The MBA video essay has become a stapular component of most top business school applications. Video essays allow applicants to convey their qualities, motivations, and aspirations in a dynamic visual format beyond just the standard personal statement. Crafting an effective video essay presents its own unique challenges. Unlike a written essay, applicants have a very limited time window—typically 2-3 minutes—to make a strong first impression on admissions committees. For many applicants, presenting themselves accurately yet memorably within such constraints can seem daunting.
One approach that experienced applicants recommend is taking a “broad” perspective in the video essay. Rather than focusing narrowly on work experience, leadership accomplishments, or post-MBA goals, a broad MBA video essay aims to show admissions committees your overall character, values, and drive in a more holistic manner. Conveying depth of personality in a short video requires subtlety and nuance rather than an itemized bullet list. Applicants who succeed with the broad approach let their authentic selves shine through in a naturally engaging way.
So how exactly can applicants leverage the broad approach to stand out positively in their MBA video essays? Here are some key strategies that top applicants have used successfully:
Connect your story to big ideas – Discussing formative life experiences through the lens of meaningful concepts like community service, global citizenship, sustainability, or ethics can give admissions committees valuable insight into your values and perspective on business leadership. Rather than dwelling on the deliverables of past roles, frame your narrative around how certain projects or initiatives related to your vision for social impact.
Show your human side – Admissions officers review hundreds of applications, so giving them a glimpse into your genuine personality can make you memorable in a good way. Share an interesting hobby, passion project, or unusual talent you have. Candidly discuss a challenge you overcame or risk you took. Showing humility and vulnerability within reason makes you seem like a well-rounded individual they’d enjoy meeting in person.
Engage the senses – Add visual or auditory elements beyond just your face on camera. Show brief clips related to your story, include relevant sounds/music, or utilize location/setting appropriately. Creative production value fosters engagement if integrated tastefully rather than as a distracting gimmick. Demonstrating multimedia savvy suggests comfort adapting business concepts for different audiences.
Keep it light, grounded and conversational – Frame your essay as an informal introduction rather than a droning presentation. Maintain consistent eye contact, vary your voice pitch, smile and use hand gestures naturally as you would in a one-on-one chat. Relaxing into the medium will help you connect sincerely with watchers. Avoid lofty jargon or overly rehearsed delivery which may come across as inauthentic.
Leave them wanting more – Don’t feel obligated to explain every detail within the time limit. Intrigue viewers by raising interesting questions or dilemmas rather than always providing neat resolutions. Admissions officers reading optional attachments will gain further context about your background from additional essays or resume materials. End your video on a note of optimism and passion to inspire further discussion during interviews.
The broad approach demands applicants distill the essence of their motivations and character rather than recite achievements. While crafting nuanced, engaging videos is far from easy, applicants who take the time to thoughtfully construct grounded narratives have seen success against formulaic competitors. Presenting an authentic glimpse into your unique perspective through a broadly-framed MBA video essay can make a distinctively positive first impression on busy admissions committees. With subtlety and sincerity, applicants let their potential to contribute diverse viewpoints in business leadership programs shine through.Here is a 17,500 character article on broad MBA video essays:
The MBA application video essay is an opportunity for applicants to stand out from the crowd and showcase what they will uniquely bring to the program and campus community. Unlike traditional written essays, video essays allow applicants to convey their authentic personality and passion through verbal and nonverbal communication. Crafting a compelling video essay takes thoughtful planning and execution.
The goal of a broad MBA program video essay is to paint a picture of who you are through sharing experiences, values, and interests that extend beyond just your academic or professional achievements. Adcoms are looking to admit well-rounded individuals who will enhance their class with diverse perspectives and backgrounds.Therefore, it is important for applicants to reflect on the various dimensions of their identity and experiences that have shaped them into the unique person they are beyond their resume.
Some areas applicants may choose to highlight in a broad MBA program video essay include cultural heritage, family upbringing, hobbies and extracurricular activities, community involvement, pivotal life events, personal growth experiences, or meaningful travels that have enriched their worldview. The key is to authentically represent important facets of yourself that may not be evident on paper. By sharing engaging anecdotes and reflecting on their impact, applicants bring these aspects of their identity to life for the admissions committee.
It is also valuable to connect broader life experiences back to how the applicant will contribute positively to the MBA program experience and community. Highlighting lessons learned, skills developed, or perspectives gained from meaningful experiences outside the professional realm can help demonstrate one’s ability to enrich class discussions with diverse viewpoints and foster an inclusive campus culture. Connecting the dots between personal background and future value add in this way strengthens the overall video essay narrative.
When crafting the content and storyline for a broad program video essay, applicants should aim to balance multiple priorities. Firstly, the narrative should authentically represent who they are beyond their resume to give the committee a more holistic sense of their identity, interests, and experiences that shape their worldview. It is crucial not to get too personal or intense, keeping the tone positive and impactful.
Additionally, reflective analysis is important to communicate key lessons learned or how experiences have helped one develop as a leader, team player, problem-solver etc. But simply listing experiences without reflection lacks substance. Striking a balance between sharing engaging anecdotes while also drawing meaningful insights is key.
Applicants should also remember their video is competing against all other application materials for adcoms’ limited time. Therefore, the story and message need to be conveyed clearly and memorably within 2-4 minutes. Rehearsing multiple times to refine story flow and stay within time limits is recommended. Technical elements like lighting, sound quality, framing, and eye contact with the camera also impact professionalism and should be considered.
During filming, candidates should emulate a casual conversation by maintaining comfortable, natural body language rather than stiff formal poses. Smiling, varying facial expressions, and mild hand gestures help convey enthusiasm while keeping composure and avoiding distracting mannerisms.They should practice maintaining an engaging conversational tone to truly bring their story to life for viewers through their verbal and nonverbal communication.
While aiming to be genuine, applicants should avoid controversial topics, heavy traumatic details, or coming across as overly passionate about only one narrow interest area. The goal is to paint a balanced, well-rounded picture highlighting multiple dimensions of who they are through an uplifting message and compelling narrative arc. The story should feel inspiring rather than sad or angry.
Once complete, several trusted reviewers can provide valuable feedback on story flow, clarity, length, emotional impact before submitting. It can also be useful to film multiple drafts and select the strongest version highlighting one’s most authentic natural voice and likable personality. With thoughtful preparation and practice bringing an interesting well-rounded story to life through video, applicants give themselves the best opportunity to really stand out to admissions committees.
A broad MBA video essay allows candidates to give adcoms valuable multidimensional insight into who they are beyond their resume. By authentically sharing meaningful life experiences that have shaped them and connecting these to future potential contributions, applicants can set themselves apart. With strategic planning, natural storytelling ability, and passionate self-reflection, the video essay format empowers candidates to make a truly memorable impression through verbal and nonverbal communication. With quality execution, it becomes a compelling tool for representing one’s unique potential to enrich the program experience and community.
Andrew Stroud