Illinois State University College of Fine Arts
School of Art
SPRING and FALL 2016
http://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/art/admissions/
PLEASE NOTE THAT STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE ART HISTORY SEQUENCE DO NOT NEED
TO SUBMIT A PORTFOLIO.
Admission Portfolio Requirement
All students seeking to major in art, with the exception of Art History students, must submit
a digital portfolio for review directly to the School of Art. Once you have submitted your
completed application to Illinois State University Admissions, you will receive an email from
the School of Art including directions about how to submit your portfolio.
For admission to the Art Major, the portfolio will be considered in relation to all other admission materials,
including class standing, ACT/SAT scores, and prior college-level records
The digital portfolio must include the following materials:
1. 5 artworks in any medium and that you consider to be your best work:

Digital portfolios should approximate the following specifications:
--File Format: JPEG file format only
--Resolution: 300 dpi
--File Size:
Approximately 700 x 700 pixels/approximately 1.0 MB (1000 KB)
--File Name: identify each image with name and number (e.g., Jones-001.jpg; Jones-002.jpg)
--Web page links (including YouTube and Vimeo) may be imbedded in a PDF or document file

Email (send to either Nancy Fewkes: nfewkes@ilstu.edu or Kelly Peiffer: kdpeiff@ilstu.edu) us
your portfolio using the format:
--Include any other documentation in a separate file folder.
--Include a list with the title/description, medium, and size of each
artwork in the portfolio; identify each artwork on the list with the same number as
the JPEG filename.
--Web page links (including YouTube and Vimeo) may be imbedded in a PDF or
document file
Please do not use PowerPoint or other presentation programs or formats; the portfolio should be
comprised of clearly identified and properly formatted JPEG files. Check that your files can be
opened and are viewable; if reviewers cannot open your images, your application cannot be
reviewed.
Tips for shooting digital images: Make sure that the artwork is squared in viewfinder, well-lit, and
in focus. It is important to record color and exposure accurately, so be sure to set the proper camera
exposure and “White Balance” for the lighting conditions (consult your camera manual). It is also
important to eliminate distracting backgrounds by filling the viewfinder as much as possible with
Revised September 14, 2015
the artwork (but not cropping the artwork) and by using a neutral cloth or wall; if these cannot be
controlled, then you are encouraged to carefully crop out the distracting backgrounds in a photo
editing program. Accurate and simple representations of your artworks are paramount.
Transfer students: work submitted should reflect college-level art classes already taken.
Illinois State University College of Fine Arts
Revised September 14, 2015
School of Art
http://finearts.illinoisstate.edu/art/admissions/
Application for Admission—Please print clearly or type
Name_______________________________________ Phone Number________________________
First
Middle
Last
Address___________________________________________________________________________
Street
City
Date of Birth
State
Zip
E-Mail________________________________
Anticipated Sequence and Discipline Area to be pursued at ISU (check one)
□
□
□
□
□
Teacher Education Seq.
Graphic Design Seq.
Studio Arts Seq.
Art History Major Seq.
Art History Minor Seq.
□
□
□
□
□
□
Ceramics
□ Painting
Drawing
□ Photography
Glass
□ Sculpture
Intaglio
□ Video
Lithography
□ Wood
Metalwork and Jewelry Design
Current Institution: (please mark one) High School 
Community College 
College/University 
_____________________________________
Name of Institution
Please verify that ALL requirements are included in the portfolio and that each individual piece is
identified:

5 pieces of art
Send materials to:
School of Art
Undergraduate Admissions Committee
Illinois State University
Campus Box 5620
Normal, IL 61790-5620
Phone for questions: (309) 438-5622
**When the review committee has made a decision, you will receive a letter from the department informing
you of your admission status. You will have 3 weeks from the date of that letter in which to pick up hard copies of
portfolios if you did not include postage. Please note: any portfolios not picked up within the 3-week time
period will be discarded
Revised September 14, 2015
PORTFOLIO APPLICATION DEADLINE CALENDAR
FOR SPRING AND FALL 2016 ADMISSION
Each review session lasts approximately 2-3 weeks. At the end of that time, decision letters will be mailed to
the address you supplied in your portfolio. Decisions will NOT be available over the telephone.
September 21, 2015: Open to FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS (applying for Spring and Fall
2016). All portfolios received after September 22nd will be held until the next session. Submission by this date
will ensure consideration for advanced registration.
October 12, 2015: Open to FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS (applying for Spring and Fall 2016).
All portfolios received after October 13th will be held until the next session.
October 26, 2015: Open to FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS (applying for Spring and Fall
2016). This is the FINAL SCHEDULED SESSION available for SPRING 2016 admissions.
November 16, 2015: Open to FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS (applying for spring and fall
2016). This is the FINAL SCHEDULED SESSION available for SPRING 2016 admissions.
February 8, 2016: Open to FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS (applying for Fall 2016).
All portfolios received after February 9th will be held until the next session. Submission by this date will ensure
consideration for advanced registration.
February 22, 2016: Open to FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS (applying for Fall 2016). All
portfolios received after February 23rd will be held until the next session. Transfer students are strongly
recommended to submit the portfolio no later than this date.
March 14, 2016: Open to FRESHMEN AND TRANSFER APPLICANTS (applying for Fall 2016). This is the
FINAL SCHEDULED SESSION available for FALL 2016 admissions.
Late portfolios will be considered.
Revised September 14, 2015