{"id":21853,"date":"2013-12-01T14:49:04","date_gmt":"2013-12-01T21:49:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=21853"},"modified":"2013-12-01T14:51:50","modified_gmt":"2013-12-01T21:51:50","slug":"mba-interview-tips-post-5-video-essays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/mba-interview-tips-post-5-video-essays\/","title":{"rendered":"MBA Interview Tips Post 5: Video Essays"},"content":{"rendered":"

[NOTE: This post is the fifth in a series; if interested please see the introduction<\/a> and tip 1<\/a>, tip 2<\/a>, tip 3<\/a>, and tip 4<\/a>.]<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Video<\/a>Wait, why is a video essay<\/em> featured in a series on MBA interviews<\/em>?<\/p>\n

Because it works like an interview in its visual presentation of you and it functions like a conversation.<\/p>\n

Kellogg<\/a>, Yale<\/a>, and Rotman<\/a> have included required video essays (or \u201cscreen tests\u201d as Poets & Quants<\/em> dubs this element) in their applications. It\u2019s been an option, rather infrequently used, at NYU Stern<\/a> for years.<\/p>\n

Why adcoms use this method: <\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 It allows the adcom to see the applicants respond in almost-real-time to questions.<\/p>\n

\u2022 It allows the adcom to test applicants\u2019 ability to organize their thoughts and present a response both meaningful and succinct.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Applicants \u201cshine\u201d in different ways, and an applicant who shines in interpersonal communication and charisma may not make it through to a competitive interview with written essays<\/a>; now the adcom can spot these applicants.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Similarly, someone may shine in the conventional written essays, but be inappropriate or unprofessional in presentation, and the adcom can now spot and weed out these applicants early, without expending additional resources on interviews.<\/p>\n

Process<\/a>:<\/strong> Basically, you click on a link in the application, and you are given a question to answer. You are being timed, so you can\u2019t halt the process, go away for an hour and plan a careful response. Rather, the application gives you a minute or so to compose your thoughts. Then you have a short window, usually one to two minutes, to video-record your answer. You can view your response, but you can\u2019t change it. Sometimes the application give you a few \u201ctries,\u201d but you can\u2019t re-record an answer if you don\u2019t like what you did the first time. You can only move on to the next question. The reason is that the adcoms are trying to avoid<\/em> a rehearsed, nonspontaneous reply. The last question is literally your last chance in the video essay \u2013 you can\u2019t go back and redo earlier attempts.<\/p>\n

Benefits and pitfalls for applicants:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022 Benefit: if you present yourself comfortably and are photogenic, the medium plays to these strengths.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Benefit: the process may take less time than a written essay.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Benefit: for non-native English speakers, you can demonstrate solid English speaking skills\u2014especially beneficial if you have a low verbal GMAT<\/a> score and\/or borderline TOEFL.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Benefit: The skills and attributes it highlights differ from and complement those highlighted by written essays, improving the chances for different kinds of applicants to shine in the initial application.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Pitfall: you have a limited time and can\u2019t second guess your answer; once it\u2019s done it\u2019s done (whereas with a written essay you can revise it up until submission if you have further thoughts for improving it).<\/p>\n

\u2022 Pitfall: although the adcoms call it a conversation, it actually isn\u2019t very natural or comfortable to talk into a camera with no human response; some people need a lot of practice to overcome a strange sensation with this medium.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Pitfall: for people who are methodical, the short prep and answer time works against your natural inclination and doesn\u2019t play to your strength.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Pitfall: you\u2019re at the mercy of well-functioning technology and Internet connections.<\/p>\n

While not exactly a pitfall, there\u2019s also the reality that even though adcoms strive for objectivity in evaluating applicants, the video essay creates the potential for them to be subjectively influenced (pro or con) by an applicant\u2019s physical appearance early in the \u201cweeding\u201d process.<\/p>\n

How to make this type of interview work for you<\/strong> (this is in addition to all the common sense advice for good MBA interviews<\/a>):<\/p>\n

\u2022 Review Accepted.com\u2019s tips<\/a> for this interview format.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Practice with a video camera, YouTube, or other formats, speaking to a camera without a person involved.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Practice coming up with short answers to a range of questions \u2013 limit your prep time so it\u2019s similar to the video essay\u2019s, and find a technique that works for you<\/em> for gathering your thoughts quickly and identifying a key point or message.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Consider the whole visual picture: not just having hair combed and appropriate attire, but also the background and lighting \u2013 all should enhance the presentation.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The adcoms say they want a spontaneous, natural experience of the applicant, but it may not be natural for you to look at and speak to a non-responsive camera. It\u2019s the illusion of naturalism; it\u2019s acting, it\u2019s performance, essentially. To create your best impression, understand and analyze your gestures, cadence, tone \u2013 what makes your presentation reflect \u201cyou\u201d effectively? A good actor is deliberately and thoughtfully natural, not mindlessly natural. You\u2019re actually performing your best self<\/em>.
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