Video resumes in a college application commentary

Post By: COYD Staff

Yesterday we talked about supplementary materials and we discussed the 5 rules applicants should follow so that their supplementary materials will work for them instead of against them. After yesterday’s blog post, I received a few e-mails specifically asking about video resumes. They wanted to know 1) if video resumes are going to spread to other universities 2) how can they make a video resume that will make them stick out.

Before we get into these questions, you should know how video resumes in an application got started. Earlier this year, Tufts added the option of a YouTube video that “says something about you” in their college application. Lee Coffin, the dean of undergraduate admissions at Tufts, came up with the idea after he watched a YouTube video that wowed him enough for him to say “if this kid applied to Tufts, I’d admit him in a minute, without anything else.”

To answer the first question, I would say yes I do think video resumes are going to spread to other universities. Technically, many universities already make it acceptable to turn in video resumes in addition to their applications. Supplementary materials do include video so students could have submitted video resumes unless the university specifically asked them not to like Harvard University. In the future, I believe video resumes should become more widespread. This world is constantly changing and traditions have changed. In our society and economy, innovation has prevailed to be the key to success and an innovative mind cannot always be discovered through a resume, grades or even a written essay. Video gives applicants another medium to express their creativity and their uniqueness.

The second question is a little harder to answer. I would say that if you don’t have any idea what to make a video about, then I don’t think you should make a video. I think this video resume is an opportunity for applicants who know that they can express themselves better through a video presentation. If your video doesn’t have the wow factor, you might not want to submit a video. Like the video that influenced Lee Coffin to put video resumes in the Tufts application process, your video should want this video to compel the admissions officer to admit you, without anything else.

To elaborate further, I want to give you an example of a YouTube video that is quite simple but it really shows the admissions officers who this applicant is and why she wants to attend their university while doing it in a way that is endearing and compelling.

This video is pretty simple. She has a pretty voice and decent ukulele playing abilities but it is quite simple. There are no complex CG effects. It is just her, her voice, her ukulele and a webcam. I don’t think this video alone could have gotten her into college but I believe that this video did give her a leg up from another applicant with similar grades, class rank and SAT score. I like this video because it showed that this applicant knew how to use her musical and lyrical skills to her advantage. She is not a classically trained guitarist and she doesn’t have the best voice in the world; however, the presentation worked. When I watched the video, I sincerely wanted her to get in. The only critic I had on that song was I would have liked to see a little more detail on the school but besides that, I do think this supplement worked in her favor.

If you have any videos that you find interesting, please e-mail us at info@collegeofyourdreams.com.