I am applying for Early Action and I’m trying to decide if I should send art supplement. I started a sketchbook last winter and gotten pretty good works done considering that I have little experience with drawing. I mentioned the sketchbook in my personal statement and although Yale specifically state “Please bear in mind that Yale School of Art faculty members review selected portfolios, not admissions officers,” I think having at least somewhat positive response from art faculty would support my essay and help my application. Also, bear in mind that my works doesn’t really have the “depth” associated with fine arts. I saw some art online and decided to draw just for sake of drawing.
So the questions are:
How do you think people who does art as profession would react to my works?
Would this help me, considering my essay, even if it’s not up to the faculty’s standards?
When my daughter interviewed at a highly selective school (not Yale), the interviewer invited me in to see if I had any questions. I asked about arts supplements. The interviewer said that they have very little time to spend on each application, so everything that went into the application should be relevant and should be part of the student’s “elevator pitch”. If art is central to your story and a compelling part of your application, and you have taken art classes and done things inside and outside of school to pursue this passion, and perhaps if you plan on studying art, it might make sense. But if it is more of a hobby, I would say not to send an art supplement in.
If you want to have someone judge the quality of your artwork from an admissions standpoint, you can attend a National Portfolio Day event if there is one near you. You need not be applying to art schools to attend. Top schools will be seeing similar kinds of portfolios.
I’d agree with all the advice above. Unless you are very sure that your artwork is of absolutely outstanding quality it would not help your application (and could hurt) to send it in. I would not send what you might consider “pretty good” sketches to be reviewed by Yale art faculty members unless you had outside verification that they were truly excellent – you mentioned your interest in sketching in your essay so let it go at that.
RISD expects an arts supplement. Skidmore openly wants and appreciates one. Yale goes out of its way to say that arts supplements received will be judged by faculty, and I would interpret that to be discouraging unless you’ve won significant awards, been displayed in significant venues, or the faculty judges your work to show extraordinary talent. Sometimes, less is more.
Also, make sure you check the visual arts portfolio requirements for each school if you choose to send it. The arts faculty will be expecting to see the same types of work everyone else is sending, so you might need, say, 12+ pieces including three life drawings and a study from your sketchbook. They are all different.
Alright, it seems it’s no-go for Yale, since art is only a hobby for me (no significant awards) and not a major theme in the essay. I’ll check on other colleges when I am applying for regular decision and see if they are more encouraging.
Thanks for you feedback, everyone!
I would only send an art/ music supplement if your work is on the level of one applying to a portfolio/ audition based program. If it is not, it will not help your application and could actually be negative.
If you have to ask the question, then you probably should NOT submit an art portfolio. Submitting an art portfolio that is not of professional quality – meaning you wouldn’t also submit the same portfolio for admission to an an art school like RISD, School of Visual Art, Cooper Union etc-- will NOT increase your chances, and could possibly hurt them. Remember, sometimes “Less is more.” See: https://admissions.yale.edu/supplementary