- What is an application portfolio?
- Portfolio Guidelines
- Portfolio Arrangement
- Transcripts
- Letter of Intent
- Resume
- Academic work samples
- Letters of Recommendation
- Proposed Program of Study
The Communication Club has put together a video of our last Portfolio/Resume Building Session. Watch the Video Now
Remember: Before you apply to be a Communication major you must complete 12-15 credits at WWU, and the following requirements, with a B-minus or better:
- Either COMM 101 or COMM 235
- COMM 220
What is an
application portfolio?
It is a collection of documents that will serve as your application to the Comm major and will help predict your success in the program. Application portfolios are necessary because the Communication
department at Western can only accept a certain number of new majors each quarter.
This is necessary to be sure that Comm classes don't get
overloaded.
Portfolios must be submitted to department (CF 295) no later than the fourth Monday after the beginning of the quarter: fall, winter, or spring.
It is highly recommended that you start early!
The department will review these portfolios and announce the accepted majors at the end of the fifth week of each quarter.
You should visit the Communication Department website in depth and download all the forms available there before you get started on your portfolio. You'll also find Peer Advisors in CF 203 (visit: http://www.wwu.edu/depts/communication/peer_advising.shtml for more information). Part of their job is to help you with your portfolio. They can proofread letters of intent, check if a portfolio is complete, and offer advice concerning course planning. They have samples of successful portfolios and they have gone through the process before, so they're tons of help!
Portfolio
Guidelines
Although there is no GPA requirement for admission into the department,
the average grade point for those accepted into the program is above 3.0. The
number of applicants and the quality of content in the portfolios will
all be considered when admission decisions are made.
The portfolio must be bound in a report cover with clear cover and please do not use any type of binder that requires the use of a three hole punch and do not use plastic protectors
Notification of acceptance will be e-mailed to you approximately two weeks after submission - so make sure you provide a reliable e-mail address on the application. Portfolios will be available for pick-up approximately one week after the announcement has been made.
Arrangement of your documents
1) Admission Application
2) Transcript(s)
3) Letter of Intent
4) Resume
5) Academic Work Samples
6) Letters of Recommendation
7) Proposed Program of Study
Transcripts
Official Description: Transcripts of all college work
completed to
date. WWU transcripts can be obtained in CF 295 free of
charge. All others must be
official. You must have OFFICIAL transcripts from ALL college-level institutions that
you have attended prior to WWU. Please remember to take the transcripts out of their envelopes. Faxed or e-mailed transcripts will not be accepted.
Insider Hints: There are varying procedures for requesting official transcripts from schools. Be sure to allow sufficient time to reveive transcripts as many colleges now use a national clearinghouse which has lengthened the turn-around time on a transcript order. Do not go to Old Main to obtain your WWU transcript. You can easilly get a WWU transcript for free in CF295---Just ask! This unofficial WWU transcript is acceptable for your portfolio.
Letter of Intent
Official Description: A letter of intent to major in
Communication.
This letter gives you the opportunity to express your individuality and
should provide insight into what you hope to gain from a communication degree and how you will
utilize this major.
Insider Hints: Your letter should answer the following questions: Why do you want to become a Communication major? What specific educational and vocational experiences have you had that prepared you for this major? How will a degree in Communication help you to attain your future objectives? What particular career pathdo you anticipate for this major? Ideally, your letter should fit on one page. It should be in a business letter format, addressed to Communication Department Review Committee. Please note: This major is "Communication" Department rather than "Communications", believe it or not the "s" makes a difference!
Resume
Official Description: A resume including college work,
work experience,
recreational and vocational activity, internships, awards and honors,
and public service activities.
Insider Hints: The resume may contain information about your education, work experience, recreational activities, internships, awards and honors, and public service activities. The resume should highlight your qualifications and areas in which you excel. If you have never created a resume, a template can be found in MSWord. There are many resources on campus (Career planning and Placement Center Old Main 280) to help you write a killer resume... Use them!
Academic Work Samples
Official Description: Two samples of academic work
including the
student's best research paper or, if not available, significant written
work represented in a collegiate assignment.
Insider Hints: These samples can be marked on and you can include instructor comments and grades. Be sure to choose your best work. If possible, include samples from Communication courses over samples from other subjects. Note that, if possible, one of the samples should be a research paper with citations and a bibliography.
Letters of
Recommendation
Official Description: Three letters of recommendation from
employers,
associates, teachers, and supervisors. These letters must be from a
professional environment, do not use letters from parents, friends, or loved
ones. Department of
Communication faculty cannot write letters for
applicants.
Insider Hints: START EARLY!!! Ask your reference people for their letters well ahead of time. Be sure you provide all the relevant information with your requests. For example, if you are asking for a reference from an employer, include your full name, the dates that you worked for the company and what your title was. Hopefully the person will remember you, but you want to make this as easy for them as possible. On the same note, if you are requesting a reference from a professor this is even more important. Professors deal with hundreds of students every quarter. Make sure you provide them with detailed descriptions of the classes you took with them, when you took them, what grade you received, and any other relevant information. It is best if these letters are written specifically for this portfolio, with reference to your communication skills. It might be prudent to ask for an additional letter, incase one of your letter-writers doesn't come through in time, or provides a weak letter. These letters can sometimes be a tie-breaker, so to speak, so make sure they're good!
Proposed Program of
Study
Official Description: A proposed program of study which
includes a
statement indicating the chosen minor.
Insider Hints: Indicate the course that you plan to take, as well as which quarters you plan to take them. Also indicate which courses you have already taken and the grade you received. 12 of your 27 core credits must be upper division courses. The sheet that is included in the portfolio packet makes planning a proposed schedule fairly simple. If possible, actually look ahead to see when courses are going to be offered and make sure that you won't have any schedule conflicts or unexpected surprises. This planning is as beneficial for you as it is for the Communication Department, if not more so. Remember when planning your courses: you MUST earn 3 writing proficiency points in upper division courses with WP1 designation. Two will be earned in the required Comm 398 and Comm 498. If you have taken a WP course in another department, that can be counted as well. You must have at least 60 upper division credits in the total of 180 credits required for graduation.