More MBA programs have added a video component to the application process. Some schools like Yale and Kellogg ask you to complete several video questions after submitting your application, while Haas is asking candidates to do video essays instead of a traditional personal interview.
It is smart of these schools to have this application requirement as it tests basic English skills (particularly for international applicants), poise and presence, candidate consistency throughout their application, and how well you can concisely tell your why MBA story and highlight a school’s fit for your career needs. An admissions consultant can help prep you, but ultimately you must complete this portion on your own and schools know that.
Here are some basic tips for these video essays:
- Practice: Schools provide a practice environment for this application step, so spend some good time getting used to the format. Many schools will even give you some of the prompts beforehand, and the nature of the other questions that will be more spontaneous.
- Don’t Expect Perfection: Almost all my clients feel they do well but nearly nobody feels they did perfectly. This is a staged environment, and you speaking in a vacuum with no live person. Though this can feel awkward, smile and do your best, and be likeable and not heavy or withdrawn.
- Once You Go Down a Road, Go Down that Road: Don’t ever second guess your answers while you are giving them. Once you choose a topic or approach, stay committed to that path. Generally, you will get 30 or 45 seconds to prepare your topic and then one minute or several minutes to answer. Take that allotted prep time to get committed to your basic answer versus trying to be too detailed with your notes.
- Don’t Memorize a Script: MBA classrooms require spontaneous thinking and communication. Don’t recite your answers to questions you know you are going to get like a robot. After doing so many prep sessions for these video essays, I can easily tell when talk tracks have been memorized. Adcoms can as well.
- Background Environment Helps: Make sure your lighting is ample, dress well and consider having plants or some art in the background vs a stark white wall. Perception is reality.
