The MBA Application Video Essay is an essential part of the MBA application process for top B-schools such as MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Yale, and INSEAD. Video essays evaluate the interpersonal skills of MBA applicants, they also help the admissions team to evaluate who you are, and provide an opportunity to showcase the deeper insight and different facets of your story and essays.
There are two different ways by which B-schools ask applicants to submit the MBA Application Video Essay.
1. Once the applicant completes his application and submits it in the application portal, the school will send an e-mail with a link to record the video on the school’s online platform. After this, the applicant should record the answers to questions using their computers or laptops. In this, you might receive questions that are already given in school’s application instructions or arbitrary questions, wherein applicants will be provided a time frame to think and answer the questions.
2. Another common way of asking for video essays is to record offline and present the video: MIT Sloan asks applicants to provide a video statement on the topic listed in the application instruction. They have asked for a video without any editing and the length of the video should be no more than one minute.
Preparation for MBA Application Video Essay
Video essays help the admissions committee to assess your confidence level, communication skills, body language, and ability to come up with ideas. A video essay offers a great opportunity for applicants to showcase their skills that they can’t highlight well in their written application. These are some of the tips that will assist you to create strong video essays.
1. Prepare a script of your answers
Work on your professional and personal stories which you want to include in your script. Prepare a list of questions that are frequently asked, you will get many practice questions from the school’s website and application instruction page. Refer to the application instruction page and follow the guidelines.
These video essay questions fall under career goals questions or behavioral, personality-related questions. For answering such questions, you need to write your personal, career, and leadership experiences with relevant examples and focus on your answers. You should explain your career goals and how you will strive to achieve them through the MBA program. Also, talking about the importance of an MBA program/school is helpful in achieving your career ambitions.
2. Make proper arrangements for video recording
Select a calm area with a good lighting facility, if required hire a professional place. You should avoid interruptions while recording the video. You can also seek help from professional videographers to produce good-quality videos. Choose good quality plain background while recording video.
Keep your notepad and pen ready, you will get very little time to structure your responses. Using your notepad and pen you can easily note down your thoughts with relevant examples from the real world. By this, you can structure your responses well.
3. Practicing your responses before recording the video will boost your confidence
After you prepare your responses for the FAQs, you need to practice and learn to respond in a manner that is easy to understand. While practicing you can also record yourself and review it later with anyone who is good at giving proper feedback. Once you review you will get to know your mistakes, your facial expressions, body language, use of words. Do retakes till you and the person who is reviewing should be satisfied with the outcome and quality of the video essay. This is the best way to learn from your mistakes and prepare well for the video essay.
4. B-School application portals offer practice MBA application video essay questions
Using this software, you can get strong practice and get familiar with different categories of questions and the application portal software.
5. Being well-groomed and presentable
This carries significant weightage to make an impact through the video essay. So, it is important to dress professionally. Position your camera well and make sure you maintain eye contact with the camera. Be calm and don’t get tense, listen to the question prompts, take your time and structure your response.
6. Focus on your body language
Be calm, positive, and open with respect to your gestures. Speak clearly with proper articulation and pronunciation. Use proper expressions and take pauses in between wherever necessary.
These are some of the tips to prepare for video essays. For detailed preparation and guidance from expert consultants visit the General Education website.