BFA Requirements
Fall ’09
Admissions Requirements
All applicants, including transfer and international students, are required to submit the following items:
1. Free Online Application
2. Essays
An important part of the application process is the admissions essays. View the essays like an interview, it will be a time for you to distinguish yourself from other applicants and combined with your portfolio and transcripts will help us to determine your ability to be a successful student at PNCA.
Please provide a one-page response to each essay. You will be required to provide a response to the first option, and then you will need to select one essay from the remaining three. Essays can be mailed to the admissions office or emailed to admissions [at] pnca [dot] edu.
Required Essay: Describe the ways your curiosity and willingness to experiment has led to discovery within your own artwork or design. Give Examples.
Please choose one of the following:
- Describe a time that you had dealt with adversity in your own life. What have you learned from this experience and how have you used that knowledge to your advantage?
- Is art or design a calling for you? What will you need in order to grow as an artist or designer? What is your role in society as an artist or designer? Be as specific as you can be, and give examples from your own life.
- Describe a difficult project you saw to completion or a puzzling problem you researched and tried to solve. What did you learn from your experience?
3. High School transcript
Submit official copies of current high school transcripts. PNCA requires a minimum GPA of 2.0 (C). Please note that faxed transcripts and transcripts stamped “Issued to Student” are not considered official transcripts by PNCA. If you did not complete high school, please submit a copy of your high school transcript and an official copy of your General Equivalency Diploma (GED). Applicants who are currently enrolled in their senior year of high school must submit a final transcript documenting graduation with a 2.0 minimum GPA. Applicants who have previously earned a Bachelor’s degree are not required to submit high school transcripts.
4. College Transcripts
Students who have previously attended college must request official copies of all college transcripts sent directly to PNCA Admissions Office. Transcripts that are faxed, delivered in an unsealed envelope, or marked “Issued to Student” are considered unofficial and will not be accepted. PNCA requires transcripts from ALL colleges attended. College credit earned while enrolled in high school may also be transferred.
5. The Portfolio
General portfolio requirements: Your portfolio is an important part of your application. It will be evaluated on artistic and conceptual content, design and composition, technical skill, and creative potential. Submit 12-20 examples of your best and most recent work. Please note that we recommend several of these works to be observational drawings as part of your portfolio — even if you plan on majoring in Photography or Communication Design. If you have questions regarding the observational drawing component, please contact the Admissions Office. Your portfolio in general may include classroom work, studio assignments, personal projects and/or sketchbook work.
How to submit: Portfolios may be submitted in person during a campus visit or to a PNCA representative at a National Portfolio Day or by sending a digital CD of your portfolio to the Admissions Office. In order to be considered for acceptance, we must have received a digital copy of your portfolio. All 12-20 digital images must be saved as JPEGs and file size must be kept under 1 MB. Do not send PowerPoint presentations, please keep it simple. Your digital portfolio can be e-mailed as attachments to admissions [at] pnca [dot] edu. In the body of the e-mail, please include your full name and address. You may have to send a couple e-mails, depending on file size. Please call or e-mail to confirm that we have received your e-mail. Digital portfolios submitted via mail must be on a CD-ROM sent to:
The Admissions Office
PNCA, 1241 NW Johnson St.
Portland OR 97209
Please include your full name and address clearly labeled on the front of the CD and/or case. Do not submit still images on a DVD. Moving images should be submitted in VHS or DVD format. IMPORTANT: PLEASE DO NOT MAIL ACTUAL, ORIGINAL ARTWORKS TO THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE.
All admissions materials, including portfolios, become the property of PNCA and will not be returned to you or released to another party.
Transfer applicants: In addition to the twelve to twenty pieces required for general admissions, transfer students are required to submit additional examples of their artwork if they have completed and received credit for studio art classes at another college. The additional pieces must reflect work completed in the art classes and must be submitted in slide or digital format. An index identifying the size, medium, assignment, and the college course in which the work was executed must be included.All admissions materials, become the property of PNCA and will not be returned to you or released to another party.
6. Letter of Recommendation
Submitting a letter of recommendation is optional. However, if you choose to include a letter, we ask that you submit a reference from a current teacher, guidance counselor or mentor. Your recommendation letter could also be from an employer or from professional references. Do not submit letters from family members. The letter may be sent along with your application or mailed separately.
7. Interview
Although not required, we highly recommend scheduling a campus visit. During a visit you can tour the campus, meet with an Admissions Counselor and have your portfolio reviewed. Financial Aid and Housing information is also available during a campus visit.
8. Test Scores
Scores from the ACT or SAT test are not required for admission. If you are currently attending high school and plan to take the ACT or SAT test and submit the results to PNCA, be assured that your test scores will be used for advising purposes only.
Notification of Acceptance
Applications are reviewed once the Admissions Office receives all required materials. Within two weeks of the application review you will be notified by mail of your admissions status. If you accept PNCA’s offer of admission, a nonrefundable tuition deposit of $250 is required to secure a place in the incoming class. The tuition deposit is due May 1st or the date indicated on your letter of acceptance, whichever is later. The $250 deposit is credited to your student account upon registration.
Deferred Enrollment
Accepted students who wish to defer admission to a subsequent semester may request a deferment from the Admissions Office. Students who have taken courses since their initial acceptance into PNCA will need to submit official transcripts, and may be required to submit an updated portfolio. PNCA keeps applications on file for two years from the original application date.
Part Time Non-degree Attendance
Qualified students who wish to enroll part-time in the College’s BFA courses without applying to the BFA program may do so on a space available basis. No formal application is required, but students may be asked to provide college transcripts in addition to a portfolio. Part-time, non-degree registration takes place just before the start of each semester. Interested students must make an appointment with the Academic Advisor for a review and registration. Full tuition and fees are due at the time of registration. Note: Students matriculated in the BFA program are given priority in all courses.
Part Time High School Students
Talented high school students may receive both high school and college credit for certain courses taken through PNCA’s Continuing Education Program. These classes are offered at night, on the weekends, and during the summer. Interested students may request a catalog by contacting the Continuing Education Office. High School credit is arranged through the Director of Off-Campus Learning in the student’s high school district.
Home Schooled Students
Students who have completed their secondary (high school) education by home schooling must demonstrate the federal standard of Ability to Benefit. Along with the home school transcript, home schooled students must submit a diploma recognized by their local school district or an official copy of the GED. Students must also include a letter explaining why the family chose to home school. 
Download Home Schooled Requirements (PDF, 35k).
Advanced Placement
PNCA grants credit for specific requirements based on Advanced Placement (AP) Examinations of the College Board. Scores must be submitted to PNCA by the testing service. Credit is available in Art History, Literature, Natural Science, Mathematics and Social Science.
Veterans
PNCA welcomes veterans and children of deceased veterans who qualify under the provisions of the United States public laws pertaining to their education. A Certificate of Eligibility from the Department of Veterans Affairs must be submitted to the Registrar’s office. Veterans must be accepted into the BFA program to be eligible to receive benefits.
Apply Now
Use our free, easy BFA application system →
Get the Catalog
Learn about our new catalog, including a 49-page booklet full of details on admissions and financial aid at PNCA, as well as a separate viewbook of art by the PNCA community.
Downloads
Portland, OR
Learn more about what our city has to offer in our Portland section.
|