Anderson’s Tips for Audio, Video Essay Answer
The Insider’s Blog from UCLA Anderson School of Management recently posted an entry with advice for applicants flummoxed by the multimedia essay question.
So, why does the Admissions Committee want to see/hear your response in audio or video format? The inclusion comes in response to applicants who requested an additional way to present themselves to AdCom before an interview. But it also strengthens the written essays by demonstrating the candidate’s verbal/visual communication skills.
“Based on our experience last year, multimedia gave us additional insights into applicant personality, sense of humor, intonation, verbal skills, creativity, etc,” writes Mae Jennifer Shores, assistant dean of admissions at Anderson.
Here are some suggestions Shores offers to anyone feeling intimidated by the multimedia question:
- Submit a written essay if you prefer that option to an audio or video clip
- Avoid the Shakespeare Syndrome: we are more interested in your ability to communicate cogently and clearly than in your ability to write like a future Nobel Laureate
- Forget the Hollywood Lights: we are more interested in your ability to communicate cogently and clearly than in your ability to present like Elizabeth Taylor or Kirk Douglas
- Listen to a few from audio clips from last year on our MBA home page to get a sense of what applicants submitted (and close your eyes; the animations associated with these clips were created after-the-fact by UCLA film students)
- Learn from your predecessors, who enjoyed creating an audio clip once they got over the fear!
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