Allison brings 25 years of institutional knowledge in creative development, college culture and fit, teaching, and professional creative practice which forms the basis for strategic advising. Sessions are family-lead. Some topics include:

• School fit

• Differences in teaching philosophies

• Differences between BA and BFA environments

• How architecture programs differ from fine arts

• How location can affect learning

• Which students thrive where

• The importance of ranking over the long term

• What faculty care about in their classrooms

• Specific schools knowledge

• Pursuing a creative career during and after school

In the Portfolio Assessment, we discuss your work, creative ideas, and your intended creative major and direction over one session. The assessment results in a written recap of the current work, and a written list of specific activities and deliverables needed to move the portfolio toward the best outcome in the admissions process. From the assessment, students can continue working on their own using our written guidance, or can elect to move ahead with portfolio development.

Following the initial assessment plan, we will continue more in-depth discussions of how your process, craft, idea, and medium are enhancing creative voice.

Development of the portfolio is a longer engagement, typically occurring over 10 sessions. We will meet every 3-4 weeks and it is expected that students dedicate 6-9 hours per week on their creative work.

We provide tailored supplemental information on artists and designers, exhibitions, or opportunities that are relevant to each students’ interests and goals.

Portfolio development finishes with a tightly packaged and conceptually strong presentation that can be used in creative admissions packages.

The written statement comes in a variety of forms and supports creative work. It is an opportunity to provide background information about the creative vision, process, ideas, and background. This includes the inventory and organization of ideas and guidance in writing Artist’s Statements, Project Statements and Resumes. The artist statement is distinctly separate from the Common App essay. Guidance in authentic development of story-telling, voice, point of view, and confidence in writing. We can work with you on single sessions to edit and revise, or assist over several sessions.

Increasingly, students are including supplemental research along with their portfolios into their applications in order to stand out or as an opportunity to study in-depth a topic or body of work prior to college.

These projects can take many forms such as research papers, exhibitions, blogs and websites, or small business. In this 10 session engagement, we will help craft your project, provide expert guidance and help package and present the work upon completion.