Art Schools Present Daunting Application Requirements

 

During the first half of the school year, South Kingstown High School is filled with seniors scrambling to complete and submit their basic college applications.

  Among the admissions requirements are the common application, letters of recommendation from responsible adults in the community, official high school transcripts, SAT or PSAT scores, an essay explaining to the college why the student is a worthy of acceptance and a fee for the application.

  For a basic four year college, it seems many high school students go to the end of the world to finalize their applications. Yet I learned first hand that applying to an art school, the requirements are even more demanding.

  As well as the common application, letters of recommendation, transcripts, SAT and PSAT scores and the essay, students applying to art school must assemble components of a portfolio, which will exhibit their most advanced projects. Any college specializing in art programs such as visual arts, music, film, dance, theater, photography is considered an art school. In most cases, the mandatory portfolio must showcase students’ ability to utilize different art styles and techniques.

  Many portfolio’s are turned down instantly due to heavy competition.

  After impressing the office of admissions, a live audition or an interview is required. Senior Phillip John Bold recently auditioned for world renowned school Berkley School of Music in Boston. Many aspects of Bolds artistic capabilities were called upon him.

  “I had to show that I was able to improvise, sight read sheet music and be able to play multiple styles of music,” said Bold.

  “I had to be extremely versatile,” he added.

  On top of that, there are a slew of application, audition and pre screening fees.

  My own experience paralleled this process. I applied to a studio production program at a State University of New York. In my portfolio, I needed to include three recorded pieces.

  The point of this was to exhibit my aesthetics as sound engineer. In order to compose, record and mix these songs, I had to go through a series of equipment rentals. Among the equipment I borrowed were a handful of microphones, cables, effects pedals and amplification.

  With all of proper tools, I was able to proceed in the production of my pieces that I was to send for admission. After the final mixing was complete, I proceeded to write out a detailed chart which described my methods of recording and engineering. Also included on the chart was thorough list of every piece of equipment I utilized including brands and models of instruments, amplifiers, effects pedals and the program I used to master the whole project.

  When all is said and done, I am very proud of the pieces I have produced even if they are not worthy for admission. It was the most time consuming project that I have ever embarked on, claiming four months. Over those four months, any free chunk of time that I had was thrown towards the that project in an effort to create the most advanced composition and recordings that I could possibly make.

  There is a tremendous amount of work to be completed for students who wish to attend art school but believe it or not, the work load included in the application process for art schools is completely necessary. This is because applicants of art schools, unlike basic four year schools, must prove proficiency in a certain area of study eventually culminating into involvement in a specific program.

  All students applying to art schools must have a desired program listed on their applications. There is no general education option for art schools meaning you are unable to arrive at the school undecided about what you wish to study because the students are looked at more as performers than students.

  Although the work load is necessary, it continues to be very demanding on applicants.

  Bold has applied to Berkley School of Music, SUNY Purchase, The New School and University of Rhode Island. (URI offers art programs but is not an institution specializing in art)

  For basic four year colleges, the application deadlines vary. An application can be due as early as October or as late as March.

  The deadlines for art schools are similar but for most applications that require a live audition, the first half of the application is due in the earlier part of the school year for pre-screening purposes.

  With that factored in, the first part of the application process is similar to that of early action.

  So how can education in an art field help the individual later become an asset to an extensive art scene?

  Just like any other field, having a degree will prove an individual to be the absolute best for what ever position the individual is interested in.

  Most students who have opted to attend art schools not only want to exploit and expose themselves and their work but also to establish friendships, more importantly useful connections in any art style, venue, studio and or agency.

  One of the biggest challenges for artists applying for school is to keep a constant rate of progression and activity while applying to school. My best advice for that problem is to jump on the art portfolio as soon as a decision is made about applying for a school. The completion of my application brought a new kind of artistic improvement. With the application out of the way, I now have time for the progression that is essential if I am to attend art school.
  Bold completed his applications in a similar fashion.

  “At the same time as trying to fulfill the audition requirements, I’ve been working on a handful of my own projects,” explained Bold. “It will be a great relief to be done with the whole process so I can move on to more advanced things.”