The video essay has become a standard part of many top MBA program applications in recent years. Schools use it as a way to learn more about who applicants are beyond just their resumes and transcripts. A successful video essay shows enthusiasm for the program and demonstrates strong communication skills.
When crafting your video essay, it’s important to choose a topic that allows your genuine personality and passions to shine through. Avoid coming across as overly rehearsed or salesy. Admissions committees want to get to know the real you. Your goal should be to leave the viewer feeling they have a better understanding of who you are after just a few minutes.
Some common questions MBA programs ask in their video essay prompts include:
Tell us about your background and experiences that have led you to apply to our MBA program.
Describe what motivates and inspires you.
How will an MBA help you achieve your personal and professional goals?
What strengths or qualities will you bring to our community?
Discuss an achievement of which you are most proud and why it is meaningful to you.
What are your career aspirations and how does our program help support those aspirations?
When brainstorming topics to address one of those prompts, think back on pivotal moments, challenging situations you overcame, people who influenced you, or passions that drive you. Share a three-dimensional story that reveals something new about your character. Avoid generic responses – drill down on a meaningful anecdote or experience that’s true to who you are.
You’ll also want to plan out some key points you want to touch on and practice your delivery. But it’s important not to come across as reciting a memorized script. Strike the right balance by being prepared yet conversational. Maintain strong eye contact with the camera and use vocal variety, hand gestures, and facial expressions to engage the viewer.
Here are a few MBA video essay examples that were successful:
Story of Professional Growth
One applicant discussed starting her career in a role that was not the right fit. Through that experience, she learned the importance of self-awareness and pursuing work that matches one’s strengths and interests. She then transitioned to a new company and position better aligned with her skills and passion for strategy. The MBA would help her progress to the next step of taking on more senior leadership opportunities.
Global Perspective Inspired by Travels
Another candidate’s video essay shared how living abroad in multiple countries as a child fueled her curiosity about different cultures and ways of doing business globally. She discussed meaningful interactions with people she met that stayed with her. Her goal post-MBA was to work for an international organization and leverage her multicultural experiences and language skills to build cross-border partnerships and solutions.
Turning a Hobby into a Career
One applicant discussed his lifelong passion for music and playing in bands. Through that passion project, he gained transferable skills in marketing, operations, and team leadership. While he enjoyed it as a hobby for many years, he was now interested in professionalizing his skills and experience in the entertainment industry. He wanted an MBA to gain credentials, network opportunities, and business know-how to eventually start his own music company or label.
Overcoming Hardship and Giving Back
For her video essay, one candidate chose to discuss personal challenges she faced as a young adult caring for ill family members. It was an emotional yet ultimately growth-mindset story about resilience, support systems, and learning life’s toughest lessons. Emerging stronger from that experience fueled her desire to eventually work in healthcare administration and help improve access and affordability of medical services for those in need. The MBA was the next step toward reaching her community-focused career goals.
While not all applicants need to divulge deeply personal stories, these examples show how sharing personally meaningful stories that also connect back to your future ambitions can make for an impactful video essay. The key is focusing on quality over quantity by picking a single impactful anecdote rather than trying to touch on too many points.
Your video should be 2-4 minutes depending on specific program instructions. Practice your delivery and timing beforehand. Be sure your background is simple, well-lit and free of distractions so the focus remains on you. Have someone check your video quality and audio levels prior to submitting. It’s a good idea to film multiple takes and choose the best one.
Don’t forget to clearly state the name of the MBA program at the beginning and discuss specifically why you’re a strong fit and why you want to attend their school. Express your enthusiasm for the program and appreciation for their consideration in a sincere, genuine way. Your video essay represents you – so make sure it leaves the viewer feeling they understand your unique background and why you’ll be an asset to the community. With a focused, relatable story and strong presentation, this required component can help boost your application.Here is a 15,250 character article on mba video essay examples:
MBA video essays have become an important part of the business school application process in recent years. Schools use these video responses to get a sense of who applicants beyond just what is conveyed on their written applications and resumes. While written essays allow applicants to thoughtfully craft their responses, video essays provide a less polished and more authentic glimpse into an individual. With the increased use of video essays, it’s important for MBA applicants to understand how to effectively tackle this unique application requirement. Here are some tips and mba video essay examples to consider when crafting your response.
One of the main purposes of an mba video essay is to show admissions committees your communication skills and ability to think on your feet. Reviewers want to see how you carry yourself in a conversation. With that in mind, it’s essential to come across as polished yet authentic in your responses. Avoid reading directly from notes or a script. Make comfortable eye contact with the camera as if you’re having a natural conversation. Speak clearly and at a measured pace while still maintaining energy and enthusiasm in your voice. Nervous tics like filler words (“uh”, “um”, etc.) and fidgeting should be minimized as much as possible with preparation.
In terms of content, business schools will typically pose one or two broad essay prompts for the video response. Examples of common prompts include discussing your background and qualifications for an MBA program, sharing characteristics that define you and your leadership abilities, or describing what qualities or experiences have prepared you to succeed at their particular institution. When crafting your response, target 3 key points you want to cover that are directly relevant to the prompt. Having an outline keeps you on track during the recording and ensures your ideas are well organized for the reviewers.
A strong mba video essay example would flesh out those 3 points with specific accomplishments, responsibilities, skills gained, or lessons learned from relevant experiences. For instance, if addressing leadership qualities, you could discuss managing a campus club with 200 members, leading a work initiative that increased productivity by 15%, or resolving conflicts among teammates on an athletic team. Quantify your achievements whenever possible and share short anecdotes that bring your experiences to life. Relaying concrete examples in this way shows vs. tells the admissions committee about your qualifications and fit for their program.
Another aspect to keep in mind is using formatting techniques that enhance engagement for the viewer. Start with a brief introduction to establish who you are, why you’re pursuing an MBA, and what school you’re applying to. Throughout the response, maintain eye contact with the camera as if speaking directly to the viewer. Periodically smiling or changing facial expressions within appropriate moments keeps the energy upbeat. Also, vary vocal tones, volume, and hand gestures in a natural way when emphasizing key points. Formatting the recording dynamically makes for a more interesting video to watch versus a monotonous delivery straight into the lens.
While authenticity and preparedness are important, it’s also crucial not to rehearse your mba video essay to the point that it seems overly-polished or unnatural. Subtly practice your outline of points but avoid memorizing a full script. Committing too rigidly to prepared statements can come across as disingenuous or lacking in spontaneity. The objective is conveying your genuine self and qualifications persuasively in a short timeframe, so allow yourself flexibility in articulating the key takeaways. Some pauses or rephrasing during delivery are fine given the pressures of recording on the spot. What really matters most is effectively addressing the prompt while showcasing your personality and communication skills.
Overall, mba video essays provide a unique look into applicants beyond just their stats and work experiences. Crafting a strong response requires balancing preparation with authentic self-expression. With careful consideration of formatting techniques, response structure, and quality content examples, applicants can effectively showcase their qualifications and fit for a program. While not an easy task, learning from sample prompts and mba video essay examples can help demystify this application element and optimize your presentation for admissions committees. With practice and an engaging yet natural delivery style, video essays offer a compelling chance to supplement written applications.
Andrew Stroud