@Cyberdemon it’s the same process at the undergraduate and graduate level, though the graduate program is more focused around design, while the undergraduate program has a broader scope. Sorry for the confusion! There’s also a pretty significant number of classes offered at NU to build a portfolio, and I’m definitely willing to participate in design challenges and the like to supplement that and develop my skills more.
To relate back to my earlier question, are there other ways for a portfolio to stick out? If I have a background in something unexpected like mechanical design or storytelling, is that enough to elevate my portfolio/resume above the pack, given that I have comparable sketches, renderings, and models to back that up?