Decent Art Portfolio - Is it worth the effort for a science major applicant?

Parents Forum
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D is a high school sophomore finding her passion in science which she plans to major in college and choose as her career. She has taken liberal arts level community college courses in Physics, Chem, Bio and Psychology. She is also taking / planing AP sciences in each of her 4 high school years. She also wants to take more science courses in Summer after sophomore, and probably Summer after junior because she loves them.

She used to be heavy on visual art. She took and aced 10 community college art courses before high school. She exhibited on several professional juried art shows that somehow didn’t specify minimum age limit of 18, but never won a prize. Since high school, she has stopped doing arts and focused on academics. Her high school is a great private school, but its offering in visual art is too low in level for her experience. Probably not many non-art high school can offer at her level anyway. Also, visual art at her level is extremely time consuming which she doesn’t have after her focus on academics.

She can take an AP art class in Junior to work on her college portfolio and probably can produce a decent one. But it will be extremely time consuming and will be taxing on her academics. It’s not related to her planned science major. She isn’t genuinely interested in working on art during her high school. But then she wouldn’t have any other significant EC.

Due to her social needs, we think probably a small LAC would be best for her, and it better be one of the top LAC that offers good needs based FA so that we can afford. Her GPA and SAT will be adequate.

Based on the situation, should she take the AP studio art course next year and/or put significant time and effort on her portfolio for college admission?

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She should do what she wants and then tailor her college app to the person she is and wants to be.

If she wants to take the art class, she should take it. If not – then she shouldn’t take it.

If she wants to include an art portfolio with her college apps – she should submit one. If not, then she shouldn’t.

And she can figure all that out in fall of her senior year.

If she “isn’t genuinely interested in working on art during her high school” then it would be a waste of time for her to take an AP art class — unless the colleges she applies to have an arts requirement for entry that is unfulfilled.

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I don’t understand why she’s taking courses at all the summer.

Agree with previous poster, if she’s not so interested in art anymore, then she shouldn’t take it.

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I remember your posts awhile back when your daughter was pursuing art intensely. I was worried then and am more worried now, and I am saying that with kindness. It is clear you care about your daughter very much.

When your daughter was doing art, she took many community college classes and exhibited. and focused very intensely on that one area. You envisioned her studying art and making it her career. This intense focus at such a young age, and to some extent focus on adult success, may have caused burnout and she stopped doing art. Art should be enjoyable in the present. (And frankly, the level offered may not be relevant since she can do her own work)

Now your daughter is pursuing science in the same way, with many community college courses, AP’s and possible summer classes. You say she wants to major in sciences (non-specific) and make science a career (again, non-specific.

Meanwhile, you are anticipating and worrying that doing an art portfolio will interfere with academics, and also saying that with all those science classes, she has no time for art, and in fact, no time for any EC, period.

This is a worrisome picture, especially with the repetition of the pattern of overdoing one area of study. She is only a sophomore. She does not have to know her future major or career. This is a time for exploration of academics, the arts, and life in general, with participation in social life and various extracurriculars for personal growth and happiness. Balance is important and our kids need to learn how to have it. Including, even, some down time doing nothing.

Art may be ruined for your daughter at this point, and science may be too if she is not careful. Again, art should be enjoyable. It puts you in the zone so to speak. It should not primarily be a vehicle for college admissions, though that can be a byproduct.

I would stop doing all the extra academics. Let her do AP sciences during the school year, and that’s it. Tell her she does not have to know her major or career and can do whatever she wants. See what she does with any time freed up in her school schedule or free time.

She does not have to apply to schools for almost two years. When the time comes, if she is applying to a liberal arts college, a portfolio generally won’t even be needed. She can do an arts supplement that includes a few pieces, a resume, and letters of recommendation (and programs from shows if desired), much less onerous than a portfolio.

That said, many students who love art, take a portfolio class and it can certainly be used in applications.

All that time spent at community college takes up chunks of her life that could be better spent, I would think. She does not have to follow every interest to the nth degree at this time in her life. Expect her interests to change and encourage it. Make sure her life is multi-faceted and allow interests to focus naturally. And learning to relax is important too.

Try not to think about college admissions at all for another year.

Good luck!

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There are so many more interesting science-related activities she can do over the summer than classes at a community college. Is she interested in conducting her own research? Interning in a lab? Doing some hands-on learning in the field? Look into those opportunities instead if she’s really into science.

