Why Creative Applicants Stand Out
College counseling for the creative student is a very different concept from a generalized approach. Our students don’t typically “choose a lane” even if they do choose a major. Being a creative applicant means reflecting on your mission for your college experience and then discovering who has that unique combination of academic and creative core focus.
Are you a painter who loves Figma and may want to design apps? Like to fool around with Arduino and think prototyping or doing creative coding is cool? Someone drawn to digital painting who wants to explore biology? We don’t consider you to be a less serious arts applicant if you have multiple interests. In fact, we understand why music majors are often likely to be admitted to medical school and why a design student would want to learn about human-computer interaction. Here is where the concept of a missed opportunity arises.
Creative students who are focused on more traditional majors but have a background or passion for creative expression must look for ways to infuse this information into their applications. Everyone always asks: “What are the colleges looking for?” The true answer is that they are interested in what a student will contribute to their campus. If you do not include your creative work in some manner, then you have missed an opportunity to differentiate yourself from the thousands of other applicants. Your essays, your reflections on who you are, and how you spend your time are an important part of your entire application package. And don’t miss the chance to not only write about your creative passion but also include an art supplement or a link to a website that includes your work.
As a part of the Creative Kid practice, you will be encouraged to reflect on your intent for college. If you are highly focused on your craft, your application will stand out because we show how your dedication to your art form reflects your appreciation for the balance between academics and the arts. Even if you have never considered yourself to be particularly academic, the truth is that college should be the place where you can pursue your critical interests while discovering new paths.