Creating a compelling video essay is an important part of your MBA application. Done right, it can help you stand out from other applicants and allow admissions committees to get to know you beyond just your resume and transcripts. Putting together an effective video is also challenging given strict time limits. Here are some key tips to keep in mind when crafting your video essay.
Planning is Key
The most important part of any video essay is planning and preparation. Take the time to think carefully about what story or aspect of yourself you want to convey. Consider your strengths, weaknesses, goals, story arc, and key themes or lessons you have learned. Come up with a clear direction or thesis for your video before recording anything. Thoroughly scripting your essay, even if you don’t plan to read directly from the script, will make the final product much stronger. Be selective about the experiences and anecdotes you include – quality is better than quantity. Practice your delivery until you are comfortable and polished. With good planning, you can craft a compelling narrative within the time constraints.
Tell a Story, Not a Resume
Admissions committees have access to your resume and academics through your written application already. Your video essay needs to provide unique insights into who you are beyond credentials on paper. Focus on conveying one impactful story from your background that illustrates something important about your character, talents, experiences or goals. Showing versus telling through narrative is much more engaging for viewers. Use descriptive, vivid details when recounting your story to bring it to life on screen. Maintain an authentic tone and be yourself rather than overly rehearsed. Stories that are humble yet reveal growth are typically most impressive to reviewers.
Connect to Your Passions and Goals
Admissions officers want to understand what motivates you and what you hope to gain from an MBA. Embed a clear message in your video essay about your interests, ambitions, and specifically how an MBA will help you achieve your career aspirations. The story you tell should naturally touch upon your applicable background and skills, but the primary focus should be how business education will help elevate your potential impact or drive meaningful change. Make vivid connections between your past and future goals for clarity. Passion for a particular industry, role or cause comes through strongly and differentiates your candidacy.
Cite Impacts and Benefits
Similar to how you articulate your passion and goals, cite tangible and meaningful impacts or benefits that have come from your highlighted experiences thus far. Admissions committees are evaluating who will add the most value and greatest potential contributions to their student body. Quantify impacts where possible, such as the number of people helped, funds raised, problems solved, or organizations impacted through your efforts. Discuss specific lessons learned that have shaped your perspectives or skills. This level of insight demonstrates your thoughtfulness, aptitude and benefits of admitting you to their program. Vague statements lack evidence of your qualifications or potential.
Visual Storytelling Techniques
Video is a visual medium, so utilize production elements and techniques to further enhance your storytelling. Simple elements like lighting, location choice, and dress can elevate professionalism. Transition between scenes or shots smoothly for flow. Change your cadence, tone, and body language for emphasis during key parts of your narrative. Include selective visual aids, photos or footage only if genuinely supportive rather than a distraction. Maintain eye contact with the camera to engage the viewer. Film at your desired career field’s standard resolution quality so production values match professional expectations. With creativity, you can bring multidimensional storytelling to life through visual tools.
Authenticity and Enthusiasm
A polished and authentic delivery will keep viewers interested and impressed by your candidacy. Speak confidently at a steady, measured pace while maintaining natural energy and expression. Since you are showcasing your character, make it a true reflection of yourself rather than overly staged. Convey genuine enthusiasm when highlighting passions, growth moments or opportunities from your past that motivate you. A sense of authentic purpose, humility and likability comes through your natural tone and demeanor more than any memorized lines. Your sincere enjoyment of the content should shine for credibility with evaluators. Maintain poise even if you stumble – owning mistakes shows humility.
Review and Refine
It is unlikely your video essay will be flawless on the first recording. Review and refine it multiple times as needed. Watch it as an outsider would and take notes on areas that could use tightening, rephrasing or new supporting details. Ask trusted friends, mentors or advisors to also view and provide honest feedback for improvement. Are the narrative, your goals and passions coming across clearly? Is the production quality sufficiently high caliber? Does your personality shine through engagingly? Refine, re-record sections as needed until you have a story that feels honed and polished to best represent yourself. This iterative feedback cycle leads to a much stronger final product.
Stand out with Your Authentic Self
At the core, admissions committees are evaluating who you are as an individual and how you will enrich their community. While crafting an impressive video, keep in mind they have seen thousands like yours before. The most memorable films showcase character and personality through genuine experiences told with transparent authenticity and enthusiasm. Your one chance to virtually introduce yourself through this medium is short – make it count by letting your likable, multidimensional self shine through confidently and naturally. Craft memorable storytelling through intentional planning while retaining organic ease. With practice and feedback-based refinement, you can create a video essay that helps advance rather than hinder your MBA candidacy.
Andrew Stroud