What is an Online Portfolio?
An online portfolio is a curated digital collection of a student’s work, projects, and achievements. Beyond just simply listing created work, it functions as a storytelling tool that displays the individual’s passion, technical skills, and growth progress. According to recent US news, many colleges and universities are making portfolio submissions mandatory to art major applicants, with cases of submitting portfolios of coding projects or research results in computer science and engineering majors also rising.
A portfolio visually communicates to admissions officers a student’s creativity and expertise. For example, an art major applicant might display their drawings or their design work, while a computer science major applicant might showcase their skills through a coding project uploaded to GitHub.
It is especially essential for applicants of majors that emphasize creative or technical work, such as majors in art, graphic design, movie, computer science, creative writing, engineering, architecture, etc. It is also particularly helpful to individuals of other majors who want to differentiate themselves through unique projects.
Five Steps to Building a Portfolio
To create an effective online portfolio, a strategic plan and execution is needed. This five-step method is especially suitable for 11th and 12th graders.
Step 1: Setting Goals and Selecting a Topic
Before starting a portfolio, it is important to clearly lay out what major the individual is aiming for and what kind of work they want to emphasize. In cases for artistic majors, select a medium of drawings, sculptures, photography, digital art, etc, then decide on a topic like nature, identity, social issues, etc to create a consistent story.
For computer science or computer engineering majors, displaying a meaningful coding project is highly effective. For example, a website, app, or data analysis — while for an engineering, select a hardware design work.
Before selecting goals and topics, it is necessary to check specific portfolio requirements set for each college in advance. For instance, the Rhode Island School of Design(RISD) requires 10 to 20 pieces of work, while MIT wants coding projects through GitHub links.
Step 2: Selecting and Preparing Your Work
Your portfolio should contain only your best work. Quality is always more important than quantity.
Aim for 10 to 15 pieces of work, following the guidelines set by each school. Parsons School of Design, for example, recommends submitting 12 to 20 pieces of work.
It is also important to have variety and depth. Showing varieties of techniques is important, like watercolor and digital illustration, but also to show depth in one subject or style.
Computer science major applicants are encouraged to upload their projects to GitHub while providing a README file detailing the project’s purpose, technological skills, and results.
Step 3: Selecting a Digital Platform
It is essential to select a hosting platform for the portfolio. Utilize a free yet professional platform.
For the art/design field, websites like Behance(www.behance.net) or ArtStation (www.artstation.com) are suitable to display visual works. Personal websites can be made with platforms like Wix (www.wix.com) or Squarespace (www.squarespace.com).
In the case of computer science, GitHub is the best option to share coding projects. Be sure to include a README file that clearly explains the purpose, tools used, and outcomes of each coding project.
For other majors, use websites like Notion (www.notion.so) or LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com) to organize your writing, research, and volunteer work.
It is a good idea to choose a hosting platform that is known for its clean and easy-to-navigate design. College admission officers spend about an average of 5 to 10 minutes reviewing a portfolio, so first impressions are crucial.
Step 4: Storytelling and Documentation
The work on their own may not be enough. Each piece needs to be labeled and documented with explanations of how it demonstrates your growth and passion.
Add a concise, 50 to 100 word description to each piece of work. For example, “This app was created in Python to provide logistics for a local food bank, and I learned about database management as well as UI design.”
Add a section on the very first page of the portfolio containing a brief self-introduction as well as the purpose for the portfolio. For instance, it could start off with a statement like, “I’m interested in utilizing technology to solve social issues.”
Step 5: Feedback and Revising
After completing a draft for the portfolio, ask for feedback from teachers, mentors, etc., just as if you would for an application essay.
If you’re an art major, ask for feedback from art teachers or other local artists in your area. If you’re a computer science major, request for feedback from coding instructors or open source communities.Based on the feedback you receive, adjust the order of your work, the description, and the design. For example, a visually striking image can be placed on the front page to attract attention.
Success Stories
#Art Majors
Jennifer Kay from California (pseudonym, 12th grade) was accepted into an art program by uploading 15 digital illustrations and traditional paintings to Behance. She caught the attention of college admission officers by adding a 100-word essay explaining her creative process as well as inspirations for each piece.
#Computer Science
Andy Park from New York (pseudonym, 12th grade) uploaded a Python project to GitHub that automated his local library book lending system. He wrote a README outline the project’s trial and errors along with skills used, and was accepted into a computer science program.
How to Avoid Commonly Made Mistakes
#Overloading Your Portfolio
The concentration level decreases if 20+ projects are included. Select carefully 10 to 15 pieces of work.
#Lack of Context
If there is no explanation of the created work, admission officers have a hard time understanding. Be sure to add a concise but specific description.
#Outdated Content
Portfolios should be regularly updated. During the summer, replace older work with newer pieces.
How Parents Can Get Involved
Parents should support their children in building their portfolio, providing encouragement and practical help. An online portfolio is not just a collection of work, yet a powerful tool that is a testament to the student’s passion and potential. During the summer break, set clear goals, select work, and use the right platform to create a portfolio. It is a great asset for not only college admissions but for their future career. The small effort put in now can be the key to collegiate success.
#Technical Support
Help learn how to use hosting platforms like Wix or Squarespace, or help them set up a GitHub account.
#Time Management
Help plan out a schedule to work on their portfolios for 1-2 hours a day.
#Connecting to a Professional
Connect with local artists or programmers so that your students can receive mentoring
BY BYUNGHEE JANG, ANGELINA CHO(Intern Reporter)
