While I was at camp I went to a seminar on how to pick an appropriate college and how to build a portfolio that will get you a scholarship to that college. Although I plan on majoring in photography, the seminar covered fine arts and new media portfolios. Hopefully the following information will make picking colleges this year a little easier for some people.
The teacher holding the seminar boiled down picking a college into four main categories.
Accreditation- No matter how wonderful a college may seem it’s nothing unless the government deems it a worthy establishment. Make sure the college you’re choosing is accredited otherwise you could spend a lot of money and years working towards something that doesn’t really mean anything.
Facilities- Go for a tour of the school and make sure all the equipment is up to date, and classes are easily accessible. There’s no point in going to a school for photography that doesn’t even have darkrooms or up to date computers for editing. Another huge thing to look into are the dorms. Most students spend at least their first year in the dorms. Find out from current students what the dorm situation is like. There’s nothing worse than having a tough time in school only to come home to a terrible place of rest.
Faculty- Every college is loaded with professors, so do some research on them. If you plan on majoring in illustration, find out what the teachers who are teaching illustration have done. I’d be more likely to go to a college that is loaded with professors that are right in the industry that they are teaching about, than a college who is filled with professors who are still trying to catch a break. Look at teachers as a way to network. If they can start getting your name out in the industry before you even graduate college, you’ll be way more likely to have a successful career.
Location- This is probably the most important of all four. Where do you want to spend your years in college? Sure you’ll be going to school and that will take up some of your time, but you have to keep in mind the time that you’ll spend outside of class. Keep in consideration the whole idea of networking again. New York City is the art capitol of the country. It doesn’t make sense to go to school in Vermont when you could be in New York where everything is the newest and freshest of your subject, but in the same respect there have been amazing artists that pop up from all over the country. In the end what really matters is that you’re happy and successful.
Tip: No matter what school you finally decide on make sure you do your research on it, and if you can, go visit it.
Once you’ve made a final decision on your school it’s important that you build a strong portfolio that will make getting into that school a breeze. Below is a rough guide as to what you should include in your portfolio.
Fine Arts
Self Portrait
Figure Drawings
Object Studies
Still Life
Interiors and Exteriors
Sculpture
Personal Work
Photography
Self Portrait
Portraits of Others
Object Studies
Still Life
Interiors and Exteriors
Personal Work
DO NOT INCLUDE: Pictures that include sunsets, homeless people, babies, flowers, or anything else that has too much information in it. Also make sure your pictures don’t look like they were all from one day. A portfolio is something that you are supposed to have worked on for a long time. If it looks like everything is from one day it’s not going to show all your talents.
Tip: No matter what piece you are including, make sure it tells a story. One dimensional work is not going to stand up against a college board.
Hopefully this will help with future planning. If you are having a tough time picking your strongest works show them to an art teacher or send them to me. I’d be more than happy to help.
Challenge of the Week: Do some research on colleges that you think might be right for you and set up days to go visit. Not old enough to start thinking about college? It’s never to early to start building a portfolio. Explore different types of art and see what you like the best.
Happy Photographing!
Cate