In 2024-25, AWE Portfolio Middle School students were accepted to the following schools in descending order of highest acceptance: LaGuardia, Art & Design, Frank Sinatra, Murrow and Brooklyn High School of the Arts. Some of the art colleges AWE High School Portfolio students were accepted to were: Pratt, RISD, SVA, and SCAD.

AWE Testimonials

“Good Evening Marney,
Thank you for mentoring my granddaughter with her portfolio. Under your guidance, her artwork has drastically improved in such a short time. You are a blessing to all of your art students.” 

– AWE Portfolio Student’s Proud Grandmother 2025

“Hi Marney, We successfully applied to high schools and uploaded all of our son’s portfolio elements last night, with huge thanks to you!! We are so extremely proud of the hard work that he has put into this, so no matter the outcome he should feel great about this accomplishment. And we are so grateful to you for providing the guidance and the space for him to come this far. He really valued his time in your studio.
thanks again!”
AWE Portfolio Parent 2025

“Hi Marney! I just wanted to share some good news with you: I got in! I’m fully committed as of yesterday, and I wanted to thank you for everything you’ve done for me during this process. I’m so grateful for your generosity and your encouragement, and for supporting me since I was a little kid. I’ll always remember my summers at AWE, and I’m excited to pursue the arts in college even further! Thank you for your recommendation and all of your help, and I hope that you and your family are doing well.”
Love, AWE Student of many summers and after school classes
Accepted to Harvard in 2026

“Hi Marney– I just wanted to say thanks for giving the kids a great, stress free experience as they worked on their portfolios this year. My daughter always loved going to her sessions and I could tell that she felt supported, appreciated the guidance she received at AWE, and also felt that she had the freedom to create as she wanted, which I think really made the process work for her. And thanks for answering all of my questions as well! : )
We hope to sign her up for January classes.”
Regards, Parent and Daughter, AWE Portfolio 2024

“Hello Marney- I wanted to share the great news. Our daughter got offers from both LAGUARDIA and FRANK SINATRA for FINE ARTS!!! We can’t believe it. You were such a big part of this achievement. And we can’t thank you enough!!! Thank you so very much for everything. We still have another class with you so will see you next week!”
All the best, 
Parents and Daughter 💜
AWE Portfolio, After School 2024

