Video summary

Консультация по вступительному испытанию "Конкурс портфолио" ФТМИ ИТМО

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas & lessons

  • The webinar explains how to successfully prepare and submit the application for the ITMO “Portfolio Competition” entrance test to increase your chances of admission.
  • The process is treated as practical “life hacks”: avoid common mistakes, use the application template correctly, and focus on achievements that actually generate points.
  • The evaluation is structured into sections (motivation letter, CV/work track, and academic achievements), each with different point rules and limits.
  • Success depends largely on:
    • Completeness + correct evidence (documents/screenshots that can be verified)
    • Relevance to the specific educational program
    • Good motivation letter quality (logic, literacy, and program-specific alignment)
    • Understanding scoring caps (adding extra items won’t help once you reach section maximums)

Methodology / instruction list (step-by-step)

1) Participate correctly (where/how to submit)

  • You must fill out an “application for participation” in the portfolio competition.
  • The application is:
    • Filled out separately (not inside your applicant personal account).
    • Provided via a QR code on the portal/site.
  • In your personal account, you:
    • Select the type of entrance examination for your educational program.
    • Upload the completed portfolio application file.
  • If you view materials on a phone:
    • Take screenshots of the QR-code-linked instructions/templates so you can transfer them into a Word file later.
  • Important regulatory detail:
    • Don’t miss the competitor signature at the bottom of the application (noted as a commonly overlooked step).

2) Use the correct application template structure

The portfolio application consists of three sections:

  1. Motivation letter
  2. CV
  3. Academic achievements

Each section must be created specifically for:

  • the university
  • the portfolio competition
  • the specific educational program

Avoid generic substitutions:

  • Don’t just attach a resume you sent to an employer.
  • Don’t only attach a diploma supplement and expect it to “win” on its own.

3) Follow evidence and limits (avoid wasted effort)

  • No strict formal limit on the number of attachment pages/sheets is explicitly stated.
  • Still, the strategy is:
    • Add achievements that increase your score toward winning.
    • If an achievement only adds points but you already reached the max for that category, don’t overstuff.
  • Target:
    • Aim for 86 points or more total to have a realistic chance of winning.

4) Prioritize preparation order

  • Recommended start point: Section 3 (Academic achievements).
  • Why: it quickly shows whether you can reach the score needed for eligibility/winning.

5) Academic achievements: how points work (and what to watch for)

  • Points are based on the list in the competition regulations.
  • There are caps in this section:
    • Even if multiple olympiad diplomas would sum high, the section may cap the maximum (example: multiple All-Russian winners capped).
  • If your average diploma grade is below the qualifying threshold:
    • You may still participate, but you can get 0 points for that item.
  • The webinar stresses the need for official proof, not just claims.

Average grade documentation (explicit guidance)

  • Needed proof: an extract from the grade book (or an electronic record extract) showing all grades/average calculation.
  • You can calculate the average yourself, but:
    • you must attach an extract that confirms the grades.
  • If you only have e-record data:
    • screenshots may work, but the document must support the calculation.

Links/QR to documents

  • QR links to Google Drive are allowed “in general,” but the guidance prefers:
    • Insert confirmations directly into the application (safer for verification).
  • Avoid links that might not open reliably for evaluators (loading/access issues).

Examples of evidence types mentioned

  • Internship/summer school: must have confirmation.
    • A personal social media post is mentioned as possible extra confirmation, but the priority is verifiable proof.
  • Scholarships: must match the achievement category; check the exact rule in the regulations.
  • Conference reports:
    • Clarified later: RINs are not evaluated for points as described; points are for journal articles in RINs, while conference reports fall under a different category.

6) CV / interdisciplinary track: what matters

  • For this faculty’s educational programs, the CV uses an interdisciplinary track approach.
  • CV includes several subparts (as reflected by scoring logic), including:
    • Interview-related component (described as having significant weight)
    • Work experience
    • Publications
    • Portfolio of creative works / projects
    • A description related to the final qualifying work (requirements below)

Work experience evidence rules

Work experience must be backed by confirmation, such as:

  • extract from work record book / official confirmation
  • letter of recommendation / employer letter
  • other evidence showing functions and results

Not enough: “I worked there.” The webinar emphasizes functions + achievements.

