• ...if you are a high school senior preparing to apply to college.

  If you are in your last year of high school (senior, year 12, or 13) and you are preparing to apply to colleges to study art, design or related fields, the opportunity to meet in person with a senior admissions representative is highly important. It is often the last time you can get feedback on your work, advice on how to edit your application portfolio, and the chance to ask questions about programs and admission criteria. You have made an important personal connection and hopefully have impressed the representatives with your work, your conceptual abilities and your language skills. Most North American colleges cannot make a decision on the spot, but they can give critical feedback on how to prepare your application portfolio, and in some cases can accept your portfolio. Many European art colleges will have faculty at the forums who are able to make on-the-spot admissions decision.

• ...if you are a high school sophomore or junior.

  If you are a sophomore or junior (or even a freshman), you will probably have less work to bring than older students. The college representatives will understand and expect this. This does not mean you are ‘not ready’ and should wait until you are e senior before planning to have a portfolio review. The opposite is true! College representatives really want to meet you and discuss your work early on. You will have more time to implement the advice they give you, and they will be able to follow your progress over several years. The feedback you receive will better prepare you for future reviews, when the stakes are higher. Even bringing just a few finished pieces and your sketchbook(s) can prove very useful and you will have made early contacts with your favorite art and design colleges! You will also learn about summer pre-college programs and will have plenty of time to research and apply.

• ...if you are looking for graduate studies: MFA, MDes, MA, etc.

  If you are currently in an undergraduate (bachelors) degree program, or have completed such a degree and are planning to apply to graduate programs in art or design, attending a Preview forum is very important. Most graduate programs in North America require an interview as a final step in the application process. Many applicants never make it to this final step and are not invited for an interview at all. Meeting with faculty or admissions officers from a college at a Preview forum is almost like a pre-application interview. You get the opportunity to show your portfolio, discuss your work and interests, and ask questions about their programs and admission criteria. You have made an important personal connection and hopefully have impressed the representatives with your work, your conceptual abilities and your language skills. Graduate admission decisions are typically made at the departmental level, but the person(s) you meet with, will convey their impressions and observations to the chair of that department.

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