Why should you (absolutely) get a portfolio review before submitting
Getting a portfolio review for your art portfolio is one of the most effective ways to grow as an artist— it is so helpful to have independent and professional guidance when preparing your college applications.
What is a portfolio review?
In general, during a portfolio review you have a short time (15-30 minutes) to speak about a selection of images of your work. Often, the reviewer is trying to understand your personal voice, your talents and individuality. You will often discuss your work you wish to highlight and be ready to respond to questions about the work. Sometimes, reviewers will want a few minutes to look through the work before discussing. Then, they will give you feedback on the quantity and quality of the work, what you can do to improve the overall portfolio and if you are missing any critical elements for the school you are applying to.
For college applications, reviewers are also looking to see that you have carefully edited and selected your work, that it is easy to see the work and it is not cluttered on the page.
Here are several strong reasons why it's worth doing at least one, but preferably lots of reviews :
Objective Feedback
You're probably too close to your work to see it clearly. A review helps you:
Spot technical weaknesses or inconsistencies
Understand how your work reads to someone with fresh eyes
Identify what’s working and what’s not
See if you are satisfying all of the requirements of the school you are applying to
Improvement & Growth
A portfolio review gives you a clear path to:
Know what is missing from your portfolio, or what is making it great
Improve your chances of acceptance at the school by responding to the advice of the reviewer
Understand if your portfolio is clear and compelling
Practice speaking about your work in front of strangers
National Portfolio Days are a great way to get to know the schools you are interested in, meet the admissions teams, and get feedback on your work!
They offer in person and online portfolio review sessions with most of the art schools in the US.
Here is what National Portfolio Day has to say:
Students from all around the world are welcome to participate in portfolio reviews to prepare for college and university at the undergraduate or graduate level. Parents, counselors, teachers and educators are invited to join us at National Portfolio Day to learn more about our member schools and the programs that they offer.
One-on-One Free Portfolio Reviews
Meet one on one with professional representatives of accredited colleges and universities and receive valuable feedback and guidance on your portfolio prior to submitting your application. No admission decisions or scholarship awards will be offered at National Portfolio Days. Some college and university representatives may accept your portfolio as the visual portion of your application. Others have restrictions that prohibit them from making a definitive portfolio decision at the time of your review.
If there is a particular school you are hoping to meet with, please visit that school’s website to learn more about the dates they will be available.