I was wondering if I should submit a visual art portfolio if I’m not intending to major in art? But I would definitely be involved with it on campus, in student clubs and what not. I haven’t won any major awards but it is a major theme in my application, and I’m decently confident in my artwork. Would it hurt my application if it is not nationally recognized work?
If your art portfolio is competitive – meaning that it would score a 5 in an AP Studio Art class – you should consider submitting an art portfolio. However, a portfolio that would be graded less than 5 is not going to move your application forward and might detract from an otherwise stellar file. So compare your portfolio to these samples and judge for yourself what you should do.
Sample 5 Portfolio’s:
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/227305.html
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/228412.html
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/228413.html
http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/apc/members/exam/exam_information/228414.html
I object to judging your artwork based on an AP exam. (For that matter, I don’t much like competitions either.) If you believe in your art, by all means submit a portfolio. If it helps, you can include in an “arts supplement” things like an arts resume with teachers, classes and summer programs if relevant, letters of recommendation from art teachers or others who know your work, and any other materials you might think relevant.
I am more familiar with music supplements, but if you are unsure about how many works to send and what kind of variety, by all means contact admissions with questions, or visit the visual arts forum here on CC, which is under “majors”.
It doesn’t matter at all that you won’t be majoring in art. Your talent can contribute to the mix in the class and as you said, can contribute on campus in many other ways besides majoring.
Good luck!
Really – wow! Have you seen the recent video of Dr. Ben Carson, our new HUD Secretary, playing the piano? If not, google it. Dr. Carson obviously allowed himself to be filmed because he THOUGHT he played well, but anyone with musical talent (or anyone not tone deaf) will instantly know that is not the case. My point? Just because a student BELIEVES in their art doesn’t make it good, or worthy of being submitted to a college – even if they’re not planning on majoring in art. In fact, IMHO submitting a sub-par art portfolio to Harvard (or any other competitive college) can torpedo an application – which is why students should compare their artwork to some kind of national rubric, such as AP Studio Art. OP, ignore good advice at your own peril!
@compmom I’ll read more about what I can find on here and try to contact the admissions office of each college, thanks 
@gibby thanks for the advice, I checked out the AP portfolio examples you linked. I think my portfolio is a bit lacking in comparison, if I can’t produce more pieces in time, I probably won’t submit one to the tippy top tier schools I guess. I’ll discuss with my college counselor a bit more, thank you!
I stand by my opinion, as the parent of a few kids in the arts who got into Ivies. Comparing oneself to some sort of national peer standard in an individualistic discipline is not that helpful to a developing artist. And if art is an important part of who you are, better to submit, even if you don’t get in, in my opinion.
To the OP, an arts supplement does not have to be as exhaustive as a portfolio for art school. And “holistic admissions” at schools like Harvard consider a lot of factors: art schools really rely on the portfolio.
Check out the visual art forum and ask there. http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/
^^ Obviously we disagree. Rather than follow a College Confidential poster’s advice (mine, compmom’s or anyone else’s), I would heed the advice on a college’s website. Many tippy top colleges (HYPSM et al) have warnings on their websites specially relating to supplemental materials such as this one
MODERATOR’S NOTE:
I will assume that the two users above with differing opinions will agree to disagree and not further debate the issue.
@compmom thank you for your encouragement, even if I do not get into HYP and the likes I will definitely continue to develop my artistic abilities wherever I go. The rest of my application is strong enough that I’m not relying on art as a determining factor nor is it an intended academic pursuit. Thanks again!
@gibby yes I will definitely check each college’s policy on supplementary portfolios, I notice some differences between the colleges already. I realize my art work is not the most recognized so I will try to enter some art contests to see how I place competitively (and hopefully update my REA deferral for my first choice school haha). Thanks again!
I don’t disagree with the idea that a submitted art supplement needs to show adequate talent. I just don’t like standardized ways of assessing artistic talent : )
@compmom I agree as well that there is no point in submitting a bad portfolio. I will try to post some links to some of my works if possible sometime
FWIW my D did not plan to major in art although it was a big part of her life. She did submit a portfolio to most of the colleges to which she applied. We both felt it was important in that it demonstrated the amount of her investment in art since she didn’t have a lot of other extensive EC’s.
There may have been one college that didn’t allow for supplements, she didn’t submit it to her safety state flagship, and there was one college that required certain specific types of work which she didn’t have enough of, and not enough time or opportunity to whip them up in time for the application.
However she was not applying to Harvard! She ended up with about an equal number of acceptances, wait lists, and rejections, primarily at well respected but modest LACs. Only one college commented or responded to her supplement and it was an extensive, personalized, in depth letter from someone in the art department. That happens to be where she enrolled.
She had not won any awards. She had had one piece published in her high school’s art journal. She did discuss whether she should do a portfolio or not with her advisor who also happened to be chair of the art department and someone she was close to, so talking to someone like that might be a good idea for you.
Are you talking about doing this for the current application cycle? It was a lot of work and very time consuming preparing the portfolio, taking good pictures, scanning pieces, etc. And then each college wanted something a little different - this one wanted an emailed pdf, that one wanted SlideRoom, this one wanted a maximum of 10 pieces, that one recommended 12, etc. etc. My D’s was done by this time last year. You can still do it, just know it’s a big project.
Great helpful post above, and the visual arts/film forum will have more : )
Im going with no on this one. Supplemental materials get sent to faculty who are asked to sort/rank them. So decently competent can hurt your chances if there are (and there generally are) future pros in the same inbox. Write about your passions in a captivating way by don’t submit a supplement unless you are convinced you will be king-queen of the hill.
^^ Yes, IMHO that is the way to go for a student not wanting to major (concentrate) in studio art.
Just an update, I’ve decided not to submit an art portfolio for my schools. However, I did enter the scholastic art competition, and the winners will be announced mid January, and I guess if I win I’ll just send in an update to my admissions officers.
I found out I got nominated for a Gold Medal award for the scholastic art contest I entered. I guess as far as my art thing goes, I’m just going to update all of the schools about the award.
I believed in you before the award and glad you got some validation!