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Portfolio

50% of your Stamps admissions decision is based on your portfolio.

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Info Sessions
Watch this video for advice on curating your portfolio for the U‑M Stamps School of Art & Design.

What kind of work should my portfolio include?

Your portfolio should include 12 – 15 pieces of your best and most recent work. When thinking about your portfolio, keep these goals in mind:

  • Emphasize experimentation, concept, and a range of media
  • Include class assignments and self-directed work
  • Answer the question, ​“Why did I create this?” for each work’s description

Your application will be considered complete only after you have submitted your portfolio.

Note on work created with artificial intelligence

At this time, work generated using artificial intelligence (AI) cannot be included in your application portfolio. The Stamps admissions team will review your original work in order to best assess your ability to thrive within the Stamps curriculum. If you have questions about the use of AI in your work, please contact the admissions team.

Documenting and Presenting Your Portfolio

Watch this video for advice on how to photograph, document, and present different kinds of work, and for a step-by-step guide to submitting your portfolio through Slideroom.

Interested in an informal portfolio review?

Curating your creative work can be challenging, but we’re here to help! Stamps offers a variety of opportunities to connect with admissions staff for informal portfolio reviews. 

Prospective students at a National Portfolio Day event

National Portfolio Days

Explore the nation’s best col­leges of art and design and meet with Stamps rep­re­sen­ta­tives for informal port­fo­lio reviews, questions bout our unique curriculum, and more.

Register for NPD events

We’ll be in attendance at the following upcoming events, and look forward to meeting you: all high school stu­dents, par­ents, teach­ers, guid­ance coun­selors, and col­lege trans­fer stu­dents are encour­aged to attend. National Portfolio Day events are free and open to the public.

Professor Bruce Tharp works with student Emmanuel Papageorgiou

Virtual Appointments with Admissions

Sign up for a 15-minute meeting with a member of our team! You can use this time to receive feedback on your creative work through an informal portfolio review, ask questions about the application process, or learn more about what makes Stamps unique. Reg­is­tra­tion required.

Register

Submitting Your Portfolio

Early Action deadline : November 1
Early Decision deadline: November 1
Regular deadline : February 1

Portfolios are submitted through SlideRoom. You will receive a link to SlideRoom through your Common Application; if you have trouble accessing this link, email stamps-​admissions@​umich.​edu.

There is a $10 transaction fee to submit your portfolio. Students who receive a Common Application fee waiver will automatically receive a SlideRoom fee waiver.

If you believe you will need additional time to complete your portfolio, please email stamps-​admissions@​umich.​edu.

For technical assistance with SlideRoom, visit sup​port​.slid​e​room​.com.