Over thirty-five colleges and thirteen different schools all joined together on Tuesday, Oct 18, at Niles West to attend the well-anticipated Mini Art Portfolio Day.  Taking place throughout the whole school day students were able to meet and discuss with numerous colleges while receiving feedback as well. 

“This is our fifth year doing Mini Portfolio Day. It’s grown from just Niles North and Niles West to now thirteen high schools, two hundred and fifty kids, and thirty-five colleges, it is a huge event. We plan this event around National Portfolio Day because there are many college representatives in town, so we just like them to stay a few extra days in Illinois in order to bring them here. In addition, having these representatives is an amazing opportunity for our students,” photography teacher Deanna Sortino said.

There are many different things being showcased on Mini Portfolio Day.

“People are presenting slides from garments they sowed. They’re also presenting photography, graphic design, and artwork, some of which are all printed in portfolios,” senior Gabriel Daoud said. Students brought along all types of arts to present to college representatives whether it was digital or visual. “As of right now, I’m trying to show off mixed media work, paintings, drawings, garments, wearable art, anything of the sort.” 

This event allows many students to have the opportunity to bring in their best work while being able to speak individually with representatives. The individual conversations help students talk with representatives about what colleges fit their wants and needs. “What I want from a college is a place to support me and my artwork. A place that will be able to help me grow and build the best possible career regardless of whatever field I choose to go into,” Daoud said.  

Mini Portfolio Day is not only limited to the arts. Students are also able to get a brief sense of what college is like as well as start to build a foundation for post-high school careers. “I don’t really pursue art as my main focus, so I’m really just here to get connections to people, get an overview of what colleges are looking for, and to see what they want from a person. Also, I’m here to find some colleges that I have not considered as an option but might find some interest in,” senior Brian Cao said. 

Not only are students able to express their needs, but they get a truly personal view of what colleges are looking for. 

“Every school is different. Every school is looking for a different set of criteria in a student’s portfolio and application. For our school, which is Parsons, we were really interested in the individual, the artists, and their voices and drives. Typically we encourage students to submit work that they’re doing outside of class and stuff that keeps them up at night, the kind of stuff they’re scared to show people because we’re really interested in what’s driving the artists to create the work. We are looking at skills and technique, but we want to see it through the lens of the artist’s voice, whatever that might be. Whether it be through photography, fashion design, visual arts, technology, or animation, it all applies,” a representative from Parsons said.  

Over the past couple of years, this event has been held virtually due to COVID precautions. This year the portfolios made an in-person debut as it allows for face-to-face meetings.  Many students appreciated being able to attend in person. “Doing this virtually was a very different experience, so I’m glad I’m doing this in person. This year, I’m presenting fifteen of my portfolio pieces which include photography and graphic design,” senior Alyssa Louie said.  

Preparation for this day takes a lot of effort from teachers and students. This event tends to truly open up careers for students. “It allows them to meet with college representatives individually to do portfolio reviews, go to sessions about their school, and learn about financial aid and scholarships. A lot of students are offered scholarships and acceptances into college at this event, so it’s transformative in the lives of our students. It really makes careers in creative art assessable and a reality for our students. A lot of time the feedback they give also transforms what they’re going to do for AP portfolios. Also, they get feedback in general about their portfolios which allows them to make changes before they submit them for future college scholarships. It is a huge event, and it takes a ton of planning. We’re very appreciative of everyone in the school that lets us do this, especially our admin, and fine arts staff,” Sortino said.