<p>Has anyone gotten into a non-art school because of an amazing portfolio... and not the typical factors- GPA, scores, etc.</p>
<p>I ask because I'd love to go to Wesleyan in Middletown, CT- small liberal arts, but my GPA (due to poor freshman/ sophomore years and excellent junior year) is not quite up to their standards. So I wanted to apply for their art program.. and they said they would review my portfolio, but I was wondering since it is not an "art school" would a phenominal portfolio actually balance out a gpa? (along with great extracurriculars/ leadership/ awards/ recs)</p>
<p>jamaicanmelaugh, Yes, a strong art portfolio can provide a boost at a LAC like Wesleyan. LACs will evaluate the whole person and recommendations, essays, extracurriculars and hooks *can *compensate for relatively weak grades. </p>
<p>Your statistics -- grades, scores, rank -- still need to be within range, however, so a lot would depend on just how weak is weak. The fact that you're showing an upward trend is certainly a plus. Make sure your first semester of senior year is also excellent.</p>
<p>well, i have a 3.4 GPA...(out of 4) my QPA must be pretty good because i've been in all AP/honors...31 on ACT, which is within range...everything else is great- ECs, leadership positions, devoted time to things i'm passionate about. it is really just my grades from freshman/sophomore year that are below their standards...i'd like to hear if anyone has successfully balanced out there transcript with a topnotch portolio.</p>
<p>Also, i plan on getting straight A+s the first semester of senior year- don't laugh..i am fully confident that i can do this and prove how far i've come and i'm a serious student.</p>
<p>i've made contact with the art department and they have been very nice/ helpful. any suggestions on how i can improve this relationship and make them want me in their program?</p>
<p>An unweighted 3.4 plus good scores is within reason for Wesleyan, but I'd say it's a reach. My son had a similar unweighted GPA and was accepted at an even more selective LAC, I think on the basis of his portfolio and life experience. That was 4 years ago, however, and it may be more competitive now.</p>
<p>I don't think your challenge will be to convince the art department: it sounds like they'd love to have you. What you need to do is to convince the admissions committee. Your essays, your recommendations and how you present your other ECs will be very important. Wesleyan likes independent thinkers so you need to communicate an intellectual focus as well as a creative ability.</p>
<p>Wesleyan interviews and, like many LACs, appreciates kids who demonstrate interest so prepare well for your interview. If you have the financial ability to apply ED, that would also be a consideration.</p>
<p>Some other LACs with strong studio art are: Williams, Hamilton, Conn College, Skidmore, Kenyon, Vassar. All of these except Williams are a little less selective than Wesleyan.</p>
<p>
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If you have the financial ability to apply ED, that would also be a consideration.
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Actually, in your case applying early will probably be a bad idea. Applying RD will give you an opportunity to show your first semester senior grades, which might prove critical in your situation.</p>
<p>momrath and nngmm, thanks
i really don't know whether to apply early or not.. benefits being they know I want to definitely 100% go there, (i'd have to)...negatives being i can't show them as many senior grades (btw would they even see the first marking period [quarter]?)...but if i don't apply early i think that would really lessen my chances, because supposedly they admit a higher percentage in early decision i'll look into if they have early decision I and early decision II in which case i might do the II to get more grades in</p>
<p>Early Decision II: Deadline: January 1 Notification mailed by February 15
Under this option, students may take more time to reach their decision and may include their first-semester grades in their applications.</p>
<p>i can still apply to other schools regular if i do this right? because it is essentially the same deadline only binding and an earlier notification</p>
<p>BUT, Early Decision I applicants who are not admitted may be deferred to Early Decision II.</p>
<p>jamaica, talk to your guidance counselor. Possibly s/he could include an indication of your first semester progress (mid-term grades, maybe?) in his/her letter of recommendation. By the middle of November when the EDI applications go out you should have a pretty good idea of your semester grades. </p>
<p>I think of EDII as being more of an option for kids who don't get accepted to their EDI choice, but I guess in your case you could use it to buy more time.</p>
<p>PS, For ANY ED application be sure that your financial situation is solid as you won't be able to compare financial offers.</p>
<p>Don't rule out Wesleyan, by all means, but I agree with momrath that it is a bit of a reach. (Strange things do happen, though. My S's friend was accepted at UPenn on the basis of his portfolio.) </p>
<p>Try to fall in love with match/safety schools as well. My S was accepted to his dream school, but part of our strategy included applying to Bard EA. Because he was accepted, he did not have to apply to ssfeties. He also loved the school and was considerbly less anxious dsuring senior year waiting for results. (In fact, there was some sadness in letting it go.)</p>
<p>I'd strongly second Skidmore, and in addition to Bard would also add Sarah Lawrence, Purchase and Bennington if you're really serious about art.</p>
<p>Hampshire (and if you're a girl, Smith) would also be good options.</p>
<p>thanks, that's a good idea to have my guidance counselor include the recent grades in his letter of recommendation.
