College Prep
College Portfolio Packet
Name_____________________________________
Date__________________Day AC BD Block_____
What is a portfolio?
A portfolio is a collection of information that exhibits and reveals the quality and variety
of your learning, your accomplishments, your skills and your experiences. Portfolios can
be electronic or can be kept in a professional looking binder.
Uses of a portfolio
Portfolios can be used for a variety of reasons:
 In school districts to chart student progress and assess student learning
 During job interviews to demonstrate employee skills and abilities
 As a career and college planning tool for students
 As a tool for students to track and record their learning experiences
Why should you use a portfolio?
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It can demonstrate what you have learned in the classroom
It can help you to identify a mission and guide decisions about your future
Items in your portfolio can support what you tell an employer or college
A resume and cover letter can not show everything about your potential
What types of portfolios are there?
1. Portfolio Library: This portfolio contains any and all possible items that you
may use in future college and job interviews.
2. Portable Portfolio: This is your “interview tool.” It contains items that directly
relate to the interview that you are going on.
3. Disposable Portfolio: This is a “mini portfolio” that you leave with the person
that you interviewed with.
Special Assignments Tab, Career Portfolio Assignment 1
What should be included in your high school career portfolio?
Portfolios do not take the place of a resume. In fact, your resume should be part of your
portfolio. Portfolios present more detailed information about you.
 A resume tells someone what you have accomplished.
 A portfolio shows someone what you have accomplished.
Following is a list of items that can be included in your career/college portfolio.
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Resume and Cover Letter
A program from an event you planned
Certificate for volunteering with a fundraiser
Awards, honors, certificates for special training
College Entrance Essay
Personal Goals Statement
Items you have created (e.g., technology projects, art
projects, special reports)
Documentation of technical or computer skills that could
benefit the employer
Award for Student of the Month or Perfect Attendance
Sports Certificate/Varsity Letter
Honor Roll Award
Letters of recommendation or thanks from people you have
worked with
Newspaper articles that address achievements
Reports of career-related work experiences (e.g., job
shadowing reports, work-study programs or internships)
Sample projects or other papers you may have prepared
Pictures that demonstrate special skills you have
Yearbook picture showing you participating in a sport or
activity
An official copy of your transcript and other official
certifications from your area of interest
Positive workplace evaluation
Special Assignments Tab, Career Portfolio Assignment 2
In addition, you should also think about the questions that you might be asked in a
college/job interview. You should include items that may help you answer those
questions. Read through the list of potential interview questions and determine what
specific portfolio piece you could use to support each question.
1. What do you consider to be your most important accomplishment to date?
2. How did your education prepare you for admission into this college?
3. What type of a student were you in high school? What were your favorite courses in
school and why?
4. What do you like to do in your free time?
5.
If we were to contact one of your most recent teachers as a reference, what would
he/she say about you?
6. How do you get along with your peers?
7. How would you describe yourself?
8. What are your three greatest strengths? Greatest weakness?
9. Why are you interested in attending this college?
10. Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
11. Tell me about an event and/or person that has had the greatest impact on you.
Special Assignments Tab, Career Portfolio Assignment 3
Getting Started….Gathering Your Evidence
When gathering pieces to include in your portfolio, you must ask yourself:
Who is my audience? Who is going to see my work? What will they look for?
Examples of different audiences include:
--a teacher
--a coach
--a perspective employer
--a college admissions representative
The key is to collect examples of your most relevant and significant experiences
and identify how each one demonstrates your knowledge or skill in a particular
subject matter. Make yourself shine!
Who is YOUR audience?
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You also want to include pieces of work that are exclusive to your
educational and professional aspirations.
What do you plan to major in during college?
What types of jobs do you see yourself doing in the future?
Special Assignments Tab, Career Portfolio Assignment 4
To Get You Started…
We have a little brainstorming activity for you to complete.
1. For each category, write down examples of activities/experiences in which you have participated.
2. List what you could include in your portfolio that demonstrates each of these activities or experiences
that you have written down.
