Delving deeper into the particulars of the college admissions process, Access College takes a closer look at what it takes for a budding artist to get into a collegiate-level arts program.
For any student, a critical piece of getting into college is showcasing your gifts and interests. For artists, that’s literally the case—collegiate level art programs want to see your work showcased in a portfolio or performance. Access College host, Jenny Umhofer, a former admissions officer for UCLA’s School of the Arts and Architecture, spends time with arts admissions experts from UCLA, CalArts, and the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA).
We also talk with Quinn Martin, a talented young filmmaker whose passion for cinema was the key to his college applications. A recent graduate of LACHSA, he was accepted to the film program at the San Francisco Art Institute and started there this fall. He describes his experience navigating the arts admissions process.
While this show centers on the arts, it applies equally to non-artsy students. While the arts admissions process uniquely lends itself to highlighting a particular skill or talent, in truth, every college application should strive to do just that. In fact, every student should cultivate and pursue a particular interest during their high school career—something that sets you apart from other students and demonstrates your passion and individuality. More than anything, colleges are looking at what makes a student different and, yes, special. Whether you’re an artist or not, finding and demonstrating your “thing”—whatever that is—is a critical ingredient to a successful college application process.
Access College will air on KPFK 90.7 fm in Los Angeles on Sunday, September 7th, at 1:30 pm and is available anytime on the Access College archives HERE and on iTunes.
You can also stream Access College live on KPFK.org (or listen to the archives as well).
