<p>Hi, I am a hs sophomore and I plan to attend RISD, Parsons, or other top art schools in the future. I was wondering if extra-curriculars really matter to art schools; I know GPA is important…but will they really care if I was the art editor of the school magazine or the arts & layout ed for the yearbook? What if I interned at an art museum or was on the teen arts council for a museum?
If they have two ppl with the same-quality grades/portfolio/home test, will someone w/ more extra-curriculars or community service give them the advantage? Any info would be appreciated…thanks!</p>
<p>/// If they have two ppl with the same-quality grades/portfolio/home test, will someone w/ more extra-curriculars or community service give them the advantage? Any info would be appreciated…thanks! ///</p>
<p>If all other factors are equal, then yes. Schools are looking for mature and well-rounded applicants in addition to talent, but put your priorities into portfolio development and academic performance.</p>
<p>FWIW, [DAAP</a> requires community service](<a href=“http://www.daapspace.daap.uc.edu/service]DAAP”>http://www.daapspace.daap.uc.edu/service) for some of its scholarship winners:</p>
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<p>A candidate commited to community service may fair better at a college that integrates it into their philosophy.</p>
<p>Does no one else have any experience with this??</p>
<p>There are no specific formulas ( a + b + c + d = acceptance ) so no one can give you a specific answer, but as I and another stated it would speak well of an applicant’s maturity and give them an edge, all other things being equal. Though, quite frankly, they’d probably admit both candidates if the grades and portfolio were of equal and good quality.</p>
<p>I agree with RainingAgain, and StitchInTime brings up a good point about scholarships at Univ of Cincinnati which (I realized too late) has a great art and design program.</p>
<p>My D got accepted to RISD and DID have some average community service activities, but one’s portfolio and grades are much more important. </p>
<p>The art-related service activities you mentioned sound really good. Another idea is to join a club that interests you (maybe an environmental club or something) and do their posters/flyers/tshirts/website or anything else that is art- or design-related.</p>
<p>One other thought: go to the website of those schools you are interested in, check out the admissions essays they require and see if there are any questions related to community service (although the questions could change by the time you apply).</p>
<p>What is the issue with your doing community service, if I may ask?</p>
<p>Thanks for replying Austinhills. In regards to your question, I have no issues doing community service. I do a lot of e.c.'s/volunteering like peer tutoring, the environmental club, student council, teaching a Chinese class, etc., and I was just wondering if it’s actually worth doing this much if art schools don’t even care. Especially since I have such a crazy schedule for next year.</p>