Arts Portfolio : Stanford University (2024)

Arts Portfolio

Students who wish to highlight their extraordinary talent in the fine or performing arts may submit an Optional Arts Portfolio in one of the following areas: Art Practice, Dance, Music, or Theater and Performance Studies.

Deadlines

You must submit your application and portfolio by the early deadlines below.

Decision Plan	Application	Materials for Arts Portfolio
Restrictive Early Action	October 15, 2023	October 20, 2023
Regular Decision	December 5, 2023	December 10, 2023

Submission Steps

Select "Yes" to the application question, "Do you intend to submit an Arts Portfolio?"
Submit your Common Application by the applicable early deadline. After Stanford receives your application, we will email you instructions to access your Stanford Portal within 48 hours.
Log in to your Stanford portal, scroll below your checklist to the "Optional Arts Portfolio" section, and submit the Arts Portfolio form. Once submitted, you will see a link to upload your portfolio materials.
Use the link to upload your Arts Portfolio materials by the applicable early deadline.

Arts Portfolio Requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should consider submitting an Arts Portfolio?

Any student who wishes to highlight their extraordinary talent in the fine or performing arts is welcome to submit an Arts Portfolio. Arts Portfolio applicants have often received significant awards and honors at a state, national, or international level.

If I participate in more than one art form, how should I decide which area to submit to?

We understand many students are accomplished across a number of art forms. Candidates should submit a portfolio in the area that best represents their strength in the arts and the art form they are most likely to pursue in college.

If I submit an Arts Portfolio, am I required to major in the arts at Stanford?

If you submit an Arts Portfolio, you are not required to major in the arts.

If you do not submit an Arts Portfolio, you may still study or participate in the arts at Stanford and are encouraged to do so. We welcome the participation of all students in the arts.

Do all application materials need to be submitted by the early deadline?

No; transcripts, school reports, and teacher evaluations may arrive by the standard application deadline.

Can I include a letter of recommendation from an arts instructor with my portfolio?

Students submitting a portfolio in Music or Theater and Performance Studies may include a letter of recommendation in their portfolio. This letter should come from an arts instructor/mentor who is most familiar with your artistic efforts. This letter is optional, and portfolios without one will not be at a disadvantage. Submission Instructions:

Select “I’d like to include an arts letter of recommendation” in the Arts Portfolio form.
Provide your instructor’s contact information and submit your form.
Your recommender will receive an email with instructions for uploading their letter.

The deadline for your recommender is the same as the earlier arts portfolio deadline above, and we cannot provide extensions. At this time, we are not accepting letters of recommendation for Art Practice and Dance portfolios.

I indicated in my application that I would submit an Arts Portfolio; however, it turns out I will not be submitting one. What should I do?

The Arts Portfolio is an optional component in the application. Even if you indicated you would submit a portfolio, there is no obligation to do so.

You can let us know you will not be submitting a portfolio by logging in to your Stanford portal and selecting the “I am no longer interested in submitting an arts portfolio” checkbox. If the portfolio deadline has passed, the form and checkbox will no longer be available in your portal. No need to worry, and please know you do not need to follow up to let us know you will not be submitting a portfolio.

Please note:

Portfolios will be reviewed at the discretion of the Office of Undergraduate Admission and the fine arts faculty.
Items mailed to Stanford will not be returned.

Updated on September 12, 2023 12:15 PM