I wouldn’t suggest taking art if she isn’t into it anymore. IMO, even if she has great technique, her disinterest will show. I agree with @compmom about the level offered at her school being irrelevant. At this point, she would be doing her own work.

I agree that you shouldn’t be worrying about college at this point. But, in general, I think you want to avoid having her look like an applicant who is good at doing what she is told instead of having a real interest in something.

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@calmom,

She does want to submit an art portfolio, if it is likely to help enough to compensate the effort. She loves both arts and science, but wants to set priorities. Fall of senior year would be too late to start a portfolio. We consulted an art professor in the Summer and have a clear plan on what to add to or improve on her current portfolio to make it art school worthy. The question is, should she do it to use it as an EC. We even got a suggestion to apply top private schools with art major and then switch, which we won’t do.

@suzyQ7,

She didn’t do anything official last Summer, which was good with me. She wants to take courses next Summer because she finds them interesting. Not for just credits. She wants to find good but difficult professors who will actually teach something substantial. I thought she was going to work on her portfolio. But she won’t have time this Summer. Summer after junior is likely busy too. So it seems either work on during regular junior year or no portfolio.

@compmom ,

Thanks for your concerns. Her passion on art is not gone. She merely wants to take a longer route to it, concurrently with another career. It’s on hiatus and not by my suggestion. She wants to prioritize on opportunities that are only available now and I can’t argue against it. I very often tell her that she can major anything she wants, and doesn’t have too do well on her high school either. I often suggest her to put less work on her academics. But I can only suggest.

The reason I am concerned of taking the time intensive AP studio course is not because of her grade, but because I don’t want her to overwork. Without taking it though, she won’t have enough free time to do it on her own during school year. Taking it instead of another elective will at least take another course load from her regular schedule, and she will enjoy taking the course, except it might reduce her sleep time.

Taking the Summer courses probably won’t help her admissions. But that’s not the reason. She just wants to learn how to cook m*th. I was concerned but ultimately agreed that it’s a good plan as any if she wants it for her passion and not padding CV.

She is doing as much social and EC activities as her character allows because she wants them. That’s the biggest reason of staying in high school. But she use it to pad her college application. So that area will be lacking.

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@PetraMC,

^ There are so many more interesting science-related activities she can do over the summer.

I know, right? And many of them can seriously help college admission too. We have quite a bit of research opportunities around here. But she wants to learn more advanced chemistry in seriously academic way . Let the kids follow their passion right?

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@SculptorDad Just have her live authentically and in a balanced way. I don’t know why am art portfolio will be helpful for a science major if that is her new passion. Maybe art reemerges as her favorite outlet in due time.

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MODERATOR’S NOTE:

Humor does not always come across on the written page, and some things should just not be joked about. Could you not have just said that she wants to learn advanced chemistry?

I agree. Additionally, I’m not seeing anywhere what she wants to do and how she plans to balance competing priorities.

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^ what she wants to do

She wants to do focus on science during school year and take college chem and CS class during the Summer. She enjoys current social life but doesn’t want to mold it to meaningfully enhance her application profile. She wants to work on her portfolio if it will substantially enhance her college application as a science major.

I am only trying to give her better advise because that’s my role. And it’s painful to give up something so substantial. I was advised to consider the bait and switch tactic from more than one professional, which is immoral of course, if not impractical. But I was hoping that it could at least make up the lacking EC.

Thanks for the advises.

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@SculptorDad I’m not sure how much an art portfolio factors in for a science major. Can she choose a science EC? You might want to look at Skidmore when the time comes. They are trying to vamp up the science program and have good aid.

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There are places where art and science intersect, after all. Sculpting gives you a better mental sense of how 3d objects interact, for example, which is immensely helpful in engineering and CAD. Art can give you a way to better convey complex explanations in visual/graphic forms. Rembrandt was a scientist and an artist.

If her art has a science-y bent, including the portfolio will help round out a picture of her personality. If her art is a personal escape from it and doesn’t fit the rest of the picture that you’re painting in the application, then it’s a distraction.

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@gearmom, the problem with good Summer science EC is that it involves working with new people. New people are challenge, but she wants the challenge. She is considering those science EC for the following Summer after this one. And we will look into Skidmore. Thanks. I am just beginning search on small supportive colleges.

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^If her art is a personal escape from it and doesn’t fit the rest of the picture that you’re painting in the application, then it’s a distraction.

That makes sense. Her art, at least what she is already good at is classical, and her science is hard science. There is no intersection for now. Maybe in the distant future.