Publications and conferences (RINs detail)

  • Points differ between:
    • Conference reports
    • Journal/collection publications
  • It is specifically stated:
    • RINs as a source type is not evaluated for points as described
    • points are awarded for articles in RINs (not for conferences)

Creative works / projects

Creative works can include:

  • personal projects
  • team projects
  • startup projects
  • social projects
  • projects aligned with the educational program direction

Quality over quantity:

  • A detailed description with goals/results can be worth more than many small unrelated items.

Final qualifying work description (very specific requirement)

It must not be a basic introduction/annotation. Include:

  • conscious summary: goals, tasks, subject/object
  • methods/approach
  • what happened and how results were tested
  • outcomes and value beyond just the committee assessment
  • (ideally) how it connects to the educational program and possible scaling/continuation

7) Interview: when it happens and how it is structured

  • You are notified after initial portfolio assessment via:
    • email
  • Then you choose a time slot through a timepad registration.

Interview format (typical breakdown):

  • Up to ~15 minutes total
  • ~3 minutes self-presentation
    • suggested: 2 slides with main points, motivation, and program-choice rationale
  • ~10–12 minutes Q&A with the committee

Typical questions:

  • previous education
  • motivation and plans
  • what you want to do in the program (and possible project/dissertation ideas)

8) Motivation letter: key rules & scoring logic

  • Motivation letter is up to 25 points.
  • It answers two core questions:
    1. Why this program matters to you (career/life trajectory)
    2. Why you and this program fit together (your interest + alignment with program values)
  • Length limit:
    • Up to one page / up to 3,500 characters without spaces
  • Evaluation focuses on:
    • logic and readability (paragraph flow, attention retention)
    • literacy (spelling/punctuation)
    • substance: conscious motivation and readiness to join
  • Uniqueness rule:
    • If applying to multiple programs, letters must be distinct—don’t reuse the same text.
  • Risks/guidelines:
    • Don’t exceed limits (violations can reduce points).
    • Don’t copy-paste others’ letters.
    • Avoid generic “flattery” language—keep it specific.
  • Advice on AI use:
    • AI can help, but prompts should be detailed; the letter should still be personal.

Common questions / clarifications captured

  • Can you participate without a diploma in hand?
    • Yes. Submit/upload the application file (no extra “application button” is implied as necessary).
  • Are there diploma date limits?
    • No formal restriction is noted beyond a best-practice guideline that achievements should be recent (last ~2 years mentioned as a common standard).
    • Generally, up to bachelor time (~4 years) is treated as suitable if relevant.
  • Are summer schools/forums the same?
    • Summer school ≠ forum; forums are not counted unless the rules specifically treat them as a conference/meeting category.
  • Are hackathon wins included in academic achievements?
    • Yes, if they match the achievement category in the regulations.
  • Are conferences evaluated?
    • Points are clarified as awarded for:
      • journal/collection articles
      • conference reports may have a separate category
    • RINs-as-conferences are not evaluated; RINs articles are.
  • How are interview invite eligibility and score thresholds decided?
    • Some programs may invite only applicants with >= 11 points in Section 3, others may be more flexible (still bound by regulations).

Submission/checklist at the end (operational)

  • Before final submission:
    • ensure links open (or embed critical info directly in the file)
    • proofread (logic, typos, design)
    • ensure files upload correctly
  • File handling:
    • if too large, compress or upload as an archive
    • if upload issues persist, contact applicant support
  • Confirm upload:
    • refresh the page after upload and verify the file shown is the uploaded one
  • Timing constraints:
    • attachments can be changed after submission, but the file may already be accepted by a manager.

Speakers / sources featured

  • Elizaveta Masharova — host/speaker; manages marketing and admissions organization center; teaches and does research.
  • Katya — participant example who asked a question in chat.
  • Sophia — participant who asked multiple questions in Q&A.
  • Alexander — participant; asked about grade average documents and other clarifications.
  • Artyom — participant; asked about interview format.
  • Grigory — participant; multiple questions (creative works, work experience, interview/experience scoring).
  • Alena — participant; asked about CV design requirements and where to place work/gratitude letters.
  • Applicant support / applicant portal (soakitmo.ru) — referenced as a resource/service.

Original video