In this video … meet Amelia
Most cities like to build their image around something unique to them.
Memphis, for example, calls itself the birthplace of the blues and the home of rock ‘n roll (sorry Cleveland, it started here).
Nashville lays claim to country music capital of the world.
President George H.W. Bush addresses an audience at Tufts, a school that is hoping to find presidential timber in YouTube video applications from prospective students. (AP Photo/Chitose Suzuki)
Las Vegas is … well, that’s too obvious.
And Boston? Boston is different because Boston boasts education. It is the only city with more college campuses than McDonald’s franchises.
I taught at two of these schools and lived a stone’s throw from a third, Tufts University, which has a great vet school and an undegraduate program rated 28th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report.
That’s why I was somewhat surprised by recent stories about this elite school taking college applications over YouTube. Seriously? As Las Vegas would say, you bet.
Another video features Rachel Goldstein, wearing what looks like a Burger King crown and standing in a tree while playing her guitar and singing a song she wrote.
In a third video, Alex McCue goes acapella from his living room, putting his request to accept him in an original Michael Buble-style song.
These three are joined by many others on the first YouTube screen alone (under the category of “Tufts Video Essays”). Most of the video essays run between 60-90 seconds.
Last week, in this space, we looked at how students are discovering more about potential colleges via the social media. But the reverse of that is also true, as Tufts is showing America: colleges can find out more about prospective students over the same venue.
The Tufts experiment is interesting in more than one way, because this could also turn out to be an ingenous way for colleges and universities to publicize themselves even more on the social media.
A Lot of Takers
The option has become popular according to published reports by Lee Coffin, director of undergraduate admissions at Tufts. Thus far, some 1,000 applicants (out of 15,000) have posted YouTube videos as part of their applications to the school.
Under the school’s “creating something” option, applicants have the option of either creating something on paper or creating a viral video of their uniqueness. The video basically lets the kids have a chat with the admissions officer via video and, in effect, says “This is who I am.”
At least it’s who I am in the virtual world, which is becoming more real with every passing day.
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Comments
This was very funny to me. When I was applying, all they asked for was a paper and your application. What Amelia did was very funny, and interesting to me. This gives people a chance to use there imagination and have a minute of fun! This shows a lot about the person and was very interesting to me. I think this will allow many colleges to pick the people they want because it will actually give them the opportunity to see who the person is behind the essay or the application submitted. Like Kayla said, I think this idea makes is very appealing to this generation and will make it very helpful and give people an opportunity to get accepted into a good school because not many people are given the talent of writing, this will allow them to express themselves in film rather than trying to get there emotions on a piece of paper.
I loved this article. I think that college admissions have a tough time decipering which application stands out the most when it comes down to letting that one student in, or sending that one student’s application home. By utilizing the internet and the changing times of technology, Tuft has made a creative change. I feel by allowing these students to creatively express themselves through a short 60-90 second video can really make an impression. Not all the students are gifted as writers, or test takers, but they may be able to soar in the video and broadcasting lime-light. What a great way to attract students with a different form of application process.
I find this so interesting, odd, and unique all at the same time. I would never have thought that you could make a video to apply to college. I like the idea, but I don’t know if I would have chosen to make a video if I was applying to Tuft. I do think it is very smart of the school to have this option because when I applied for college I found the essay questions to be boring, tough, and rigorous, but having a video option would encourage more students to apply for college. The application process can be very intimidating and it might scare students away from applying, so I think it is a great idea for those students to be able to express themselves in a different manner than essay form.
I had no idea that is was an option at some schools! I certainly wouldnt have ever thought of a video application but i dont necessarily think that it is far fetched. Sport teams at Universities have their athletes send in a video of them playing, just to see what they really can accomplish. It is a very personal way to get to know someone and you get to see their creative side as well. Personally, I dont think that a 60 sec. video is enough to admit someone into their school but it is defenitly a cool thing to hear about.
I thought this sort of idea only took place in Legally Blond. I think that it is a great idea! seeing someone on a video is way more personal than an essay. although the video is only one minute, its a challenge to fit “all of you” in a short period of time. i would have loved to do this instead of writting an essay. i feel like this option gives a chance for colleges to see that there is a real person who has a story and something to say. the bummer is that it is only one minute. instead of a couple pages or so of writting, getting every thinng you have to say in a minute video can be difficult. i think that this is a great idea and i would have loved to take it when i was applying for school.
I find this idea of video applications quite intriguing. My immediate response was “No way that will last.“ But as I have thought more about this, I think it could really have potential. As we all have experienced, writing a college application essay can get incredibly boring and scripted. What I mean is that we write the things we know they want to hear so that they will accept us. I feel that this video application idea may give students the opportunity to show their true selves and say who they really are while still being able to get their point across. Definitely an interesting idea!
I think the idea of utilizing youtube and video chat in order to expand a college application process is awesome. It is tough for some students to get to the university just for an interview with an admissions councilor. Many people do not go to college in the same state so using the internet to communicate “face to screen” is genius. I think that you can only get to know a person if you communicate with them face-to face. If colleges are basing their opinions based on essays and SAT scores then they are missing out on what that person may truly have to offer. If you cannot meet that person face to face and the student’s essay wasn’t all that great, then an option of an online meeting has the potential of being a happy medium.
It is really interesting to me that they have this option for a college application. I remember growing up when I was younger I watched a movie that had a video as the application for a college. For a very long time I was under the impression that this what how it was. I feel like as with all new and innovative ideas, there are pros and cons. Of course I dont know what the rest of the Tufts application looks like, but I feel as if that were the “meat” so to speak of your application, that it would not be substantial enough. At the same time I feel that for those who have been blessed more with puting together a video as apposed to expressing themselves through an essay, this could be mighty beneficial. I think it is very creative and very appealing to this generation, and I might even venture to say that it is probably a lot less stressful than trying to describe yourself through words.
I think that maybe if they could submit an essay along with a 1 minute video that would work well too because for the technically advanced they can be comforted by the success of their video and then the mechanically advanced can be comforted by the success of their essay, but still showing a balanced understanding of both.