Can you submit any portfolios/interview request if applying for College of Engineering? If they’re required at some colleges does it mean they’re still optional but offered at others, or none offered at all?
Portfolios are important if you’re applying to AAP. Not so much for the other colleges.
@nitric_acid But even if they’re not that important, are they even available? Am I allowed to submit portfolios without applying to AAP?
Cornell no longer does admissions interviews, only alumni interviews.
I’m honestly not sure about a portfolio. What kind of portfolio is it and how does it relate to your engineering major? Maybe worth emailing the college of engineering admissions office and asking.
@momofsenior1 You know other top colleges like HYPSM allow arts portfolio submission regardless of the major? I’m just wondering if Cornell has one too.
And what’s the difference between admission and alumni interviews? I thought they were interchangeable (doesn’t MIT call their admission interview alumni interview?)
Cornell has moved away from evaluative admissions interviews. The alumni meetings are for informal information sharing only, because they didn’t want to penalize applicants who didn’t have access to alumni. Alumni conducting the meetings do not make any kind of recommendation about admission and don’t see the application. It’s more for the applicant to ask questions and get a better feel for the university.
As far as portfolios, I do not believe Cornell accepts art supplements unless it is required by the specific college: https://admissions.cornell.edu/apply/first-year-applicants/admission-requirements
If portfolio is not required, you may still submit it to show achievement of your EC. It will only have effect if it is truly outstanding(exceptionally good).
@f2000sa How do I submit an optional supplementary portfolio? There isn’t a link for them anywhere on the Common app or their website (apart from the mandatory ones which don’t apply to me)
@geekgurl Many other ways, mail a hard copy, a DVD, or link to your web site etc. There is no guarantee that they will forward it to faculty for reviewing.
If your program wants to see your portfolio, it will be obvious how to submit it. For example, https://aap.cornell.edu/admissions/undergraduate/art
OP - From the link I posted before: “Finally, there are some other supplemental forms on the UCA website, like the Early Decision Agreement, an Arts Supplement, etc. These are NOT required and we advise you NOT to submit these additional forms with your application. However, some of our majors, like architecture and art, do require additional forms, portfolios, or design indexes. Review the Freshman Admission Requirements Chart to make sure you have all the required items for your intended major.”
Note that they specifically say “we advise you NOT to submit these additional forms”.
If a college is specifically telling you not to do something, it’s in your best interest to listen.