Why Every Student Should Consider a College Application Video
By Jodi Siegel
Admissions officers spend their days reading transcripts, activities lists, recommendation letters, and essays, application after application. By the end of a long reading season, it is easy for even exceptional students to start to blend together on paper.
A short application video can change that. A growing number of colleges now accept a brief video, typically 60 to 90 seconds, submitted alongside the rest of the application through platforms such as Glimpse, which gives admissions officers a chance to see the person behind the paperwork.
Why Colleges Are Asking for Video
The point of an application video is not to impress admissions officers with polish or performance. It is to offer something a transcript or essay cannot: a genuine sense of who a student actually is.
Voice, facial expression, enthusiasm, humor, and energy all communicate things that simply do not come across on paper. A thoughtful video can leave an admissions officer feeling as though they have actually met the student, which matters a great deal when a school is trying to build a well-rounded class.
There is also a timelier reason this trend has grown. As AI tools have made it easier to produce a polished, generic essay, some admissions offices have found it harder to tell which essays genuinely reflect a student's own voice. A short, unedited video is one of the few remaining application components that is difficult to fabricate, which is part of why a growing number of selective schools have added it as an option.
It can help to think about each part of an application as answering a different question. The transcript shows what a student has accomplished. The essays reveal how a student thinks. Recommendation letters explain how others see the student. The video lets an admissions officer experience what it is actually like to spend a minute in the student's company.
What Makes a Strong Video
The strongest videos rarely feel polished. Admissions officers are not looking for actors, and they are not scoring production value. They are looking for authenticity.
The best videos feel conversational rather than rehearsed. They reveal a genuine interest, tell one simple story well, or offer a small window into a student's life that does not appear anywhere else in the application. Before recording, it is worth sitting with a few questions: What could I talk about for two minutes without sounding rehearsed? What part of my personality does not come through in my essays? What do my friends know about me that an admissions officer never would? What genuinely excites me enough that my energy would come across naturally on camera?
Do Not Repeat the Rest of the Application
One of the most common mistakes is using the video to summarize information that is already sitting elsewhere in the application. If an admissions officer has already read about a student's leadership role or a specific award, restating it on camera wastes a rare opportunity.
A more useful question is this: what would an admissions officer still not know about this student after reading everything else? Maybe that is a sense of humor, a particular curiosity, a warmth, or a close relationship with family. The video is the place to show what the rest of the application cannot.
For Performers, a Little Goes a Long Way
Musicians, dancers, actors, athletes, and artists often wonder whether the entire video should showcase their talent directly. Usually, the answer is no.
A brief demonstration can strengthen a video, but admissions officers are typically more interested in understanding why an activity matters to a student than in watching an extended performance. A short demonstration followed by a genuine, thoughtful explanation of what that activity means tends to leave a stronger impression than performance alone.
The Biggest Mistake: Sounding Scripted
Many students assume they need to memorize a script word for word. In practice, admissions officers can usually tell within a few seconds when someone is reciting one, and a memorized delivery tends to flatten exactly the personality the video is meant to reveal.
That does not mean a student should skip preparation. It means preparing the way one would for a conversation rather than a speech: know the two or three points worth making, practice saying them naturally a few times, and then put the script away before recording.
Technical Details Matter Less Than Expected
Professional lighting and expensive equipment are not necessary. A quiet location, good natural light, direct eye contact with the camera, and clear audio matter far more than production value.
Most video platforms used for admissions, including Glimpse, are intentionally designed to keep the focus on the student rather than the production. Students typically record in a single take, without editing or special effects, which means admissions officers are evaluating the student, not their editing skills.
A Small Opportunity Worth Taking
An application video will not replace strong grades, rigorous coursework, or compelling essays. A growing number of selective colleges, including Brown, Duke, Vanderbilt, Boston University, and the University of Chicago, accept an optional video introduction. Policies and participating schools change from year to year, so it is worth confirming current options directly on each college's admissions page.
If a college offers the chance to introduce yourself this way, it is usually worth taking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Glimpse video? Glimpse is a platform that lets students submit a short, unedited video, typically 60 to 90 seconds, as an optional part of their college application, giving admissions officers a more personal sense of who they are.
Which colleges accept application videos? A number of selective schools currently accept a Glimpse or similar video introduction, including Brown, Duke, Vanderbilt, and Boston University, with the University of Chicago accepting a two-minute video in place of an interview. Participating schools change over time, so this is worth confirming directly with each college.
Is a college application video required? No. Application videos are generally optional, but at schools that offer them, submitting one is often worth the small amount of time it takes, since it is a low-effort way to stand out.
Do I need professional equipment to record one? No. A quiet space, natural light, clear audio, and direct eye contact with the camera matter far more than production quality. Most platforms intentionally keep video simple and unedited.
Should I write a script for my video? Prepare your key points and practice them the way you would for a conversation, but avoid memorizing a script word for word. Admissions officers can usually tell when a video is being recited rather than spoken naturally.
Looking for help as you navigate the college admissions process? Email College Bound's experts (Info@CollegeBound-md.com) today, or reach us at 301.765.7909 or through the contact form.
