Most schools require very specific dimensions, size, length, etc. I just took the most strict guidelines (that was Berkeleys at that time) and made them all fit that (time ran out to add more).

Worked out well. 15 or so double sided pages is more than enough to show one persons work. I did it all via Pagemaker (go with InDesign now) and printed on semi gloss, heavyweight paper, spray mounted the sheets together, then had Kinkos bind it. Viola! Worked like a charm.
I did spend a loooong time designing it and preping work for it, though.

trace - can I see it? e-mail me a link maybe? i've got mine up to if you're interested.

I didn't apply to any Ivy league schools, however here's mine. She's served me well.

portfolio

dillup - I'd share, but that was many years ago....before digital cameras....so the work is here and there, although now that you mention it, I should snap some pics of it before it's gone for good (the Pagemaker files are long gone).
Sorry. I'll try to take some pics sometime soon although I should say that I don't think it's anything really special, as far as graphic design goes. I just tried to come up with underlying ideas for it's layout, like having small pics, seemingly random, but would be connecting each project to the next. Stupid simple, but it made it more interesting, I think. It's all about layering, graphics, text, etc., not too much, but enough to add visual depth and then some meaning if someone actually tried to understand it.