3. Record any skills that you have acquired by participation in the activity or experience you listed.
I have listed a few examples to get you started….
Extracurricular/Volunteer Activities
Examples
Evidence
Acquired Skills
Student Council
Meeting Agenda
Planned Activities
Organization
Leadership
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Academic Experience
Examples
Evidence
Acquired Skills
MS Suite Class
PowerPoint Presentation
Problem-Solving
Computer Analysis/Application
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Work Experience
Examples
Evidence
Acquired Skill
Cashier @ McDonalds
Workplace Evaluation
Job Shadow
Reflection Statement
Certificate of Completion
Interpersonal Skills
Time Management
Initiative/Self Motivation
Communication
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Special Assignments Tab, Career Portfolio Assignment 5
2nd Step...Organizing Your Portfolio
You will need to arrange your evidence into sections that will help someone else see what
you have accomplished.
Note: When setting up your portfolio you should include a table of contents. For a binder
portfolio, you would also want to include section dividers labeled clearly. For electronic
portfolios, you should include hyperlinks to take the person reading your portfolio
directly to the section they which to review.
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A Career Objective and Career Goals
A brief description of your beliefs about yourself and your career focus as well as
a plan of what you would like to do in the future.
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Your Resumé and Cover Letter
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Skill Areas/Personality Assessment
Information on skills and experiences related to your career focus.
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College Research
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Academic Plan of Study
Information about classes that you plan on taking in high school, your high school
transcript, and two postsecondary options that provide education in your career
area of interest.
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Awards, Certifications, Recognitions
Examples may include National Honors Society, MVP of soccer team, Perfect
Attendance.
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Experience (Jobs/Community Service/Volunteer Work)
Work samples, brochures, programs, photographs, letters of recognition related to
community service projects.
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Extracurricular/School Activities
Include information about your involvements in activities in or out of high school.
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References
People other than family members and your peers who can tell an employer about
your skills and abilities as a potential employee.
Special Assignments Tab, Career Portfolio Assignment 6
3rd Step...Assembling Your Portfolio
After you have selected and organized your evidence, it is time to format and compile
your portfolio so it is easy for someone else to read and understand the information you
have gathered.
Tips for assembling your portfolio:
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Does my portfolio show a wide-range of my accomplishments?
The strength of a portfolio is in the variety of what you show. You should include
examples of many of your accomplishments.
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Are most important accomplishments clearly evident?
Not everything you do will have equal value. The portfolio should show the best
examples of your talents and abilities.
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Does my portfolio have a consistent format?
A portfolio should be organized. If you use a consistent format and layout, it will
be easier for someone to navigate through the portfolio and, therefore, gain a good
understanding of you and your accomplishments.
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Do I have a cover page for my portfolio?
This page should include:
o Your name
o A title for your portfolio
o A photo (if you choose)
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Do I have a Table of Contents for my portfolio?
A Table of Contents provides the reader with a guide to the sections and
information you have included in your portfolio. It is prepared last and helps you
organize your materials in a logical sequence that is easy to read and understand.
Numbering your portfolio pages or color coding the sections will help you to
organize your table of contents.
Special Assignments Tab, Career Portfolio Assignment 7
4th Step...A Final Check
As you learn and develop new skills, your portfolio needs to be kept up-to-date. You will
frequently update your portfolio by discarding outdated evidence and inserting new and
better evidence as it is accumulated.
A Final Checklist
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Does your portfolio have the best examples of what you have
accomplished?
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Are the examples concise and to the point?
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Have you edited your portfolio for clarity and for spelling and
grammar?
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Is the sequence and organization for your portfolio logical?
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Does the format of your portfolio make it appealing and easy to read?
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Does the organization and presentation of your portfolio demonstrate
that you would be an excellent person for the college to admit or an
employer to hire?
Source: 2002 Tricia Slipacoff, Lambton Kent District School Board
Special Assignments Tab, Career Portfolio Assignment 8