All undergraduate applicants to the College of Fine Arts must apply through the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and meet the standards of admission to Boston University. In addition to completing an application to Boston University, all prospective CFA students must have an artistic evaluation by the College of Fine Arts. All portfolios must be submitted digitally at bucfa.slideroom.com.
Portfolio Requirements
The portfolio is a critical part of the admissions process for SVA applicants. Portfolios are to consist of at least fifteen (15) and not more than twenty (20) samples of work. The portfolio review committee is especially interested in seeing examples of the applicant’s ability to work from observation, and therefore a minimum of three (3) of those pieces should be drawings from life.
The faculty committee is interested in reviewing recent work that shows off your creativity and personality as well as your technical ability and craftsmanship. It is this combination that yields the strongest portfolios. We want to see how you are engaging with ideas as well as materials. Ask yourself, “does this piece represent my highest level of execution?” “Does this piece say something about how I’m thinking within my practice?” “Do the faculty at BU need to see this piece to understand who I am and what I can do?” If the answer is yes, then it should go into your portfolio.
Your portfolio is one piece of the holistic admissions process and will be considered along with all other aspects of your application when making an admissions decision.
Applicants to the undergraduate program in the School of Visual Arts at Boston University must upload their portfolio online. Portfolios consisting primarily of photography are not acceptable, and portfolios that feature composite pages comprised of multiple images are discouraged.
PORTFOLIOS ARE REQUIRED TO INCLUDE...
15-20 total images
Included in those 15-20 images there needs to be at least 3 drawings from direct observation, preferably 2 still-lifes and 1 self-portrait. Please note that this is a minimum requirement, and you may include more if you like.
While not required, sketchbook pages that you feel represent your unique personal language are encouraged.
The faculty also encourage works that were completed outside of a school assignment. This could include sketchbook pages.
TIPS & HINTS
Always choose quality over quantity. Portfolios composed of 20 images are not inherently better than those composed of 15.
Portfolios consisting primarily of photography are not acceptable.
Portfolios that feature composite pages comprised of multiple images are discouraged.
When you upload your images, Slideroom will provide you with text fields to submit the title, dimensions, medium, and description of your work. You do not need to include this information in the image file itself.
The documentation of your work is crucial to how it is received by the faculty committee. Please ensure that your images are of the highest quality, in focus and well-lit.
You want to have a diverse portfolio, but how you achieve that diversity may vary. It does not necessarily mean that you need many types of media.
You are encouraged to only include recent work (from approximately the past 12 months) as this will best show the state of your current practice and ability.
Only submit your original artwork. Fraudulent portfolios are not tolerated.
PORTFOLIO SUBMISSION DEADLINES
Early Decision
November 1
Trustee Applicants
December 1
ED2
January 6
Regular Decision
January 15
Preliminary Portfolio Reviews
BU SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS AT NATIONAL PORTFOLIO DAYS
Boston University School of Visual Arts is a proud member of the National Portfolio Day Association and will be attending many events around the country this year. Please check the National Portfolio Day Association websiteto find out if we will be at an event near you.
INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIO REVIEWS
Students who are unable to connect with us at a NPD event may reach out to Jessica Caccamo (jcaccamo@bu.edu) to schedule an individual virtual portfolio review by appointment.
Transfer Admissions
Students interested in transferring to the School of Visual Arts should refer to the University’s transfer policies and guidelines on the BU Admissions website. Transfer applicants must submit a portfolio that meets the undergraduate portfolio requirements and submissions will be made via Slideroom.
All applicant portfolios will be evaluated for first semester standing. Students may enter the program at a higher studio level should their transcript and portfolio reflect an adequate amount of studio practice at the collegiate level. This will be contingent upon a transcript evaluation performed on a case-by-case basis. The highest level that a student may enter the program is as a first-semester junior.
Questions about transfer credit evaluations can be directed to Beth Zerega, Assistant Director for the School of Visual Arts at bzerega@bu.edu.
BU School of Visual Arts offers minors in Printmaking and Visual Arts. Interested students can send questions to Beth Zerega at bzerega@bu.edu.
Printmaking Minor
To declare a Visual Arts minor, students should obtain a Declaration of Minor Form from the college of their major. The staff of the School of Visual Arts will review and sign this form. The completed form must then be returned to the student’s major college.
For more information, feel free to contact the Visual Arts office at 617-353-3371 or visuarts@bu.edu.
Visual Arts Minor
The Visual Arts minor is selective and requires an application for admission.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Portfolio of five (5) images of original artwork.Included in those 5 images must be at least two (2) drawings from direct observation, preferably one still-life and one self-portrait. The remaining three (3) images should be work of your choosing that demonstrates the formal qualities above, your engagement with your materials and areas of technical skill, and personal studio work and interests.
Short essay questionsto help the application review committee understand how studying visual arts relates to your personal or professional goals and why you are interested in pursuing the Visual Arts minor.
To be considered by the start of Fall semester registration. For Fall 2022 registration, applications received by April 1stwill be reviewed as quickly as possible
October 1
To be considered by the start of Spring semester registration
Starting with Spring 2023 registration, applications received after October 1 and March 1 will be reviewed on a rolling basis but are not guaranteed to receive a response prior to registration.
Students are eligible to apply to the Visual Arts minor starting in their first semester(no applications are accepted pre-matriculation).
Students are strongly encouraged to apply before the end of their sophomore year.Later applications may result in a student not being able to complete the minor requirements by graduation.
PORTFOLIO TIPS
Portfolios that feature composite pages comprised of multiple images arediscouraged.
When you upload your images, Slideroom will provide you with text fields to submit the title, dimensions, medium, and description of your work.
The documentation of your work is crucial to how it is received by the review committee. Please ensure that your images are of the highest quality, in focus and well-lit.
You are encouraged to only include recent work (from approximately the past 12 months) as this will best show the state of your current practice and ability.
The faculty also encourages works that were completed outside of a school assignment. This could include sketchbook pages.
Only submit your original artwork. Fraudulent portfolios are considered to be plagiarism and are not tolerated.
NOTIFICATION OF APPLICATION DECISIONS
Visual Arts minor applications are reviewed by a panel of faculty and administrators in the School of Visual Arts.
Applicants will be notified of their admissions decision via email from the School.
Admitted students will be instruction on how to formally declare their minor, and will also receive information on how to register for Visual Arts courses.
