<p>I've read in several places that Princeton looks for students who are interested in the arts, and that significant involvement can act as a minor "hook" of sorts, but everything I've read refers to the performing arts (theater, dance, music, and so on). Is the same true for the visual arts? I'm not going to make any predictions about "chances" based on this, but I sent a photography</a> portfolio, and I'd be interested in knowing how much of a difference that sort of thing would make (if it's good enough, that is, which isn't something I'm taking for granted).</p>
<p>Separate from admissions, how is Princeton's art department in general? I'm not a prospective art major, but I'd definitely take courses, and might consider picking up a certificate. All this in the extremely unlikely event that I get in, of course. :p</p>
<p>As always, any thoughts or comments are much appreciated.</p>
<p>My understanding is that Princeton is interested in students who excel in all reas of the arts. Not just theatre, music. Your photography portfolio is excellent and shows you are very talented.
As for whether or not it will be a hook, and how much a hook depends I am guessing on the level of achievement. For talented applicants in the arts it will be a minor hook. For those applicants who have excelled at the International or National level it might be a more important hook.</p>
<p>The arts in general are definitely sought after at Princeton. A few years ago the Dean of Admissions was quoted as saying that she wanted more "green-haired people" on campus. Sending in an arts supplement was an excellent idea and will probably give you a slight boost.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, I just was admitted myself and so can't give you any information on specific departments. But I'm also interested in what any current students have to say about the state of the arts at Princeton.</p>
<p>I think they are talking about attracting some of the most exceptionally artistically talented applicants in the country who might otherwise be attracted to schools as selective at Princeton but who previously didn't come to Princeton because the arts program was week. Sending a supplement could help, but I really think they are looking for the those with extrordinary talent and international/national recognition</p>
<p>I'm wondering, though -- how do you, as a teenager, achieve national or international recognition in the visual arts? This isn't sour grapes; I'm genuinely curious. Where I'm from that sort of thing is unheard of.</p>
<p>Film belongs to a separate category, I think, because it's much more than just visual. How about something like painting, sculpture, or -- yes -- photography? Again, I'm not trying to be flip, but it seems like that'd be difficult to achieve without significant connections. It's hard enough to gain recognition as a professional artist, let alone as a high school student.</p>
<p>Cinematography is one of my ECs. I made a film last year, and I sold it to a European company. They are now distributing it across Europe. Would that count as international recoginition? It's not an award, but at the same time, it should count for something. But I guess it doesn't matter for me as I did not emphasize it in my app.</p>
<p>I think that achieving recognition is mainly a product of luck rather than talent. The truth is unfortunate and depressing but c'est la vie. If you live long enough, you experience both sides. So in the end it all balances out.</p>
<p>cameliasinensis - the Scholastic Art & Writing awards is a very well regarded competition for young artists and writers.. the deadline for this year's competition has passed, though it's definitely worth looking into for next year. Your region may even still be accepting submissions, as the cut-offs are regional.. </p>
<p>patois, I remember looking at that last year, but it seems as if you need a teacher from your high school to sponsor you -- my school doesn't offer photography, and I haven't taken an art class since sophomore year (I'm a senior). Do you know if it's possible to register as an "independent" student?</p>
<p>Film does not go in a separate category. At schools that dont have a film studies department, film courses are under the heading of Visual Arts.</p>
<p>Most selective schools like Princeton give the most weight to extra curriculars that are demonstrated in thet application to have been nurtured and developed over years. The reason is that there are many applicants who try to do some extraordinary things to look good on the college application. I am sure your selling your film to a European company is not in that category I am referring to, but admission officers are wary of this. Thus, they are not impressed for example with an applicant that has published and distributed a novel where there is no evidence of a real passion in writing developed over years. They know there are some applicants with money and connections who can get their childs work published even if there is not real interest in it. For this reason, they like to see the interest developed over years. This pertains to community extra curriclars as well. A student who goes to an impoverished country to build houses as part of a program where the parents pay a fortune to send them is not impressive. However, a student who has studied and researched that country for a year or two and written a research paper, and then goes to build houses and then comes back and raises money to support that program that is something else.
A student who has been writing for years, and has a real interest in lets say the Civil War developed over time, and then writes a novel that takes place in the Civil War setting that is interesting.
Similarly, it is not as impressive that a student takes a photography course in the junior or senior year and puts together a portfolio and sends that in. There is nothing negative about that, and admission officers can see the applicant is interested in the arts. However, what is more impressive in terms of showing a passion developed over years is the applicant who perhaps developed the talent in 9th grade, and entered competitions in 10th and 11th grade and received some recognition and had their work shown in various galleries, and has taken significant coursework, started a photography club. Just as actors, dancers and musicians develop their passions over years, there are many exceptionally talented applicants in the arts who do so as well.
There is always going to be different levels of artistic and musical talent among appilcants. There are for example those who perform in their high school musicals and dance and sing and have had the lead evey year, and there are going to be those actors who are so outstanding that they have performed on Broadway. There are going to be those musicians who have played an instrument in their school band or orchestra and have travelled to other countries to perform as a group with their school and even may be part of All State, and there are going to be those who have are so outstanding that they had solo performances at Carnegie Hall. There are going to be those who make their own films and started a film club, but there are going to be others whose works are so outstanding that their screenplays and films have won awards in International and National film festivals. There are always going to be different levels of achievement. I think what the schools are really looking for is a passion that is nutured and developed over the years so that it appears genuine.</p>
<p>My daughter did a dance audition and the instructor sent a report to admissions. I'm pretty sure the art department will do the same with your submission. It should be as simple as that.
And everything I've read says that Princeton has the money for and is interested in elevating both the visual and performing arts at the University.</p>
<p>collegebound5, I think it's presumptuous of you to assume that I took a single photography class junior or senior year and, on a whim, decided to submit a portfolio to increase my chances. (Is my work really that bad?)</p>
<ul>
<li>I bought my Canon EOS in 9th grade. I'd been saving money for months.</li>
<li>I've been taking courses for three years, traveling for an hour to a darkroom in the area because my high school doesn't offer photography.</li>
<li>Last year, I was featured in an exhibition of student photographers from my region -- which, incidentally, took place in a gallery. (Oh, but it wasn't a solo show... I should just withdraw my application right now, should I? :rolleyes: How many teenagers you know have a solo show on their resume? How many of those have connections in the art world?) </li>
<li>I'm the photography editor of my (award-winning; who knew?) school newspaper.</li>
<li>Entering competitions isn't passion -- it's collecting trophies, not that there's anything wrong with that. My tiny private high school doesn't advertise these awards, nor does my darkroom; besides, I don't even qualify for the ones I've seen, either because I don't have a faculty sponsor or because I'm not a US citizen. Does that make me any less committed?</li>
</ul>
<p>I'm not saying Princeton should admit me based on that, because that's not my call to make, and anyway I know most of the students on this site are far more qualified than I am. But to dismiss me as a dilettante because I didn't start a photography club at my high school (where most student groups fade into nonexistence because the 200 students don't care much for clubs), or to assume I started this in my senior year to boost my application, is ridiculous.</p>
<p>danas, thanks for your post, and good luck to your daughter if she's a current applicant! :)</p>
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