If you have been following our blog, you might have picked up on a series that we have been doing where we share our top tips for Ivy League school interviews. We wanted to include Brown, but this one has to be a little different. The reason? Brown is moving away from alumni interviews and is replacing them with videos.
Alumni interviews were not offered for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle and we venture to guess that they won’t be moving forward either. Instead, they have introduced an optional two-minute video introduction. They say that this is more equitable since every student can submit a video but they couldn’t offer every student an alumni interview. We like that in theory, but it does assume that everyone has something they can record video on… Most people do, but something to think about.
The short video is designed for students to show a little bit about them and give the admissions office a chance to attach a face (and personality) to a name. Videos are submitted by logging into the applicant portal and uploading the file directly. You can and should preview your video in the portal (to make sure it uploaded correctly) before hitting submit. Unlike alumni interviews, you probably aren’t going to be doing a ton of these videos. So we wanted to help by sharing some tips.
Tip 1: Don’t just list stuff you have already listed.
Brown shares about a paragraph on what these videos are and you can glean a couple of great tips just from what they told you. They say, “tell us more about yourself beyond the information you provided in your application.” This seems simple, but can be hard for some students. You have already sent them your transcripts, your scores, your extracurriculars, and your essays. You don’t need to tell them about that stuff again. You might be thinking, well what else is there about me? Trust us, there is plenty. Show them something about your personality, your day-to-day life, and or hobbies that didn’t quite make the cut in the activities section. It’s ok to go deeper into something you quickly mentioned, but this shouldn’t be just a rehash of what they already know about you from your application.
Tip 2: Show why you love Brown and why Brown should love you.
In the same paragraph, they say that these videos “offer another avenue to show us who you are and why you are interested in attending Brown.” These are the two big things you should hit in your video. If you are worried about what you want to say in your video, think of this as a prompt, “Who are you and why do you want to go here?” It can be a lot for just two minutes, but try to pepper in a bit about who you are and the type of Brown student you would be. You can connect your interests to interests at Brown. Let’s say you are showing your paintings, mention how you plan on being an Art History minor and why you love that program at Brown. It doesn’t need to be super heavy-handed, but you should mention some things both in and out of the classroom that connects to the type of student you would be at Brown. Don’t be afraid to use specifics and having an academic bend is a good idea.
Tip 3: Formatting kind of counts.
You don’t need to be the next Francis Ford Coppola or Sofia Coppola. Heck, you don‘t even need to be the next Nicolas Coppola (that’s Nic Cage for those not in the know.) But you need to make sure you aren’t being distracting with your camera work. Brown has a video with some of their basic tips on lighting, framing, and sound. Honestly, if you have made a TikTok you probably are better than this. However, it’s probably important for Gen Z to hear that if you are filming on a phone, these should be in landscape and not portrait. Brown won’t care if you think landscape is cheugy. Just do it.
Brown isn’t evaluating you on video or production quality. It is completely fine to film these on a phone. Just make sure you can see your full face and that the lighting and sound aren’t terrible.
Tip 4: Introduce yourself.
You might have a cool concept. You might just be talking about your likes and dislikes, whatever you do, you need to introduce yourself. At the beginning of your video, you should be on camera and say something like "Hi, my name is [insert name] from [high school]." It will make it so much easier for the admissions staff to know exactly whose video they are watching right off the bat.
Tip 5: Get creative.
If you get nervous about this and find yourself googling, “Videos that got into Brown,” you might start thinking you need a stop motion animation or a video of you skydiving while talking about research to get into Brown. You don’t. Don’t get us wrong, if you are a naturally creative person and want to do something wild, that is fine. But if you aren’t, don’t push yourself because you think that is what you need to do.
Brown gives some examples of good videos including a tour of your hometown or favorite place. Talk about a time you were moved by something or something you are an expert in. Go over how your friends would describe you or what makes you happy. You don’t need to do any of these specifically, but if you are feeling lost or stuck, they are a good place to start.
We thought we would add some of our own in case you need more to go on. Take us through a day in your life. Show us what you cook for a meal and why you love it. Think of your favorite book, tv show, movie, etc. how do they introduce the main character? Do your own version. Tell a story about a meaningful experience.
If you aren’t super creative, don’t push yourself to be something you are not. Creativity is best when it’s natural and it’s a skill you want to highlight. That isn’t everyone. Don’t worry; an unrehearsed but well-thought-out introduction and list of things that make you happy are just as good as a Wes Anderson-inspired mini film.
Brown is at the forefront of this video essay trend. Well, Brown and Legally Blonde (we all know Elle did it first.) It might seem scary, but it really doesn’t have to be. Students with no video backgrounds and uncreative videos get into Brown every year, no matter what YouTubers might say. As long as you introduce yourself, show your personality and your interest in Brown, and don’t do it in a pitch-black room, you should be fine!
Need more guidance when it comes to the Ivy League? Reach out, it’s what we do!