jfc no

If school doesn’t have preferred size, why not.

what about a triangle shaped portfolio?

I personally like the 8x8 square size.  The 8x8 can cost though if you have to have it physically printed as it is not a standard size.

I prefer portfolios printed as baseball cards (one project per card), so that I can flick them at the candidate during the interview. Do millennials know what baseball cards are? 

Physical or digital portfolio?

background colors, font choices, stylistic layout, size format, content - in that order

Horizontal continuous scroll for the win.  Arranged as a mobius strip, for continuity.

have your pieces replicated onto the walls of shipping containers and stack them up in your target office or academic institutions parking lot. 

Boom. Instant success. 

this is going to be terrible, I can’t wait

I submitted this portfolio in a square format 3 years ago to M.Arch 1 programs. I think it works well.

portfolio

The thing is, the people that know how to design projects that get them hired for jobs or accepted in schools usually know how to throw their stuff onto the right sheet, it's all part of the job/training. Hardly ever do I come across well made portfolios with terrible works in them or great works in a horrible portfolio. A portfolio is a design project like any other.