<p>i know a lot of college applications say that you may send in extra materials like a tape of you playing an instrument or a painting, but they will not be returned. does anyone who works in an admissions office know what happens to all of it? does it get thrown away?</p>
<p>i'm pretty sure...i mean there're like thousands of applications</p>
<p>i doubt most schools send your work back...</p>
<p>thats why they require you to send in tapes of music and slides of artwork-not originals-</p>
<p>I can't imagine what else they'd do with them.</p>
<p>If you want your work returned to you, enclose a self-adressed envelope with sufficient postage with your application, and a note directing them to use to to return your supplemental materials. Most art schools/departments follow this procedure, and I would hope a regular admissions office would as well. In any case, do not send originals, but make either good quality photocopies, scan/photograph to cd, or send slides.</p>