Video Essay

Might be a net positive. They are trying to gain insight into who you are, and it shows well that you reset, laughed it off and moved forward. So that might be a bigger win than having the perfect pat response.

Some tips:
This type of video essay is certainly challenging in terms of its unpredictability and one chance to get it right. Unlike interviews with a human on the other side – whether in-person, Skype, or even on the phone – you don’t have any feedback coming through verbal and visual cues, and thus, it’s difficult (but not impossible!) to gauge how you are coming across to the adcom. The timed environment poses an additional challenge as there isn’t an ability to extend an interview answer or go back and explain something that may have come out the wrong way. So, what can you do to help maximize your performance in this candid format? Preparation is key.

1.Be Yourself: The best advice I have to nail any type of essay, interview or video essays is to be yourself. Programs have incorporated this component as a way to get to know you, your personality, and your fit with the school, so above all, be yourself. Reflect on your own experiences and answer questions honestly, instead of thinking, “What do they want to hear?”

2.Prepare, Practice, Repeat: The second best advice I have to give you is to prepare and practice. And when you don’t think you can prepare and practice anymore, do it one more time. I coach my clients to write out their ideal responses, practice out loud (look in a mirror and/or record yourself to get some feedback) and make sure that your responses fit within the given timeframe. In the past, programs such as Kellogg gave applicants 3 questions with 20 seconds to prepare and 1 minute for a response.

Generally, the questions fall into these 3 categories: 1) Get to know you, 2) Why MBA/career goals, 3) Behavioral question (Tell me about a time when….). You should brainstorm and research questions that fall into these categories to make sure you have a bank of responses that can be easily modified for the video essay. Here are some questions that would be a great start to practice:

Why are you applying for an MBA now? (Variation: Why are you applying to our program?)
Tell us about a time when you prevented a problem from happening.
Tell us about a time you’ve faced a significant obstacle and you overcame it.
It has been said that an individual can’t make a significant impact on global issues by themselves. Do you agree or disagree?
What is one thing you’ve always wanted to try?
What is the most interesting course you took as a student?
If you could meet anyone (living or dead), who would it be and why?
3. Do a Test Run: Make sure you do a test run prior to the actual interview by recording yourself in a neat environment with good lighting and no clutter. Test for a reliable internet connection and dress nicely (e.g. business casual). I know it feels uncomfortable to watch yourself on video, but the benefits are invaluable. Examine your test run to make sure you’re clearly visible and audible. Check that your expressions are coming across the right way. Finally, examine the content – did you articulate your MBA story, personality and experiences in a clear, compelling and succinct manner? There is always room for improvement so ask a trusted friend for help if you need another opinion.

I messed up 2 questions big time. It was a disaster. Couldn't even speak anything as I got really nervous and froze. All the best applicants.

Posted from my mobile device

I am doing mine tomorrow and just saw that you got in! Congrats, that is encouraging to know even if one does not perfoms one's best, there are still chances!

Hello. Apologies for delayed response. I would definitely say that video essays have minimum impact on your candidacy. My video essays went really bad and imho I really did not bomb the interview as compared to my other interviews (at Tuck and Stern).

All the best.

Hi everyone,

Quick question - how are you preparing for the video essays?

Any tips?

Thanks

I applied in R1. Had advice to practice recording myself a few times and note the big concepts I wanted to hit. They give you the questions with a 1-minute limit for each (video cuts so don’t run over). It’s just important to be conversational and get your point across. IMO it’s a minor part compared to the actual essays

Posted from my mobile device

MBApat

The following are some resources

https://gmatclub.com/forum/compilation- ... l#p2205851
https://gmatclub.com/forum/compilation- ... l#p2212165

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C04_z-Ph6hE

As others have already pointed out, they give you all three of the prompts this year so you dont have to leave anything to chance. Practice recording yourself and play it back. You sound different on a recording. So use that to fine tune your delivery and make sure you finish with 2-3 seconds remaining so that you have a buffer in case you get stuck somewhere. Also, I would recommend keeping your main points written on a sticky note for emergencies but make sure you don't look like you're reading off a sheet.

If you are looking for recorded video interview prep, there's a site that has most questions Kellogg asks. You record yourself answering them and the site will give you feedback on your performance.

Just Google "try voomer"

Disclaimer: I'm a co-founder at that start up

I prepped using a site thats pretty unknown, but it worked: https://www.tryvoomer.com

I did really badly last year on the video interview, so I really dove into prep this year.

The camera with no one on the other end plus the timer was a bit unsettling... you just have to practice and get used to the format.