<p>I am a freshman currently who is extremely interested in going to top art schools like Pratt and RSID.
I've been told that GPA and your art portfolio are the most important parts of your application. So far, I have a 4.0 GPA, and intend on trying my best to maintain my grades as long as possible. </p>
<p>Are there any extracurricular activities or competitions I should participate in? We have an art club, but it's dying out.
I know about the Scholastic Art and Writing competition, but I'm not so certain that I'm skilled or talented enough to perform well in that.
I'm hoping to take art classes at a local college. I'm not sure what else I can do.</p>
<p>Also, I'm not sure what to do about my schedule. My school is not competitive at all, and thus lack a substantial amount of AP classes.
I can take the art electives at our school, but that would mean I could no longer waive PE as a class (PE is required unless you take a full academic schedule.)
I've been attempting to persuade the art teachers to teach AP Studio Art and its various subsets, but with little success.</p>
<p>Assuming that I cannot persuade them, should I just take unrelated AP and Honors classes, and try to make my schedule as rigorous as possible?</p>
<p>That’s the most important thing and I’m not kidding.
Even top art schools will ignore pretty much any other flaws in the application (bad grades, low SATs, only taking 1 art class ever) if the portfolio is high quality and proves that you have the creative mind and technical skills to succeed in their school.
And even perfect grades, awesome recs, art extracurriculars, etc. will not make up for a lackluster portfolio.</p>
<p>Like art related extracurriculars? Those would probably help you somewhat, even if just in the sense that they develop your artistic skills.
Other extracurriculars? They might help in some cases but are much less important than a strong portfolio that shows advanced skill and thinking.
NOTE: the major exception for this is Cooper Union. I’m not as familiar with their admissions but from what I gather you need almost perfect GPA in rigorous courses and nice extracurriculars along with that exemplary portfolio.</p>
<p>Start winning art related awards (like Scholastic) and getting your pieces in shows. Other then that ECs and grades basically don’t matter (as long as you are not failing anything). The most important thing by far is the portfolio.</p>
<p>I imagine your portfolio is key, and everything else is on the back burner - I don’t think any school would reject someone with a spectacular portfolio because they couldn’t squeeze in tons of art electives into their schedule or because they got a C in English.</p>
<p>Submit work to Scholastics: Base on how far you get you will scholarships plus school admission would time as if you participant in this competition and give you additional scholarships. There portfolio competition for Senior every year. [Array</a> | Scholastic Art & Writing Awards](<a href=“http://www.artandwriting.org%5DArray”>http://www.artandwriting.org)</p>
<p>Participant in Youngarts: Is also recognize by art colleges. Pretty much any thing that consider art is recognize in this competition. Gather up your 10 best work and turn them in to Youngarts. They also award nice scholarships to senior finalist.
[url=<a href=“http://www.youngarts.org%5DYoungArts%5B/url”>http://www.youngarts.org]YoungArts[/url</a>]</p>
<p>Submit work to Scholastics: Base on how far you get you will scholarships plus school admission would time as if you participant in this competition and give you additional scholarships. There portfolio competition for Senior every year. [Array</a> | Scholastic Art & Writing Awards](<a href=“http://www.artandwriting.org%5DArray”>http://www.artandwriting.org)</p>
<p>Participant in Youngarts: Is also recognize by art colleges. Pretty much any thing that consider art is recognize in this competition. Gather up your 10 best work and turn them in to Youngarts. They also award nice scholarships to senior finalist.
[url=<a href=“http://www.youngarts.org%5DYoungArts%5B/url”>http://www.youngarts.org]YoungArts[/url</a>]</p>