"Hi Marney! I found out I got into Wesleyan a couple weeks ago, and then winter break happened and I was out of town for a while, but I wanted to make sure to write you and say a huge thank you for all your help with curating my art portfolio and writing my recommendation letter. AWE has been such an indispensable part of my life and a de-stressing place to go to after school on Tuesdays for the past 2 and a half years, and you and the teaching artists have always been nothing but helpful and supportive. I couldn't have made my art without the resources your studio provided, and the advice of the staff. I am so grateful for AWE and really appreciate all your dedication to helping me with my art and writing my letter of recommendation. Thank you so so much and Happy New Year!!"
AWE High School Student
AWE Portfolio, After School, Summer, 2025
"I appreciate all your help with this. She made so much progress with your support!!! I honestly didn’t know she had it in her. I wish she had told me she wanted to pursue this a year ago not with only 3 months to prepare. Thanks again!!"
Parent
AWE Portfolio, 2024
"Just wanted to pass on the good news that our daughter got offers from both Laguardia and Sinatra! Couldn't have done it without your support! Now to make the difficult decision...."
Parent
AWE Portfolio, 2023
"Hi Marney! Our daughter got her first choice - Art & Design and also got LaGuardia! She scored a 97 from LAG! We are all over the moon! Thank you so much for the amazing classes and the guidance you gave her! We appreciate it very much and am thrilled."
Best, Parent
AWE Portfolio, 2023
"Dear Marney, I just got into LaGuardia and I’m really excited. Your class helped me broaden my horizons artistically a lot. Print making, different types of shading, and an introduction to composition and figure drawing were all new to me. Being surrounded by so many great artists and being able to just draw and hang out made it one of the most fun experiences ever. And for that I want to say thank you."
AWE Student
AWE Portfolio, 2023
"Hi Marney - Sorry for the delay in response. I know that our daughter told you last night that she got into Murrow, her first choice which was amazing!! I just wanted to tell you how impressed we were with the scores that she got on her portfolio (aside from Frank Sinatra which seemed to have scored very low for the majority of kids). She really didn't get the 4 drawings going until she started working with you all at AWE in October. And I honestly think that if she'd spent an extra day going back and working more on her first drawing, her self portrait, so that it was at the level of her figure drawing that she would have gotten a higher score at Laguardia and maybe would have gotten an offer there too. I'm attaching a screen shot of her portfolio scores for you to see, just amazing to me that at three of the schools she scored in the 90s! Thank you so much. We couldn't have done it without you. I've sent your info to a bunch of people who refer students with raving reviews for you and AWE."
Best, Parent
AWE Portfolio, 2023
"Hi Marney! Our daughter got accepted to LaGuardia!!! As well as her first choice Edward Murrow Visual Arts program. We are thrilled and so proud of her. She will absolutely be accepting the seat at LaGuardia. Thank you so much for all of your support!!! We are so grateful to have found your program. AWE was crucial in her portfolio completion!"
Best, Parent
AWE Portfolio 2023
"Good morning Marney. I hope you are well. I am sure you know that HS offers came in yesterday. Our son was accepted into HS of art and design. It was his first choice. (He did both art and photography). So many happy tears. After a few moments of processing he said he wanted to tell you the news. He said he is sure none of this would have been possible without attending your workshops and the help of everyone. He is elated. I am relieved. Now I just have to not think about his long commute. ❤️ Thanks for everything. "
Parent
AWE Portfolio, 2023
"Marney! You were on my list to reach out to today! Our daughter got into Sinatra for drama (her first choice) and LAGUARDIA FOR ART! We are all absolutely thrilled. Thank you so, so much for all of your amazing guidance, instruction, encouragement. It truly made all the difference. She is leaning toward Sinatra but definitely considering LGA. And I feel like this shows her that she really is an artist (somehow just having her mom tell her doesn’t make it feel real 💜)."
Parent
AWE Portfolio, 2023
"Hi Marney, I just wanted to preemptively thank you for meeting with my daughter today. She told me she was reaching out to you to talk about college. Nothing like last minute decisions, she has to decide by May 1. This whole process has been so stressful for her and the fact that she thought of you for guidance just speaks to the love and support you give these young artists. Thanks, it really means a lot! I’m sure it’s even your week off!"
All the Best, Parent
AWE High School Portfolio, After School 2024
"Hello Marney, Not sure if my daughter mentioned it (she found out today!) she got into Studio Art Institute of Chicago and SCAD a day or so ago! We are very excited for her and I really feel you made such an impression on her and helped her find a unique art story. She really appreciates your guidance and support. Also, she would like to continue with classes in January. Thank you, again."
Parent
AWE High School Portfolio, After School 2022
"I want to thank you so much for your mentorship, support and expertise. My daughter loved learning from you and really trusted your point of view. Your help made all the difference. We will be sure to sing your praises to anyone we come across needing help honing their artistic skills to bring out their personal strengths!"
Warmly, Parent
AWE Portfolio, After School, Summer
"I love this self-portrait, thank you for sending! I've been so impressed by my daughter's work, you must be a very good teacher, thank you!"
Parent
AWE Portfolio, After School, Summer
"Hi Marney, Our son got into his FIRST CHOICE Art + Design (Commercial Art - Cartooning) AND Laguardia for Fine Art! Cannot thank you enough for all you did to help prepare him--he is over the moon and says "I couldn't have done it without AWE!" His friend who also worked with you ALSO got a spot at Laguardia for Fine Art and his first choice, Murrow (Art)."
With gratitude, Parent
AWE Portfolio, Summer
"Here to recommend a great resource for 7th and 8th graders looking to create an art portfolio for art school admissions. Marney Fuller is a working artist who has been running these portfolio art classes (AWE: Art Workshop Experience) for years with much success. She was definitely instrumental in helping my daughter create her portfolio (and she is going to Art & Design High School). Most of her students get into the art programs they desire (i.e., LaGuardia, Art & Design, Frank Sinatra, etc). Her studio, AWE, where she runs her classes is in DUMBO. Feel free to say I sent you! Also happy to answer any questions if I’m able."
Parent, Facebook Post
AWE Portfolio
"Thanks so much for taking my daughter under your wing this fall and helping her get her portfolio together. She felt prepared and relaxed at the audition, thanks to all of the skills you taught her over the past month. You are an inspiration to her and to many of your other students. She actually wrote about you in her LaGuardia essay."
Parent
AWE Portfolio
"I can't thank you enough for your guidance and generosity these past few months. You've been absolutely incredible."
Parent
AWE Portfolio, After School
"Marney Fuller runs the Art Workshop Experience in DUMBO which our youngest, a Laguardia and Frank Sinatra applicant, not only loves but from which he has grown tremendously. What he loves about AWE is that they seem to have struck a balance between encouraging freedom by the kids and giving them guidance. And it seems like they also realize that there are cycles to this for kids; this fall, for example, was more focused on portfolio, last year (when he was in seventh grade) he had more freedom. AWE is possibly our son's favorite place in NYC."
Parent
AWE Summer, Portfolio, After School
"Our Daughter, 14, enjoyed being back in an art studio and put her time to good use at Art Workshop Experience (AWE in Dumbo, where her teacher is Marney Fuller). Over three weeks she drew and painted several portraits based on photos of friends. She says she’s taking commissions."
Parent
AWE Summer