Author Archives: Aaron

A Quick Resource for Students
Submission Courtesy: Savannah College of Art and Design

Use this guide as a resource for building a portfolio or improving one you’ve already started. Keep in mind that guidelines may vary among different schools and it is important that you tailor your portfolio to each school.

What is a Portfolio?

A portfolio is a collection of your strongest artistic work that is presented as professionally as possible and demonstrates your talent.

Tips for Building a Strong Portfolio:

• Create artwork early and often.

•  Keep a sketchbook or journal to build your creative ideas.

• Take art classes.

• Seek portfolio feedback from peers, teachers, professionals and college representatives.

• Use only original work—don’t borrow images.

• Whenever possible, work from direct observation.

• Experiment with different media and techniques.

• Be prolific; this will give you options later and allow you to be selective when compiling the final portfolio.

Things to Consider

When choosing the works that will represent you in your portfolio, you should select pieces that demonstrate a wide range of artistic skills. Portfolio review committees look for portfolios that indicate a familiarity with and mastery of general artistic concepts:

• Composition: Placement or arrangement of elements in a work.

• Drawing: Demonstration of line weights, mark-making, proportion and medium.

• Design: Overall unity achieved by combining elements of art and principles of design.

• Value: Relative darkness or lightness of a color.

• Spatial perception: Understanding of the spatial relationships of objects, as well as foreground, middle and background.

• Technique: Skillfulness in the use of fundamental methods.

• Color perception: General sensitivity to color and sophistication in its application.

• Originality: Capacity to think independently and transform the predictable; the quality of being new and original.

• Conceptual awareness: Expression of a clear idea and effective use of materials and processes to strengthen the concept.

• Aesthetic awareness: Guiding principle in matters of artistic beauty and taste.

Presentation Counts

Think of your portfolio as a visual interview. Your portfolio must speak for itself. Strong presentation shows work in its best light and indicates your ability to communicate in an effective manner. Pay close attention to the content and presentation of your portfolio.

There are many different types of colleges in the U.S., and it can be confusing as a student to understand the differences between them and find out which is best for you.  We have put together a simple guide to differentiate between the main types of colleges, universities, and career colleges:

Types of Colleges in the U.S. - Search for Colleges Here

Liberal Arts Colleges and Universities

• Private 4-Year and 2-Year
• Earn a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
• Study wide range of courses

These colleges offer a broad base of courses in the liberal arts — literature, philosophy, history, languages, mathematics, humanities, and social and natural sciences. They typically offer four-year programs that lead to a bachelor’s degree; students usually take courses in a range of subjects during their first two years and then choose a major. These colleges prepare you for a variety of careers, as well as for graduate work in many fields, including professions such as law, medicine and business.

Universities

• Public and Private 4-Year
• Earn a Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctoral Degrees
• Larger and offer more majors and degree options

Universities may offer more majors than Liberal Art Colleges such as engineering, architecture, health and other programs. At most universities, you can earn bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Most universities contain several smaller colleges; for example, colleges of agriculture, teaching, and liberal arts. You may have to apply to a specific college within the university and take most of your classes within that college. At a university, you can prepare for many types of careers or for further study in graduate school.

Community Colleges

• 2-Year College
• Earn an Associate’s Degree
• Affordable, prepare you for career or 4-Year institution

These colleges prepare you to continue your education or to enter the workforce immediately. They offer associate degrees and certificate of completion, which get you ready to transfer to a four-year college and earn a bachelor’s degree.

Community colleges are often an affordable and convenient option; they charge relatively low tuition to in-state residents. Many students can also save money by living at home.

Career Colleges or Vo-Tech

• Career focused, not required to take Gen-Ed courses
• Earn an Certificate of Completion or Associates Degree
• Career readiness

A vo-tech or career college offers specialized training to students who are interested in a particular industry or career. You take classes only in your field of study — for example, culinary arts, firefighting, dental hygiene or medical-records technology.

Student Population by College Type

*data pulled from The Chronicle of Higher Education Almanac Issue 2011-2012

Hey everyone,

Thanks for your support this year with the website and the app.  We actually got nominated for the 2011 Best App Ever Award for Best High School App (Android).

The winner will be selected based on user votes, vote for us here:
http://www.bestappever.com/v/hsed/2/com.moblico.MyMajors

Vote for MyMajors for Best High School Student App

The MyMajors Team