I'm thinking about Northeastern and Syracuse(?) as semi-safeties and for a super safety...Roger Williams, it seems they have a solid architecture program</p>
<p>basically entering an architecture 5 year program is a second choice path to an arts major 4 year liberal arts college, but it also have benefits and I would be happy going to any of them</p>
<p>I could be wrong, but I believe that the Architecture program at Syracuse is highly cometitive, and the Studio Art is a BFA, meaning that your portfolio would play a more significant part in your admissions... so, I am not sure tht Syracuse could be considered a semi-safety for the programs you are applying.</p>
<p>Also -- the college experience at the small liberal arts colleges is going to be very different than the experience at larger schools like Northeastern (Which I believe is still a bit of a commuter school with a strong co-op program), or Syracuse. </p>
<p>Smith is a good idea as a semi-safety. If you are thinking.... "a women's college??? Not my thing"... Smith is a wonderful school with a strong arts program (an one of the pretiest camouses I have seen). It is also part of the 5 college system of schools in the Amherst area, so you can take classes at the other schools in the program (UMAss Amherst, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, and Hampshire)... and with so many coleges within a small area, there is quite a bit going on culterally and socially. </p>
<p>Hampshire, Bennington, and Sarah Lawrence are also great suggestions... strong arts... and very into looking at the "whole person".</p>
<p>Most architecture programs (even if small) may have requirements that are higher than your norm, and generally expect good grades in math & sciences.
As an civil engineer (that thought about architecture), plan on working VERY hard if you go this route. It's great for those students that love it and can be very hard for those that don't.
D. went to the Clemson University's summer Science & Engineering program (as a rising Freshman a couple of years ago) in Architecture (its 2 weeks long), and was told they ask for SAT's at least 100 points higher than "typical" and the math grades really count. Was told that biggest year for drop-outs is the first, they indicated it was actually harder as a freshman to see if they had what it took. (Not that the next four years were "easy").</p>
<p>Jam, just to give you some encouragement - my son got into Wesleyan with similar stats to yours. He submitted a music supplement that we're quite sure was a significant factor in his application. He also managed to get almost all A's his first semester senior year, which showed a major upward trend in his grades. He took the most rigorous courseload in high school (so while his weighted GPA was 3.5, weighted was 4.4) and is a curious, articulate and funny kid who probably got some interesting letters of rec.</p>
<p>Since S did not get accepted by some schools considered less selective - and more artsy - than Wesleyan, we have to think that Wesleyan puts even more stock in supplemental material than some of the other LAC's. By the way, because Wesleyan offers less classical music than the other schools S was interested in, his application to Wesleyan was kind of an afterthought and a "what the heck" (no extra essays were required). He didn't make contact with anyone from the Music Department until after he was accepted, and didn't have an interview or an official tour/visit. </p>
<p>Have you read The Gatekeepers about Wesleyan admissions? It's a fascinating book, very revealing. I started reading it when my son was a junior but it gave me too much of a nervous stomach to get very far into it. Once he was accepted, though, I devoured the book in two days. It confirmed what I suspected about the supplemental material as a major factor in admissions, given good all-around academics/test scores/rigorous courseload, and an essay that reflects real personality.</p>
<p>Needless to say, S is very excited to be attending Wes in the fall. And we're very happy that such a great school "gets" how terrific our kid is.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone, you've offered excellent words of wisdom and I have a bit more hope. I'm working on my portfolio now.. hopefully making the most awe-inspiring work I have ever produced!</p>
<p>jamaica, I can't remember if I mentioned this before so forgive me if I repeat. You might consider putting together an art package. This would include your slides, a recommendation from an art instructor or adult who has mentored you, an art resume that lists your awards and achievements, classes taken, travel opportunities, a brief (very brief) statement, and possible one or two magazine or newspaper articles about your work.</p>
<p>Your essays and recommendations should reflect back on your involvement in art. Remember, the adcom will be looking at the other aspects of your application, not the portfolio, so put a lot of effort into the essays as well.</p>
<p>I'm in favor of ED as long as your family's financial situation will allow you to live with whatever financial offer they may receive. Please be very clear on this point as you will not have the opportunity to compare and negotiate if you are admitted ED.</p>
<p>I would also strongly suggest that you prepare yourself psychologically for a deferral or denial by continuing to put your best efforts in your other applications. Give the ED application your best shot, put it in the mail and forget it exists. The other applications, especially the safeties, must receive equal time and energy. If you don't mind spending the application fees, go ahead and send them off, then if you get disappointing news in December you won't have to write essays in a bad humor.</p>