Hi guys 
I’m applying for the 2017 BCSA program, CS and visual arts. My grades are kind of meh-ish (85%, SAT 1980) but I’m feeling ok about the portfolio part. I’m planning to do everything from paintings to video games to 3D models to audio, etc.
I saw a section on their website about supplemental portfolio stuff but it said it’s for non-fine arts applicants and it’s not very well explained.
So my question is, do the SCS people look at my portfolio, or is there a way to show them stuff I programmed? Because if they don’t look then I’ll have to work extra hard on those grades (leaving less time for portfolio stuff). :((
By supplemental portfolio, do you mean the art/maker projects/etc. supplement which is submitted on a website separate from the Common App?
I don’t know much about how the BCSA program works, but I do know how the CS and the art school admissions work separately.
CS puts a lot of emphasis on grades and test scores, especially math test scores. From what I’ve seen, you don’t necessarily have to have programming experience, but they have to be able to see potential, which I suppose they gather via math scores and having EC’s which correspond to CS. I think it’s safe to say that most CS applicants do not submit a supplement showing their work, but if I’m wrong, someone should please correct me.
The visual arts program, on the other hand, is very much dependent on your portfolio rather than your grades and scores. They’re looking for talent and skill in art, not so much that you test well in math.
This question is fairly niche, so I’d suggest getting in contact with an admissions representative if you can’t find what you’re looking for online.
Thanks for the reply. I mean the maker projects submitted in Slideroom. I was hoping to make up for my sloppy math grades by doing a lot of programming projects, but if it’s not worth the effort then I’ll study lots more for math.
Apply to fine arts, get accepted, and then declare for the BCSA?
Current BCSA student here. In order to get into the program, you must be accepted to both SCS and CFA separately. Neither school will know or care about the results from the other school when deciding to admit you. There is not much anyone can tell you about how competitive your art portfolio is without seeing it. Just remember that if you’re applying for visual art, your art portfolio should be of visual art. Video games and audio are not relevant and will not help you.
However, in order to get into SCS barring any exceptional circumstance, one must have very high test scores and GPA, so you might want to work on those first. An SAT score over 2200 will give you a much higher shot, and improving your GPA would help too. In addition, ECs and strong interest in computer science will help you. If you are applying to CFA for art, you cannot send in an art supplement via Slideroom. Submitting coding samples is unlikely to help you, and isn’t even an option with Slideroom. The CS people do not see your art portfolio, so you have to rely on your academic qualifications to get in. They also do not want to see what you have coded before. Rather, they want to see your potential to learn.
If you are set on going to CMU for a BCSA and only get into CFA, you can try to transfer into BCSA, but doing so is even more difficult as you must fulfill the requirements to get into SCS as an internal transfer. This means you’ll have to take all of the intro CS classes on top of a full art major course load and get essentially all As, but even so, an acceptance is not guaranteed. I know people who have done so, but it’s rare. I suggest work to bring your SAT score up 200-300 points at least and bringing your high school GPA up to mostly As, and show strong math skills and strong interest in CS.
Another option would be for you to take some IDeATe classes, which is a program that integrates design, technology, and the arts. From what you mentioned in your portfolio description, it seems like something you might enjoy, and it doesn’t have the getting into SCS requirement. You can major in anything and get a minor in an IDeATe program, such as game design, animation, or physical computing. This program might be even better depending on what you intend to study.