Frequently Asked Questions

Does Taking Art Classes Look Good on College Applications?

Yes, taking art classes can look very good on college applications, even if you do not plan to major in art. When you engage seriously with art over time, it highlights your creativity, discipline, and willingness to explore your interests in depth.

Admissions officers often notice how you connect lessons from art to your academics, personal growth, or contributions to your community.

Why Colleges Care About Art Classes

Most colleges use holistic review, which means they look beyond grades and test scores. They want to understand how you learn, what excites you, and how you might add to campus life.

Art courses—such as visual arts, digital media, photography, design, ceramics, and film—can reveal aspects of you that your transcript alone cannot show.

Here is the key idea:

Art signals creativity and problem-solving: You experiment, revise, and take risks—skills that matter in many fields.
Art demonstrates dedication: Multi-year coursework and advanced studio work show persistence and follow-through.
Art can anchor a compelling story: Your projects or exhibitions can help tie together your interests and goals.

So even if you plan to study engineering, business, pre-med, or another non-arts field, thoughtful art involvement can strengthen your overall application narrative.

When Art Classes Help the Most

Not every art class automatically boosts your application; context matters. Admissions officers consider the level of challenge in your courses and the pattern of your choices over time.

Challenging coursework: Honors, AP, IB, dual-enrollment, or advanced-level art shows that you push yourself instead of seeking only easy A’s.
Progression over years: Moving from Art I to advanced studio or portfolio preparation shows growth and commitment.
Depth, not just sampling: Sticking with one or two core art forms can look stronger than many one-off classes.
Alignment with your interests: Art that connects to your academic or career goals makes your story clearer.

What does this mean in practice?

If you are choosing between a truly meaningful higher-level art class and a random elective, the art class usually adds more personality and depth—as long as it does not replace important academic requirements.

How Non–Art Majors Can Use Art Strategically

You do not need to be an art major for art classes to matter. For many students, art supports and enriches other academic interests.

STEM students: Architectural drawing, design, or digital art can support interests in engineering, architecture, UX/UI, or game design.
Business or marketing students: Graphic design, photography, and video production can relate to branding, advertising, or social media strategy.
Humanities and social sciences students: Art history, visual storytelling, and film studies can connect to history, literature, and cultural studies.
Pre-health students: Observational drawing or photography can highlight attention to detail, patience, and reflection.

The takeaway:

When you frame your art classes as part of your intellectual and personal development—not just a fun extra—they become more persuasive in your application.

Balancing Art Classes With Academic Rigor

Colleges still prioritize core academic strength in math, science, English, social studies, and world language. Art classes usually help most when they complement, not replace, a solid academic foundation.

Keep core subjects strong: Continue progressing in core academic areas through senior year when possible.
Add art as an enhancement: Use art to round out your schedule after you have met or exceeded core expectations.
Avoid sending a “coasting” signal: A schedule filled with only light electives can raise concerns, even if art is included.

But there is a catch:

If you are aiming for more selective schools, they often expect you to take a reasonably challenging schedule for your context. That may mean choosing art in addition to, rather than instead of, advanced academic courses when you can.

Art Classes vs. Art Extracurriculars

Admissions readers look at both what you do in school and what you do outside of school. Art can appear in both areas of your application.

Art classes: Show graded performance, curriculum rigor, and how you respond to structured feedback.
Art clubs and programs: Show initiative, leadership, and how you pursue art when it is not required.
Independent projects: Freelance work, commissions, or self-directed portfolios can show entrepreneurship and self-motivation.

So which matters more?

For many applicants, a combination is strongest: sustained coursework to demonstrate skills plus at least one meaningful outside commitment that shows you care enough to go beyond class requirements.

Do You Need a Portfolio If You Take Art?

If you are applying to art, design, architecture, film, or related majors, many programs expect a portfolio, and it can be one of the most important parts of your application. Requirements vary by college and program, so always check each school’s website.

If you are not applying to an arts-focused program, a formal portfolio is usually optional but may still help at some colleges that allow arts supplements.

Required portfolios: Many BFA programs, architecture schools, and specialized design or film programs require you to upload a portfolio.
Optional portfolios: Some universities allow supplemental arts materials to highlight talent in areas like visual arts, music, or theater.
Informal sharing: Some colleges permit a link to a personal website or online gallery in designated sections.

Here is how to think about it:

If your art is a central part of your identity and time, consider submitting a portfolio or arts supplement when allowed.
If art is more of a supporting interest, you can focus on describing it clearly in your activities list and essays instead.

How to Talk About Art Classes in Your Application

The way you describe your art experience can matter as much as the classes themselves. Admissions readers see many brief statements about liking to draw or paint.

To stand out, be specific and reflective.

