Should I send in an arts supplement?

Applying to College
1

I’m wondering whether I should send in an arts supplement if I’m applying to schools like Penn, Cornell, Dartmouth, Brown.
I have been painting/sketching since I was about six years old, but I haven’t really been entering competitions/ doing art competitively. I have a few pieces already and have enough time to put together a portfolio over the summer. Since i don’t have any major awards / professional recognition, will it hurt my application? I’m hoping to use it to strengthen /elaborate on my ECs. My main goal is Berkeley, which doesn’t consider supplements at all so these unis are just adding to my app pool as reach universities
My stats ( int student, Junior) :
Field: CS / CHEM engineering / Bio Engineering
Grades: currently 97-98% avg ( don’t know if it will drop next year)
Courses for gr 12:
-AP eng
-AP chem
-Math IDS (independant directed studies, already completed AP Calc)
-Law 12
-AP econ ( micro or macro, timetable hasn’t come out yet)
-Yearbook

  • Art
  • AP Bio
    (taking phys in summer school)

SAT: 2300
SAT II: not taken yet have an ok grasp on Math2, lit, chem
AP exam scores: Will take Calc AB + Lit this may & Chem, bio, lang, econ in gr 12

ECS:
-Science Club Leader
-School Newspaper
-Volunteering at hospital
-City Youth Council
-Partcipation in various clubs: me to we,indian umbrella…etc
-Student-run math olympiad staff
-Spring arts camp counsellor for 3 years

  • Working twice a week afterschool at tutoring centre
    -Cadets for 3 years (quit now)
    **ecs are kind of meh
    Background: Chinese, middle class
2

I would find someone with a critical eye to look at your art and give you an honest impression of how good it is. If it is really good, then it can’t hurt to send it in. If it is amateurish, then you are wasting your time, but I don’t think it will necessarily hurt. Be aware that some colleges have strict guidelines about supplemental art materials. They will only consider art that has been juried, and if it really is amateur then it could count against you. Also, I understand that some colleges won’t look actually look at supplements unless you say you plan to major in it. Check with those colleges about their requirements.

I would say the general rule of thumb about supplemental materials is that it needs to be worth their time to look at. Those colleges are getting 30,000 apps and don’t want to waste their time. and I have seen other posters say that they have submitted links to things such as performance, animation, or film shorts, and when they went to check and see if the video was viewed, found no views had occurred. You might run into the problem that they won’t be interested because you have no “credentials” in art. But,if it’s related to your essay, etc…then it might be considered. Just want you to be aware of different scenarios.