College · Family Resources

Twelve pieces,
your strongest.

Art and design programs each want a different number of pieces, on a different platform, in different file sizes, by a different date. Give each school a card, list every piece you might send, choose, and work through the checks before the deadline.

Add a schoolWhat you get

Your portfolios

The worked example is made up: a BFA illustration application through SlideRoom, due in 20 days, with 7 of the 12 required pieces chosen. Saved on this device only.

Loading the portfolio form. If nothing appears, turn on JavaScript.

What you get

College · Family ResourcesFree

What you finish with
A record per school or program with the platform, deadline, pieces required and allowed and the file rules; every piece with its medium, year and size marked in, maybe or out; seven submission checks. Counts pieces in against the range and the media they cover; flags too few or too many pieces, a deadline within three weeks with checks still open, and pieces missing a medium or year.
Who it is for
High school students applying to art, design, architecture or film programs, and the art teachers and parents helping them.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per school. Prints one school’s piece list, every school in a table or a blank form; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv); exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Family Resources space in Caveat College.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Copy each school’s piece count, file rules and deadline.
  2. List every piece you might send, with medium, year and size.
  3. Mark pieces in, maybe or out, school by school.
  4. Photograph, size and describe the pieces that are in.
  5. Submit a few days early and save the confirmation.

Add a school

Photographing your work

Photographing flat workartwork45°45°camera centered and square to the workDaylight or two matched lights · no flash · crop to the edge · 3D work on a plain backgroundPhotographing flat workTwo matched lights at 45°, no flash.Camera centered and square to the work.Crop to the edge; 3D work on a plainbackground from two angles.
Reviewers see the photo, not the piece. Glare, a tilted frame or a busy background makes good work look careless.

Choosing pieces

Admissions readers look for your strongest, most recent work and for how you think: observational drawing, a range of media, and pieces that show an idea developed. Sketchbook pages and process work often count when a school asks for them.

Getting feedback

National Portfolio Day events let students show work to admissions representatives from many art and design schools for free, in person or online. Your art teacher can also review your choices.

Sources

  1. National Portfolio Day Association. Preparing your portfolio and event listings (nationalportfolioday.org).
  2. SlideRoom. Applicant help: file types and sizes (slideroom.com).
  3. College Board. Art and design portfolios for college admission (bigfuture.collegeboard.org).
  4. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Photographing artwork basics (americanart.si.edu).

The worked example is made up. Each school sets its own portfolio rules; follow its instructions over anything here. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.