I am a high school senior so college application time is very soon. I will apply for an animation (or art major depending on which major is available at each university) major. I plan to apply to: USC, UCLA (these are the only reach schools), LMU, Otis, CSULB, CSUF, and CSUDH. I am satisfied with my grades, EC’s, and the rest of the application requirements. I am only stressed over my art portfolios. I’ve always drawn, but the only art class I’ve taken is a mandatory art elective my junior year. I received A’s on the assignments but I always doubt my talent. I am always astonished by the talented artwork of the other A students at my school and others (in my age group) who post their work online. I especially struggle drawing people’s faces.
I am struggling to find any tips for art portfolios for these schools. I have only found tips for USC, UCLA, and Otis. For LMU and the CSU’s how much should I worry about my art portfolio for these schools? In other words, how much do they focus on grades, EC’s, etc. vs the portfolio?
Also, can I submit the same works for each school or would each school need an entirely new portfolio?
Thank you in advance for any help.
@earlyowl my D is headed to art college this fall so I can share what we learned from her application process.
First of all, check out the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD) website for the upcoming fall schedule of portfolio days - or check with your local art/design school to see which day the event will fall and who is attending (last year’s list is probably on the school website so you can at least get an idea . . . ). These are events at which admissions reps from all the art schools - and many university programs as well - attend in order to take a look at your artwork and give you advice on what to include as part of your application. There will be no better way for you to get feedback on your portfolio.
Second, there will be a difference between a dedicated art school such as Otis and a university program as to when your portfolio will be reviewed. For Otis, the review is going to be part of your application - if admitted, you are accepted directly into their BFA program. In contrast, many university programs do NOT admit directly to the BFA. Instead, they admit to the BA program and your review comes much later - usually at least by sophomore year. If you pass the review at that time you move on to the BFA. If not, you remain on track for the BA. However, some university programs WILL admit right away to the BFA so it’s very important to understand exactly what is required for admission and when the portfolio review will take place.
For a dedicated art program such as Otis, the portfolio is probably the most important aspect of your application, although good grades and decent test scores will increase your chances not only of admission but merit aid as well. So you will want to choose your best work and understand and follow their specifications carefully (do they want observational work? Self portraits? Examples of different media, etc.) You will want to take top-notch digital reproductions to upload (most likely via slideroom) - get help from an art instructor with those if you need to. One art school advised the applicants to make it look as professional as possible so no sloppy borders, etc.
Follow that level of care for USC and UCLA, should they also require a portfolio for admission. But keep in mind that these schools will also put relatively more weight on your GPA and test scores due to their very high level of selectivity.
We found that my D was able to use pretty much the same portfolio for all her art school admissions (perhaps changing out one or two pieces). But that was because she generally had selected her work to conform to what the dedicated programs were asking for.
Cal State does NOT, to my knowledge, require a portfolio for admission - I could be incorrect here for Long Beach because we haven’t researched that one. But my D2 is considering Fullerton for animation and I believe that is entirely a stats-driven admission and the portfolio review doesn’t come till later. In fact, I’m pretty sure you just send along one application to all the CSU schools. CSUMentor should have all the information you need - or check some of the previous threads on CC regarding the visual arts major. @YoHoYoHo has a son attending SJSU this fall and provided very helpful information here: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/visual-arts-film-majors/1756946-animation-programs-it-is-time-to-make-a-decision-p1.html
Good luck!
@Mamelot I was unaware of NASAD and when colleges actually review application portfolios. As for CSU’s, I went to a college fair and Long Beach and Dominguez said they need a portfolio. CSULA does not, so I declared that my safety in case my art fails me. I am unsure of CSUF’s policy so I will research that. I will be sure to check out the other threads and follow your suggestions. Thank you very much for your insight. 
The portfolio is very important.
You should take your portfolio to national portfolio day to get it critiqued. For animation, you really need to include figure drawing so take a figure drawing class this summer or this fall. Otis will be at nPD, and will give good feedback. Bring more pieces than you think that you need.
For Ucla and Otis, your portfolio will be extremely important. For USC and LMU, your portfolio will be important. For CSUs, you do not include a portfolio; they only go on stats: gpa and sat/act. CSULB does not have a port req; my DS applied and was accepted to CSULB with out a portfolio.
A parent has posted a link to ascid?? port website where u post 5 pieces and selected arts colleges and they critique it as well. Do a search on this sub forum and you will find the website info.
At CSUs you get accepted on gpa and sat/act and then must pass a portfolio review once you are in the Univ.
And yes grades and sat/act will matter at USC and Ucla. DS got rejected from USC and Ucla and got accepted to LMU and to all of the CSUs that he applied to. You should also include chapman ur search. For art schools in ca (that’s not cal arts), look at LCAD in addition to Otis.
Also, since you are applying to Los Angeles schools you should Def include CSUN.
And consider looking at chapman and LCAD.
AICAD = association of independent colleges of art and design. Otis should be a member. Their website has very helpful portfolio Advice as @YoHoYoHo mentioned.
@YoHoYoHo I will definitely check out ascid. I’ve researched Chapman and CSUN. I am not entirely sure if I want to apply to Chapman, CSUN, and CSUF because of how far away they are. I am not allowed to get dorms and I would not like to be stuck in traffic for half of the day. That’s why I am sticking to the Los Angeles region. Although, I know the traffic is inevitable. Unfortunately, LCAD is also too far from home. As of now, LMU and Otis are my top schools. Their programs are appealing and they are only about 15 minutes away from me.
@Mamelot I will look at the AICAD website as well.
Thank you both for your advice. I will spend all of August continuing to research the universities and portfolio/related programs.
Good luck, @earlyowl.
BTW, the ascid and AICAD are the same thing. That should save you some time in your research!
OK. I understand about the location. Hopefully you will be able to qualify for financial aid at LMU and Otis. There is a Net Price calculator on each college’s website so that you can calculate your family’s EFC (estimated family contribution). Keep in mind that the tuition for CSUs are much lower than the private colleges of LMU and Otis. Tuition at CSU runs around 6,000 per year, Tuition at LMU runs around 42,000 per year. Room and board runs maybe $10,000 at CSU and around $15,000 at LMU. So definitely toss in CSULB. You also might consider santa monica college, a community college that has a good animation program.
@YoHoYoHo Ah yes. The cost is the only intimidating thing about LMU, Otis, and most of the other art schools. My sister graduated from CSULB so I’ve visited the campus many times and would feel comfortable attending there as well.