Erica Zetterquist thank you so much!! I actually do sell some work online, but I’m hoping to get into it more :)

thank you so much

that means so much, thank you

Thank you so much 😀

Omg!! That is so awesome, it was seriously a once in a lifetime experience :) sometimes it feels like a dream haha

This is a really great question because the process and reason of interest is so different for everyone, I'll be releasing the essay I wrote for BRDD this week, but overall I would highlight the reason why you think you would benefit by informing your both art and academic interests through the other. Where do your interests intertwine? (I think that's the main question)

Absolutely! thank you so much for watching, I'm glad you liked it :) I think the main difference I've noticed between most US and UK art schools is that in the UK you pretty much have free reign on anything. There are no prompts (this can vary based on schools, but was true for most of the ones I applied for) and the work you make is completely self-directed. Your professors act sort of like advisors and are there to help guide you and give honest feedback on your process, but aren't necessarily going to push you in a certain direction or ask for specific assignments. You get assigned your own space in a studio and go to work. This can be extremely liberating, but also a little intimidating. US schools I've noticed are quite assignments based, and everyone in your class will be working with the same prompt or building skills in the same materials for that class (for example at RISD you take like spacial dynamics, drawing, and design) and you have projects in each to then show at the end of the cycle. This can be great for building the skills and ensuring you're getting a foundational level of skills and understanding in the art practice of your choice, but some people also feel it can be stressful or limiting. I truly think it depends on the person, where you are in your art practice, and what you're looking to get out of schools

Cyan D'Anjou thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my comment, Cyan!! That really cleared up a lot of questions in my mind, since I’m not very familiar with the two systems! I was supposed to go to UAL this summer to kind of experience what’s it like to study there + your explanation perfectly explains why I feel like UK art schools are a lot more “laid back”!! I went to risd last summer and heck, that was intense! I kind of knew that it was the school for me but I can’t deny that it will be quite tough for me especially during freshman year. I hope that everything is going well for you and that you’re staying healthy and happy even when you’re indoors!! Have an awesome day and I can’t wait to watch my videos on your daily life + art school experience!! :”)

I am so happy to hear that!! I’m looking forward to hopefully hearing what you end up choosing when that time comes. Good luck to you :) I’m sure you’ll do amazing

Hi! Thank you so much I appreciate that :) so yes, most of the websites schools use for the online portfolio submission (like Slideroom for example) have space for text and details, I thought that was very valuable. Then in the in person interviews I just expanded on some concepts based on the questions they had

Hi! My best advice is to make your personality show through your portfolio. When they do the reviews, they are looking for people they are looking forward to working with in the classroom. If you can show a willingness to learn, be flexible, and proactive, you are golden!

They accepted pretty much any form of US standardized testing that were available (unfortunately I know these tests can be tough to complete with recent cancellations) I submitted a combination of my AP test scores and my SAT subject tests in addition to my overall ACT score. I noticed my transcript itself held little relevance to international schools since the grading system is so different. UAL does have some testing score comparisons you can check out! www.arts.ac.uk/study-at-ual/international/your-country

Would love to see your work! Feel free to send some pictures through Instagram :)

Hi Stephanie! I'm so glad you liked it! Yes it was accepted at those schools too :)

Ah thank you for your reply, and belated congratulations on getting accepted to all those universities! :) Were you also interested in the Royal college of Arts? Do you know if they would have similar criteria to the colleges you applied to? x

Hi! I applied to Ruskin (Oxford), Slade (UCL), Chelsea (UAL), CSM (UAL), and Goldsmiths each for Fine Art programs (for direct entry into the bachelors, without a foundation). I received interviews at all of the schools, offers at Oxford, Goldsmiths, and both UAL schools, and pulled out of Slade before the interview (as I'd already heard back from the other schools and it would've been a bit too much to go there in person for the portfolio review). Biggest advice is to put together pieces you feel best represent yourself, as you'll feel most confident explaining those and will be able to answer any questions they have that you may not have heard before. I had a lot of fun at interviews so just think of it as them trying to get to know you better more than an evaluation of your skills.

@@cyand Thank you so much!

Great question! I would say for art specific programs, the main important thing is the art portfolio itself. No matter what other ECs, STATs, Awards, etc. they art speaks for itself and it s great indicator of your willingness to work hard, grow, and learn in their environment. Of course, the other things are also great to have, but for art schools, I don't believe they will make or break your chances per say.

@@cyand Does it also specify with us schools? Thank you so much for the advice!!

