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College Portfolio Preparation

Applying for admission to college can be stressful for high school seniors, particularly if their preferred schools are competitive. How can students make themselves stand out from the crowd? A college admissions portfolio, a well-known requirement for art schools, can be a valuable tool for applicants to other colleges and universities too. 

What is a college portfolio? 

A college admissions portfolio is a collection of documents that proves a high school student’s accomplishments, enabling the student to showcase goals, talents, interests, and values. Naturally, a portfolio can include a well-written research paper or other school project, but it can also feature items that showcase many other types of achievement. Here are some examples of what to put in a portfolio for college:

  • résumé 

  • statement of goals or purpose 

  • articles, essays, or opinion pieces written for student publications 

  • creative works, such as paintings, poetry, or musical performances 

  • a photo or video essay about personal interests, clubs, or activities 

  • information about community service or leadership roles 

  • statistics about athletic accomplishments 

  • letters of reference or recommendation 

  • copies of any awards, scholarships, or other honors received 

  • insights or accomplishments gained through extracurricular activities, jobs, internships, or family life 

Why should you build a college portfolio? 

While good grades and test scores are important, they aren’t the only considerations for college admissions committees. Demonstrating that you are a well-rounded person with goals and interests can be helpful in showing the committee that you’re a good fit for their school or a particular program.   

For example, online school students at Connections Academy® might showcase involvement in a variety of our online clubs, as well as organizations and extracurricular activities in their neighborhoods. For our students who are already pursuing careers as Olympic athletes, ballet dancers, and in other professions, a carefully curated portfolio can be an excellent way to tell their story.  

A high school student’s academic portfolio for school can give the committee a more complete picture of an applicant, rather than just an SAT score or a high school transcript. This is also the case for students who are homeschooled or in non-traditional education situations—a homeschool portfolio for college can help tell a more complete story as to your value as an applicant. A traditional schooling or homeschool high school portfolio provides a window into an applicant’s values and character and makes the student memorable. In addition, taking the time to gather and prepare a portfolio in support of a college application demonstrates your ability to work hard. Any of these characteristics can help make a difference! 

When should students start working on a college portfolio? 

Ideally, students should begin planning their involvement in extracurricular activities to enhance their college applications while still in middle school, or at the latest, during their first year of high school.   

Rather than rely on memory, they should document their involvement as they progress by taking notes, photographing events, and saving files and memorabilia. Making a safe place to keep these items together will save time and frustration when it’s time to create the portfolio. Curious about what an online student would put in a portfolio? Check out these organizations and extracurricular events that our students take part in.  

To ensure that the college admissions portfolio is as polished and perfect as possible, students should begin organizing and designing it four to six months before college applications are due. This will help prevent a last-minute rush! 

How can you make your high school portfolio for college admissions stand out? 

While having a significant volume of activities and items in a portfolio may look impressive, it’s likely that other college applicants will have just as many. What can set a student apart—and above—is the quality and depth of those assets. To distinguish themselves, students need to reflect on their projects and experiences:  

  • What did they learn?  

  • What problem did they solve?  

  • How does the insight inspire or influence their future plans?  

Including some of these insights can elevate a portfolio from glorified scrapbook to being a powerful tool that shows a student’s personality, character, and values. 

Getting students interested in potential careers early can help motivate them for their futures— and make the college application process a bit easier.

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