<p>So I intend to major in medicine and minor in business. I do not intend to officially study any arts. </p>
<p>I'm applying Early Decision.
I'm registered to have an on-campus interview in a few days.
I'm submitting an optional essay submission in addition to my common application.</p>
<p>I happen to be pretty good when it comes to painting and drawing and other visual arts. I'm also pretty good at rapping (I know this is random). </p>
<p>If I were to submit a DVD with a bunch of pictures of my artworks or a CD with the audio of my rap, or anything along such lines for a Fine Arts submission, would it be considered by the W&M Admissions office? Even if I wasn't intending to study for fine arts in the school, would they consider it as a demonstration of my hobby extracurricular talent and uniqueness? Would it add plus points to my application and show dedication? If the arts faculty didn't like my work would it count against me? </p>
<p>Thank you all very much.</p>
<p>could someone please answer the question? even if you’re not sure, it’d be very helpful.</p>
<p>I have no inside information. Nevertheless, I’ll tell you what I think.</p>
<p>I think you’re trying to utilize the W&M arts supplement to do something it wasn’t intended to do. W&M’s intention is for students who are artists to demonstrate their talent and proficiency for the arts faculty. With input from the arts faculty, the admissions committee can make an informed decision about whether those student-artists should be invited to continue their artistic development at W&M.</p>
<p>You don’t say that you plan to develop as an artist at W&M. Whether you have artistic skill is–or at least, ought to be–largely irrelevant to the admissions committee if you don’t intend to use or develop that skill in college. If you planned to study the arts, it would be a different matter. If you planned to study engineering but participate in the artistic life of the college by singing in a choir, doing lighting designs for plays, or exhibiting your sketches, paintings or sculptures, it would be a different matter. But if you plan to “major in medicine” (which is a thing you cannot do; I assume you intend to be pre-med) without ongoing involvement in the arts, your ability to paint or rap is no more relevant than your ability to hold your breath for two minutes, or whistle “Flight of the Bumblebee,” or list all the Vice Presidents of the United States from memory in both chronological and alphabetical order.</p>
<p>Although I have found no such admonition on W&M’s web site, many selective colleges state clearly that only serious and accomplished student-artists (for example, artists who already have college- or conservatory-level skills, or who have already received regional or national recognition) should submit the arts supplement. Students who are mere enthusiasts should not. Does this describe you?</p>
<p>In summary, I think that if you don’t intend to be an artist at W&M–neither an art major nor a devoted amateur–it won’t be helpful to submit an arts supplement. It might even rub the admissions staff the wrong way. You plan to be a college student. Show W&M that you’re well suited to do that.</p>
<p>Thank you! That was very long and helpful answer.</p>