Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:37     Subject: Re:Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:This is mind boggling. These test-optional schools admit a huge % of students w/o SAT/ACT scores. Now they don’t really mean it when it comes to the “optional video”?

Optional videos and essays are a chance to show more about yourself and express some effort toward why this school in particular is a good fit. It’s advantageous to take that opportunity.

Test scores are a static, single data point, and poor ones can hurt, but schools recognize students can have more to offer than a low test score (and in fact, optional essays and videos are places to highlight that). There’s also no effort involved in submitting scores or not. So opting out of test scores is not the same as opting out of essays or videos. If you really want the school, put in the effort.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:35     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
It absolutely does NOT disadvantage the application if you don't submit! Absolutely not.

But it gives you a leg up (sometimes determinative) when you submit one.

If that makes sense.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:34     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Brown is not test optional
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:34     Subject: Re:Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:This is mind boggling. These test-optional schools admit a huge % of students w/o SAT/ACT scores. Now they don’t really mean it when it comes to the “optional video”?


How is the same thing? Explain it to me like I am five. Do you think SAT/ACT scores are important or tell anything useful about a candidate or something?
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:33     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
An admissions officer is down to two candidates for the last spot. One did the video. The other couldn’t have been bothered.

Who do you think they’re choosing?
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:30     Subject: Re:Brown personal video- is it really optional?
This is mind boggling. These test-optional schools admit a huge % of students w/o SAT/ACT scores. Now they don’t really mean it when it comes to the “optional video”?
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:21     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:Optional only means a student doesn't have to complete to be considered. So the real question is whether not doing so is a disadvantage. Schools will generally say "no disadvantage" for optional items. My take, is what they don't explicitly tell you is that completing an optional item advantages the student that does so. It provides more information on the student and shows the student is willing to make the extra effort for their application. They wouldn't ask, if they didnt prefer to see the optional item. That inherently puts a student that does not complete optional items at a disadvantage.

I don't imagine it leaves no chance at all, but in a game of inches, everything matters.

This. If you think of a row of students, not doing the video doesn’t make a student take a step back, but doing the video lets others take a step forward — leaving the ones who don’t behind.

Of course some get in without doing the video, but it’s better to do it.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:17     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
THanks. Apparently, Wash U wanted a video and DC didn't do it. Total waste of an application. DC doesn't share much, including this.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:13     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Anonymous wrote:I don't. I just checked the website with details about the application and I only see information about the essays. There is no mention of this that I see on the website. DC submitted application on the 5th, then received notice about this video. And DC is totally done with the whole application process.



Its listed in the items on the left on the admissions page:

https://admission.brown.edu/first-year
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:10     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Optional only means a student doesn't have to complete to be considered. So the real question is whether not doing so is a disadvantage. Schools will generally say "no disadvantage" for optional items. My take, is what they don't explicitly tell you is that completing an optional item advantages the student that does so. It provides more information on the student and shows the student is willing to make the extra effort for their application. They wouldn't ask, if they didnt prefer to see the optional item. That inherently puts a student that does not complete optional items at a disadvantage.

I don't imagine it leaves no chance at all, but in a game of inches, everything matters.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:09     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
The Brown video is a well-known feature. It is optional, but informal polling reveals that the vast majority of admitted students did one. It is a great chance to win over the admissions officer.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:07     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
At least I think that is what happened. DC isn't sharing much. Is this something I push? Why do colleges make kids complete three essays then add on a video as well. I have heard of college giving kids a chance to do either but not expecting both.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 13:04     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
I don't. I just checked the website with details about the application and I only see information about the essays. There is no mention of this that I see on the website. DC submitted application on the 5th, then received notice about this video. And DC is totally done with the whole application process.
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 12:58     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
You knew the answer already…
Anonymous
Post 01/11/2026 12:57     Subject: Brown personal video- is it really optional?
Hi,

DC is applying to Brown. Didn't realize that there is a video part of the application which is optional. Is it really optional or not? At once college visit to another school, AO said the optional essay was not really optional. Is that the case with Brown. Wish DC had known about this earlier. Definitely would have affected decision to apply, but now feel stuck.