Some colleges, but more often specific programs within a college, may encourage or require applicants submit portfolio and/or supplemental materials.
Strong portfolio material can additionally help you stand out as a homeschooler. If you are applying as a major in the arts (ex: music, theater, film, etc) many programs require portfolio material. If you are applying as a different major, you can oftentimes also submit a portfolio whether it’s an arts talent, essay, research paper, or personal project you are particularly proud of. Some schools even have their own portfolio requirements, for example Princeton requires a Graded Paper. Overall, portfolios are generally optional, but can be utilized if you can share a strong talent with the admissions committee.
When not explicitly encouraged or required, applicants are generally advised against submitting a portfolio or supplemental materials → admissions officers spend little time reviewing these materials, and the time spent on putting together a portfolio would be better spent on the actual required parts of the application.
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This blog post is a part of YourEDU’s Homeschool to College Series, overviewing the different aspects of applying to college as a homeschooler. It’s important to note that YourEDU is not a college consulting company, rather, it’s a college application platform for homeschool students and parents. YourEDU has partnered with the Common, and is working with hundreds of individual colleges and universities, to help homeschoolers understand requirements, create admin materials, and apply to college. This series of blog posts comes out of conversations with college admissions professionals, reviewing hundreds of successful homeschool applications, and Henry’s (YourEDU co-founder) own experience applying to college as a homeschooler.