QUICK ANSWER
Build a Parsons portfolio backwards from the two essays. Parsons asks for 8–12 pieces and two essays of 300–400 words each. One asks which social issue or system you want to focus your efforts on. The other asks what about The New School, and your chosen college and major, made you apply. A portfolio that shows sustained work on a problem you care about makes both essays easier to write and more convincing.
Parsons is also unusual in what it does not require. It says pure observational work is not required, and it does not accept anime drawings, copies of other artists or links to personal websites.
The Parsons Challenge, which older guides still describe, is no longer part of the application. This page uses Parsons’ current published requirements.
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What Parsons Asks For
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Portfolio | 8–12 pieces; required for BFA, optional for the BBA |
| Descriptions | At least 2 pieces with a few sentences on process, ideas or materials |
| Submission | Parsons Admission Hub, linked by email after Common App submission; no changes after submitting |
| Essays | Two, 300–400 words each: a social issue or system you want to work on; why The New School and your chosen programme |
| Not accepted | Links to personal websites; autoCAD; anime drawings; copies of other artists’ work |
| Observation | Pure observational work is not required |
| AI | Describe any AI use and tools; work generated entirely by AI is not recommended |
| Scholarships | Reviewed automatically; no separate application |
From Parsons’ undergraduate How to Apply page, checked against our requirements file (September–October 2026).
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Five Steps to Build It
- Choose a problem first. Pick an issue or system you care about: housing, waste, a community, a material. This becomes the backbone of several pieces and of the first essay.
- Make projects, not single images. Two or three projects that develop over several pieces show thinking better than twelve unrelated works.
- Show process where it matters. At least two pieces need written descriptions. Use them for the projects where research and iteration are strongest.
- Edit hard to 8–12. With so few pieces, every one must earn its place. Remove anything that repeats another piece’s point.
- Write essay two last. Once the portfolio shows your direction, explain why a specific Parsons programme fits it. That essay cannot be reused for other schools.
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR KOREAN STUDENTS
Students trained mainly in observational drawing sometimes bring a portfolio that answers a different school’s requirements. Parsons does not require pure observation and looks for ideas developed over time. Drawing skill still helps, but put it to work inside projects. Our guide to what replaced the Parsons Challenge explains the essays in more detail.
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How Parsons Funds Admitted Students
In our records, Parsons made scholarship awards to 38 of 63 Royal Blue admits (60%), with an average of $53,116 across those 38 awards. Scholarships are reviewed automatically from the application. Tuition for continuing BFA students in 2026–27 is $31,174 per semester, and new entrants have their own published rate. See our Parsons admissions guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many pieces should a Parsons portfolio have?
8–12 pieces. At least two must include a few sentences describing process, ideas or materials.
Does Parsons still have the Parsons Challenge?
No. The current application asks for a portfolio and two essays of 300–400 words each.
Do I need observational drawings for Parsons?
Parsons states that pure observational work is not required. Drawing can still appear within projects.
What does Parsons not accept in a portfolio?
Links to personal websites, autoCAD work, anime drawings and copies of other artists’ work.
Can I use AI in my Parsons portfolio?
If you use AI, describe the process and tools. Parsons does not recommend work generated entirely by AI.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for Parsons and other U.S. art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances confirmed directly with students, including 63 at Parsons. We help students choose a problem worth working on and build both the portfolio and the essays around it. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
Requirements from Parsons’ undergraduate How to Apply page; tuition from The New School catalog (2026–27). Royal Blue figures from our results record (2009–2026). Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: What Replaced the Parsons Challenge · Parsons Admissions Guide · Musashino vs Parsons · A Strong Portfolio · Royal Blue Results