How to Create a Student Portfolio

A student portfolio offers a great resource for students who are in high school or college. Typically, it is used to show academic growth, maturity and a proven record of accomplishment. It can then be used either as part of an application to get into college, or as part of a resume when it comes to getting a job.

Starting a Student Portfolio

When beginning a student portfolio, the first step will be to determine what the purpose of the portfolio is. Most high school students should consider what types of work they will want to display when applying for college. With this in mind, keeping the best work throughout a high school career is the best way to prepare for a college entrance application. This will also provide a record on which to look back on to note strengths and weaknesses as a student. When adding work, college students should consider the type of career that they are leaning towards and ensure the portfolio is relevant.

Items to Include in a Student Portfolio

Once a student is in college, it is important to begin the portfolio process again. A working portfolio can be a simple folder that holds important term papers, college association memberships and any letters of recommendation. As accomplishments accumulate, students can organize academic performance in a tangible format for potential employers. Additionally, this helps with the resume writing process. All jobs are competitive and a portfolio gives students an added advantage, or at the very least, a differentiating factor over other job applicants.

Sample Work for a Student Portfolio

There are more components besides academic and work experience to a student portfolio. In fact, the more unique it is, the more it will stand out during the selection process of a college interview. Graphic illustrations are a nice touch; they highlight important information with timelines, photographs and even charts to show personal growth. Other media, such as CD's, USB drives or videos add creativity, music ability or reading style. Sample writing can include essays, creative stories, reports, speeches, or newspaper articles.

Benefits of Student Portfolios

There are many benefits associated with keeping a student portfolio. The main benefit is the critical thinking skills that are developed by the student while keeping their portfolio. During the process of maintaining a portfolio, a student will learn to evaluate their own work and engage in self-reflection about how they can improve in certain areas. This will help dramatically when it comes to preparing for an interview or thinking of what to say to the interviewer.

There are many things to consider when creating a student portfolio. It is important to keep more than just writing samples in a portfolio, as other types of work can be beneficial to display as well. However, it is important to remember that a portfolio should be a representation of your best work as a student and not just a folder full of every paper that you have written over the years.