Everyone knows that it's hard to get into an Ivy League school, but what a lot of people forget is how hard it is to get accepted to an art school or program. What's worse is that every art school asks for something different from its applicants.
If you're looking to apply to an art school, start collecting your best work for your portfolio. It's really good to know what items you have and how big a range you can showcase at a moment's notice. Taking this step will also tell you what you might need to work on. If all of your work seem similar, you should definitely consider trying to add work that show some variety, and this might be done in different ways. For example, writers need to make sure that they can not only write in several genres, but also make use of different styles, tones, voices and so on.
When you find the requirements for your applications, pay very close attention to what they want. If the school wants to see you perform a monologue of no longer than one minute, use your time but do not exceed one minute. If you don't follow the instructions, don't count on the admissions people reviewing the work.
Consider what works in your portfolio can fill the requirements. Then see if there are any works that you might be able to modify to fill the requirements. Don't forget to be choosing your best works that highlight a range of your talents.
At this point, you'll probably have a bunch of requirements you have yet to fill. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to plan and work. A rushed piece is not likely to be your best. You should work within your own routine and comfort levels. Playing it safe is the best way to go when you know that you can do something well, but keep in mind that you don't want to just make another version of a work you're already submitting.
Also, it wouldn't be a bad idea to have peers and teachers review your art as a fresh pair of eyes. It's always good to have constructive criticism that will help you make your work better, hopefully increasing your chances of being accepted.
Finally, if there are any optional supplementals, it's probably a good idea to try to send something in. It's just another chance for you to show off your what you can do and to display another side of yourself.
One last thing: if you plan to apply to some of the big name art schools, academics are important. This is true for all programs, but when the acceptance rate is low, you may easily be rejected based on grades, GPA and SAT/ACT scores.
Break a leg with all of your applications and auditions!
