Yale undergrad art major and Art supplements?

<p>Hi guys,</p>

<p>So I'm a prospective Yalie and I was wondering what the fine arts undergrad major is like at Yale. I hear Yale was pretty much top-notch in the performing arts/music, but are fine arts the same? Can you double major in art and science (with all the requirements to go to med school later)? In terms of social life, do Yale undergrad art majors tend to group together--are they stereotypically the 'artsy' type (not that I'm against that)?</p>

<p>Also, when you send in an art supplement in your application (to be a freshman at Yale college, not for undergrad art major) how much can it really help if you have a super strong portfolio that stands out among the rest? And will this qualify as 'depth'?</p>

<p>Art (9,10,11,12) -- Private instruction 8 years, installment in a professional gallery for students twice, member of my city's art guild, done summer workshops at the college level, won a national award & published artwork.</p>

<p>bump, 'cause I have the same question.</p>

<p>Bump. any one know?</p>

<p>Yale is strong in fine arts as well. The art folks do not segregate, but are integrated with the rest of the campus–Yale tends to be MUCH less cliquey than most campuses in any event.</p>

<p>Yes, you can double major in art and science, although it will dramatically limit the number of electives you take. You can always fulfill pre-med requirements without being a science major which would allow a little more flexibility for fun classes that catch your eye.</p>

<p>If a porfolio is really strong, it will be a distinct boost. Lots of people send portfolios in who probably shouldn’t; they figure they are pretty good, so why not? OP, the type of art focus you write about in your final paragraph is great and not typical of most CC posters who are considering sending art supplements. National award and published artwork is the kind of talent that should be sending in an art supplement.</p>

<p>I know that I should probably start a new thread, but I was thinking of sending in a supplement when I apply as well. I’m looking for bio-med engineering, and I was going to send in invention ideas, a national award-winning art piece, and a published poem (not exactly pertinent ?) to depic creativity. Does this cut it? Does it ‘pop’ to you?</p>

<p>BTW, to the OP, I’ve heard great things about the art department at Yale; truly top-notch! This is a great choice for your career path and Yale gets students into awesome med schools! Your portfolio appears to be very strong and interesting. I can’t comment on student life at Yale, but it seems to be very good, with a welcoming student body. Best of luck! :)</p>

<p>Unless you have spend significant time tinkering with your inventions and consider this a major extracurricular, I would describe inventions. Perhaps you could incorporate your best idea into an essay?</p>

<p>Yale discourages supplements if you read the admissions FAQ. If you’re sending it in, it had better be good. Also, consider what is duplicative of the activities/awards/honors descriptions already in your app. Saying you had a poem published in a national publication, for instance, would probably carry the same weight as sending the poem itself. They’ll get the idea that you’re good and it’s a big deal without the hassle of sending the poem off to the English department. Hope that makes sense.</p>

<p>Thanks AdmissionsAddict, that makes plenty sense! I didn’t know that putting it on the app and sending it in carried the same weight…I thought that they may assume that you lied without presenting the evidence of the award (I’m just a noob, I guess). If you send in award certificates, this makes you look like an idiot, right? </p>

<p>I have spent like two years on all my invention ideas and filled like four books full of future car designs. I planned on making a “book” with detailed info about how product is made/works and maybe pricepoint/market plan (not too long, just my best ideas).</p>

<p>Read about the arts major on the website and look at what’s offered and the approach. Art requires a fairly large commitment of time - because it’s studio work and only you know when it’s done. You can double major but there won’t be much overlap between say drawing and much else.</p>

<p>Apparently from the website, you apply to Yale for freshman year, and then apply for the art major in your second through a portfolio review. So a portfolio, when you first apply for admission to Yale, isn’t requred.</p>

<p>Any more opinions on this? (Bump!)</p>

<p>I just had a few quick questions and decided to bump instead of start a new thread.</p>

<p>When people claim SCEA is, in part, to get “uniquely talented students” (someone said that in another thread recently) in to suade them more towards Yale, does that include artists/musicians, or just athletes/URMs?</p>

<p>How does one go about writing a Why Yale? I want to go there as opposed to an art school because I NEED the liberal arts school that’s attached to it. That and the resources of a graduate art school right there. Does that work?</p>

<p>The short answer to your first question is, no. Applicants with talent in the fine arts (with a very few exceptions – think someone with the already established talent of, say, Emma Watson in this cycle) do not have the same admissions advantages as recruited athletes and URMs. When colleges admit outstanding athletes and talented URMs, they are fulfilling powerful institutional priorities. Most applicants with artistic talent, even outstanding talent, don’t help colleges meet those priorities.</p>

<p>That’s not to say that an excellent fine arts supp can’t help an applicant. It can. Assuming you make it past the basic academic gate, admissions sends your supp to the appropriate department for a ranking. A supp that earns a good ranking can help an applicant. One that gets a mediocre or poor ranking will probably have no impact on admissions, either positive or negative. But even an excellent recommendation from the fine arts department will not carry the same weight as a strong recommendation from an athletic coach.</p>