In your activities list: Quantify and clarify your role, time commitment, and outcomes.
In short answers: Highlight skills and impact, such as collaboration on murals or community projects.
In your personal statement or supplements: Use art to illuminate your perspective, resilience, or growth, not just to describe a single project.

The bottom line:

Colleges want to see what your art reveals about how you think, what you value, and how you engage with others—not only that you enjoy creating.

Special Cases: Art Classes for Different Types of Colleges

How much art classes help can vary by the type of college and your intended major. Your course choices should match both your interests and the selectivity of your target schools.

Highly Selective Universities

At highly selective universities, art classes are most powerful when they sit on top of a demanding academic record.

Use art to show spike or distinction, such as notable awards, significant exhibitions, or leadership in arts initiatives.
Maintain strong rigor in core subjects alongside your art courses.
Show impact where possible, such as projects that influence your school or community.

Strong Liberal Arts Colleges

Many liberal arts colleges highlight the arts as part of a broad education and campus culture.

Art classes can signal that you will contribute to exhibitions, publications, or interdisciplinary projects.
These colleges often appreciate combinations, such as science and art or politics and visual storytelling.
Even if you are undecided, art can help you appear open-minded and curious about multiple disciplines.

Public Universities

At large public universities, GPA and coursework patterns often drive admission decisions, especially when there are formula-based reviews.

Art can strengthen your overall course distribution and may help meet recommended arts expectations where they exist.
For competitive majors or honors programs, art can provide an extra dimension beyond academics.
Individual colleges within a university, such as schools of art, design, or architecture, may have separate portfolio policies.

Examples of How Art Can Strengthen a Narrative

It can help to see how art fits into different application stories. Your path does not need to match these examples, but they can spark ideas.

The Engineer-Designer: A student takes physics, calculus, and computer science alongside digital design and 3D art, then builds prototypes and enters design contests.
The Community Storyteller: A student takes photography and video editing, documents local stories, and starts a small media club or project.
The Social Entrepreneur: A student takes graphic design, uses art to support fundraisers, and develops branding for a cause-driven project.

What does this mean for you?

Rather than asking whether art is “good” in the abstract, focus on how it can reinforce the overall picture you want colleges to see.

Should You Take Art If You Are Not “Talented”?

Many students worry that if they are not naturally gifted, art classes might hurt their GPA or look unimpressive. Admissions officers do not expect everyone to be a prodigy.

They value growth, curiosity, and a willingness to challenge yourself appropriately.

If you work hard, take feedback, and improve, a solid grade in a demanding art course can still reflect well on you.
Skill often grows with practice; advanced work in later years may look very different from beginner projects.
Writing about your challenges and improvement in essays can be powerful when it feels genuine.

However, be realistic. If a specific course would overwhelm you and crowd out time for essential academics, consider a different level or format of art.

Practical Steps: How to Use Art Classes to Strengthen Your Application

If you decide art should be part of your story, you can approach it with a simple, strategic plan.

Map your multi-year plan: Make sure you meet core graduation and college-prep requirements, then identify where art fits.
Increase difficulty over time: Aim to move from introductory to intermediate or advanced art courses.
Choose one or two focus areas: Experiment early, then consider committing more deeply to your strongest medium later.
Document your work: Photograph or scan projects, track exhibitions or awards, and note your time commitment.
Look for impact opportunities: Consider murals, community projects, student galleries, or collaborations with local groups.
Align with your goals: When possible, pick projects or themes that connect to potential college majors.

The key takeaway:

Art classes usually help most when they are part of a thoughtful plan that supports your growth, academic profile, and long-term interests.

Red Flags to Avoid

Art should enhance your application, not accidentally weaken it. Watching for a few common pitfalls can help you stay on track.

Dropping core subjects too early: Stopping subjects like math or world language earlier than your school’s typical college-bound pattern can raise questions.
Filling senior year with only light electives: A very light schedule can undercut an otherwise strong profile.
Listing art vaguely: Brief descriptions like "Art Club" with no details look weaker than specific roles and projects.
Ignoring chances to share your work: Skipping exhibits, contests, or leadership roles can leave your art underrepresented.

If you are unsure how your art plans will look to colleges, getting feedback on your course plan and activities can be helpful.

How Empowerly Can Help You Use Art to Stand Out

Art classes can look great on college applications, but how you choose them, build on them, and present them makes a big difference. Thoughtful planning can help your art experience support, not compete with, your academic goals.

An Empowerly counselor can help you:

Evaluate your course schedule for the right balance of rigor and artistic exploration.
Identify art-related opportunities—such as courses, programs, competitions, or community projects—that fit your interests.
Shape essays and activity descriptions so your art experience clearly supports your broader narrative.
Decide whether, where, and how to submit an art portfolio or arts supplement.

If you want tailored advice on how your art classes may appear to different colleges, consider scheduling a personalized Empowerly consultation. A short conversation now can help you design a high school plan that showcases your creativity and keeps academic options open.