A surge in International applicants has led the school to use new tools like Video Essays to check the applicant's communication skills. Here we explore more about how one can approach a video essay.
How to Plan and Create a Perfect Video Essay Outline
Although video essays might seem intimidating to produce, it is pretty easy to create one. All you need is a good plan and some guidelines. So how do you put your video essay together?
The main goal of a video essay is to answer one question in the first 30 seconds of the video.
However, don't narrow it down to just this sentence because then your content won't explore any other potential related topics. To create a concise outline, try answering the following questions:
a) What is the topic of my video essay?
b) Who will be viewing my content?
c) What are some potential themes that I can explore?
d) What types of evidence will I use in my video essay?
The Most Important Part of Your Video Essay Is Your Introduction
The introduction is an essential part of your video essay. You should be able to capture your audience's attention and hook them with a hook.
The introduction of the video, even though informative, shouldn't be very long and cumbersome. It would help if you also didn't ramble on about things that are not relevant to your argument.
How to Structure and Write an Effective Introduction to Your Video Essay
A video essay is a video that illustrates an author's thoughts or feelings about a particular topic.
As the first section of your video essay, you should introduce your audience to the topic and tell them what you're going to be talking about.
At this point, you should have been in your research phase for at least a week and have some notes on what you've found out so far. This will help structure your introduction and general outline for the rest of your video essay.
It would be best to decide which piece of footage or audio clip will support the issues you want to make in your essay. If possible, try to find yourself some footage or audio that speaks specifically to what's going on right now in terms of the topic.
Why is Structure Critical in Writing a Successful Introductory Sequence in Your Video Essay?
A good introduction sequence can entice, seduce, and engage the audience. It can also establish an expectation of what is to come in your video essay. You can create a captivating opening that will immerse your audience into your video essay with the proper structure.
A well-structured intro sequence will help you to:
Establish the audience's expectations and context of the video essay
Introduce the central argument or thesis for each section of your video essay before it begins
How to Plan and Create a Perfect Video Essay Outline
Although video essays might seem intimidating to produce, it is pretty easy to create one. All you need is a good plan and some guidelines. So how do you put your video essay together?
The main goal of a video essay is to answer one question in the first 30 seconds of the video.
However, don't narrow it down to just this sentence because then your content won't explore any other potential related topics.
To create a concise outline, try answering the following questions:
a) What is the topic of my video essay?
b) Who will be viewing my content?
c) What are some potential themes that I can explore?
d) What types of evidence will I use in my video essay?
The video essay has been incorporated as an integral part of the applicant evaluation in many leading business schools. Some leading schools which have integrated the video essay component with the application submission are discussed here.
Ivey Business School MBA
The video essay is mandatory in the Ivey Business School MBA process. The process is implemented as a KIRA interview at the application submission stage.
INSEAD MBA
English as a second language is tested well with the video essay component. The school expects a candid response from the students to behavioural questions. The video essay is able to convey the passion of the applicant much more easily than the written essay questions.
KELLOGG MBA
At Kellogg the school asks the students to convey the value they will add to the school through different video essay questions. A series of short video questions lead to greater insights into the applicant's motivations. The first essay is an introduction to the admissions committee.
Kellogg Video essay 1: Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee.
The second essay is the career direction and the motivation of the applicant for the same.
Video essay 2: What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you? The third video essay at Kellogg is a random question about decision making situations in personal or professional life.
Just like in life there is no retake or an edit here.The applicant has 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to respond.
ROTMAN MBA
Rotman Business School incorporates the video essay component combined with a timed writing prompt in addition to the regular written essay with the application. Rotman MBA application requires the applicant to fill two KIRA video essay questions, followed by a real-time written response on the KIRA interview platform for the final submission.
SCHULICH MBA
Schulich MBA application requires the submission of a KIRA interview response and a timed written response with its application submission form. Application to Schulich MBA requires the applicant to complete two video essays and a five-minute timed writing prompt for the KIRA interview process.