Hi! So I have been lucky enough to have family in the art world so I've gotten a lot of advice from them. However, most of the opportunities I've come across just came from me staying up to date on social media about competitions, grants, events, and other announcements online and basically submitting my work to anything that seemed up my alley! You never know what's out there, but you'll almost always come across something unique and special

Great question! For Stanford, I submitted just the sculptural pieces. But honestly, there's a way to spin a lot of art to make them fall under a similar genre. Stanford art classes have started to get a lot more interdisciplinary, so ultimately, I think go with your gut :)

Jenni Zhang I think I either did exactly 10 or otherwise 8! I think it’s more effective to choose less pieces that you’re super confident about vs. trying to fill those last few spots with work you might not love as much

Great question! My art teacher always explained to me that the portfolio sequence IS important, but does absolutely not have to be chronological. The way I organized it was: my strongest pieces right in the beginning, pieces that show flexibility, experimentation, and willingness to learn in the middle, and then end strong with equally good pieces as in the beginning. Other orders that are also effective is to choose pieces that relate to each other, so the portfolio has a thematic story!

​@@cyand so nice of you to respond quickly. It really is a soothing answer :) Rgds

I would suggest to put in your graphic design work and show your capacity for growth and curiosity through more exploratory pieces. Most art schools will value exploring and won't need you to stick to just one medium, so start with what you have and that will open the door for you to be able to have access to resources in other media!

Hi! Thank you so much for liking my portfolio :) This one is for undergrad actually (I'm also working on my grad portfolio at the moment) it would be great to support each other perhaps!

@@cyand Yes, for sure! Can we connect on Instagram? My handle is @_aradhita

Hi! I would have to say yes in this case 😅 I have videos explaining my stats on my channel but in general I did pretty alright on the APs (4s at the time of applying) and well on the ACT (35) and SAT Subject Tests. My grades were good, but I wasn’t anywhere near the top of my class (95/100)! However, I think that other portfolio, the essays and activities section were a huge part of this process being fairly successful and allowing myself to show what aspects of art inspire me, and why I’m pursuing this direction in the context of the rest of my application

Hi! I created mine on my own :) I haven’t heard of art portfolio consultants to be honest, but I’d recommend reaching out to art teachers and professors for some feedback (anyone who’s willing to offer some time!) some of the US art schools also have an online portfolio review service which I used before applying (completely free!)

Hi! Yes I was accepted at Oxford, I was at a US high school so I had a GPA out of 100 (I got a 95). And my ACT score was a 35/36! I hope that helps!

@@cyand wow your so smart🥺🥺

You’re absolutely right! I did apply to schools on 3 different continents, but I’ve been working on my language skills lately to hopefully get a chance to study abroad at schools that aren’t solely English speaking :)

This was for my undergrad application!! I am in MA now though :)

Thanks a lot for your reply , could you please reply in you instagram aswell. I have a doubt regarding portfolio for MFA

I am familiar with the Brett Whiteley "Almost Once" giant matchsticks also. Giant anything is a concept from Pop art that's been around for ages (eg Oldenberg, Koons, etc - I forget who originated it last century - but big everything are all over Australia, lol). Whiteley didn't make them at all, he gave a set of instructions to a guy who msde them (who also got annoyed they were'nt maintained well enough). There are two sets of the matchsticks in Sydney - the smaller next to the BW gallery entrance. I don't know if that set were the idea of BW or a modern curator. It's possible for more than one artist to come up with similar concepts separately, the similarity could be simply because that's just how matches look. Cyan had a brief to make something from wood in a forest, she has photos of making in the workshop so was closely involved in the logistics and skills of the creation by the looks. Her scale, shape, naming concept and use are different to Brett's. I agree artists should acknowledge inspiration, and also should acknowledge workers, especially skilled ones, who help or build their projects - though no one these days seems to acknowledge the other person labour and skills. The matches are publicised as if Brett Whiteley personally constructed them - which he didn't at all. Dillon the maker had recommended two yearly maintenance and they permanently deteriorated because the public Gallery BW giffted them to chose to not prioritise that in their budget. The Gallery says they will just get more made when they are wrecked, because it's just like "a set of architect's instructions"! I always like to know if a concept has been done before, who did it first, etc, but I don't think the matchsticks could or should be attributed as a BW original? It would be out of proportion to acknowledge him given it's a concept that's been used by others. Wolfgang Stiller had an exhibition of giant matchsticks in 2013 in Germany.