Building Your Portfolio: Advice from a Tisch Student

Let’s take a step back.

The portfolio is typically a combination of essay questions and creative samples. The essay questions are where you will express your interest in the major and the field, while creative samples are where you showcase your craft. What you will submit as a creative sample depends on the major you’re applying to, but each program details what they accept as a sample.

I get asked this question all the time when I’m giving tours, and I get it. When I was applying, I really wanted to create something the Tisch admissions team would like. But, three years later, I can say with confidence…there’s no right answer. 

I know it sounds cliché, but hear me out!

When I applied, I submitted two short films and a play, all of which were from the same genre. Some people submitted science fiction short films, others submitted poetry and radio plays. There’s so much variety in what “got” people into their programs. There really is no secret ingredient. So don’t stress about making something the admissions team will like.

Aim to make something you like.

If you’re selecting old work, pick what you’re proud of (but ensure it fits the instructions outlined by your program). If you’re creating something new:

Is there something you’ve been thinking about making since forever? Maybe there’s a topic/problem/issue/idea you’ve been dwelling on. Is there something you want to say but could never get out in words? Or, on a less deep note, maybe there’s something fun you’d like to work on.

Whatever those ideas may be, use them! Write down whatever comes to mind. 

I cannot stress this enough! Ideally, you should start your portfolio the summer before your senior year. As a senior, you will most likely have college essays to write on top of schoolwork, clubs, and the portfolio. It can be a lot. So working on the portfolio early helps reduce stress in the process. Because, at least for me, stress and creativity don’t mix.

But hey, stuff happens, and if you do end up starting it later, just try to manage your time wisely. Everyone has their own time management process, so figure out what works best for you. 

I’m someone who likes deadlines, so I looked for classes and after-school activities that would allow me to develop my own portfolio and give me deadlines to hit my goals. That’s when I found the Future Dramatic Writers program, a 14-week spring program for high school students in the New York metropolitan area. This program allowed me to develop my creative samples, hone my craft, and learn more about the Dramatic Writing major.

Well…no, not yet. 

I think it’s helpful to get a fresh pair of eyes on your work. Show it to someone without explaining what it is and pick their brain. But there’s a balance. Too much review might confuse you and, ultimately, confuse what you’re trying to showcase in your work. Just keep that in mind.