But then don’t other ECs, like sports or instruments, the same? No interaction with any majors.

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@ninakatarina Sure if she is interested in art she can have that be a plus. It sounds like she has moved past this interest though. And the portfolio would take a significant amount of time and energy. Not sure if that is best for her new path. Of course if she takes CS, graphic design could be a natural intersection. Make sure that the college courses will count for her future career. And ECs DO NOT have to be formal. They can be hobbies, religious activities, volunteering, work for the family.

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I remember your daughter’s art - she could make a perfectly decent portfolio out of what she’s already got out there.

My observation of most high school art classes is that they are taught in an open-ended way so that you can participate at any level. A life-drawing class, for example can have rank beginners and students who have been drawing from a model for years and it makes no difference. I took art every year in high school because it kept me sane. I never thought I’d end up majoring in art. (Which I half did - Visual and Environmental Studies.)

If she’s moved past art that’s fine, but I wonder if she’s being pushed to think she needs to do all this focusing in on one thing at a time. It’s okay to have strong interests, but most colleges still want to see something other than academics.

Most colleges - especially the smaller LAC type colleges - in this country don’t accept students by major.

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^“I am only trying to give her better advise because that’s my role. And it’s painful to give up something so substantial.”

Trust me, I know. One of my kids was a very promising tennis player and she dropped it totally in 10th grade. I think I “supported” her a bit too much, truth be told.

I have another child who did take AP Studio Art. It’s a ton of work, and if she’s only taking it Junior year to get a portfolio together, then I don’t believe it will be worthwhile as an EC. IMO colleges would want to see an interest spread over several years, not just 30 pieces put together for a class. She can put together a portfolio in just a regular art class without having to meet the specific requirements of the AP class. I’m sure her school’s art teacher can help select some pieces. Or she can attend a National Portfolio Day event if she wants some feedback from art programs.

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@mathmom

^I remember your daughter’s art - she could make a perfectly decent portfolio out of what she’s already got out there.

Thanks! We were considering Junior transfer with art major this Summer, and had a portfolio review with an art prof/admission specialist. She asked some 100+ hours worth of touch up and additional pieces to be art school ready.

^ but most colleges still want to see something other than academics.

That’s what concerns me. She would be fine to a UC campus so I didn’t worry about it. But now I see that she would be much happier at a close knit small college that I can’t afford without FA. And those with the fund are also the most selective ones that want great EC.

Maybe we can just submit her portfolio as is since she will list a hard science for target major. She is not the type for leadership, community, and volunteering stuffs. They are difficult for introvert people. Nothing but visual art comes to mind as that something strong other than academics. And utilize her many thousand hours of investment.

^ I wonder if she’s being pushed to think she needs to do all this focusing in on one thing at a time.

She is pushed by seeing some kids with impressive science achievement and I can only do so much to pull her back. It concerns her not for college admission but if she has what it takes for long term successful academic career. But she also finds hard science more fun than art. She would rather do more science lab than art lab for the time being.

^ especially the smaller LAC type colleges - in this country don’t accept students by major.

It seems they still consider intended art major with strong art portfolio. And some professional recommended her to apply with intended art major and then switch. It was very uncomfortable to hear it but the damage is already done. Nonetheless we are not interested. Not even as intended double major in art since it would be dishonest.

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It sounds like what you may really need is an art supplement - which is a little different than an art portfolio. The portfolio is usually submitted to back an application for an art major or minor, whereas the supplement just showcases a talent when a student is applying for a non-related major. My daughter submitted an art supplement to two schools (one is a top 10 school). She didn’t take many art classes in high school, and certainly didn’t want to take AP art as it required creation of a portfolio across different aspects of art (like 3D art) that my daughter didn’t like. She was/is a painter and spent a decent amount of time on this as a hobby. She listed it as a hobby on the common app, and being able to submit the supplement with artist’s statement and photos of her paintings (some of which were good) seemed to justify and back up the amount of time she spent on it as a hobby. Your daughter could “round out” her application with an art supplement to highlight her skills in art using already created works, without having to devote time to developing a well-rounded portfolio.

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@My3Kiddos Thanks for the clarification. Indeed I think I was confused between the two. My d still spends some time on arts too as a hobby, but now it’s digital art with much lower skill level. Her pieces were promptly dismissed by the admission specialist. Likely worthy of neither supplement nor portfolio. But then it’s most fun when you follow your own creativity not worrying about being evaluated.