QUICK ANSWER
The portfolio shows what a student can make. The rest of the application shows how the student thinks and speaks about it, in their own words. In 2026 that second half is larger and more personal than many families expect. Several schools now ask for short unscripted videos. Some ask for multiple written pieces. SVA states that AI text-generation tools may not be used in any part of the application.
For Korean students this half often takes longer to prepare than the portfolio, because it has to be done in English and cannot be outsourced. Start it when you start the portfolio, not after.
This page lists what a selection of schools actually ask for beyond the portfolio for 2026–27 entry, and how to prepare each part.
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What Schools Ask For Besides the Portfolio
| School / programme | Beyond the portfolio (2026–27) |
|---|---|
| ArtCenter | One short answer and two essays; a 60–90 second portfolio video essay required for eight majors |
| CalArts Experimental Animation | Artist statement on three questions; one- or two-sentence synopsis per work; one-paragraph autobiography; comments on influences; project plans; 30–90 second video; two recommendations |
| CalArts Character Animation | 30–90 second unedited video introduction |
| Carnegie Mellon Design | 90-second About Me video within the portfolio |
| Cooper Union School of Art | Hometest with ten written prompts (plus six visual); one recommendation |
| SVA | About 500 words on why you want to study visual arts; no AI writing tools |
From each school’s admissions pages, checked October 2026. Requirements change each cycle.
Most of these ask the student to explain their own work and choices. A polished essay written by someone else does not help with that. In a video it is obvious, and SVA prohibits AI-generated text outright.
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The Spoken Half: Videos
Short videos are now part of several applications. ArtCenter asks applicants to tell the story behind one portfolio piece: why they made it, how, what worked and what they would change. It also asks them not to read a script. CalArts asks for a direct-to-camera introduction with no edits or effects.
- Choose one piece and four points. Why, how, what worked, what you would change. That structure fits most prompts.
- Rehearse, don’t memorise. Record several takes and keep the most natural one.
- Keep it simple. A phone recording is fine; schools say production quality is not the point.
Our page on preparing for interviews and videos covers this in more detail.
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The Written Half: Statements and Essays
Written requirements range from one statement at SVA to several short pieces at CalArts Experimental Animation, or ten written prompts in Cooper Union’s Hometest. The common thread is specificity: what the student makes, why, and what they want to learn next. Generic lines about loving art from childhood say nothing an admissions reader can use.
A PRACTICAL ORDER OF WORK
1. Write a one-line description of each portfolio piece as you make it.
2. From those, draft a short statement about what connects the work.
3. Adapt that statement to each school’s prompt, and record a practice video from it.
This way the statement grows out of notes made along the way, rather than being invented at the end.
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The Practical Half: English, Transcripts and Visa
English test rules changed in January 2026, when TOEFL iBT moved to a 1–6 score scale; schools now publish minimums on both scales. After admission, the F-1 visa interview is another conversation in English. Since June 2025, the U.S. State Department has asked F, M and J applicants to set their social media accounts to public. See our F-1 visa guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How important is the artist statement compared with the portfolio?
The portfolio carries the most weight, but schools read the statement and videos to understand the student behind it. Several programmes now require multiple written or spoken pieces.
Can I use AI to write my statement?
SVA states that AI text-generation tools may not be used in any part of its application. Even where not prohibited, the statement should be in the student’s own words.
Which schools require a video?
Examples for 2026–27 include ArtCenter (60–90 second portfolio video essay for eight majors), CalArts animation programmes (30–90 second introduction) and Carnegie Mellon Design (90-second About Me video).
Should I memorise a script for the video?
No. ArtCenter and CalArts both ask applicants to speak naturally to the camera rather than read a prepared statement.
When should we start the written part?
At the same time as the portfolio. Short notes on each piece as it is made become the raw material for statements and videos.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
For 19 years we have prepared Korean students for U.S. art schools from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our public record lists 1,099 acceptances confirmed directly with students. We prepare both halves of the application, the portfolio and the student’s own written and spoken account of it. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
Requirements from ArtCenter, CalArts, Carnegie Mellon, Cooper Union and SVA admissions pages; visa guidance from the U.S. State Department (June 2025). Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: ArtCenter Guide (Korean) · CalArts Experimental Animation · SVA vs Cooper Union · Interviews and Videos · Royal Blue Results