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There are almost as many fine art and design programs as there are student interests. Students applying to universities or colleges offering fine arts and design programs therefore have several options. Admission requirements will differ depending on whether you are applying to a private or public institution, a 4-year, 2-year or career college, and whether you are applying to a school using the Common Application.Pursuing a fine arts or design degree means being willing to expose your work--even during the application process. In addition to general institute application and document requirements, most direct-entry bachelor's programs request a portfolio.The requirements for the portfolio vary greatly from institution to institution, and students are strongly advised to consult the specific program website for all the details. In general, though, portfolios for fine arts
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There are almost as many fine art and design programs as there are student interests. Students applying to universities or colleges offering fine arts and design programs therefore have several options. Admission requirements will differ depending on whether you are applying to a private or public institution, a 4-year, 2-year or career college, and whether you are applying to a school using the Common Application.
Pursuing a fine arts or design degree means being willing to expose your work--even during the application process. In addition to general institute application and document requirements, most direct-entry bachelor's programs request a portfolio.
The requirements for the portfolio vary greatly from institution to institution, and students are strongly advised to consult the specific program website for all the details. In general, though, portfolios for fine arts and design degrees involve the submission of between 12-15 pieces of original artwork (or in slide or digital format). You might also be asked to produce new works in response to specified project guidelines. A portfolio should demonstrate a range of interests, visions and materials. Portfolios are evaluated by a committee, not judged by one person, and have specific submission dates and deadlines that differ from those for general applications and supporting documents.
While creative, personal elements are important, so are your academic qualifications. Most university fine arts and design programs are limited-enrollment and competitive. In terms of academic requirements, schools -- particularly private versus public -- differ in their competitiveness, but each university or college usually has a rough threshold below which admission is unlikely. Therefore, students often apply to a range of schools. Depending on the size and values of the school, admissions criteria can vary from the formulaic and objective to more subjective factors regarding the student's "fit" for the institution. In general, fine arts and design students are assessed according to the following: portfolio, overall academic grades and GPA, grades related to their intended major, core grade point average (English, academic math, laboratory science, foreign language, speech), class rank, SAT or ACT score, personal statement or essay, personal background and experiences, letters of recommendation, and information provided by the high school counselor. Institutions give different weight to these criteria: for example, some universities and colleges do not require or even accept the SAT for admission. In some cases, preference may be given to students from the institution's state, and some states require proof of immunization against certain vaccine-preventable diseases.
Students with a record of scholastic excellence in their first 3 years of high school may qualify for early enrollment, which involves a recommendation from your principal, approval from your parents as well as scores on academic tests. Some students, rather than being rejected outright, are "wait-listed" for a particular school and may be admitted if another student who was admitted decides not to attend. In the case of large, general education universities and colleges, students apply to the institution and not the College or School; however, each College or School still maintains requirements that applicants must meet. This includes specific numbers of semesters of each core academic course: for instance, a College of Arts might require 6 semesters of math, 4 of laboratory science, 8 of English, 4 of foreign language and 6 of social studies.
University and college semesters generally start in August or September for fall term and January for the winter term, and the application process itself usually begins in your senior year of high school. Generally this process involves submitting an online or print application form directly to the university or college by a specific deadline. Universities and colleges in the US usually have their own application forms, with the exception of institutions that use the Common Application. The Common Application can only be used to apply to member institutions (about 345 in the United States) which have agreed to use it. In the Common Application process, copies of online or print Application for Undergraduate Admission can be sent to any number of participating colleges. The same is true of the other required forms, which allows you to spend less time on applying for admission. Each member institution has a specific deadline for when they will accept the Common Application, and once a deadline has passed, you will no longer be able to submit your forms.
In both types of application you need to have your official high school transcripts sent directly to the institution from your high school, and you should be prepared to pay a non-refundable application fee of about $20-$75. Some schools will waive this fee if you use the online Common Application. Application deadlines are generally between November and January, and there may be specific deadlines for submitting your portfolio and SAT score for scholarship consideration.
In addition, many universities and colleges have implemented a system through which students can apply at a time other than the most common deadline. This is called the Early Decision program, and it permits you to apply a few months early if you agree to attend the school if offered admission in mid-December. Early Decision does mean less choice, but it also means you only have to submit one application--if you get into your top choice. You can only back out Early Decision's binding agreement if the financial aid offered is not enough. Similarly, the Early Action program means you apply early and find out the results early, but you are not bound to the school if accepted. Within Early Action there are the single- and multi-choice subprograms: single-choice early action schools only allow you to apply early to one school while multi-choice early action schools let you to apply to many schools. Further, rolling admission is used by some schools with a large number of applicants. It means you can apply any time between the fall and spring and get your result a few weeks later. You therefore don't have to apply to all of your schools at the same time, but be aware: it means earlier applicants get first acceptance. So apply as soon as possible to your rolling admissions schools.
Some community and technical colleges allow students to apply directly to a particular major. These institutions will have specific course requirements needed for admission to the program, such as a 'C' grade or better in English and math courses. Application requires you to complete an online application form and assessment test. Career colleges generally have much more open admission, admitting students on a first-come, first-served basis. Requirements may consist simply of completing the online application and submitting proof of high school completion or GED. Both community colleges and career colleges with internal scholarships and aid may encourage early application in order to qualify for these awards and financial assistance.
No matter which way you apply, two things that are not required, but are highly recommended, are a campus visit and interview with admissions counselor. Knowledge is power, so be sure to seek out the people and resources that can help you get as much information as possible before you apply for fine arts and design.
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