Transfer Applicants: Visual Arts & Design

April 1 — Deadline to submit the online application to VCU and portfolio submission

For Spring semesters:
November 1 – Deadline for admission

VCUarts continues to review applications until all spots are filled. Transfer applicants who submit complete applications by the deadline for the Fall semester will receive a decision by June 1st.

Please ensure it stays active for at least one year, as we will use it to communicate with you throughout the application process. Use the same email address for all VCU business. Check your email frequently for updates on the status of your application.

Applicants must use VCU’s online application for admission found here: vcu.edu/admissions/apply/transfer/

Applicants may only submit one application to ONE major. Admitted students can request additional major/minor(s) during their first semester.

Applications will only be reviewed after ALL components have been received, including transcripts, test scores, and portfolio.

Transfer applicants must submit an official transcript from each accredited college or university attended, including summer schools. If fewer than 30 semester (45 quarter) hours have been completed, applicants must also submit high school transcripts.

All foreign transcripts must be official and submitted in the original language. If the original language is not English, an official translation must be submitted along with the transcript.

Transcripts must arrive in sealed envelopes signed across the seal by official high school, university or college registrars.

Transcripts should be sent to:

Office of Admissions
PO Box 842526
Richmond, VA 23284-2526

For Spring 2021 and Fall 2021, because of the lack of standardized examinations being offered due to the public health concerns related to COVID-19, VCU will review all applications for admissions and scholarship consideration without standardized test scores.

For the upcoming Spring 2021 and Fall 2021 admissions cycle, all applicants will be eligible for test score optional review, regardless of GPA. Applicants who are able to take a standardized test and would like the scores to be used in our application review may still submit scores. All students will receive a holistic application review.

Only official scores will be accepted. Electronic scores from the CollegeBoard or ACT are preferred.

Request your SAT scores from CollegeBoard (school code: 5570): sat.collegeboard.com

Request your scores from ACT (school code: 4379): actstudent.org/scores/send/

Your portfolio will be submitted online through the VCUarts SlideRoom website. We cannot accept physical portfolios.

Portfolio Requirements

Special considerations are being made regarding the portfolio requirement.
VCUarts understands that due to COVID-19, students may not have had access to art classes, studios, summer programs, and other art-making opportunities. We highly encourage you to apply, even if you feel that you could not create the “perfect” portfolio. We are seeking students who show high potential for success once enrolled in an arts program. We will consider the nationwide lack of arts access over the past year during the application review process.

Submit 12 to 16 works of art that you have created within the past two years that show your promise in visual art and design. Present your most vital work and demonstrate your potential to develop a diverse set of skills and ideas should you be accepted into VCUarts. A portfolio can consist of a diverse range of 2D and 3D media or could include only one type of media.

Drawing from observation is encouraged, while copying work or character designs from another artist is discouraged.

Acceptable media in your portfolio can include any of the following, but is not limited to:
animation, ceramics, collage, drawings, fashion design drawings and garments, furniture designs, game design, glass, graphic design, illustrations, installations, interior design drawings, jewelry designs, mixed-media works, original character designs, paintings, photography, prints, science fair projects and displays, sculpture, sequential art, sketchbook pages, sound art, storyboards, theatrical sets or costumes, videos.

If you have questions regarding your portfolio, we encourage you to make an appointment with an admissions counselor to discuss your work and options.

Technical information:

• You will be submitting your portfolio via SlideRoom. You will receive a link to SlideRoom in the Common Application.
• Images may be submitted in the following formats: .JPG, .JPEG, .PNG, .GIF, .TIF, .TIFF, .BMP, .TGA
• Videos may be submitted in the following formats: .M4V, .MOV, .MP4, .WMV, .FLV, .ASF, .MPEG, .MPG, .MKV
• Images can be up to 5 MB each. Video can be up to 250 MB each.
• Each video must be less than 3 minutes.