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Commonly asked questions: BFA admissions

What is a “selective” art and design college?
“Selective” art and design colleges accept just some of the students who apply each year. Generally, the more outstanding the art college, the more difficult it is to be accepted. Some schools will accept 25% or fewer of the students who apply. Other quality programs may accept 60% to 70%. Keep in mind that selectivity is also relative to the size of the school. An admissions acceptance rate of 25% at a larger school may actually represent more students than 70% at a smaller school.

What is the advantage of going to a “selective” art and design college?
There are many advantages—all of which relate to a higher quality educational experience. Advantages include: good to excellent facilities, outstanding faculty, a commitment to art and design excellence, and—very importantly—the opportunity to go to school with other talented, high potential art and design students. Learning side-by-side with talented peers will enrich your education immeasurably. Additionally, the friendships and contacts you make while in college can help you later professionally.

Would I get a better art and design education at a art college or at a regular college or university with a good art program?
This can be difficult to answer and depends greatly on the needs and interests of a particular student as well as the particular colleges/universities. In general, an art college is dedicated to the education of artists and designers. It will offer liberal arts courses and a very rich selection of art and design programs. From the president of the school on down, commitment to art and design excellence is foremost.

A college or university may have an outstanding art and design program, but it will just one of many programs at the school. A change in administration may impact the extent to which art and design is understood and supported. On the other hand, these schools can offer a diverse range of majors, opportunities for double majors, and a student body with wide and varied interests.

What is a “portfolio” and how important is it?
A portfolio will typically consist of 10 to 20 pieces of a students best, most recent work. Portfolios may contain only two dimension work but often include three dimensional work as well. Some schools want to see only original work while other college what to see slides or CDs.

A portfolio is considered an extremely important part of a student’s application to a selective art and design college. The portfolio demonstrates to the admissions committee the student’s technical skills, talent and creativity, level of experience/prior art education, etc.—and whether a student has what it takes, in their opinion, to succeed in their program.

If an art and design college or program requires a portfolio, does it mean it is selective?
No. There are schools which require portfolios while still accepting all the students who apply. These schools tend to be highly dependent on tuition dollars for their annual operating budget and have fairly flexible admissions standards. At these schools a portfolio is a formality, serving as a way for faculty to get to know a student and their abilities.

Can I get as good an art education at a non-selective art college or program?
Perhaps, however, a talented art and design student will typically find far less challenge there for a number of reasons. The student body will likely come from surrounding communities and may lack the high level of academic ability, creative talent, and cultural exposure found at a more selective college. Additionally, the school’s reputation is likely known only within its geographical area, a potentially limiting factor in students’ future career development.

We encourage talented students to at least explore the possibilities and rich opportunities offered by selective art and design programs even if it means going outside their city or state. Doing so can make a enormous difference in the quality of students’ college experience and in their future career opportunities.