🍦 Today's Scoops: What is an optional portfolio? (Sep 14)

Good morning folks! Here’s what we have today:

1. School of the Day: University of California, Berkeley

2. Admissions Blueprint: Guide to Optional Portfolios

SCHOOL OF THE DAY
University of California, Berkeley

Every day, we cover a different school, helping you learn something new about your favorite schools or find a new school that could end up being your dream school.

📍 Location: Berkeley, CA
🎓 Undergraduates Enrolled: 32,479
📊 Acceptance Rate: 11% (128,209 applicants)
💸 Tuition: $11,564 (in-state), $41,636 (out-of-state)
📅 Admission Options: Regular Decision (Nov 30)
🏆 Top Ranking Programs: Economics & Business (#5), Physics (#3), Computer Science (#10) (US News)
📈 Most Popular Majors: Social Sciences (19%), Computer Science (11%), Other Engineering (11%) (Scoir)

Some positives

🔬 Leading Research University: UC Berkeley is a powerhouse in research, with institutes like Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Space Sciences Laboratory leading the way in groundbreaking scientific advancements. The university encourages undergraduate participation in research across disciplines.

🏛️ College of Engineering: Berkeley’s College of Engineering is consistently ranked among the best in the world. It houses top programs in electrical engineering, computer science, and bioengineering, along with labs like the Berkeley Artificial Intelligence Research (BAIR) Lab and joint programs with other schools like Berkeley MET that drive innovation.

📊 Haas School of Business: Berkeley’s Haas School of Business offers one of the top undergraduate business programs, with opportunities like the Undergraduate Business Program and the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship to support student startups.

🌍 Location in the Bay Area: UC Berkeley’s proximity to Silicon Valley, San Francisco, and major global companies offers students access to internships, networking events, and job opportunities in tech, business, and the arts.

⚙️ Interdisciplinary Learning: The university fosters interdisciplinary collaboration with programs like the Berkeley Interdisciplinary Migration Initiative (BIMI) and the Simons Institute for the Theory of Computing, encouraging students to explore cross-field research and learning.

Some negatives

💸 High Cost of Living in the Bay Area: Berkeley’s location in the expensive Bay Area can make housing and general living costs steep, especially for students coming from more affordable areas.

📚 Large Class Sizes: With a large student population, especially in popular majors like computer science and engineering, some introductory classes can have hundreds of students, limiting individual attention.

🌊 Intense Academic Environment: The rigorous academic culture at UC Berkeley can lead to stress and burnout for some students, particularly in competitive majors like computer science and engineering.

🚶 Housing Challenges: On-campus housing is limited, and finding affordable off-campus housing can be competitive and expensive. Many students struggle with securing convenient and reasonably priced accommodations.

🎓 Competitive Admissions for Certain Majors: Majors like electrical engineering, computer science, and business are highly competitive at Berkeley, making it difficult for students to get into their desired programs or switch majors after admission.

ADMISSIONS BLUEPRINT
Guide to optional portfolios

When applying to colleges, many schools offer the chance to submit an optional portfolio—whether it’s for the arts, engineering, or creative projects you’ve worked on. Submitting a portfolio can be an excellent way to stand out, especially if you have unique talents that don’t always shine through your grades or test scores.

Types of Portfolios

🖼️ Arts Portfolios
For students applying to programs in the visual or performing arts, schools often accept arts portfolios. These can include paintings, sculptures, photography, or music performances. The goal is to showcase your best work—quality matters more than quantity. Typically, an arts portfolio includes:

• A selection of your best pieces (usually up to 10)

• Descriptions of each piece (including medium, dimensions, and inspiration)

• An artist’s statement explaining your creative journey, influences, and what you hope to achieve in your art.

🔧 Maker Portfolios
At tech-focused schools like MIT, they offer an optional maker portfolio for students who have built or designed innovative projects. Whether you’ve engineered a robot, built a mobile app, or designed a new product, this is the perfect space to show off your skills. Here are some components of a strong maker portfolio:

• Detailed project descriptions (What did you build? Why did you build it? What challenges did you overcome?)

• Photos, videos, or sketches that demonstrate the process and final product

• A reflection on what you learned and what you would improve

• Links to relevant documentation or code repositories (like GitHub) if applicable. Learn more about MIT’s maker portfolio here.

🎬 Video Submissions Guide & Tips

Many portfolios, especially those in performing arts, film, or design, allow students to submit videos. Whether it’s a video of a dance performance, a demo of an app you built, or an animation you created, keep the following in mind:

📝 Keep it concise: Admissions officers are reviewing a lot of applications, so aim for a short but impactful video (usually 2-5 minutes).

📈 Quality matters: Make sure your video is clear, well-lit, and easy to follow. Don’t let poor production values distract from your actual work.

📗 Tell a story: If possible, make your video engaging by showing the story behind your work—how it started, what challenges you faced, and the final result. See how to submit a video portfolio at some schools.

What Colleges Are Looking For

📂 Authenticity and Passion: Your portfolio is a reflection of you, so don’t worry about making it perfect. Colleges want to see what you’re passionate about, how you approach problem-solving, and your creative process. Focus on being genuine—what drives you to create? What are you most proud of?

🔎 Attention to Detail: When putting together your portfolio, pay attention to the little things: the formatting, the quality of your images or videos, and making sure each project is clearly explained. Schools want to see you care about the work you’ve done and can communicate it effectively.

🧠 Skills and Growth: Your portfolio should showcase not just your final projects, but also your journey. What did you learn while creating these pieces? How did your skills improve from one project to the next? Colleges are interested in your growth as a creator, not just the finished product.

Final Tips

📖 Follow each school’s guidelines: Make sure your portfolio fits the submission requirements for each college. Some schools limit the number of pieces, while others may have specific file formats or deadlines.

🤔 Ask for feedback: Before submitting, show your portfolio to teachers, mentors, or even friends who understand your work. They can help you spot any weak points or areas for improvement.

📈 Update it regularly: If you’ve been working on projects after you first created your portfolio, be sure to update it with newer, stronger pieces.

LINK LOUNGE
Key Resources & Scholarships

On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays we will be updating the Link Lounge section with links to great resources such as scholarships and tools during the college application process. You’ll find it at the top of your email on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and near the bottom during the rest of the week.

Appily - Nation’s largest, multi-billion dollar scholarship database

Gohar Khan on YouTube - An MIT grad trying to help you get thru applications

College Confidential - Anonymous data on college applications from other students

DAILY DEADLINE UPDATES
The Coke Scholars deadline is coming soon!

In the Daily Deadlines section, we will keep you updated on upcoming deadlines in the college admissions world. Remember to not procrastinate and stay ahead of these deadlines!

Coke Scholars Scholarship: Monday, September 30
University of Texas/UNC Chapel Hill Early Action Deadline: October 15
Most ED, REA & EA Deadlines: November 1

THE ARCHIVE
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