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So you’re gonna do a video essay

November 9, 2011 by EssaySnark - Discusses The Consortium, Dartmouth Tuck Leave a Comment

>A highly motivated Brave Supplicant asked a question on BTG about the Tuck Consortium option for submitting a video essay. (NYU accepts video submissions; UCLA used to but seems to have backed off of that this year.)

This BSer sounds like they’ve got a very ambitious — and possibly quite effective — project planned.

If you’re considering something similar, then we submit this for your consideration:

A Year in New York from Andrew Clancy on Vimeo.

OK now hold up, before you throw up your hands in frustration and shout at EssaySnark through your computer, we are absolutely NOT expecting you to create something for a bschool app that is this polished, with such a high production value.

What we want you to notice is how much this video communicates — with no voice over — with no subtitles or captions — with no gobs of text on the screen.

Now granted, it is MUCH easier to pull off this type of “communication” when we’re talking about a PLACE. NYC is nothing if not evocative. It’s just lends itself to the video screen in such an amazing fashion.

But doesn’t your life offer something similar?

Obviously you only have the NOW of your life to work with — if you’re creating a video, then you must create the video — you can just take a subway to Coney Island and film the station that already exists, that is fully established there in all its glolry like the perfect movie set.

You absolutely should not go off in a bunch of directions in an admissions video and capture scenes and stuff that is not about you.

BUT… if you have a strong personal association with a particular place, for a particular reason, AND you can convey something ABOUT YOU through filming that place (hopefully with you smack dab in the middle of the scene!!), then you might consider doing so.

Watch that NY video again, and take notes.

What does it communicate?

How does it make you feel?

What is it about?*

As you plan your own project — video essay or PowerPoint slides or just a standard written draft — stop first and think about it. What is your INTENT? What are you trying to communicate?

If you have that mapped out first, then the chances are seriously greater that you’ll actually convey something worthwhile in the end product itself.

*EssaySnark has an opinion about that video and what it’s about… as we have opinions on everything!!!! We’ve hidden our own opinion in a sentence below, which is captured in white text. To reveal what WE think, drag over the section below with your mouse to highlight it and reveal the words — but you should do this after you have formed your own opinion!!! Go through the effort of doing your own thinking and creating your own impressions first, please. 


 We think that the creator of that video loves New York City. And he loves people, too. There is passion in what he created. (Kinda obvious, right? Well, the main message of YOUR video essay should be pretty obvious, too, when it’s all said and done.)

If you can convey passion for the things you love in your bschool essays, you will be home free.
 


Filed Under: video essays Bschools: The Consortium, Dartmouth Tuck

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Sometimes amused and often appalled by what candidates write in their MBA applications to top bschools, EssaySnark created this little blahg to share common mistakes. Learn from them and avoid making admissions directors laugh (or want to hurl) when they read your essays. If you are hoping to have your essay reviewed anonymously on the blahg for free, submit it for consideration.

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From a BSer January 2020:
"love the guide books!"


CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA
   
   

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What were we snarking about at this time in past years?

  • 2020: Becoming your future self
  • 2019: What's going on with Fuqua?
  • 2019: ($) What we've seen with a few "bad MBA interview" situations
  • 2018: Good luck today if you're hoping for Harvard!
  • 2018: Just a reminder...
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  • 2017: What matters most is integrity.
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  • 2014: Now that your apps are in: Who had the best essay questions?
  • 2013: And the award for Worst MBA Essays goes to...
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