Email: admission@champlain.edu
Call or Text: (802) 625-0201
Game Art (BFA) Portfolio Requirements
The Game Art major at Champlain College is a visual art program focused on the creation of 2-D and 3-D art assets and animation for games. To be successful, students must enter the program with a strong aesthetic ability and a passion for creating visual art using both traditional and digital media. As part of the application for admission into the Game Art major, Champlain College requires the submission of a portfolio consisting of seven or more works of art, submitted in five separate files.
One portfolio consisting of seven or more (7+) pieces—contained in five (5) separate files—including:
1
One PDF file consisting of three (3) pages (one drawing per page) that contain the following observational drawings from life, created with traditional media (e.g. pencil, pen, charcoal, paint, etc.):
- One still life
- One perspective drawing
- One portrait
2
Four (4) additional files that include any combination of the following (you don't have to include all of these and you may submit multiple samples through multipage PDF files):
- Drawings and paintings created using traditional media
- Drawings and paintings created using digital media
- 2-D or 3-D characters you have designed
- 2-D or 3-D environments you have created
- 3-D models, with or without textures
- 2-D or 3-D animations
- Traditional or digital sculpture
- Please do not include work that copies photographs by using paintovers or the grid method-although photos may be used for reference. Do not include AI generated artwork. Do not directly replicate another artist's work (including replicating anime drawings, cartoons, or video game character designs). Please do not include anime style drawings in your portfolio. They don't tell us enough about your aesthetic ability.
- Please include a title and description for each piece.
- If possible, show us your process for one of your pieces. For example, include your sketches as well as the final piece.
- If you have more quality pieces, we would like to see them. We suggest putting similar images into a single PDF file. For example, traditional drawings could be put in one PDF file and presented as one body of work, digital work in another PDF file, and multiple animations could be edited into one movie file (no longer than one minute). Make sure the PDF files are nicely formatted with one image per page.
Submitting Your Project
Upload your files to Slideroom and finish the application by answering the last questions about yourself in the online form.
How the Portfolio Will Be Evaluated
Faculty members from Champlain College's Game Art program will evaluate the submissions for skill, visual aesthetics, artistic practice, subject matter, and art appreciation. Students should concentrate on demonstrating the depth of their artistic talent. Quality is preferred over quantity. Please take time when answering the questions on the form. Good communication is an important quality for game artists, and it's one we value.
Early Decision Benefits
- Find out fast: Get your admission decision months before Regular Decision applicants
- Raise your odds: Compete against a smaller pool of applicants
- Secure your spot: High-demand majors fill up fast. Apply by 11/15
Personal Interviews Are Wonderful!
You can tell a lot about people by simply speaking with them. We encourage virtual Personal Interviews for high school seniors and transfer students interested in applying to Champlain. The conversation is casual—it's like two friends getting to know one another.
Champlain Application Dashboard
Our Application Dashboard allows you to monitor the status of your application and determine if you have any outstanding requirements. If you do not already have an account for our Dashboard, please create one using the same email address you used when applying.
Application Deadlines
| Application Dates | Decision Release Dates* | |
|---|---|---|
| Early Decision I | November 15 | Mid December |
| Early Decision II | December 15 | Mid January |
| Regular Decision | January 15 |
Mid February |
| Transfer | Priority Deadline: June 1 | Rolling |
| Spring Enrollment** |
Priority Deadline: October 1 | Rolling |
All deadlines are 11:59 PM (Eastern Standard Time)
File your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when it becomes available to ensure that your financial aid award includes all of the institutional and federal aid you are eligible to receive.
Champlain's FAFSA code is 003684
*Decision release dates are contingent on receiving all requisite application materials by the stated deadlines, including transcripts and portfolios, if required.
**Certain majors are not eligible for Spring enrollment.
