Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:it strikes me that they are filtering for something here.

Here are a few successful ones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK1aItRvr78
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR73Z2iyj1c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urs16KaDLP8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sy5M4hwN7Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g_8uNuqw2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-av2fcdtv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC9cF7waU1E

I think personality can really, really tip the scales

These are really cute and they look like the videos they make for social media. They don't look like a professional was involved.

Anonymous wrote:Our essay coach, whom we were referred to by our SAT prep tutor, recommended a production team for the video submissions.

So we have an entire team, but sadly they couldn't supply us with a gaffer, so our DS stepped in and plugged some lights in. He's going to put that down as an EC on his common app. Sometimes opportunities just fall into one's lap!!!

Nice. Now create a 501(c)(3) to help unprivileged kids in Bolivia create video submissions for T25 US college applications. Now DS has a passion project!

Anonymous wrote:it strikes me that they are filtering for something here.

ESL. Colleges have been burned by international kids who can't speak fluent enough English for college classes, but use essay consultants so essays look good. and TOEFL isn't hard. Or international kids who are they don't realize are international because their day students at private and catholic high schools all across the US. This is hugely popular.

Anonymous wrote:Hmmm.
Are they looking for something in these videos?
Race, perhaps? How extroverted/social/articulate/interesting you appear?

I'm curious...
These are the selective schools:
Duke
Brown
UChicago
WashU
Wake
Bowdoin

who else wants these? My kid is applying to 3 of these schools so its front of mind.

Tempted to have my kid copy the Elle Woods video submission word for word and shot for shot.

I know UChicago used to offer interviews and now offers videos as an option instead. I dont see a real difference between schools that offer video options vs schools that highly recommend interviews. In either case, the school will see what you look like or how well you can speak, answer questions etc. Videos certainly do not have to be a big production (literally). My kid just spoke about a topic they enjoyed.

My kid did it with no script, starting at 7ish at night on the due date for two diff schools and was done before 8:30. All shot on kid’s phone and just by the kid. Accepted into many schools. I did give the kid the idea, though, for one of them and it was an excellent video.

Kid said that a bunch if freshman showed their admissions videos in the lobby one day and my kid said almost all were terrible. Meaning: don’t put too munch angst into it.

Anonymous wrote:it strikes me that they are filtering for something here.

Here are a few successful ones:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK1aItRvr78
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR73Z2iyj1c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urs16KaDLP8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sy5M4hwN7Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g_8uNuqw2g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-av2fcdtv
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC9cF7waU1E

I think personality can really, really tip the scales

it strikes me that they are filtering for something here.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Looks and personality. Lots of smart kids out there. Lots of hard working kids. Lots of good looking kids. Lots with great personalities. All those traits together is an advantage and always has been.

So they are looking for smart kids (you can tell that on paper), hardworking (shows in LOR and ECs) and good looking and with great personality (latter two from video)?

So hire an actor, and script writer, production crew. Then when a plain and dull student shows up they can assure they admissions office that it was just great lighting and make-up - not fraud

Anonymous wrote:These are so, so gross.

You may feel that way, but I think a lot of today's kids like the option. It's a medium they're very comfortable with.

what's fascinating is that some of these schools are KNOWN to have the wealthiest student bodies and/or a lot of private/prep school kids (UChicago). Not sure what to make of it.

Duke
Brown (very wealthy student body)
UChicago (disproportionate # of private school)
WashU (very wealthy student body)
Wake (very white and wealthy student body)
Bowdoin

NY Times tool: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/01/1...n-the-bottom-60.html

Median family income:
1. Colorado College ($277,500)
2. WashU ($272,000)
3. Colgate ($270,200)
4. Washington and Lee ($261,000)
5. Trinity College ($257,100)
6. Middlebury ($244,300)
7. Colby ($236,100)
8. Georgetown ($229,100)
9. Bates ($226,500)
10. Tufts ($224,800)
11. Wake Forest ($221,500)
12. Pitzer ($216, 600)
13. Davidson ($213,900)
14. Kenyon ($213,500)
15. Franklin & Marshall ($212,100)
16. Skidmore ($208, 700)
17. Hamilton ($208,600)
18. Elon ($208,300)
19. Lafayette ($205,600)
20. Vanderbilt ($204,500)
21. Bucknell ($204,200)
21. Brown ($204,200)
23. Claremont McKenna ($201,300)
24. Dartmouth ($200,400)
25. Southern Methodist ($198,900)

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/15/1145503.page

Anonymous wrote:

This is exactly what I thought of too. Do this! You can’t go wrong

Anonymous wrote:Looks and personality. Lots of smart kids out there. Lots of hard working kids. Lots of good looking kids. Lots with great personalities. All those traits together is an advantage and always has been.

So they are looking for smart kids (you can tell that on paper), hardworking (shows in LOR and ECs) and good looking and with great personality (latter two from video)?

Looks and personality. Lots of smart kids out there. Lots of hard working kids. Lots of good looking kids. Lots with great personalities. All those traits together is an advantage and always has been.

Anonymous wrote:Hmmm.
Are they looking for something in these videos?
Race, perhaps? How extroverted/social/articulate/interesting you appear?

I'm curious...
These are the selective schools:
Duke
Brown
UChicago
WashU
Wake
Bowdoin

who else wants these? My kid is applying to 3 of these schools so its front of mind.

It helps in all aspects of life if you are good looking and well spoken.