<p>Does anyone have any idea about how Harvard evaluate art supplements? And who will read letters of recommendation from art teachers anyway? Admission officers or faculty of art departments? Thanks</p>
<p>When a student submits an arts supplement, Admissions sends it off to the Art or Music Department for review. The Art or Music Department evaluates a student’s portfolio and writes up a report that is then sent back to Admissions. The process is the same when a student submits a research paper – the paper is forwarded on to the physics, math, bio, chem or whatever department. Not all portfolio’s or research papers are forwarded for review. Admissions has to have some interest in the student through their essays/teacher recommendations/transcript/EC’s etc, otherwise the supplement/research paper never gets forwarded on to the specific department for review.</p>
<p>Thanks. But what about the additional rec lets from music and art teachers? Who will read them anyway?</p>
<p>Probably the admissions staff. Keep in mind though that many talented artists submit art/music supplements – and the level of mastery is quite high (think Yo-Yo Ma, who was not a music concentrator). So, you should only submit something if you have exceptional talent, otherwise you may inadvertently make yourself appear not as talented in comparison.</p>
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<p>gibby - While I agree that not everyone with some artistic talent should submit an art/music supplement, using Yo-Yo Ma sets your benchmark a little high. I think that an applicant who would consider themselves a serious candidate for a conservatory-type school is probably sufficient to submit the supplement.</p>
<p>^^ Okay, that is a fair assessment. Several years back, I knew a student who played the piano and submitted a music supplement to Harvard. Although he was waitlisted at Harvard, he was accepted to Juilliard and Curtis – so his music abilities, without question, were absolutely top-notch. When students submit an arts supplement, they need to realize the caliber of their competition. I guess that was my point.</p>
<p>As Gibby and Hat have alluded to…most SUCCESSFUL applicants (accepted to multiple schools like Harvard, Stanford, etc.) that I know personally over the years had highly competitive academic profile, top-notch artistic or musical talent that would easily win them acceptance to major music conservatories around the world (think Juilliard, Curtis, Peabody), and top art schools around the world (think School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Rhode Island School of Design, Cooper Union), along with great essays and glowing recommendations…</p>
<p>…your music or art portfolio will be sent to the appropriate department with the expertise to evaluate your “talent” level to see if it is CONSISTENT with what you claim as well as to see if it is CONSISTENT with the awards you have garnered over the years…</p>
<p>…what you claim on the resume SHOULD be clearly demonstrated with the musical and artistic examples you provide…so, be very careful what you write on the Common App/Resume/Accomplishments…you don’t want to CLAIM something that may not be TRUE…</p>
<p>…most music experts can tell one’s talent within a few minutes or less of listening to your recordings…so, be forewarned…you don’t want your supplement to DIMINISH your chances…but, rather STRENGTHEN it…the last thing you want to do is have the admissions committee WONDER why you submitted a “questionable” supplement…</p>
<p>…and as you have experienced, in art, what one artist considers to be “wonderful” may not necessarily be the opinion of another artist…it is more “subjective”…so be careful what you submit.</p>
<p>…in conclusion, all applicants who are considering submitting a music or art supplement, should ask themselves…would I look better to the admissions committee with the supplements that will be COMPARED with the other applicants…or would I look weaker to the admissions committee…would I look better on “paper” by NOT being compared head to head with other applicants’ supplements…important questions to ask yourself…to be critically honest about your talent level before submitting.</p>
<p>To compare? That’s quite difficult. I’m quite sure that my portfolios exceed those of students from my country, but I am totally not sure about those from other countries.</p>
<p>This is where outside provincial/national/international competitions become invaluable in “objectively” acknowledging/assessing one’s true talents…not the accolades one hears from his/her local teachers in the province or county…</p>
<p>…what you or your local officials think about your works may be very “different” in the context of comparing your works with other talented artists from different countries and cultures…think about it…doesn’t it make sense?</p>
<p>@gravitas2: it makes perfect sense. Well I hope that admission officers judge students’ works keeping in mind their contexts. Like students from developing countries would not have the same opportunities in these fields as those in the US, so their works cannot be judged based on US standards, right?</p>
<p>In art and music there is no such thing as “US standards”…it is the standards used by the international community of artists and musicians that celebrate the diversity of artistic and musical expression that each individual brings to fruition for everyone to explore and enjoy…</p>
<p>…so stop worrying too much…go create, live, and celebrate your time on earth!</p>
<p>Yale has some great advice about supplements that would also apply to Harvard: [Supplementary</a> Materials | Yale College Admissions](<a href=“http://admissions.yale.edu/supplementary]Supplementary”>Supplementary Materials | Yale College Undergraduate Admissions)</p>
<p>"You should think carefully before submitting supplementary materials with your Yale College application. Most successful applicants submit only the items that we require. There are cases in which too many submissions, or submissions that do not reflect a high level of talent, can actually work against a candidate. Because the Admissions Committee gives greatest weight to the documents required of all applicants, we recommend that you focus your energy primarily on those elements of the application.</p>
<p>Supplementary submissions may make sense for students with substantial and well-developed talent that cannot be conveyed adequately in the rest of the application. Due to the large number of applications that Yale College receives, we cannot evaluate all supplementary materials. Admissions officers and faculty members will be selective in choosing which submissions to review."</p>