Calling all Sloan MIT Applicants (2016 Intake) Class of 2018!!

I checked last year's thread and it did not seem like the 3PM EST thing applied. Or maybe it did just people reported at different time and stuff. A few weeks...their interviews are supposed to start this month LOL

She was just avoiding to saying soon. They kept saying end of October. But like you said, that is when interviews are supposed to start. I really think that she meant they won't start sending out a lot of invites until then. This is all just speculation based on cryptic replies.

Still no view on my video I wonder if they will review the optional essay at all.

No views on mine either.

Has your linkedin been viewed by AOs?

Nothing on mine.

Hi All!
Anyone got a view on their vid essay?
My vid essay was viewed for 39 sec only (vid length is 2 min 50 sec).

Hi Folks,

I am reading a lot about video essay everyone seems to have submitted. Is it mandatory for Sloan application? I have not submitted any video essay, will I be at disadvantage? Please help me in understanding.

I don't think so. It is truly optional. If you have a different side, you can express it in the video essay. But as far as I feel, there is no point in reiterating your resume and highlights in the video essay.

Last year, I have seen people getting interview calls without the optional essay. So yes, it is OPTIONAL.

I don't know about the optional is OPTIONAL part. More so when there was only one compulsory essay. Everyone I know has submitted something in the optional essay. However, video essay is completely personal choice.

tktiit, I'm confused now, am I at disadvantage or not?

It isn't required for a strong application - they won't ding you for it. If you did not think to complete it, it likely was not something that would have strengthened your application.

tktiit, I'm confused now, am I at disadvantage or not?[/quote]

I don't think you are at a disadvantage if 1. You wrote something in optional essay OR 2. Your rest of the application is strong enough

They suggested to keep the video less than one minute. So I don't think you should expect for all 2:50 to be viewed either way.

I know. They actually put the 'tips for optional essay (less than 1 min)' on their website on 9th Sep. I didn't check it before submitting on 17th.

Honestly the way I look at it the optional essay is very unlikely to change the outcome off acceptance or ding. There's probably very few candidates where it will impact the decision however; they woudn't encourage people to submit if it was completely useless.

Anyone applying to Sloan is smart, use your head. Its probably a 1% swing at most to your application either way. I do think that a excellent job would be an opportunity to give you a boost, otherwise I cant see it making a difference. Its not worth stressing about.

Personally, I submitted a traditional essay about how I overcame a serious health issue. I thought it was a compelling story and I wanted to take any opportunity I could to improve my application.

Not a lot you can say in one minute that would change anything.

I did far more than that. There were specific messages that I wanted to convey to the admissions team and that was more important than being very succinct.

At one of the events that I went to at Sloan, the AO said that she strongly suggests you complete the optional essay. She said the method doesn't matter but it sounds like Sloan might put some weight on whether candidates put actually do it. That was my impression but I could be wrong.

Okay, this is what I have read and heard from various adcom members regarding the optional essay.

Why the optional question was introduced?

While interviewing a particular candidate, they came to know a completely different side of the candidate that wasn't mentioned anywhere in the application. That's when the idea of optional essay came into existence.

Is it like any other optional essay?

NO, this essay is not like the conventional optional essay for explaining extenuating circumstances but rather a space for creativity with relevant content.

Should one write it?

The motive of this essay is to get to know you as a person, both personally and professionally. As per the adcom, if you do not attempt this essay, it is a missed opportunity. The underlying assumption is that you cannot sum up your complete life in a one page resume and one essay. But, the catch here is that if one opts to write this essay, the content has to be something that reflects who you are, why you are the way you are and what spectacular things have you done. Something that strengthens your candidacy, some passion that aligns with Sloan, something that makes you a compelling candidate.

So YES - if you have a great story, NO - if you have listed all the major things already in the rest of the application

What one should not write?

Reiterate resume and other content available in the application. Write generic stuff like teamwork, perseverance etc etc. I am not sure if writing "Why Sloan" is a good idea or not.

In my opinion, the more personal the content, the better. As they have asked to be creative, it should be something that grabs attention write from the start, else it is quite easy to loose interest watching a 3-5 min video or reading another 500 words essay. Prescribed video limit is 1 min though. If they find the stuff interesting, they might get tempted to watch a 2 -3 mins video as well.

Disclaimer - It's all my opinion based on my research. It shouldn't be taken as absolute truth. :D