<p>Hey everyone! So I have a dilemma. I've been working as a freelance graphic and UI/UX (interface/experience) designer for quite some time now and have a portfolio that would be considered quite good by industry standards (and very good for a high school student). In addition, I interned (understatement, my title will actually be UX lead for that particular project) and was responsible for the user research and design of an entire application. </p>
<p>My question is how to represent this on an application. I don't want to assume AOs know anything about interaction design (obvs. different case for specialty programs like CMU, but I'm talking places like Princeton that don't have a specific department). I'll be writing about the actual experience and stuff in essays, but that can't cover the professional side because too much jargon doesn't make for compelling writing, and visual achievement can't really be conveyed in writing anyways. </p>
<p>I really have two choices: submit my portfolio as an arts supplement or submit a recommendation letter from the managing director of the company I worked for (she loves me, I actually helped her recruit designers to take my place). I don't want to do both and inundate colleges. I think my work should speak for itself and it would be a shame to not send my portfolio, but would a third party vouch be more convincing? </p>
<p>My vote would be to do both as long as they complement each other and help tell the story. If they just duplicate, then no, but I think you’ll do better by providing both if it truly is impressive work.</p>
<p>While you could submit your portfolio as an arts supplement, you could also have your portfolio on-line and provide a link to it when you list your EC’s. That’s what my son did with his computer science projects.</p>
<p>Hey, thank you guys for the replies. I think I’m going to get the employer rec, just to cover all bases. @gibby I’ve never head of anyone doing that! Will admissions officers really bother to click on a provided url?</p>
<p>^^ Admissions Officers at many colleges did so for my son, who submitted a website with his computer related projects to colleges. I also know of several artists and musicians who submitted websites as supplements and it worked for them as well.</p>
<p>The web link is preferred by many schools. Whether they click or not depends on how intrigued they are- and how much time they have. (And, how strong a candidate you are in the first place, in all other respects.) Arts portfolios generally go to arts specialists- you may need other relevant faculty to see this. I’m not sure how you can control for that. So, I think the LoR is good. </p>
<p>You can create a brief paragraph for Addl Info that very describes the work in a digestible way. I think you need to decide what you want to convey- eg, the responsibility, the skills/your level, the creativity, etc. Step one may be find the right words for the EC section. Understand that there will be other kids with this sort of experience.</p>
<p>Remember that the essays are generally for conveying personal attributes those colleges want to see, not filling in blanks from other parts of the app. For a top program, adcoms will be familiar. If not, that’s where your short Addl Info comes in. </p>
<p>Wow, you guys are the best! Thanks @gibby for the PM. @lookingforward so if I submit a website, should I also submit an arts supplement? I have a few schools that require it, but how would a link be handled, formally? Would it be viewed by an AO or forwarded to faculty (that doesn’t seem likely outside of a formal arts submissions?) Thanks again for all your help. </p>
<p>Whether an app with only a link would be sent to faculty depends on the school. Arts and music are traditional to share, assuming you are otherwise qualified. We don’t know how skilled you are, how unique your level is, from a college’s standpoint. (The fact of being a valued employee is a different matter.) What are you applying for, graphics/design or CS/CE? Right now, I don’t see how the supp would harm- but you have time to mull this over. </p>
<p>I would do both as well. Get the recommendation letter for sure. And contact the schools you are interested in to see if you can send in a portfolio and how to do it (ex. format, to the attention of admissions or a professor etc.).</p>