What Colleges Want to Know: Showcasing Yourself as an Artist
Visual and performing arts programs ask for more than test scores and transcripts — they want to see you as an artist before they ever meet you in person. Most competitive programs require a general resume, an artistic resume, a repertoire list, and often an artist statement, a one-minute video introduction, and a headshot. Even when a school lists these as optional, submit them. A complete, thoughtfully assembled packet signals dedication to your craft, gives the admissions or audition committee concrete evidence of your experience, and shows the kind of organizational discipline that colleges want to see in a working artist. Here's what belongs in each piece, and how to make it work in your favor.
Resume
A general resume introduces you as a person, not just an artist. It should list your contact information (name, address, email, phone, and a website or portfolio link if you have one), your high school, work and volunteer experience, extracurricular activities, and any honors or awards. Keep it to one page, use reverse-chronological order within each section, and prioritize activities from the last two to three years — admissions readers care most about who you are now. If you've held a leadership role in a school club, tutored younger students, or volunteered consistently with an organization, include it; it rounds out the picture of you as a well-rounded applicant, not just a performer or painter. Here's an example of a resume that can be used for college applications.
Artistic Resume
This specialized resume differs, depending on whether you are specializing in the visual or performing arts. In general, an artistic resume gives the admissions or audition committee a quick glance at your experience as an artist, musician, dancer, or actor. Here's an example of an artistic resume that can be used for college applications. This resume typically includes:
Basic contact information
Private teacher(s), studio, or agent
List of recitals, exhibitions, productions, or screenings
Ensemble, orchestra, or repertory company experience
Workshops, summer intensives, and masterclasses (name the specific program — for example, a summer festival, conservatory pre-college program, or National Portfolio Day workshop)
Competitions, juried shows, or festivals where you were recognized
Related work or volunteer experience, such as accompanying, teaching younger students, or assisting a working artist
Repertoire List
As an instrumentalist, vocalist, composer, dancer, or actor, your repertoire list documents the works you've studied and performed, organized by genre, era, or level of difficulty depending on convention in your field. Musicians typically list pieces by composer and opus number; actors list roles and playwrights; dancers list variations and choreographers. Some schools want the repertoire folded directly into the artistic resume; others request it as a separate document, so always check each program's specific submission instructions before assembling your materials. Choose repertoire that demonstrates range — technical facility alongside musicality or expressiveness — rather than simply the hardest piece you can play. A well-chosen list of five pieces that show different strengths will serve you better than ten pieces that all showcase the same skill. Here is an example of a repertoire list that can be used for college applications and auditions.
Artist Statement
The artist statement requirement varies by school, but in general you'll write a short essay — often 250 to 500 words — describing your artistic goals, your creative influences, and why you're applying to that specific program. The strongest statements are personal and specific: instead of writing that you "love music," describe the moment you realized a particular piece or teacher changed how you approach your instrument. Name the professors, ensembles, or facilities at the school that drew you to apply — admissions committees can tell when a statement has been recycled for every application versus tailored to their program. Above all, be clear and truthful, and write concisely; committees read hundreds of these and reward statements that get to the point. Before submitting, read your statement aloud — awkward phrasing is much easier to catch by ear than by eye, and it will also tell you whether the piece sounds like your voice.
The One-Minute Video Introduction
Many performing arts programs now request a brief video introduction, typically 60 to 90 seconds, recorded separately from your audition footage. This is your chance to put a voice and personality behind your application materials. Speak directly to the camera in a quiet, well-lit space, and cover the basics quickly: your name, instrument or discipline, where you study, and one or two sentences about what draws you to this specific program. Keep it conversational rather than scripted-sounding — admissions staff watch hundreds of these and can tell the difference between a rehearsed recitation and a genuine, composed answer. Dress the way you would for an in-person interview, and check your audio quality before recording; a video with a great performance behind it but muffled or echoing sound undermines the whole packet.
The Headshot
A headshot might seem like the simplest item on the list, but it's worth getting right. Choose a recent, well-lit photo — natural light from a window works better than harsh overhead lighting — with a plain, uncluttered background. For performing artists, a headshot should look professional but approachable, similar to what you'd submit for a school production or a young artist competition; you don't need, or want, a heavily retouched, agency-style headshot. Visual artists can often submit a more casual photo, but it should still be current and clearly show your face. Avoid group photos, filters, or images where you're mid-performance — the committee wants to know what you look like when you walk into the audition room or interview.
Assembling a complete, polished set of supplemental materials takes time, but it's one of the most controllable parts of the application process — unlike test scores or grades, you have full say over how these documents represent you. If you'd like help building out your artistic resume, repertoire list, or artist statement, Best Fit Education can walk you through it program by program.
