Art School Portfolio Day

In the same way that music students are encouraged to get feedback from outside sources, it can be tremendously helpful that a college-bound painter, sculptor, graphic designer or any art major get an evaluation from someone other than his or her high school art teacher. Some high schools host their own portfolio evaluation days, bringing in art experts from the area. But another great option is National Portfolio Day.

A variation on a college fair, these national portfolio fests are held at sites around the country from September to January. They give students a chance to meet reps from colleges with strong art and design programs, and show them their work. The Seattle event, for example, may be held at the Cornish College of the Arts, but it draws representatives from 35 colleges, all accredited with the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, as well as some graduate programs. Another, held in Hartford, CT draws reps from more than 50 colleges and art institutes.

These specialized college fairs offer a chance not just to ask questions about a specific school's offerings, but to get a student's art portfolio evaluated by a broad spectrum of college-level art experts. The National Portfolio Day organizers suggest students bring not only their best, finished work, but works in progress too. Some schools accept admissions portfolios on the spot, others do not, so it's best to read up on the schools that will be there and plan accordingly. Final tip: If your child is bringing his artwork in digital form - slides, CDs or DVDs - he needs to bring a slide viewer or laptop with a fully charged battery.