<p>Most schools require a portfolio for admissions. Anyone know of any schools that don't require one?</p>
<p>University of Rhode Island is a non-auditioned BFA program, so no portfolio required.</p>
<p>If I were in your position I would not limit myself to only programs which do not expect a portfolio. When you say you are a technical student, do you mean design or technical production? </p>
<p>I’ve never seen a technical portfolio, but I would imagine a technical production portfolio could be created from production photos of shows you helped build. If you contact the director and designers on those shows I’ll bet you can get decent (if not great) photos. I’ve seen people document the build of various elements of a show, but I don’t think the technical faculty of most schools are going to turn down a student because they do not have a painstakingly detailed portfolio of their work.</p>
<p>The better programs will tend to ask for portfolios. If you refuse to apply to programs that ask for portfolios, you are really hurting yourself.</p>
<p>And they all know that some applicants will not have much to put in their portfolio. They expect many applicants aged 17-18 who will not have had many opportunities to work in theatre.</p>
<p>Put everything you have into your portfolio. As you keep working on other projects, remember to save things so that you can put them into your portfolio. Just about anything can go into the portfolio–photographs, programs (with your name in them!), plans and designs, cue sheets, even promptbooks.</p>
<p>You can create a good portfolio even if you have no experience. For example, for costume design, you could use sketches of costumes, even if these were never constructed, and the play was never produced by your high school. Colleges are interested in your ideas, your ability to problem-solve, your willingness to work hard, and your passion for theater. If you can create a portfolio out of nothing, you will demonstrate all of these qualities.</p>
<p>It would be helpful if the OP clarified if they are interested in pursuing design or technical production. I think most people here would encourage them to not forego applying to schools which require a portfolio, but the content of that portfolio would vary depending on the student’s chosen field.</p>