Emory University, renowned for its rigorous academics and vibrant intellectual community, might not be the first institution that springs to mind when one thinks of a dedicated arts school. Yet, for the discerning high school student passionate about the arts, Emory offers a unique and compelling proposition: the opportunity to pursue an exceptional liberal arts education alongside deep, meaningful engagement in creative expression. For aspiring artists, musicians, dancers, actors, and writers, the portfolio submission is not merely an optional add-on; it is a powerful, vital component of your application, a window into your artistic soul that can profoundly influence your admission.
This comprehensive guide delves into the nuances of Emory University’s portfolio submission process for arts majors, offering insights, strategies, and practical advice to help you present your best self and truly shine.
Why Submit an Arts Portfolio to Emory?
Unlike a dedicated conservatory, Emory integrates the arts within a robust liberal arts framework. This means that while you’ll hone your craft, you’ll also be immersed in diverse academic disciplines, fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary connections, and a broader understanding of the world that inevitably enriches your art. The portfolio, therefore, serves several critical functions:
- Demonstrates Passion and Commitment: It tells the admissions committee that your artistic pursuits are not mere hobbies but a serious, sustained commitment that you wish to continue and deepen at university.
- Showcases Talent and Potential: It provides tangible evidence of your skills, creativity, and unique artistic voice. Emory is looking for students who will contribute meaningfully to its vibrant arts community.
- Adds a Unique Dimension to Your Application: In a highly competitive applicant pool, a compelling portfolio can differentiate you, offering a qualitative assessment of your abilities that transcripts and test scores cannot.
- Informs Scholarship and Program Consideration: For some arts-related scholarships or specific departmental considerations, a strong portfolio is essential.
Emory values well-rounded individuals who can excel academically and contribute to the campus culture. Your portfolio is a testament to your ability to do just that in the realm of the arts.
Who Should Submit a Portfolio?
While often associated with visual arts, Emory’s portfolio submission is open to a broad spectrum of artistic disciplines. If you intend to pursue a major or significant involvement in any of the following areas, a portfolio is highly recommended, if not explicitly required for certain programs:
- Visual Arts: Drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, printmaking, ceramics, digital art, mixed media, graphic design.
- Music: Performance (instrumental, vocal), composition, music theory.
- Theater: Acting, directing, playwriting, technical theater (set design, lighting, costume design, stage management).
- Dance: Performance, choreography.
- Creative Writing: Poetry, fiction, non-fiction, screenwriting.
Crucial Note: Always verify the most current requirements directly on the Emory University Admissions website. Specific departmental guidelines can sometimes vary or be updated.
General Principles for All Portfolio Submissions
Regardless of your artistic discipline, several overarching principles should guide your preparation:
- Quality Over Quantity: Resist the urge to include every piece you’ve ever created. Curate a selection of your strongest, most representative work. A few exceptional pieces are far more impactful than many mediocre ones.
- Authenticity and Voice: Your portfolio should reflect your unique artistic vision, interests, and personality. Don’t try to guess what you think Emory wants to see; instead, show them who you genuinely are as an artist.
- Demonstrate Growth and Potential: While showcasing your current skill level, also hint at your capacity for growth. If appropriate, include a piece that shows an experimental side or a new direction you’re exploring.
- Professionalism and Presentation: Pay meticulous attention to how your work is presented. High-quality images, clear audio/video, and thoughtful descriptions are paramount.
Discipline-Specific Guidelines and Advice
Let’s break down what admissions committees typically look for in portfolios across different artistic disciplines:
1. Visual Arts
- Content: Aim for 10-20 pieces. Include a variety of media (drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, digital art, mixed media) if applicable, but focus on showcasing your strongest area. Include observational work (life drawing, still life) to demonstrate fundamental skills. You might also include pieces that reflect your conceptual thinking, personal narratives, or exploration of themes.
- Process Work: Consider including a few pages from a sketchbook or examples of preliminary sketches/studies. This offers insight into your creative process, problem-solving abilities, and dedication.
- Photography: Ensure high-resolution, well-lit images of your 2D and 3D work. For 3D pieces, multiple angles are helpful.
- Descriptions: For each piece, provide a concise title, medium, dimensions, and date created. A brief, optional artist statement for each piece (1-2 sentences) explaining intent or technique can be beneficial.
2. Music
- Performance:
- Recordings: Submit 2-3 contrasting pieces (audio or video, depending on the instrument/vocal). Choose selections that best showcase your technical proficiency, musicality, and stylistic range.
- Quality: Ensure high-quality audio/video. Record in a quiet environment. If recording video, good lighting and framing are important.
- Repertoire: List the title, composer, and date of each piece performed.
- Supporting Materials: You might be asked to submit a repertoire list, a resume of your musical experience, or even sheet music for original compositions.
- Composition/Theory:
- Scores: Submit 1-3 scores of your original compositions (PDF format).
- Recordings: Include corresponding audio recordings (MIDI renditions are acceptable if live performance is not feasible, but live is preferred).
- Diversity: Showcase different styles or instrumentation if you have them.
3. Theater
- Acting:
- Monologues/Scenes: Submit 1-2 contrasting video pieces (e.g., one classical, one contemporary; one dramatic, one comedic). Each should be no more than 90 seconds to 2 minutes.
- Preparation: Rehearse thoroughly. Choose material appropriate for your age and type. Perform against a simple, uncluttered background with good lighting and clear audio.
- Supporting Materials: A theatrical resume listing your experience (roles, productions, training) and a professional headshot are often requested.
- Technical Theater/Design:
- Portfolio: Submit a digital portfolio (PDF or website link) showcasing your work in areas like set design, lighting design, costume design, sound design, or stage management.
