How to show applicant's art and music? Online portfolio?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is planning to include a URL to their online portfolio in either the activities section or as a bullet point in the more info section. If schools look at it, great, if not, no biggie.

Admissions readers are likely told not to click URLs, so including them is kind of annoying. Application space is limited for a reason, and it's as if you think the rules are different for you. You'll know that a school is willing to look at the portfolio if they have information about how to submit them.

Unless the common app says somewhere not to include URLs, how do applicants know this is a rule? Does this hold true for social media handles? My kid posts their art on Instagram and was thinking about including that, for example, based on advice they saw somewhere. DC is planning to ask their CCO about it after school starts, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is planning to include a URL to their online portfolio in either the activities section or as a bullet point in the more info section. If schools look at it, great, if not, no biggie.

Admissions readers are likely told not to click URLs, so including them is kind of annoying. Application space is limited for a reason, and it's as if you think the rules are different for you. You'll know that a school is willing to look at the portfolio if they have information about how to submit them.

Unless the common app says somewhere not to include URLs, how do applicants know this is a rule? Does this hold true for social media handles? My kid posts their art on Instagram and was thinking about including that, for example, based on advice they saw somewhere. DC is planning to ask their CCO about it after school starts, though.

They have about 5 minutes to read the whole application. Do you want them spending time clicking through to your kid's social media or focusing on the items they ask for?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DC is planning to include a URL to their online portfolio in either the activities section or as a bullet point in the more info section. If schools look at it, great, if not, no biggie.

Admissions readers are likely told not to click URLs, so including them is kind of annoying. Application space is limited for a reason, and it's as if you think the rules are different for you. You'll know that a school is willing to look at the portfolio if they have information about how to submit them.

Unless the common app says somewhere not to include URLs, how do applicants know this is a rule? Does this hold true for social media handles? My kid posts their art on Instagram and was thinking about including that, for example, based on advice they saw somewhere. DC is planning to ask their CCO about it after school starts, though.

I don’t think that’s a good idea.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This really varies school by school, both whether they are interested in receiving arts supplements and if so, what form they want them to take. Search for "arts supplement" and/or "music supplement" on the website of each school to which your DC is planning to apply, and you will find instructions there. Many schools do use slide room, and it is very much appropriate for music, as it allows you to upload videos and/or URLs, depending on the school's interests. Others ask you to submit letters or forms linking to requested info.

Most schools are very prescriptive in what they want to see (for example, if the interest is in classical music, they might want to see pieces from 3 contrasting periods). Plus they frequently want to see a music resume and sometimes letter of interest. They also can have short essay questions asking about the applicants' interest and experience. Others just ask for excerpts from a couple of pieces. It's can be a pretty time consuming process, but definitely can move the needle if a student presents a supplement that demonstrates that they will add value to the music community at the school

This sounds like the process for someone applying for a program that requires an arts supplement, not someone like OP who just wants to support a significant EC with examples of their work.

Nope -- this is the process for students applying to general colleges/universities but who want the opportunity to show that they will add something artistic to the community. Applying to music-specific programs involves way more than this. To add to the other cites already given, here's U-Va's directions: https://music.virginia.edu/applying. Here's Georgetown's: https://performingarts.georgetown.edu/academics/theater-supplemental-materials/

These are not applications to a program, but instead an opportunity to supplement your general application to the school/university. If the arts reviewers are impressed, they will say so to the admissions office. How much that matters likely varies from school to school.

Exactly! And some schools have artistic talent scholarships that can be awarded based on these supplementals.