<p>Hey, guys. So, I'm debating whether or not I should send some examples of my digital artwork to the colleges I'm applying to. It's not something I do professionally or even with an organization most of the time-- it's just purely for fun, and I'm certainly not planning on majoring in digital graphics, advertising, or anything remotely graphic-design related. I just think it might be a good way to establish myself as a so-called well-rounded applicant who is capable of transcending the highly Asian sphere of academic work. I am actively involved in the production of my high school yearbook, so I guess this submission would be tangentially related to that...</p>
<p>My main concern is that most schools caution you not to send any supplemental materials unless they're of the utmost quality, or whatever. I'm... not really sure how to judge that, since I'm self-taught and not taking any art classes. I did show my work to my yearbook advisor, who recommended that I send it, and I've been commissioned by some school organizations to design stuff for them. I don't know if it'll hurt my chances for admissions, if it turns out that my so-called art actually sucks. I'm also not sure how I'd actually go about submitting my stuff-- all the instructions on the college websites about slides seem to be targeted toward painters, etc.</p>
<p>So... Yeah. It'd be great if you guys could advise me. And I'm sorry I'm awkwardly phrasing everything as a statement or a command-- I'm using a ghetto computer at my school, and the shift key doesn't work. I've been capitalizing by switching the caps-lock on and off. Thanks.</p>
<p>I'm wondering the same thing D: I do graphic design on the side, making brochures or programs for school concerts or whatever, and I'm listing it as my hobby. But yeah, I totally get wanting to establish yourself as a well-rounded Asian applicant. I'm in the same boat :(</p>
<p>I'm pretty sure it wouldn't hurt your chances for admission. At worst, you would just lose the time that you spent figuring out how to submit it, organizing the submission, and then actually submitting it. I'm pretty sure you should use the same supplement as traditional painters. Good luck with your applications! :)</p>
<p>Hey, Licia, any thoughts on how we would send our stuff? All the school websites I've looked through allude to "slides", and I have no idea what that means. I can only think PowerPoint, and that can't be right. :P</p>
<p>P.S. I just creepily looked through your post history (awkward, I know), and we're both Chinese-Americans who got the exact same PSAT score! You totally pwn me in all other regards, though.</p>
<p>Hey guys - try emailing the schools to see if they will allow you to submit a CD instead of slides. I tried this with Columbia because my school doesn't have the equipment to make slides and they replied back saying I could submit a digital portfolio.</p>
<p>When you say digital artwork, are you talking about graphic design or drawings you've done with a tablet on the computer? </p>
<p>Contact schools specifically to see if they'll allow you to send in a digital portfolio given the medium you're working with, but most schools do strongly prefer or even require slides. Think of overhead transparencies - that's sort of what an art slide would be like; you have to take pictures with special film and develop them to produce the slide, which then has the advantage of being able to be mounted and projected, so multiple people can evaluate it at once. The other thing with slides, which would probably present a problem for you, is that digital portfolios of concrete media have the potential of being enhanced on the computer. Hence, if someone had an oil painting sent it in as a .jpg on a CD, the admissions people might wonder if the actual painting looks this good, or if the applicant made some changes in Photoshop. </p>
<p>Also, I don't know how this is in general, but where I am, the Asian girl who can draw well is a pretty prevalent stereotype. So it probably wouldn't be that unique for a Chinese female candidate, but if you're good it'd still be a boost.</p>
<p>Ahh, I'm talking about graphic design; I can't draw at all, with or without a tablet. :( Hehe, my alleged "art" is probably actually far lamer than that; basically I make yearbook/magazine layouts and manipulate the mediocre photos I take into really surrealist scenes.</p>
<p>A link to your portfolio would be helpful. ;) I know quite a few people who are amazing at digital art, so I could tell you if you're any good.</p>
<p>I do a little graphics myself, mostly with Photoshop. I'm not very good at abstract art, which is what most people these days consider "art" ... so I have the same dilemma. Most of my work is related to icon and PNG creations, cartoonish sort of funny animal modeling and transformations, and photo manipulations and corrections. So yeah ...</p>
<p>For visual arts supplements in general, each school has specific requirements, eg some will only accept slides, others will accept CDs. Some schools will forward portfolios to the art dept. If you're submitting traditional media, eg drawings, paintings, sculpture, photographs, be certain to submit in the requested format.</p>
<p>My son submitted a traditional portfolio, either as slides or on a CD, depending on the school, & an art resume. He also included the URL for a website, which also had some of his work. The website also was an example of his programming skills.</p>