- Content: Include photos of productions you’ve worked on, design renderings, drafting examples, costume sketches, lighting plots, sound cues, prompt books, or production paperwork.
- Descriptions: Clearly label each piece with the production title, your role, and a brief description of your contribution and design philosophy.
- Playwriting:
- Script Excerpts: Submit a 10-20 page excerpt from a full-length play, a one-act play, or a selection of 2-3 short scenes.
- Formatting: Ensure proper play script formatting.
- Context: Provide a brief synopsis of the play or scene.
4. Dance
- Performance:
- Video: Submit a video (2-5 minutes total) showcasing your technique and artistry. Include contrasting styles if possible (e.g., ballet, modern, jazz, contemporary).
- Content: Focus on a solo performance or a small ensemble where you are clearly visible. Avoid heavily edited or highly produced performance videos unless you have a separate unedited version.
- Technique: Include examples of barre work, center combinations, or improvisation that highlight your skill and expressive range.
- Quality: Ensure clear video and audio. Good lighting, full-body shots, and a simple background are ideal.
- Choreography:
- Video: If submitting original choreography, provide a video of your work (2-5 minutes).
- Statement: Include a brief statement outlining your choreographic intent, inspirations, and process.
- Supporting Materials: A dance resume listing your training, performance experience, and any choreographic credits.
5. Creative Writing
- Content: Submit 1-2 pieces that represent your strongest work. This could be:
- Poetry: 3-5 poems.
- Fiction: A short story, or an excerpt from a novel (typically 10-20 pages).
- Non-Fiction: A personal essay, journalistic piece, or memoir excerpt (10-20 pages).
- Screenwriting: A 10-20 page excerpt from a screenplay or teleplay.
- Formatting: Ensure proper formatting for the genre (e.g., standard manuscript format for prose, specific formatting for screenplays).
- Proofreading: Meticulously proofread for any grammatical errors, typos, or formatting inconsistencies. This is paramount for writing submissions.
- Context (Optional): A very brief note about the piece’s context or inspiration can be included, but let the writing speak for itself primarily.
The Technical Side: Submission Platforms and Logistics
Emory, like many universities, often utilizes third-party platforms for portfolio submissions, most commonly SlideRoom.
- SlideRoom: This platform allows you to upload images, audio, video, and documents. It provides clear prompts for each piece (title, medium, dimensions, brief description).
- File Types and Sizes: Pay close attention to the specified file types (JPEG for images, MP3 for audio, MP4 for video, PDF for documents/writing samples) and maximum file sizes. Convert your files as needed.
- Labeling and Organization: Label your files clearly (e.g., "LastName_FirstName_PieceTitle.jpg"). Organize your submission according to the platform’s guidelines.
- Deadlines: The portfolio submission deadline is typically the same as the application deadline (Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision), or shortly thereafter. Do not miss this deadline.
Crafting Your Artist Statement
Often the most overlooked but crucial part of your portfolio, the artist statement is your opportunity to provide context and voice to your work. It’s a brief, concise (usually 150-300 words) narrative that helps the admissions committee understand your art beyond its visual or auditory presence.
What to Include in Your Artist Statement:
- Your Artistic Intent/Purpose: What themes or ideas do you explore in your work? What questions are you asking?
- Your Process/Approach: How do you create? What materials or techniques do you favor, and why? What is your creative routine?
- Influences: Are there particular artists, movements, or life experiences that inspire you? (Avoid just listing names; explain how they influence you.)
- What You Hope to Achieve at Emory: Briefly connect your artistic aspirations to Emory’s specific programs or faculty.
- Your Voice: Write genuinely. Let your personality and passion come through. Avoid overly academic or pretentious language.
Tips for Writing Your Artist Statement:
- Be Concise: Every word should count.
- Be Specific: Instead of "I like to draw," say "I use charcoal and pastel to explore the interplay of light and shadow in urban landscapes."
- Revise and Refine: Write multiple drafts. Get feedback from teachers, mentors, or trusted friends.
- Proofread: As with all application materials, errors undermine professionalism.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Last-Minute Rush: Creating a strong portfolio takes time – for creation, selection, documentation, and writing. Start early!
- Poor Quality Documentation: Blurry photos, shaky videos, or distorted audio will detract from even the most brilliant art. Invest time in good documentation.
- Submitting Everything: Overwhelm the committee with too many pieces. Stick to the suggested number of your absolute best.
- Generic Artist Statement: A boilerplate statement that could apply to anyone’s art is a missed opportunity. Make it personal and specific.
- Ignoring Instructions: Not adhering to file types, size limits, or specific content requirements demonstrates a lack of attention to detail.
- Lack of Diversity (where applicable): If your discipline allows for it, show range in style, medium, or theme.
Beyond the Portfolio: The Holistic Review
Remember, your arts portfolio is one piece of a larger puzzle in Emory’s holistic review process. It complements your academic record, essays, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities. A strong portfolio enhances your application by showcasing a dimension of your talent and character that other components might not fully capture. It tells Emory that you are a multifaceted individual who will enrich their campus both intellectually and creatively.
Conclusion: Embrace the Opportunity
Submitting an arts portfolio to Emory University is an exciting opportunity to showcase your passion, skill, and unique perspective. It’s a chance to tell a story about who you are as an artist and how you envision contributing to the vibrant arts community at Emory. Take the time to thoughtfully curate your best work, meticulously prepare your submission, and craft an authentic artist statement that speaks volumes.
This process is more than just an application requirement; it’s a valuable exercise in self-reflection and professional presentation. By investing your best effort, you not only increase your chances of admission but also gain a deeper understanding of your own artistic journey. Good luck, and may your portfolio truly unveil your artistic soul!
