Can an art portfolio affect your Reach, Target, Likely designations?

I think you’re going to need to drill down on a school-by-school basis. For example see the following from NYU. I’m sure others differ,

  • An audition or portfolio for specific artistic program applicants to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and Tisch School of the Arts. For applicants to these programs, testing is optional and a required audition or portfolio can be submitted in place of standardized testing: