<p>Are the NPD representatives admissions reps, or alumni, or...? Do they report back to the colleges? Can their reports affect one's admissions chances?</p>
<p>Usually they're admissions counselors if it's offsite. If NPD is hosted by the school, they may separate the line by discipline and have your portfolio evaluated by a head of a department, or a teacher within that department.</p>
<p>I think they can be all of the above. From my daughter's experience, they were mostly faculty. If they like what they see they may offer admission on the spot or send a letter asking you to apply. Some schools like MICA, sent out letters saying the portfolio was acceptable for admission, and offer early notification.</p>
<p>And yes, their reports can affect how much the school courts your application and also if you receive a "passed" portfolio, which is kind of like a wink of acceptance. Some schools pass portfolios, some don't. </p>
<p>Off the top of my head, schools that pass portfolios at NPD:</p>
<p>MICA, SAIC</p>
<p>RISD says they don't, and they do not formally pass portfolios, but they do note down if your portfolio has impressed them and later may use that as a crutch to get you to feel flattered</p>
<p>I don't think Pratt passes portfolios, might be wrong though.</p>
<p>Conversely, can it HURT one's chances?</p>
<p>Any other tips for the day itself?</p>
<p>Look put together, but also be comfortable.</p>
<p>Bring a parent, so that they can stand on one line (usually a longer one, like RISD or MICA) while you go and hit up a smaller school's table first. </p>
<p>Presentation counts if you're aiming for a "pass".</p>
<p>Be open minded, and don't be scared :)</p>
<p>I don't think it can REALLY hurt your chances - not unless you give the reviewer a particularly bad impression of your character. They're not going to discount your application if your portfolio isn't perfect the first time around.</p>
<p>I don't think it could hurt either. They may make suggestions on how it can be improved. If you act upon their suggestions and have another review, it can be very positive. I know students who showed their portfolios 2 and 3 times to the same school, and did get accepted.</p>
<p>ALso keep in mind that if the reviewer appears 'critical', don't take it to heart. I think sometimes they are 'testing' you to see how you respond to ciriticism and how you defend your art. There is constant critiquing in art school. This happened to my daughter, she thought she blew one particular review (who was very critical). Not at all the case, in fact it was just the opposite. </p>
<p>I agree to go with a parent or another person. The lines can be brutal. Try to get there early, and go to your top choice schools first before the lines gets really long (and long can be over an hour wait).</p>
<p>If by chance you are a Junior attending, go with an eye to getting FEEDBACK for next year and I would even say by-pass the "big name" schools. Often, we found, the smaller or lesser known schools took a LOT more time and gave great feedback to our D when she was a junior. She had never even heard about Kansas before going to NPR Day so we heeded advice from this board and that was her first one. They had three reviewers and hers spent about 20-25 minutes with her, really listening and then giving very specific feedback. She still talks about "that guy from Kansas was the best."</p>
<p>D is going to a more traditional school for undergrad art degree, but when it comes time for grad school I know Kansas will be top of her list.</p>
<p>One caviate - SOME schools' reviewers MAY be either A) not qualified at all to review art or B) Focused on a medium other than your specialty. D's main medium is photography, wants a degree with a concentration in photography, and she wants to be a photographer(portrait or commercial, as in fashion) or teach photography. She also does ceramics, paints and draws, however, at the time her portfolio was heavy in photography and she had taken some pretty cool fashion-like photographs in the style of some famous fashion photographer who's name escapes me. One school asked her what her interests were, she told them and the person basicly said, "I am less interested in these 'fashion-like photos, work more on the painting and drawing and if you are going to take photos, I would stay away from this 'fashion-look'." Hello? Needless to say, D was a bit confused. She HAS worked on her other art forms and has stretched herself as a photographer but still will be putting her BEST work in her portfolio for review(heavy in photography).</p>
<p>Also, if you have a research workbook, or sketchbook, take it too. Some schools are looking for them, some will wonder why the heck you brought it. IMO, the former are the ones who look at the artist as a whole and are interested in your "process", as a parent, I trust an educator more who thinks like that.</p>
<p>Heron, this old thread has some useful commentary on "the day itself."</p>
<p>Re RISD, they offer expert commentary at the NPD reviews but no "final reviews." After my daughter showed her work to them the reviewer told her she had a strong portfolio and later sent a letter encouraging her to apply. (That's where she attended ultimately). It helped, I believe, that she had previously attended another NPD and had culled her portfolio in the meantime.</p>
<p>When my daughter attended NPD, the RISD review was NOT from admission. She was an alumni. She noted that her reviews were not in any way binding on admissions. This should be contrasted to schools like MICA or Syracuse who have admission folks reivewing the portfolio.</p>
<p>Mackinaw, thanks for the link! Also, Handemom, thanks for the tip on going with a parent or someone who can hold places in lines. </p>
<p>She's a senior and NPD here is 11/4. That gives her a few months to tweak the portfolio and add new work if necessary.</p>
<p>Another question: It sounds like people bring the actual pieces rather than photos? My daughter has some very big paintings -- 30x 40,etc -- and quite a few oil on canvas (awkward to bring) and oil on masonite (heavy). These will definitely be portfolio pieces. I assume she should have these photographed professionally, or can she do it herself for the purposes of NPD?</p>
<p>Original pieces would be preferable for NPD or any in-person portfolio review. You can use a luggage cart if you have to, to wheel the pieces around. </p>
<p>It's best to have a professional photograph the art (needs correct lighting, etc). Some photo stores may be able to do or recommend someone else. ALso the art teachers at school may be able to recommend someone. If there's a photo teacher at school, they may be able to do it.</p>
<p>I know I've seen a post or thread around on how to pack a portfolio, but I don't remember where. How would she wrap large oils so they didn't get damaged? I'll do a google search, but if anyone has any info on this, I'd be grateful.</p>
<p>When I went to my first NPD (last year, when I was applying to art schools), I didn't bring any original pieces of art, only photographed (high-quality) prints in a 12x18 portfolio, and I didn't have any trouble with it -- the reviewers found it conveinient, and many of them passed my portfolio and/or offered me scholarships based on what they saw there.</p>
<p>It isn't neccessarily the best way to do things (if it's conveinient for you, go ahead and bring the original pieces), but if you feel like bringing the original pieces would be cumbersome and endanger the pieces themselves (as I did, since I flew from the Bay Area down to Laguna to go to their portfolio day), high-quality prints are an acceptable substitute.</p>