I’ve read several threads from previous years, but I haven’t seen any specific evidence of the conditions under which Harvard evaluates arts supplements.
“At the discretion of the admissions committee, materials may be evaluated by faculty.” Does this just mean that once academically qualified, they will determine that they want a review of one’s supplementary materials? If so, what is this threshold, and how many portfolios get sent to faculty do you think? I know this is a broad question but I’ve only seen threads about the parameters of submission and not the process itself once one hits that submit button. I know how Yale’s process works, is it the same at Harvard? Thanks in advance.
I’m just an applicant like you and I submitted my research papers as well, and here’s what I think: Harvard will only forward your papers to faculty for review if they’re seriously considering admitting you. There must only be around 3 - 4 thousand people who Harvard seriously considers, so if you’re one of them, then I feel that they would review your supplementary material. As for how many portfolios get sent, all the material that you sent gets reviewed. I dont think that they would select an x number of portfolios should you send y (where x < y).
More qualified people on the Harvard thread would be able to give you a better answer. But I just dont think that they would be wasting the faculty’s time with unecessary requests for reviewing supplementary material.
I think that arts supplements can appear sufficiently compelling to be a primary reason for admittance, and the supplement would be sent on to the relevant department if that is the case. Though the admissions committee itself may be able to evaluate some supplements, so we never really knew if faculty saw the supplement or admissions only.
I think you are overthinking this. Relax. The process of application review will take care of itself at this point.
@anotherdude I see what you mean. That actually makes a lot of sense. Thanks.
@compmom I do tend to overthink. I’m just going to see what comes of all this in late March. Many thanks for your insight.
Yale’s website has a bit more “color” on this; I imagine Harvard approaches an art supplement in a similar fashion:http://admissions.yale.edu/supplementary
Thanks @gibby for that. Just to clarify, I meant a music supplement, but said arts supplement to more generally include everyone who is using their artistic acumen to aid their admissions chances - music, dance, or indeed visual art. In any case, I’m glad that you feel Harvard probably approaches this in a similar manner.
FWIW: Several years ago, a tippy-top student I know (96.5 unweighted GPA from a feeder high school with a 2300 SAT) applied to HYP. Ever since the age of 5 or 6, he had been playing the piano and had performed solo at Carnegie Hall during his high school years. When he sent in his college applications, he also submitted a top-notch music supplement, but to no avail. He was rejected from HYP – even though he was accepted to Juilliard, Oberlin and Curtis for music. Bottom line: No matter how wonderful your musical talents, if admissions doesn’t want you from your academic accomplishments, it’s unlikely your musical ability will kick you over the fence. But all of that is out of your control, so why worry about it, or overthink it. You’ll just have to wait until the end of March to see how things “play out” (pun intended). Best of luck to you!
I disagree with Gibby from personal experience. A less than top notch academic record with stellar music accomplishments can indeed win admission.
An art supplement, if not horrid, can definitely help your chances regardless of whether or not you have a top notch GPA and/or test scores. That being said, the rate of admission for Harvard is still ridiculously low, so the supplement will not completely guarantee acceptance.
@compmom @azwu331 That’s what I think as well. Gibby is very credible though, so I don’t know what happened in his case (especially the Yale rejection given the strength of their piano department, perhaps they all knew he’d go elsewhere so didn’t waste a lost, who knows! Could be as inconsequential as a typo or a letter of rec with faint praise or something silly.)
Specifically, I’m a composer (and serious violinist) and my composition portfolio is rather top notch I’ve been told. How many composition portfolios would you estimate these places receive? I’m sure quite a few but how many are truly standout I couldn’t be sure.
Senior, I will PM you with some specific info on your particular areas of talent. Make sure you include letters of recommendation in your supplement, along with the disc of your playing and a resume. (If you have already applied, I hope these were part of your supplement, but don’t panic if they weren’t.) Letters from music teachers and directors can contribute quite a lot.
From my personal experience, too, I agree with compmom regarding the piano playing tippy-top student that gibby mentioned. I know of kids with less academic/SAT scores AND less stellar (but still outstanding) music accomplishments have been accepted into HYP. This kid is Curtis material at that!! Getting into Curtis is THE hardest of any music conservatory. Very impressive.
My son is at Harvard now. He went to Tanglewood Young Artists as a rising senior. One of his instructors there, a professional musician and teacher, has been one of the reviewers for Harvard’s Arts Supplemental Portfolios. He listens to recordings and write reviews for the admissions committee. I do not know if Andrew Clark, Director of Choruses,or anyone else in the music department ever saw my son’s video.
Does anyone have any idea who will look at a Visual Arts supplemental?
Thanks!
To be honest, we didn’t really think about this much. If admissions needed help evaluating an artist in any discipline, we assume they would get it from departments. My kid just submitted best work, letters of recommendation and resume and let whatever might happen, happen. Visual arts portfolios are different from composer portfolios, obviously, mainly because it takes time to listen to music at length. I have no idea what sort of portfolio Harvard would want, either, or if there are guidelines. I would be more curious about that than about who reviews the materials.