Definition: A nice looking folder containing materials which are representative of your talents and personality. Your portfolio will contain personal information, highlighting the various things about you that make you unique, a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, high school transcript, pictures and more.

Every student who is interested in furthering his or her education beyond high school, regardless of whether at a four-year college, a community college, vocational institute, business, or beauty school should make a portfolio.

There are numerous people and organizations who want to help young adults on their way to a meaningful future. Portfolios are useful for:

• College admissions
• Admission to a specific program within a college or university
• Scholarship competition
• Securing a job—full or part time
• Showing to your grandchildren

Where Do I Begin?

1. If you haven't begun saving news clippings, certificates, et al, do so immediately
2. If you do have some mementoes, arrange them neatly on pages by categories. Reduce the size of the certificates to enable you to get 2-4 to a page.
3. Ask for letters of recommendations. You will probably not want more than four. Try to get your letters from four totally different sources such as a school principal, counselor, or teacher; a pastor or youth pastor; an employer; a neighbor.
4. Ask for a copy of your school transcript.
5. Begin to write your Statement of Purpose. (See the related document in this section of the website.)

1. The portfolio should be placed in a nice folder. One with a transparent cover is especially effective.
2. Complete your Statement of Purpose. It would be a good idea to have an English teacher or the College/Career Counselor check it over for content and mechanics.
3. Compile a Personal Data Sheet. This sheet should include such information as:
   1. Name, address, phone number, e-mail address
   2. Birth place and date
   3. Family information
   4. Education
   5. School activities
   6. Community activities
   7. Work experience
   8. Future plans

Suggested Order of Contents

1. Cover page (Joe Schmoe—A Portfolio—complete with nice, color photo!)
2. Table of Contents
3. Statement of Purpose
4. Personal Data Sheet
5. Copy of your school transcript
6. Letters of Recommendation
7. Well-designed pages highlighting various things about you that make you unique, i.e. sports page, community service page, school activities page, special talent page
8. Conclusion page—essentially a "thank you"

TIPS ON WRITING YOUR STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Adapted from the Seattle Times "Real Life" column of 1/15/98

1. Don't try to write your statement in a single sitting.
   1. Doing so may cause writer's block.
   2. You must begin the process early.

2. Begin by taking notes.
   1. Take a few minutes to think.
   2. Reflect on your background, experiences, interests, and what makes you unique.
   3. What details about you create a favorable impression?

3. Consider presenting your material in narrative form.
   1. Readers like stories!
   2. Organize your material around one or two principal themes.
   3. Give specific examples to illustrate your themes.

4. Show that you care!
   1. Have a passion for what you are saying
   2. It's not always what you say, but how you say it.
   3. Leave the reader engaged with your writing.

5. Write your first draft and put it aside.

6. After a day or two, come back to your draft, keeping in mind the four principle challenges in writing a Statement of Purpose:
   1. Convey a great deal of information in a limited space.
   2. Get beyond the facts to convey warmth, personality, and a sense of self.
   3. Write about yourself, your qualities, and your achievements. (This is no time to be modest!)
   4. Engage the reader without trying to be "cute".

7. It's time to get down to the business of close editing.
   1. State your name and provide other relevant information.
   2. Avoid using "To whom it may concern" or any other salutation.
   3. Make sure that your opening statement is engaging (an attention grabber!) but not contrived.
      1. Bad: "Hello! My name is Mary Jones". Probable response: YAWN!
      2. Better: "It has always been my goal to attend college and become an architect". Probable response: "Nice that this person has a goal. If I have time, I'll read further."
      3. Best: "With my stomach in knots, I stared up at the massive concrete building." Probable response: "H-m-m-m. I wonder what this massive concrete building is? Why was her stomach in knots? Did she go inside? If so, what greeted her there?
   4. Make every word count. Write in a style that is concise and conversational.
   5. Avoid cliched language such as "had the opportunity", "really exciting," and "very interesting experience".
   6. Offer specific, concrete, detailed examples and illustrations.
   7. Write in carefully structure paragraphs, organized under clear topic sentences.
   8. Use transitions between paragraphs.
   9. Make certain all information and examples are relevant.
   10. Proofread carefully to eliminate any errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
   11. Show your draft to friends, acquaintance and parents and ask for reactions and suggestions.

NOTE: Make this Statement of Purpose an example of your best work. Save it to your computer. As you write college entrance essays or scholarship competition essays, more often than not you will be able to submit your Statement of Purpose. (You may have to "tweak" it a bit as to length, focus, etc., but at least you won't have to keep reinventing the wheel.)

Miscellany

• Some students have made a one-pager that they have sent out to numerous schools. When specific schools responded with a letter or phone call, the student sent them complete portfolios.
• No two portfolios will be alike. There is no "right way" to make a portfolio; only "wrong ways."
• Keep your portfolio updated. Your grades, goals, experiences, and achievements all change from time to time.
• Feel free to send copies of your portfolio to colleges, scholarship competitions, and/or potential employers. However, be aware that some of these specifically request that you not send in anything other than the application.
• Keep your Statement of Purpose on a computer disk. You can refine it easily that way. In addition, many of the scholarship competitions require the type of essay content that you will have already written for your Statement. Often times, all you need to do is "tweak" it a bit.