How do you choose portfolio feedback for a rising senior without paying someone who will make every student's artwork look the same?
My 17-year-old is considering art-related college programs and wants feedback on a portfolio. I'd like a second pair of eyes, but not a service that basically directs every piece. How do parents tell the difference between useful guidance and somebody taking over the work?
I'd start with the actual programs' portfolio instructions and ask the reviewer to explain their comments in relation to those. I don't want my senior making ten new pieces because somebody has a favorite style.
Ask to hear how they discuss an unfinished piece. I'd look for questions about the student's decisions, not a list of changes that would make it look more like the reviewer's own work.
I'd let your teen do the talking during the first conversation. Mine can look agreeable while quietly deciding never to work with that adult again. Their reaction afterward would matter a lot to me.