pieces, they would consider it.</p>
<p>Your creative work can tell about who you are, how you think and work, beyond the words in your application. I don’t think it actually matters whether you intend to be a major in terms of how critically your talent supplement is viewed. College students change majors a lot. You wouldn’t declare major(s) until end of soph year anyway–and the general idea of a liberal arts education is to explore and broaden interests. Of course the creative arts faculty want potential majors in their disciplines, but from the larger college standpoint, a good mix of strong talents makes for a more vibrant campus culture.</p>