MBA Video Applications

 Some business schools are now providing applicants with the option of answering some essay questions through a short video instead of text. The video application essay can act as a better showcase of your true personality than a written essay, but only if done right. Below are tips about the best ways to make a video essay and examples of schools that give the option of a video essay.

The most known examples of schools that accept video essays are NYU's Stern School of Business, UCLA's Anderson School of Management, the scholarship program for the Nyenrode EMBA in the Netherlands and the Acton MBA in entrepreneurship. While not all business schools offer the option of a video essay, more colleges are turning to it in an effort to keep up with the times. In addition, colleges are using the video essay option as an antidote to the trend of overly packaged applications that lack substance. The video essay gives you a chance to show skills  and attributes that aren't always best conveyed in a written essay, such as your visual and verbal communications skills and sense of humor. MBA admissions officers at schools that offer the video essay option feel that the video answers are more revealing than written ones, making the video essay a more authentic representation of a candidates personality. 

Here are some general tips, followed by examples of specific video essay questions:
 

•  College admissions videos aren't for everyone, so only choose this option if you are comfortable with it over an essay, audio clip or other options offered. 
•  Be sure to follow the instructions of how to submit your video. Some schools will not accept submissions via video hosting sites and will only accept a DVD or USB drive. The schools that do accept video applications may require you use a certain site. Acton, for example, only accepts videos that are posted privately to Vimeo using a certain password.
•  Remember: this is not a movie. The admissions officers reading your application aren't looking for the next Steven Spielberg or Nora Ephron, they want to see that you are a good communicator. So focus on answering the question, instead of having great special effects or a witty script. 
•  Be yourself. While video applications are a good way to show that you have a sense of humor, it may be best to stay away from doing a funny video if humor does not come naturally.