Glimpse Videos

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why Brown has to be so literally extra about their applications. It’s always been this way. When I applied (waitlisted but I took myself off of it because I got into a HYP I preferred), they required you to attach a photo of yourself (not a passport photo but one of your chooosing) and you had to hand-write your essay at a time when everyone else was accepting it printed or typed.

Agree that this seems to be a Brown thing, but I also think it's a determination of whether a student will go that extra mile. Brown has a brand within the Ivies and it wants to maintain that. I think it'll always ask for something a little extra as a result. It's not trying to say it's better, but trying to maintain it's distinction, and the video (and photo requirement you mention) require a little extra thinking. Brown values that, or at a minimum wants to communicate that it does. Other schools do as well of course, but making a big deal out of it is part of Brown's brand. For some kids, this is really appealing. For others, it's off-putting. It may or may not have a role in a student determining if the culture is a good fit. It is what it is!

[Anonymous]

That’s super interesting on the handwritten, I wonder why. Was it the weeding tool of how interested are you like optional essays are now ?!

Mine liked theirs best as the supplementals came easily, schools with less prompts made them feel like the stakes were higher as less opportunity to show themselves. It’s funny, just reread the prompts from last year, and they really make sense to me now that I know school better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That’s super interesting on the handwritten, I wonder why. Was it the weeding tool of how interested are you like optional essays are now ?!

Mine liked theirs best as the supplementals came easily, schools with less prompts made them feel like the stakes were higher as less opportunity to show themselves. It’s funny, just reread the prompts from last year, and they really make sense to me now that I know school better.

I also applied to/went to Brown when they required handwritten essays. My understanding at the time was that it was an anti-cheating measure (although there were rumors that they analyzed your handwriting).

[Anonymous]

My kid nixed submitting the application when he learned of the Glimpse video requirement. It was just too "extra" for his taste, so maybe not a great fit to begin with? FWIW, he did plenty of online and in-person interviews.

Their loss. He's a standout kid...but with strong opinions.

[Anonymous]

My kid made one but not with glimpse. Shu submitted it two places - Rice and WashU maybe? She was kind of dreading it but she enjoyed doing it in the end and personally I thought it was really cute and highlighted her personality. Will see what happens at those schools in a few months.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why Brown has to be so literally extra about their applications. It’s always been this way. When I applied (waitlisted but I took myself off of it because I got into a HYP I preferred), they required you to attach a photo of yourself (not a passport photo but one of your chooosing) and you had to hand-write your essay at a time when everyone else was accepting it printed or typed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t understand why Brown has to be so literally extra about their applications. It’s always been this way. When I applied (waitlisted but I took myself off of it because I got into a HYP I preferred), they required you to attach a photo of yourself (not a passport photo but one of your chooosing) and you had to hand-write your essay at a time when everyone else was accepting it printed or typed.

"Extra" is the reason Brown exists.

[Anonymous]

Does Brown care more about these than other universities do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That’s super interesting on the handwritten, I wonder why. Was it the weeding tool of how interested are you like optional essays are now ?!

Mine liked theirs best as the supplementals came easily, schools with less prompts made them feel like the stakes were higher as less opportunity to show themselves. It’s funny, just reread the prompts from last year, and they really make sense to me now that I know school better.

I also applied to/went to Brown when they required handwritten essays. My understanding at the time was that it was an anti-cheating measure (although there were rumors that they analyzed your handwriting).

I remember those rumors. I had pretty straightforward handwriting but remember a lot of stress about printing vs. cursive. In my memory they required cursive, but that seems insane even for Brown so I probably made it up.

For the photos, the rumor was that they were paying close attention to those even though I remember the visiting admissions officers saying at a big info session for multiple colleges that it was just “to put a name with a face”. They didn’t have alumni interviews in my area then and never visited my school so it’s not like they needed to jog their memory.

A classmate at my HYP later told me that their prep school told them exactly what kind of photos to select: candid, outdoorsy or traveling, and not straight-on. I don’t know if that was based on anything real. Unfortunately mine was basically a mugshot of me smiling at a birthday party. The admissions officials were probably like “wow, a brown-haired girl from the Midwest who has a face, we’re bored already” and waitlisted me in that moment.

[Anonymous]

I thought the Glimpse video sounded completely overwhelming but my daughter went to work on it and in 2 hours had turned out one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It's a beautiful summary of who she is.

I don't think she's exceptionally skilled in this area but is just a product of her generation: very familiar with technology, apps, social media, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How much of decisions will now ride on the video? Rigor, check. Great grades, check. High test score, check. Essays - several for Brown - check.

And now a video. I know there have been a few threads here and there discussing this, but I'm surprised there isn't more discussion than that on videos. Kid doesn't know where to start - what aspect of him haven't already been covered in the 7 responses to Brown?

While my kid writes all his own essays and I edit, I realize AI might have an impact on admissions even though it is, in my opinion, a terrible tool for this purpose. Is the video the new way around this? Wish we could just dump the essays then.

It also occurs to me that there is nothing stopping unscrupulous applicants from having someone else manufacture a video. How would the college even know the identity of the person actually doing the talking? It's not like you present ID. Sorry for my rant, but it just occurred to me what a mess this is.

Thanks for your response. I imagine my kid would do better in a live interview, with the in-person give-and-take of conversation. We'll see what he comes up with for the video. I hadn't really thought about it until after his app was submitted the other day. He is a very chill person, a thinker and listener more than a talker. Good at asking questions. I might suggest he chat about some topics that are meaningful to him for a 60-second Glimpse, but he did already touch on them in the essays, so maybe that's not really the way to go. Sigh.


I am not 100% certain on this, but I thought the videos were answer to being spread too thin with increased applications and not enough alumni to interview.

If it offers anyone peace, I have a child at Brown, and I didn’t like his much. I shared my opinion, but he kept as is. It showed personality and character, but also broke the supposed rules by reiterating EC’s by showing video of a couple. I really think it’s low stake, just ability to communicate and not a super smarty that won’t ever socialize, engage or leave the dorm room.

Telling them they’re a thinker and a listener more than a talker sounds nice to me even with the honesty this isn’t my “thing”. Then a little story where that was a positive attribute. I think authenticity like essays is a good move.

Yes, I think this is perfect!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I thought the Glimpse video sounded completely overwhelming but my daughter went to work on it and in 2 hours had turned out one of the coolest things I've ever seen. It's a beautiful summary of who she is.

I don't think she's exceptionally skilled in this area but is just a product of her generation: very familiar with technology, apps, social media, etc.

Did she talk on a single topic of interest or list a bunch of different things? Curious. My kid is trying to figure out what to say.

[Anonymous]

Sigh, my kid who I think is absolutely charming with a great smile and energy is just completely depleted at this point and his video reflects that. Doesn’t seem like him at all. It’s fine, just boring and no sparkle. Oh well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sigh, my kid who I think is absolutely charming with a great smile and energy is just completely depleted at this point and his video reflects that. Doesn’t seem like him at all. It’s fine, just boring and no sparkle. Oh well.

If Brown wants more male applicants, it needs to dispense of these videos and like feelgoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sigh, my kid who I think is absolutely charming with a great smile and energy is just completely depleted at this point and his video reflects that. Doesn’t seem like him at all. It’s fine, just boring and no sparkle. Oh well.

Same here. There is just nothing left in the tank right now, a few more apps due, and school started back up. The video, or at least presumably doing it well, seems to require the student to completely fake their mood and demeanor, as if they're having a lively conversation with an actual person.