Finding Your Creative Voice - Portfolio Development for College Applications
Grade 12

This summer intensive is designed for high school students who want to strengthen their portfolios for college applications while developing a deeper understanding of their own creative voice. Whether students are planning to major in art, photography, design, architecture, or another creative discipline, or simply wish to submit a supplemental arts portfolio to enhance a broader college application, this course offers personalized guidance tailored to each student’s goals.
Structured to fit within the summer schedule, the workshop combines focused group sessions with individualized feedback. Students will receive portfolio reviews, learn what admissions committees look for, and refine both their artwork and the way they present it. Throughout the process, Manjari Sharma, Associate Professor and Curriculum Lead at ArtCenter College of Design, will work closely with each student to help interpret feedback and translate it into meaningful improvements.
Students Will:
- Receive detailed one-on-one portfolio critiques
- Learn what admissions reviewers look for in art and supplemental portfolios
- Curate and sequence their work for maximum impact
- Research portfolio requirements for specific colleges and programs
-Develop artist statements and project descriptions
- Identify strengths, gaps, and opportunities in their current work
- Leave with a clear roadmap for continued portfolio development
Format:
- Four sessions, each 2.5 hours long
- Small-group format with individualized mentoring
- Flexible summer schedule designed to accommodate travel and other commitments
- May include a guest conversation with a working artist, designer, or educator
- Ideal for students preparing portfolios for art and design programs or supplemental arts submissions

Instructor
Manjari Sharma is an internationally recognized artist and educator based in Los Angeles. She is an Associate Professor and Curriculum Lead at ArtCenter College of Design and has over 20 years of experience mentoring students and emerging artists. Her work has been is held in major museum collections, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and she is the recipient of a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant.