yale mba video essay

The Yale SOM Video Essay Questions – And How to Successfully Answer Them

Sep 18, 2023

Why does Yale require a video essay?

How does the yale video essay work, technical requirements, which types of questions are asked.

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UPDATE : This article was originally posted on September 18, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With curricular flexibility that allows students to take classes across Yale’s many faculties (not just the business school!), Yale SOM is a top choice for engaged, globally-minded leaders who seek to make a meaningful difference in the world, all while benefiting from an Ivy League education.

Despite this fact, many applicants dedicate countless hours to writing Yale’s admissions essays and then rush through the video essay component.

This is a huge mistake.

In addition to giving the admissions committee the chance to “put a face with a name,” the Yale SOM video essay is an essential part of the Yale application, as it allows committee members to determine if your communication style and values are a good fit with the Yale community.

In fact, in our experience helping our Yale applicants secure a place at the school, we have noticed that the video essay can be as influential in an applicant’s admissions decision as the admissions interview .

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you understand how the Yale video essay works and have shared a list of Yale video essay questions to ensure you put your best foot forward!

When we first started working with Yale applicants many years ago, the video essay component had not yet been introduced. However, after being one of the first business schools to incorporate the video essay into their admissions process, this component has quickly become a critical part of the application.

That’s because it gives the admissions committee the chance to truly “meet” candidates — as well as identify red flags in potential members of the Yale community.

Here is what they say about it:

The way the video essay works is very simple.

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from a company called Kira Talent. This email will contain a link that allows you to access the video essay platform.

After signing in and starting the session, you will get three Yale video essay questions in total, one at a time. All will be random, but each question falls into a certain category (more on that below!).

For questions 1 and 3 , you will have 20 seconds to think and 60 seconds to answer.
For question 2 , you will have 30 seconds to think and up to 90 seconds to answer.
You will be able to stop the question and move on if you finish before the time runs out.

If you’ve taken the TOEFL exam , you’ve already practiced for the type of format you can expect in the Yale video essay!

After signing in and “starting” the session, a video will appear on the screen. This video will show a member of the Yale community, who will read the question you are tasked with answering. The question will also appear in written form under the video.

After the time runs out, the screen video will disappear, and your image will be visible on the screen. At this point, your 20 or 30 seconds to think will automatically appear.

After the preparation time runs out, the clock to answer (60 or 90 seconds!) will start, and you will need to give your answer during this period of time. Remember: you cannot redo any of the Yale video essay questions .

After you answer the question, the system will upload your answer to the server (depending on your connection this can take a while) and will present you with the next question.

DO NOT leave your computer during the upload time, even if it’s taking a while. You cannot pause the process, and you may end up missing questions!

The Behavioral Assessment

Yale also has a unique separate video essay requirement: the behavioral assessment .

Unlike the video essay, the behavioral assessment is a fixed-choice assessment conducted by ETS that does not require any previous preparation. It is designed to measure a set of “interpersonal and intrapersonal competencies associated with business school success,” according to the Yale SOM site.

The behavioral assessment should be completed in a single sitting and should take you about 20 minutes to complete.

Given past applicants’ issues with iPad and mobile versions of the application, we strongly suggest you record your answer on a computer .

If you do end up experiencing technical issues, access the support page here .

Regardless of when you submit your application, you need to submit your responses to the Yale video essay questions no more than 48 hours after the round’s deadline . Find Yale’s most current application deadlines here.

If you submit your application early, you can submit the Yale video essay questions at any time, as long as you make the final deadline.

The Yale video essay questions are grouped into three different categories, each with a different focus.

Group 1: MBA Motivations

The first question in the Yale SOM video essay will focus on your interest in Yale or the reason you are pursuing an MBA.

(Photo courtesy of @yalesom on Instagram)

This might take the form of “Why Yale?”, or “What are you expecting to learn at Yale?”. Conversely, they may also ask why you think now is a good moment in your career to stop and go to business school. They obviously want to be sure that you have researched Yale and have good reasons for applying for an MBA.

For this section, refer back to your goals essay , reflect, and be honest with yourself about why you’re applying to Yale. Maybe you like the program’s focus on diversity, maybe the raw case method, or perhaps you have colleagues who attended and spoke highly of Yale.

The curriculum should also be a selling point for you, as well as the clubs and campus life, the diversity of the students, the experience of the teachers, and the internships and alumni network.

Now, please don’t reel off that list! It won’t be personal enough to you.

Instead, clearly articulate your top three or four reasons for applying to Yale , and speak about them.

You don’t need to spend much time introducing this topic, saying “There are three main reasons why I want to attend Yale” and then giving us the reasons is more than enough.

It’s always good to include something that shows you’ve researched the program, so mentioning something specific, be it the academic modules or a specific club you want to join is a must for a winning video essay.

Group 2: Behavioral questions

Yale is a community that values purpose-driven, adaptable people who work well in teams and are strong communicators.

For that reason, Yale often asks questions aimed at determining if you work well with others and will be a positive addition to the Yale community.

These questions won’t specifically ask, “Do you like working in a team,” but if you can keep in mind that this is a chance to show how you interact with others, you’ll have a good starting point for this question.

Typically questions range from how you help someone who needs advice, to your management style to how you handle conflict.

To do well in this question, it’s great to draw on examples , and to be clear and to the point. Furthermore, make sure to show your human side and demonstrate that you genuinely care for others and want the teams you join to succeed. It can be easy to answer in a very conversational way, but doing so can often lead to an answer without a point, so make sure you use your planning time to structure the key elements of your answer.

For this question, you want to make sure you’re showing what you do and use active language.

Your answer will want to show that you’re mature, that you’re emotionally intelligent, that you can see the bigger picture, that you’re empathetic, and that you make a positive contribution to those around you.

If the question is about helping someone with a problem, tell us what you do. Perhaps you first like to listen, then help them get clear on what they really want, and then decide together on some next steps.

If the question is about your management style, be precise. Tell them how you manage people and why. Maybe you’re very hands-off, and like to give everyone the opportunity to take responsibility within their role, as you think this empowers them the most to learn and develop. Maybe you’re more hands-on and like to make sure your team knows they can come to you with problems, as giving people too much freedom too soon can actually be overwhelming to them.

Regardless, make sure to show your reasons for your actions and demonstrate that you’re a person who embraces collaboration and who sees setbacks as opportunities for learning.

Group 3: The thinking question

In addition to the traditional interview questions, you will also be required to answer a thinking question (similar to a case study) during the Yale video essay.

The key to the thinking question is to see how you think on your feet (and, as a result, test how well you’ll do with Yale’s raw case method ).

The point of this task is to see if you can present a clear idea and demonstrate good critical thinking abilities, not to get the “right” answer. As such, focus on using your answer to walk through a clear, well-reasoned answer to the prompt.

Sample Questions

To help your preparation, here are a few sample Yale video essay questions that our clients received when completing their own Yale video essays.

Group 1 Questions

Why are you pursuing an MBA at this point in your life?
Why are you doing an MBA now?

Group 2 Questions

You are starting a new project with team members coming from different cultures and educational backgrounds. How would you help them get to know each other?
What do you do when someone comes to you with a problem?
A colleague is asking you to help them assess their future career options. How do you help them grow?

Group 3 Questions

Please respond to the following statement: “It is better for a leader to have a superficial knowledge of many topics than to be an expert in one topic.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Providing health insurance for employees is the most pressing issue for business leaders at the moment. Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Please respond to the following statement: “It is more important to judge people by their actions than by their intentions.” Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The difference between a good and great Yale SOM video essay

Given the importance of the video essay in your Yale SOM application, it’s crucial to make sure you don’t just have a good video essay but that you have a great video essay.

Now that you’ve learned how the video essay will work, we’ve gathered our top 5 tips here to ensure your video essay performance brings you one step closer to reaching your goal of attending Yale.

Make sure you get into Yale SOM

You have stressed about every aspect of your Yale application, and now you are ready to record your video essay! With the right preparation, this can be your chance to shine and get a highly-coveted spot at Yale.

However, maybe you don’t know where to start in preparing, or maybe you ramble on and lose your focus while answering. Maybe you’ve even downloaded the sample questions and written out your answers. The problem is, when you try to apply these templates to your own story, it doesn’t quite work.

Our video essay prep focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself to Yale while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic.

Regardless of where you’re from or what type of experience you have, we are focused on helping you do your best.

Want to put the Ellin Lolis advantage to work for you? Schedule your preparation session with our team of video essay experts today!

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Yale MBA Essay for 2023-2024

Is the Yale School of Management on your list of target MBA programs? Then get ready to hit the ground running. The Yale MBA essay and deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions season has been confirmed. After six years of asking the same single prompt, Yale SOM has broadened the possibilities for applicants to share what resonates most with them.

Required Yale MBA Essay

From the Yale SOM: We want to know what matters to you, and our essay question is designed to help us gain insight into your background, passions, motivations, responsibilities, ideals, identities, challenges, or aspirations, depending on where you take your response. To ensure that you’re able to write about something important to you, we offer you three essay prompts from which to choose:

Option 1) Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it?

Option 2) Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?

Option 3) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?

Choose the prompt that speaks most strongly to you and about which you have the most enthusiasm. In answering the prompt – whichever one it is – you should think about the life experiences that have been most meaningful to you and that you most want to communicate to the committee, and pick the question that will best allow you to express that aspect of yourself. We find that the most compelling essays are the ones that are truly most important to you, so make sure that’s your guide in choosing what to write about; don’t try to guess what we’re looking for or what you think we want to hear. Importantly, regardless of which prompt you choose, you’ll want to support your essay with concrete examples.

Importantly, regardless of which prompt you choose, you’ll want to support your essay with concrete examples.

Optional Information

Per the SOM: The Optional Information section is truly optional. It’s not an additional required essay – if no aspect of your application requires further explanation, you should leave this section blank. In most cases, we get all the information we need from the various components of your application and there is no need to complete this section.

However, if you think the Admissions Committee would benefit from a brief explanation regarding any aspect of your application, you may provide it in the Optional Information section. Your general approach should be that if there is something you feel is material to your candidacy that you are not able to include in another section of the application, put it here.

Here are some examples: Consider providing additional context if it will allow us to better understand your academic performance, promotions or recognitions, or other information that is not apparent from the rest of your application. If you’ve taken concrete steps to mitigate a weaker element of your application or have an accomplishment that does not fit anywhere else in the application, you might include that here. Note that you should use the specific prompts provided in the Work Experience section to address gaps in work experience or choice of recommender. And if you would like to provide additional details to expand on any information provided in the Background Information section, you’re encouraged to do so in the “Supplemental Detail” area within that section.

For more information on applying, please visit the Yale SOM admissions website. If you need guidance on your Yale MBA essay and application or wish to discuss your business school plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the expertise on our consulting team :

Did you know that SBC offers test prep services ? We’ve recruited a team of best in class instructors who will help you recognize your individual learning style, discover holes in your foundation knowledge and set manageable yet ambitious goals. We focus on a deep understanding of the content, and later a grasp of smart test strategies. Let SBC’s long tradition of excellence support all aspects of your application process.

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November 12, 2019

Yale MBA: The Inside Scoop on The Essay, Videos & Behavioral Assessment [Episode 338]

Listen to the podcast with Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean & Dir. of Admissions at Yale SOM

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Interview with Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions at Yale School of Management [Show Summary]

Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions at Yale School of Management, shares the school’s unique approach to admissions . Yale SOM tries through its application process to gain a 360-degree view of a candidate and is constantly working to refine the formula for admitting the best candidates to Yale.

Bruce DelMonico discusses the unique features of Yale SOM’s curriculum and the value of the Yale MBA [Show Notes]

It gives me great pleasure to have back on Admissions Straight Talk and introduce Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions at Yale School of Management . He has been on the admissions team at Yale since 2004, becoming the Director in 2006 and the Assistant Dean in 2012.

Let’s start with the basics. Can you give me a brief overview of the distinctive elements of Yale SOM’s full-time program? [2:09]

There are three things I would point to. Among U.S. business schools I think we are the most integrated with our home university . Students truly can take advantage of all Yale has to offer and be involved in the whole university community. We are also the most global business school in the U.S., really focused on creating a global mindset. It is built into our curriculum, and with 45% of our students being non-U.S. citizens, that permeates the community. Last, we are the best source of elevated leaders across all regions and sectors. You will get accounting, finance, and marketing just like every business school, but we teach in a different way. It is very interdisciplinary. Your career will not be functionally siloed like the past, so we teach subjects in a way that reflects that. We utilize a lot of raw cases, so even in the classroom students are learning real world skills, since other people will not be making decisions for you in your future jobs.

What’s new at Yale SOM? [5:15]

The biggest thing is we have a new dean who started July 1st. Kerwin Charles joined us from the University of Chicago. He is a labor economist. So far he has had lots of town halls, and has been thoughtful, diligent, and caring about the school and understanding of its mission and values. He is doing a wonderful job of listening and learning at this point, and we are very excited to have him. We also have a new one- year master’s program – an MMS in Asset Management that complements our other one year master’s programs. It takes advantage of being in the hedge fund corridor. With our one-year programs we are building out a portfolio of courses and more advanced curriculum that business school students can take advantage of.

There seems to be increasing interest in deferred admission programs. Yale has one of the older ones. Can you tell us about the Silver Scholars program? What are you looking for in applicants to this program? [10:08]

You start at Yale the fall after you finish college. It is a three-year program including the internship. Student do their first-year, core MBA courses and then do an extended one year internship. They then come back for the second academic year, which is entirely electives. The idea is that students learn what their gaps are during that year, and then can address them with the electives to become a more complete leader. It is more accelerated that most deferred programs, and for us makes more sense in terms of what you are able to accomplish and optimize at certain points in your career. In terms of what we are looking for, the application is the same for non-Silver Scholar applicants. We tend to weight academics and test scores more heavily since they don’t have fulltime work experience. We do look at internships as well, but more as markers for what an applicant is able to accomplish in a limited time and the propensity to lead and take on potential roles. It is important to have some sense of direction career-wise , as well, as there should be some reason to justify choosing the accelerated program.

How do Silver Scholars do in terms of job placement? [13:41]

They get the same jobs as MBAs after they graduate. The internship is more of an analyst position, but by the time they graduate they are getting the same jobs as a non-Silver Scholar.

Is there any flexibility in the one-year internship – can they do it for longer? [15:04]

We are quite flexible with leaves of absence so that is not a problem. It also doesn’t have to be one one-year internship, it could be two six-month internships, four three-month internships, etc.

You have written:

“we put a lot of thought into how our application is constructed. our guiding principle is to only ask questions that are relevant to evaluating an applicant’s candidacy, and as a result our application tends to be shorter than that of many other schools. “we also try to get the fullest picture of you possible. “, can you go into the purpose of some of the different elements of the application [18:16].

the resume,
Yale’s single essay,
the video component,
the behavioral assessment
two professional recommendations, and
the interview.

We try not to be redundant and to be more three dimensional with our process. We are not just using the written word, but also different modes of information gathering to be more intentional about how we learn things about you.

The resume speaks to past work experience, the idea being that past performance is predictive of future performance.
We also ask for transcripts , again with the idea being that it will be predictive of performance here via past academic performance. Every year we do analyze outcomes through regression models to predict success.
We look at test scores , and accept both the GMAT and GRE.
We used to have three essays and we are down to one essay now to make space for other elements of the application. The single essay asks to describe your biggest commitment. The idea is that to be successful you need to be action-oriented – what have you done in support of your commitment, what behaviors have you demonstrated.
We also have video questions , which are three 60-90 second answers. One is about our mission, one is behavioral about the MBA, and one is about thought process. We have a light touch with the video element, but we want to get more of a sense of you beyond the paper application. It came about initially to use instead of the TOEFL, since there were applicants who had high scores but poor spoken English or vice versa. Making this change has made it much more efficient in terms of whom we invite to the interview stage, and has helped operationally as well.

The behavioral assessment was originally developed by the military and is now owned by ETS (Educational Testing Service) and used for professional development. It is a pilot for ETS and us, and the first time used in a high-stakes context. It is a series of 120 statement pairs and you have to decide which are akin to you. It is adaptive and takes about 20 minutes to complete. It shows behavioral and interpersonal dimensions. The idea is to get a picture of you that is different from any other aspect of the application. We are hoping it is more objective and consistent as opposed to subjective like an essay. The motivation is like with the TOEFL, where while generally predictive, we see plenty of people who score high on the test but can’t speak English well. So, what are other qualities that will help us identify high score underperformers and low score overperformers. The hope is that we can be more open to candidates who have more modest scores and grades, but who will do well in the program.
Interviews are conducted primarily by students who have not seen the entire application. 1/3 of applicants are interviewed, and about 2/3 of interviewees are admitted. We do recognize it can be subjective so that is not the make or break aspect.
Recommendations are challenging because we don’t want candidate evaluations to hinge on the recommender’s expansiveness, so we have a structured grid we ask them to use with behavioral cues. We try and control for variables and standardize across recommenders, as we do across all elements of the application.

I want to stress that no single piece of an application will make or break an individual’s candidacy.

For the class of 2021, the middle 80% GMAT range was 680 -760 and the middle 80% GPA ranges was 3.34 – 3.92. The medians were 720 for the GMAT, 330 for the GRE, and 3.66 for the undergrad GPA. What do you look for besides stats? How does one get in with below average stats? [38:30]

We are not looking for one thing, and we do value diversity, which means many different things – race, gender, citizenship, political thoughts, etc. We are interested in putting together a class that is not identical. They can have other things that make them stand out. Essentially, show qualities that we value that would not appear in the academics or testing but speak to the strength of your candidacy in other ways.

Recently there has been a lot of talk about “the sky is falling” with regard to MBA programs, and reached a crescendo with the “Is the MBA Worth It?” article in the WSJ, where their answer was no. How would you address this thinking? [41:51]

The refrain definitely has picked up. I am obviously an interested party, but really feel that the value of the MBA has not diminished. It still has the same benefits to its graduates that it always did. You can look at ROI, and it’s maybe even stronger when you look at how salaries keep going up. There are many things contributing to the decline in applications. For non-U.S. candidates, there are visa issues and the political climates. For U.S. candidates, it is a strong job market, and folks wanting to stay in jobs because of the tight market. Eventually that will change. One other variable is the growth in one-year masters programs – they have taken some people out of the MBA pipeline. To me they are technical degrees and don’t have the same upside, like the learning about being a leader. The MBA gives you choice and flexibility to do whatever you want in a professional context, and I think that is underappreciated still. So yes, application numbers have gone down but I don’t think the value has gone down at all. When conditions change it will return to a different equilibrium. One other aspect is that alumni are overwhelmingly satisfied with their degrees.

What is the biggest challenge applicants face in presenting a compelling case for acceptance? [47:42]

On a macro scale, one is that candidates will try to shape their candidacy based on what the school is known for. “I am the marketing candidate for the marketing school,” for example. There may have been a time when schools were known for one thing, but those days are gone. Every top school is strong in a range of areas and looking for students who are diverse. It makes you look less strong if you try to shade your candidacy to your perception of what the school is interested in. You aren’t differentiating yourself. The other is that you want to put your best foot forward. Those who are successful don’t ignore their weaknesses or run away from them. There is no such thing as a perfect candidate and acknowledging and incorporating weaknesses into your candidacy is helpful – we will see them, so contextualize and address them on your terms as opposed to ours. Doing so also shows self-awareness and humility, which is important. If you ignore them it shows you don’t have perspective and makes other aspects of your candidacy less strong.

What would you have liked me to ask you? [52:33]

I’d turn the question around and ask what is your take on the value of the MBA?

Linda: The irony is I was in the process of writing an article when the Wall Street Journal article came out, but I think my answer would be more nuanced. I am a big fan of the MBA, have one myself, and recognize it has done a lot for me. I do feel that the sticker price is a problem – tuition increases have vastly outpaced inflation. At the same time, I think now is a fantastic time to apply.

Applications are down, which makes it a little easier to get into a top school, and there is less competition for financial aid. Fearing the sticker price means potentially missing out on life changing opportunities. Obivously you need to make a decision based on where you’re at and where you want to go with your career. Then you need to ask “Is the benefit of getting where you want to go worth the cost?” There are some people for whom the MBA isn’t worth it if they don’t get into a certain program, but the idea that the sky is falling and it’s a terrible time is just wrong in my opinion. Again, GMAC data shows overwhelmingly positive responses from alums, and salaries are good. Be thoughtful and purposeful about your MBA decision, and it can be a tremendous benefit to one’s career and life.

Listen to the podcast interview with Dr. Micaela Godzich!

MBA Video Essay Samples

Featured Expert: Aali Malik, MBA

Are you curious about the MBA video interview questions/MBA video essay? You're not the only one. This relatively new application component has become a part of the admissions process for several top business schools, including some Ivy League schools like Yale University's school of management and other prestigious institutions like MIT . MBA video interviews or essays can be challenging for applicants, mainly because most applicants are unsure how to prepare for them. Much like with other interview formats and essays, the key to success is practice! In this blog, we will share some common MBA video essay prompts so that you have some questions to practice with, and we will also provide some sample answers to those questions to help you prepare.

>> Want us to help you get accepted? Schedule a free strategy call here . <<

Article Contents 6 min read

What are mba video interview questions/video essays.

MBA video interviews and MBA video essays are short, self-recorded videos where candidates answer questions given by the admission committee in a video instead of writing. This application component has simply been added to the admission process of some business schools; it does not replace any other written MBA admission essay or the final interview for admission.

It's also important to note that because this concept is relatively new in the MBA application process, business schools refer to it by different names. For example, Kellogg Business School and London Business School both call it a video essay, while INSEAD refers to it as Video Interview, and MIT refers to it as a Video Statement. Ultimately, these are all the same thing. The only thing that may vary is the format of the video essay.

There are two main types of MBA video essays:

This format asks candidates to record a short video answering a specific question or prompt given by the admission committee. The timeframe and questions or topics are usually provided beforehand, thus giving you more time to think through your answers and ensure that your video essay is of the best quality. ","label":"Pre-recorded video essays","title":"Pre-recorded video essays"}]" code="tab1" template="BlogArticle">

Kellogg Business School

Kellogg business school is one of the pioneers of the MBA video essay. This component was added to their already thorough application process in 2013 and is here to stay. Kellogg no longer publishes their admission statistics, but in previous years, the acceptance rate was roughly 20%, making it one of the most selective business schools in the world. To apply to Kellogg’s MBA programs, applicants must submit two written MBA admission essays , and answer 3 MBA video essay questions.

Kellogg Business School's acceptance rate

The Kellogg MBA video essay comprises three essay prompts. Applicants have 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to answer each question. The first two questions are predefined, and the third question is usually randomized. It should be noted that this is subject to change. For example, not too long ago, the admissions committee was specifically asking students about their experience with COVID as a third question instead of using a random prompt. So, it is always best to verify the school’s website for the most up-to-date information.

My name is Angela Faye, and I am a corporate lawyer from New York City. I was born in Normandy, France, but I moved to the United States at the age of eighteen to attend university. I quickly fell in love with the melting pot of cultures found in New York and the different aspects of American culture. So, I decided to stay and make a life for myself here. I am a wife and mother to two beautiful children who look up to me and for whom I'd like to set a good example by doing what it takes to accomplish my goals. One of those goals is to open a law firm of my own, and I believe that the next step for me on my journey to making that happen is to gain more knowledge and experience in business administration and management. ","label":"Sample answer","title":"Sample answer"}]" code="tab2" template="BlogArticle">

I aim to own and operate an affordable, sustainable clothing brand that caters to women of all sizes and body types. I have been working towards this goal for the past five years. I own a personal shopping business, and I have noticed how limited the options are for ethically made clothes, especially for women with different body shapes. In the past five years, I have taken the time to research and learn about the logistics of the clothing industry, study the market and begin gathering funds for this project. The next step for me is to gain even more knowledge about what it takes to successfully and ethically run a business while networking with some of the best business minds in the world. Based on my research, the best place for me to do that is at Kellogg business school. ","label":"Sample answer","title":"Sample answer"}]" code="tab3" template="BlogArticle">

This is the power that the main character of the sci-fi show Heroes possesses. This power allows you to learn and replicate the abilities of those in close proximity to you. This means that you would be able to learn a wide array of abilities, including flight, invisibility, and anything else that exists. To succeed, you need to be prepared and have multiple tools at your disposal. This superpower definitely gives you that. ","label":"Sample answer","title":"Sample answer"}]" code="tab4" template="BlogArticle">

Be sure to read some Kellogg MBA essay examples for inspiration! Here are a 10 additional common Kellogg MBA video essay questions that you can use to practice:

What piece of technology could you not live without and why?
Who do you approach when you have a problem for advice and why?
What accomplishment are you really proud of?
What's the best piece of advice you have ever received?
If you were given a chance to meet anyone, current or historical, who would you meet and why?
What was the most interesting class you took at university?
How have you changed in the last five years?
What risk have you taken, and what did you learn?
What impact do you have on your co-workers?
What inspires you?

The University of Toronto is not only one of the best universities of Ontario , but it attracts candidates from all over the world yearly. So it is not surprising that Rotman school of management is an increasingly popular choice for MBA hopefuls. To get into Rotman, you need to ace the MBA video interview/MBA admission essay.

The university uses the Kira talent platform, which uses both video and text. Applicants will answer two different questions on video and one question in writing. For the video portion of this MBA video interview, candidates will hear the question, have 30 seconds to think, and then 90 seconds to answer. The questions used during the interview will vary, but we looked at a few past prompts so that we can share sample answers and questions for you to practice with.

I decided to cut back on my hours at the tutoring center, and I enlisted the help of a different student so that I could delegate some tasks and have more time to study. That experience taught me a lot about time management. ","label":"Sample answer","title":"Sample answer"}]" code="tab5" template="BlogArticle">

I would much rather be good and on time than perfect and late. Nothing is perfect. We can try to get as close to perfect as possible, but there comes the point where chasing perfection becomes a waste of time, and time is far too valuable to be wasted. If something is good and on time, then it will stand out, and you may even have a chance to improve on it and \"perfect\" it while it is already operational. For example, recently, I was assigned to design the logo for a new client, and when the deadline came, I found that the product was not perfect. I wanted to fix it up a little more, but I realized that it would be best to give my clients something good on time and get their feedback so that we can work together to perfect it. ","label":"Sample answer","title":"Sample answer"}]" code="tab6" template="BlogArticle">

Here are a 10 additional MBA video essay questions from Rotman that you can use to practice:

Who is your mentor outside your family, and why?
Apart from money, what else would keep you in your current organization?
What is one good habit, and what is one bad habit of yours?
If you had to delete all apps but three from my phone, which ones would I keep and why?
If you got a chance, what subject would you teach?
Out of the four seasons, which do you like the most and why?
What is one good habit and one bad habit that you have?
If you had no financial downsides from quitting your job, what job would you prefer to be doing?
Which of the following aspects of your life are you most in touch with: emotional, spiritual, or physical?
If you could have anyone over for dinner, who would it be?

Yale University is an Ivy League institution with a worldwide reputation and a highly selective admissions process. The video interview component for Yale School of Management uses a set of randomized, previously recorded questions. This means that applicants will likely not have the same set of questions in one interview cycle. The school's website states that the questions asked are similar to typical interview questions. In other words, while the video essay may not have "trick questions," it will have some tricky ones. One tip we can give you is to prepare for your MBA interview early. This will not only improve your chances of doing well during your MBA interview, but it will also help you with your performance on this MBA video essay component.

Yale video essay comprises three questions. Applicants will have 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to answer the first two questions. For the third question, applicants will have 30 seconds of preparation time and 90 seconds to answer. Let's take a look at some of the prompts that have been used for Yale MBA video essays in the past:

I have wanted to pursue a Master's in Business Administration for a few years now, but I needed to accomplish a few things before embarking on this journey. First, I needed to get a few years of practical experience after spending most of my undergraduate years learning business theories. Secondly, I wanted enough savings to cover most of the tuition fees and expenses. I plan on giving my studies my full attention for the next two years, and I find that the best way to do that is to pace yourself and remove as many distractions as possible. Having enough money to ensure that my tuition is paid gives me more choices and allows me to focus on that instead of anything else. ","label":"Sample answer","title":"Sample answer"}]" code="tab7" template="BlogArticle">

As a business owner, I often find myself in a position where I have to make difficult decisions or handle challenging situations. Recently, I had to decide whether it was time to let go of our office building and become a fully remote company or for a hybrid model for my employees. Everyone, from the senior management staff to the part-workers, had a different opinion. In the end, even though I listened to what they had to say, I had to compare what they were saying to what the numbers showed. Our statistics showed that most of the team was actually performing better from home and that we would save considerable money if we kept working online and spent some money on communication networks that would allow us to communicate better as a team. ","label":"Sample answer","title":"Sample answer"}]" code="tab8" template="BlogArticle">

\"Without Arts, an education can not be accomplished.\" I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. People learn in different ways, and many of those ways include various pieces of art. For example, I am a visual learner. So Whenever a presentation, poster, or textbook includes images, I tend to remember it better. Furthermore, because artists and the world of arts, in general, are a big part of our culture, one cannot claim to be educated about the world without at least understanding some of it. ","label":"Sample answer","title":"Sample answer"}]" code="tab9" template="BlogArticle">

Here are a 10 additional Yale SOM MBA video essay questions that you can use to practice:

What is the biggest challenge facing leaders today?
Tell us about a creative solution you designed
Please respond to the following statement: "Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand." Do you agree or disagree? why?
Do you agree or disagree with the notion that the chief executive's first priority should be a profit for shareholders?
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Tell us about a shortcut you and a team could have taken, but decided not to
If we asked your colleagues about your weaknesses and strengths, what would they say ?
How will you resolve a conflict with your future classmates at the program?
Tell us about a difficult decision and how you handled it?
"The People who we remember most are the people who break the rules." Do you agree or disagree with this statement?

MBA video essays should not be underestimated. While the questions and format used by the business schools are not designed to trick you, they are definitely intended to challenge you. This means that it gives you a chance to rise to the challenge and the admissions committee a chance to find out which candidates took the time to research and prepare for this application component. If you're reading this blog, then you have already taken a step in the right direction by looking at common video essay prompts and sample answers. To prepare further, we recommend using the questions we listed to practice. Remember that these video essays are timed, so familiarize yourself with the time limits by using a timer while practicing. You should also take the time to set up and test your equipment before your interview, to make sure it is stable and that your background is appropriate. If you truly want to maximize your chances of success, you should consider working with an MBA essay consultant or participating in MBA mock interviews.

The level of competition will depend on the specific school you're applying to, but MBA programs are generally quite selective.

This is a relatively new application component used by a few business schools. Essentially, they are short videos during which candidates answer essay questions given by the admission committee.

The admission committee typically provides questions or prompts for your video essay. You should verify the admissions information of the school you are applying to, as some schools make the questions to the video essay available in advance.

No, not all of them do. Video essays and Video interviews are still a relatively new practice. They are only used by a few business schools in the world, but the practice is rising in popularity, so it is best to be prepared.

There are a few schools around the globe that require MBA video essays, including Yale, Kellogg, MIT, Rotman, London Business School, INSEAD, etc.

Yes. Most business schools ask for both written essays and video essays. Some schools also include a written essay in their MBA video interview process, like Rotman, for example.

The video essay serves a similar purpose as the MBA personal statement or MBA diversity essay . If you meet the standards set by the admission committee, you may still get called for an in-person or virtual interview.

You can prepare by planning or structuring your answers in advance, timing yourself when you rehearse, participating in mock interviews, and investing in MBA admissions consulting.

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Lights, Camera, Acceptance: Crafting Compelling Video/Kira Essays for MBA Admissions

By Arvind Kumar

23 September 2023

In recent years, the MBA admissions process has evolved to incorporate various innovative elements, and one such element gaining prominence is the video essay.

While traditional written essays and standardized test scores remain significant factors in the application, many top-tier business schools have started asking applicants to submit video essays.

Video essays allow candidates to showcase their personality, communication skills, and suitability for the MBA program.

In this article, we will delve into the why and how of video essays for MBA admissions, examining their significance, the qualities admissions committees seek, and tips for acing video essays at some of the top business schools.

We’ve also compiled the list of video essay questions for B-schools that include this component in their application process: Northwestern Kellogg, INSEAD, Rotman, Yale SOM, MIT Sloan, Oxford Saïd, IESE and IE.

Why Business Schools Ask for a Video Essay

What do mba video essays entail, types of video essays, northwestern kellogg, rotman school of management, oxford saïd, iese business school, ie business school, creating video/ kira essays for mba admissions: tips for pre-recorded and impromptu versions, final thoughts.

Business schools request video essays as part of the MBA admissions process for various reasons. These video essays offer a unique opportunity to assess applicants beyond traditional written materials.

Here’s a list of 10 key qualities that business schools are looking for in applicants and how different aspects of the video essay can help assess these qualities:

Communication Skills

Quality Demonstrated: Clarity of Expression
Video Essay Component: The ability to articulate thoughts coherently and persuasively in the video.

Authenticity

Quality Demonstrated: Genuine Self-Presentation
Video Essay Component: Authenticity is revealed through unscripted, spontaneous responses that show the real personality of the applicant.

Confidence and Poise

Quality Demonstrated: Ability to Handle Pressure
Video Essay Component: Maintaining confidence and composure while responding to unexpected questions or prompts.
Quality Demonstrated: Ability to Capture Attention
Video Essay Component: Keeping the viewer engaged by using storytelling techniques and compelling anecdotes.

Cultural Fit

Quality Demonstrated: Alignment with School Values
Video Essay Component: Demonstrating enthusiasm for the school and its culture through genuine expressions of interest.

Problem-Solving Skills

Quality Demonstrated: Analytical Thinking
Video Essay Component: Responding effectively to complex or challenging questions, showcasing problem-solving abilities.

Leadership Potential

Quality Demonstrated: Presence and Influence
Video Essay Component: Portraying oneself as a confident and impactful leader who inspires and motivates others.

Teamwork and Collaboration

Quality Demonstrated: Ability to Work Well with Others
Video Essay Component: Sharing experiences highlighting teamwork, cooperation, and the ability to collaborate effectively.

Adaptability

Quality Demonstrated: Flexibility and Resilience
Video Essay Component: Adapting to unexpected prompts and situations, demonstrating the ability to think on one’s feet.

Passion and Drive

Quality Demonstrated: Enthusiasm and Commitment
Video Essay Component: Conveying genuine passion for one’s goals and showcasing the drive to make a meaningful impact.

These qualities are essential for success in an MBA program and in the business world. The video essay serves as a valuable tool for admissions committees to assess these qualities in applicants, allowing them to make more informed decisions about who would thrive in their academic environment and contribute positively to their MBA community.

As an applicant, you should use the video essay as an opportunity to showcase your unique strengths and qualities that set you apart from the competition.

MBA video essays involve candidates responding to prompts from the admissions committee through self-recorded videos instead of relying on written responses.

This component has been introduced as an additional element in the application process for select business schools, without replacing traditional written MBA admission essays or the final admission interview.

It’s worth highlighting that due to the relatively recent incorporation of this concept into the MBA application process, different business schools may use varying terminology.

For instance, Kellogg Business School may label it as a video essay, while INSEAD may term it a Video Interview, and MIT may refer to it as a Video Statement. Despite the nomenclature differences, they all essentially entail the same process, with the only potential variation being the video essay’s format.

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There are generally two types of video essays asked in MBA admissions: Live/Impromptu and Pre-recorded. Each type serves a unique purpose and presents its own set of challenges and advantages.

Live/Impromptu Video Essays

Live or impromptu video essays require MBA applicants to respond to questions or prompts in real time.

Candidates are typically given a limited amount of time to prepare their thoughts, often ranging from 30 seconds to a few minutes. Once the preparation time is up, they must begin recording their response immediately.

This format aims to assess an applicant’s ability to think on their feet, communicate clearly, and maintain composure under pressure. Admissions committees use live video essays to gauge an individual’s spontaneity, poise, and how effectively they can address unexpected topics or situations.

Pre-recorded Video Essays

Pre-recorded video essays, on the other hand, allow MBA applicants more control over the timing of their responses.

In this format, candidates receive a set of questions or prompts in advance and are allotted a specific amount of time to record their answers. This time frame typically ranges from a few hours to several days, depending on the business school’s requirements.

Pre-recorded video essays allow applicants to carefully craft and rehearse their responses, emphasizing their communication skills, creativity, and thoughtfulness in addressing the given prompts. This format allows for a more polished presentation but still evaluates an applicant’s ability to convey their ideas effectively through video.

Which business schools ask to submit a video essay?

Applicants are required to complete three video essay questions as part of their application.

These questions provide a valuable opportunity for candidates to showcase their personality, communication skills, and alignment with Kellogg’s values. The video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline, so plan your application timeline accordingly.

Remember that you have a 20-second preparation period and up to one minute to respond. Use the prep time wisely to outline your answer mentally, and then deliver a clear and concise response within the allotted minute.

Let’s delve into each of the three video essay questions:

Question 1: Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee.

The introduction sets the tone for your application.

Be concise, authentic, and memorable. Start with a brief overview of your background, highlighting key experiences that have shaped your journey.

Mention your name, current profession, and what drives your passion for pursuing an MBA at Kellogg. Use this opportunity to provide a glimpse of your unique personality and values.

Question 2: What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you?

Tip: This question demands a strategic approach.

Clearly articulate your career goals, emphasizing both short-term and long-term objectives.

Explain why Kellogg is your ideal platform for achieving these goals. Mention specific resources, courses, or aspects of the Kellogg program that align with your aspirations.

Your response should reflect a deep understanding of Kellogg’s offerings and a strong connection between your goals and the school’s unique advantages.

Question 3: This question will be based on a challenge you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from it.

Tip: Use this question to highlight your resilience and growth. Choose a challenge, either personal or professional, that showcases your ability to overcome adversity and learn from the experience.

Describe the challenge briefly, focusing more on the lessons learned and how it has influenced your character and decision-making.

Conclude by explaining how these lessons will contribute to your success as an MBA candidate at Kellogg.

Compilation of Kellogg Video Essay questions (2023)

Introduce yourself outside of your CV.
Tell us something about yourself that we won’t know from your resume
There are many MBA schools. What’s so unique about Kellogg?
How long have you been considering an MBA and what have you learned about your goals in this time?
Whose leadership style do you admire the most and you wish to adopt?
Tell us about a time you were uncomfortable. How did you feel?
What is one misconception coworkers have about you and how do you plan to change that?
Tell us about the best piece of advice you have received, how you utilized it and how it impacted you?
Tell us about a time you received harsh feedback. What was your reaction and how did you proceed to act on it?
Tell us about one time when you received feedback that changed your perspective about something
Tell us about time you received feedback that you didn’t agree with
Tell us about a time when you helped improved a process in your company, organization or community
When and how did you resolve a conflict?
Tell us about a time when you faced unforeseen or unexpected challenges
Tell us about a time you failed and used an unconventional approach the next time. What happened?
Tell us about a time when a conflict affected the productivity of the team? How did you handle it? What did you learn from it?
Tell us about a time where an unexpected situation arose? Why did it arise? What did you do to pivot and why?
Tell us about a time where you used a unique or creative way to solve a problem. What did you do and what was the outcome?
What is one value or quality that you bring to the Kellogg community and how will it help others?
Tell us about an experience outside school and outside office that motivated you to pursue a postgraduate education?
Tell us about a time you leveraged a professional relationship to achieve your goals
Tell us how you created an environment where differences and diverse ideas are respected. What was the outcome?
Tell us about a time you added value in a professional capacity
Tell us about a time when you had to ask for help. What did you learn?

Note: Please consider this list indicative and not exhaustive

After you’ve successfully submitted your INSEAD MBA online application, an email notification from Kira Talent will swiftly arrive in your inbox, containing a unique link for you to embark on four video interviews.

These interviews entail answering four distinct questions, and it’s essential to note that the questions presented to you may differ from those posed to other applicants. You’ll have a brief 45 seconds to prepare for each question and a minute to articulate your response.

These video interviews present a distinct opportunity for you to unveil your passions, motivations, and your true essence. The MBA Admissions Committee seeks an authentic portrayal of you as an individual, eager to witness your ability to think on your feet and effectively communicate your thoughts.

It’s important to emphasize that these video interviews do not replace face-to-face/online interviews with Alumni, which will still be a part of the assessment process. The video essay has to be submitted within 48 hours after the deadline of the Round in which you apply to INSEAD.

Tips for INSEAD Video Essay

To ensure a seamless experience, INSEAD recommends using either Microsoft Edge or Chrome for recording your Kira videos. Preparing extensively by practicing is encouraged, as it allows you to convey authentic and genuine responses, even though the practice questions and your responses won’t be disclosed to the Admissions Committee.
Before you begin recording, conduct a brief technology check by testing your camera and microphone. Once satisfied with the technical aspects, shift your focus to the camera, envisioning that you are addressing the Admissions Committee directly.
Wear Business or Business Casual Attire.
Lastly, consider keeping a notebook handy during the interviews to jot down key ideas. Remember, you’ll have just 45 seconds to prepare for each answer, followed by 60 seconds to deliver your response to the Admissions Committee.

Compilation of INSEAD MBA Video Essay questions (2023)

What keeps you engaged and motivated at work?
How will INSEAD help you achieve your professional objectives?
Describe a time when you saw someone else doing something differently. How did you react?
Describe a time when you received negative feedback. How did you feel?
Do you consider yourself to be creative?
What do you think is the biggest challenge in leading a global team?
If you look back 10 years into your life, what would success mean to you?
Who or what inspires you the most?
What is the leadership quality you admire? Why?
How do you handle frustration at work and give constructive criticism?
How can INSEAD help you to contribute to the community?
What skills do you think you are missing that you want to work on while at INSEAD?
Tell us about something that your family or company borrowed from someone else, its advantages and its disadvantages
Why should we select you?
Tell us about the most pressing climate concern today and how you will tackle it?
How do you handle frustration at work? How do you openly communicate to resolve the frustration?
Are you aware of your biases? How does that affect your thoughts?
If you were given unlimited resources, which product or services would you offer to community and why?
What are your guiding principles or involvement in Coporate and Social Responsibility
How is diversity handled at your organization?
Tell us about a new app that was released in the past 3 and has resonated with you.
What do you think are the qualities of a good friend.
How do you generate ideas
What would you do if a new boss was acting in a surprising or offensive way to the local culture
A teammate of yours is shy of speaking out. How would you help them?
Most challenging decision you have taken?
Has your family or company adopted anything from other culture? What impact (positive or negative) it has had on you?
If you won 10 billion dollars, what would you do?
What is the most difficult aspect of working with you?
What do you think people often misunderstand about you?

Applying to INSEAD? Learn from Adhiraj’s successful journey to the INSEAD MBA with scholarships

Once you’ve submitted your application, expect an email from Kira Talent, a designated service provider. Within this email, you will discover a link granting access to the video essay platform, a crucial component of Rotman’s application process, which comprises two video questions.

Upon accessing the platform and initiating the session, you will be presented with a total of two spoken questions, delivered sequentially, one after the other.

Once you receive the question, you will be granted a 30-second window for contemplation, followed by a 90-second timeframe for your response. It’s essential to note that there are no opportunities for revisiting or reattempting the question; you have just one opportunity to express your thoughts and provide your answer.

Regardless of when you initially submit your application, remember that the clock starts ticking once you access the video essay platform. You must submit your video essay response within two weeks of submitting your application to complete this vital step in the Rotman admissions process.

Once you’ve successfully submitted your application, expect an email notification from Kira Talent, the designated company for Yale’s video essay component. Inside this email, you’ll find a link that grants access to the video essay platform.

Upon logging in and commencing the session, you’ll encounter a total of three Yale video essay questions, presented one at a time. These questions are randomly generated but fall into distinct categories, each with its own focus.

The Yale video essay questions are thoughtfully categorized into three groups:

MBA Motivations (Group 1) : The initial question in the Yale SOM video essay will center on your motivations, specifically regarding your interest in Yale or the rationale behind pursuing an MBA.
Behavioral Questions (Group 2) : Yale values individuals who embody purpose-driven adaptability, teamwork, and strong communication skills. Therefore, they often pose questions aimed at assessing your ability to collaborate effectively and your potential to contribute positively to the Yale community.
The Thinking Question (Group 3) : In addition to traditional interview queries, you will be tasked with responding to a “thinking question,” akin to a case study, during the Yale video essay. This question serves to evaluate your ability to think on your feet, a crucial aspect tested in Yale’s raw case method.

As you approach these questions, keep in mind that for the first and third, you’ll have 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to provide your response. However, for the second question, you’ll be granted 30 seconds of preparation time and 90 seconds to articulate your answer.

Regardless of when you submit your initial application, remember that it’s imperative to complete and submit your responses to the Yale video essay questions within a maximum of 48 hours following the round’s application deadline. This ensures your application remains complete and on schedule.

Compilation of Yale SOM Video Essay questions (2023)

Why are you doing an MBA now?
What motivates you to get an MBA at this point?
Tell us about a time when a team member was not doing his share of work and how you handled it
Tell us about a time you or your team fixed a critical problem at work
Tell us about a problem that you solved by breaking down into its pieces
Tell us about a time when there was a potential problem at work and how did you prevent it?
Mention a vague problem that was given to you and how did you solve it?
Tell us about a teacher who has impacted you in life?
Yale School of Drama has produced many world renowned artists (e.g. Meryl Streep). Which artist do you admire most and why?
Which type of art holds significance to you among the various arts across Yale Center for European arts, Yale Center for Natural arts and Yale Center for British arts?
New Haven has great architectural significance ( something along these lines ). What piece of architecture has the greatest significance to you in your hometown or region? Why?
What is a tradition you hold dear to yourself?

Question: “Please take a minute to introduce yourself to your future classmates.”

This is your opportunity to introduce yourself and make a personal connection. Unveil your true self, let your personality sparkle, and have a genuine conversation – this is your moment to shine.

Keep the following criteria in mind when creating your videos for MIT:

Keep it under 60 seconds, no more!
Record it all in a single take, no editing allowed.
Speak directly into the camera.
Avoid adding background music or subtitles to your video.

In order to learn more about applicants and assess their ability to think quickly, Oxford Saïd’s MBA application process includes an online assessment.

Once the MBA application is submitted, you will find a link in the application status portal. This link allows you to register with Kira Talent, the online assessment platform, and complete the assessment. The assessment can be done anytime before the application deadline for the desired stage, for instance, Round 1 applicants must complete the assessment by the Round 1 deadline.

The online assessment consists of three parts:

Two motivation-based questions that all candidates must answer. These questions aim to let you explain your reasons for pursuing an MBA and why you believe the Oxford MBA is the best fit for you. Each applicant receives the same two questions.

Example: “Why do you think pursuing an MBA is the next step in your career?”

One competency-based question chosen randomly from a pool of available questions. This question allows you to demonstrate skills and qualities such as decision-making, problem-solving, leadership, teamwork, influencing, change management, and communication.

Example: “Could you share an experience where you successfully handled a challenging situation, either in your professional or personal life? How did you approach resolving it?”

A written response (essay), which will be randomized and light-hearted to display how you can think on your feet and write.

Example: “What was your favorite book as a child and why?”

For each motivation-based question, you have 60 seconds to prepare and 90 seconds to respond. For each competency-based question, there is 45 seconds of preparation time followed by 60 seconds to provide an answer.

It’s important to note that there are no opportunities to redo the questions, and you have only one chance to respond and share your answers during the assessment. The entire online assessment should take about 30 minutes to complete, so plan accordingly.

Compilation of Oxford Saïd MBA Video Essay questions (2023)

Since how long have you wanted to do your MBA? Why now is the right time and what skills do you hope to gain?
Students apply to many programmes and B schools. According to you, what makes Oxford unique?
Tell us about a time you were overloaded with work, how did you handle it?
Tell us about a time you asked for help and how did it go?
Tell us about a time you led a diverse team, what specific skill did you use and why?
Tell us a time when you had an idea and had to convince your project team.
What is the most significant personal weakness that you have identified, what did you do about it and what was the result?
Imagine you are proposing a business innovation idea for a class project and the audience is not interested. What would you do?
How would you convince a team about your idea if you were sure of its positive outcome?
How do you describe the color red to someone who can only see in black and white?
Do you prefer cats or dogs? Explain why.

IESE Business School has introduced Video Essays as part of the application process this year, replacing the previous personal essay requirement.

The purpose of this change is to gain a deeper and more authentic understanding of applicants. It allows the Admissions Committee to get insights into the thought process and communication style of each candidate.

After submitting the written application and paying the required fees, you will receive a Kira Video Essay link within 24 hours, to be completed by the Application Round Deadline. This link will expire 48 hours after receipt. You will receive detailed instructions along with the link. Upon clicking the link, you can create a Kira account and practice before recording your video essay.

Each applicant will need to respond to two video essay questions. For each question, there will be a preparation time before recording the response.

Applicants are encouraged to be concise, as they have a limited time of 1.5 minutes to provide each answer. The Admissions Committee values authenticity and is interested in getting to know the real applicant, rather than hearing what they think the committee wants to hear.

It’s important to note that the application will be considered complete and ready for review only after all components, including the video essays, have been submitted.

Compilation of IESE MBA Video Essay questions (2023)

How do we pronounce your name?
Tell us something about you not in your resume.
Tell us something that’s unique about you – traits and attributes uniquely you.
What is the one feedback you received that you didn’t agree with? How did you react and what was the outcome?
Every team has a certain archetype: architect, analyst etc. Which archetype are you when you play in a team? And why?
Tell us one thing you like and one thing you don’t like about your current job.
Give a background of yourself and what abilities you can bring to the IESE MBA.
When was the last time you were creative.

Check out our interview with IESE MBA Adcom including insights on the application process, interviews, careers and more here

This year, IE Business School has introduced a video essay to get to know you better. The online assessment is quick and won’t take more than 30 minutes.

IE Business School has added this to its admissions process because they believe in innovation. This part of the process helps them understand your personality and how you respond in real time.

You’ll need a computer with an internet connection, a microphone, and a webcam. You’ll answer three live questions – two in video format and one in writing. You can practice several times, but remember, once you officially start the assessment, you only have one chance to respond. You have one week from when you submitted your online admissions application to complete this online assessment.

Video essays have become a vital component of the MBA admissions process, offering applicants a unique platform to showcase their personality and communication skills. Whether it’s a pre-recorded or impromptu video essay, here are ten tips to help you excel in this aspect of your application:

Understand the Purpose

Pre-Recorded: Pre-recorded video essays often have prompts that allow for structured responses. Understand the specific question and ensure your video essay directly addresses it.
Impromptu: In impromptu video essays, you may not know the questions in advance. Focus on providing insightful, concise answers to the given prompts.
Pre-Recorded: Use your allotted time efficiently. Be concise in your response while ensuring you provide a complete and well-structured answer.
Impromptu: Stay on point and avoid rambling. Use the given preparation time to outline your response and make your points concisely during the recording.

Prepare Thoroughly

Pre-Recorded: Take time to brainstorm ideas, outline your response, and rehearse multiple times. Ensure your message is clear and compelling.
Impromptu: Since you may have limited time to prepare, practice answering diverse types of questions to build your ability to think on your feet. Doing Mock Interviews can particularly help.

Showcase Your Personality

Pre-Recorded: Your video should provide a glimpse of your character and values. Let your authenticity shine through by being yourself.
Impromptu: Be genuine in your responses. Authenticity is highly valued in impromptu video essays.

Maintain Eye Contact

Pre-Recorded: Look directly into the camera to establish a connection with the viewer. This creates a sense of engagement and sincerity.
Impromptu: Even when you don’t know the questions in advance, maintain eye contact with the camera during your responses to appear confident and composed.

Have a Strong Opening and Closing

Pre-Recorded: Begin with a compelling introduction and end with a memorable conclusion that reinforces your main points.
Impromptu: Use the initial seconds to frame your response and conclude succinctly by summarizing your key message.

Eliminate Distractions

Pre-Recorded: Choose a quiet, well-lit location with minimal distractions for your recording. Ensure your background is professional.
Impromptu: Find a quiet spot where you can focus solely on your response without interruptions.

Manage your Time Well

Pre-Recorded: Allocate sufficient time for recording, reviewing, and editing if necessary. Avoid rushing the process.
Impromptu: Manage your time wisely during preparation and response. Stick to the given time limits.

Rehearse Video Recording Technology

Pre-Recorded: Familiarize yourself with the recording equipment and software. Ensure your audio and video quality are top-notch.
Impromptu: Check your internet connection, camera, and microphone in advance to avoid technical glitches.

Seek Feedback

Pre-Recorded: Share your video with mentors, advisors or trusted friends to gather constructive feedback and make improvements.
Impromptu: After practicing impromptu responses, seek feedback on your communication skills and clarity.

In both pre-recorded and impromptu video essays, the key is effectively communicating your message while showcasing your suitability for the MBA program. With preparation, practice, and attention to these tips, you can create impressive video essays that enhance your MBA application.

In an increasingly competitive MBA admissions landscape, video essays offer you a chance to stand out and convey your unique value to the business school of your choice.

Use this opportunity to not only address the questions asked but also to paint a vivid picture of your aspirations, experiences, and character. It’s a tool that, when used effectively, can elevate your application and set you on the path to success in your MBA journey. So, embrace the challenge, be yourself, and make your video essay a compelling testament to your candidacy.

If you would like our support on your B-school applications, feel free to reach out!

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Yale SOM Essay Tips and Application Deadlines: 2023-2024

Yale School of Management has released deadlines and essays for the 2023-2024 application year, changing their essay section for the first time in eight years.

As one of the smaller top MBA programs, Yale SOM’s intimate class size is a defining characteristic of the program, with 347 students enrolled in the class of 2024 . Of these students, 43% identify as women, 48% are international passport holders, 17% are first-generation college students, and 12% identify as LGBTQ+.

The class of 2024 came from a range of pre-MBA industries, the top three being financial services, consulting and non-profit. On average, students had an average of 4.4 years of work experience.

Want to learn more about applying to Yale SOM? Take a look at Personal MBA Coach’s interview with Laurel Grodman, Assistant Dean for Admissions at Yale School of Management, to get insider advice on the Yale SOM experience and application process.

Watch below to learn how to position yourself for success!

The Upcoming Yale SOM Application Deadlines Are as Follows:

Round 1: September 12, 2023

Round 2: January 4, 2024

Round 3: April 9, 2024

This year, Yale SOM decided to allow applicants to choose the essay question they would like to answer, leavings its longstanding essay regarding commitment as one of the options. Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean for Admissions, gives more detail on this choice in the 2023-2024 Application Guide (copied below):

We want to know what matters to you, and our essay question is designed to help us gain insight into your background, passions, motivations, responsibilities, ideals, identities, challenges, or aspirations, depending on where you take your response. To ensure that you’re able to write about something important to you, we offer you three essay prompts from which to choose:

1) Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. Why is this commitment meaningful to you and what actions have you taken to support it?

2) Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. What is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community?

3) Describe the most significant challenge you have faced. How have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person?

Choose the prompt that speaks most strongly to you and about which you have the most enthusiasm.

Student Looking at Financial Times MBA Rankings on a iPad

Personal MBA Coach’s Yale SOM Essay Tips:

It can always be a bit of a challenge when a program offers you an essay choice. However, Yale has stated that you should truly pick the essay question you best relate to and there is no “wrong choice.”

Regardless of which option you choose, as you craft your Yale SOM essay, keep in mind that Yale strives to “educate leaders for business and society.” With a passionate and committed student body, Yale takes pride in the small group learning teams and close-knit community.

Below, we have shared our tips for approaching each of the three options:

Yale MBA Essay Option 1:

Describe the biggest commitment you have ever made. (500 words).

This question gives candidates a chance to provide admissions committee members with a glimpse of who they are and what matters to them, confirming they can and will live up to the school’s lofty mission.

The commitment can be personal or professional, though Personal MBA Coach prefers to see candidates share personal experiences in their Yale SOM essays. Whatever you choose, be sure that you focus on ONE thing; do not include multiple commitments here. Past MBA essay examples have included causes, personal development areas, athletic achievements and professional pursuits. The commitment can be something completed in the past or ongoing. However, if you select something that is ongoing, be sure that you have already made significant steps to deliver against your commitment. A commitment you just recently made and your forward-looking plans will not cut it here.

Yale SOM wants to see passion, dedication and follow-through. They want to assess how you think and how you plan effectively. Your commitment should be something that genuinely matters to you. Remember, think leader for business AND society here.

The most successful answers will show how you have delivered against this mission in the past. However, the commitment does not have to be focused on volunteer work. There are countless ways to make an impact on society.

Five hundred words is fairly short, and this is your main shot to show who you are and why you will fit in on campus. Be focused and be genuine!

Yale MBA Essay Option 2:

Describe the community that has been most meaningful to you. what is the most valuable thing you have gained from being a part of this community and what is the most important thing you have contributed to this community (500 words).

This essay is a great opportunity for candidates who have a close relationship with a particular community. You can think of your physical community or think of community more broadly.

To craft a strong answer here, be sure that you can identify a community from which you have learned and to which you have contributed. Remember, this is your main opportunity to tell Yale SOM what you uniquely bring to the table, so be sure that community is significant to you.

Once you have defined this community for the reader, tell them how this community shaped who you are today.

Equally as important, you want to share what you have done to add value to this community. As you do this, be specific! Keep in mind that Yale admissions directors are looking to glean information on how you will add value on campus. While you do not need to discuss Yale here, past actions are the best predictors of future behavior so let Yale SEE the leader you will be on campus.

Yale MBA Essay Option 3:

Describe the most signific ant challenge you have faced. how have you confronted this challenge and how has it shaped you as a person (500 words).

This third option is also new for Yale SOM. For those applicants considering this option, keep in mind that Admissions Directors shared at the 2023 AIGAC conference how the “trauma” essay, particularly if unrelated to an applicant’s reason for applying to business school, is often overused.

This means that the challenge selected here does not need to be a major tragedy that you faced or challenge you have overcome. You can select either a personal or professional challenge here. However, this challenge should have shaped you in some way.

A strong essay not only will show the skills you developed and utilized in overcoming this challenge but also help the reader to understand how this experience has prepared you to succeed at Yale and beyond.

Woman On Laptop and Phone for London Business School

Yale MBA Short Answer Essay: Post-MBA Interests: Briefly describe your career interests and how you arrived at them. What have you already done to pursue these interests? What do you need to do going forward? (150 words)

Finally, Yale has a short career goals essay. There is a lot to cover in just 150 words so you want to be very direct. In addition to briefly sharing your goals with Yale (need help developing a compelling goal statement – check out this blog ), tell the reader what drove these goals and how you have already prepared for them. Finally, think about where Yale fits into the picture. While there won’t be a lot of space to deep dive into Yale’s offerings in this essay, you should make it clear that you have thought about why you need a Yale MBA to be successful in achieving your goals.

Yale MBA Reapplicant Essay Topic:

Since your last application, please discuss any significant updates to your candidacy, including changes in your personal or professional life, additional coursework, or extracurricular/volunteer activities. (200 words maximum; required for all reapplicants).

Reapplicants should use the required additional essay to demonstrate growth. We advise candidates to review our tips for reapplicants before tackling this essay.

Finally, Yale has retained its video essay

Candidates will receive the video questions after submitting their applications. Learn more to get started with Personal MBA Coach’s video essay guidance and tips . Ready to apply to Yale SOM? Contact Personal MBA Coach today to learn how we can help with your Yale SOM application!

You also may like these other blog articles:

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Yale SOM video essay questions

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Video: Memories from the Class of 2024

Congratulations, Class of 2024! We asked students to tell us about their favorite Yale SOM memories.

Preview image for the video "Student Memories from the Yale SOM Class of 2024".

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COMMENTS

The Yale SOM Video Essay Questions
The Yale video essay questions are grouped into three different categories, each with a different focus. Group 1: MBA Motivations. The first question in the Yale SOM video essay will focus on your interest in Yale or the reason you are pursuing an MBA. (Photo courtesy of @yalesom on Instagram)
Awesome MBA Video Essay Advice
Kellogg and Yale's spontaneous 60 second MBA video essays tend to stress a lot of people out, but don't worry! Angela Guido is here to walk you through why M...
Application Guide
Applying to MBA programs can be a daunting process. There are lots of tasks to prioritize, manage, and complete, and sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Our hope is that this Application Guide will provide useful insights and advice as you prepare for your Yale SOM application. Please use this Guide as a resource to help you think through the ...
Yale MBA: The Inside Scoop on Essays, Video, Behavioral ...
Bruce DelMonico, Assistant Dean and Director of Admissions at Yale School of Management, shares the school's unique approach to admissions. Yale SOM tries th...
Yale MBA Essay for 2023-2024
The Yale MBA essay and deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions season has been confirmed. After six years of asking the same single prompt, Yale SOM has broadened the possibilities for applicants to share what resonates most with them. Required Yale MBA Essay.
MBA Admissions
Visit the MBA Blog. Yale School of Management. Edward P. Evans Hall. 165 Whitney Avenue. New Haven, CT 06511-3729. Apply Now Get Yale SOM News. Learn about the Full-time MBA program, connect with our community through events and virtual tours, and hear directly from students.
Yale SOM MBA Video Essays
All you need to know about the Yale video essay, including the Yale video essay deadline, Yale SOM video interview sample questions and more. ... Yale MBA Video EssaysYale has added the Yale video essay as a part of their MBA application process. As the addition is rather new, it is hard to know if the video essays will be different each year ...
From the Director of Admissions: Tips for Answering the Video Questions
MBA Two-year program for leaders in all industries.; MBA for Executives Rigorous executive MBA for accomplished professionals.; Master of Advanced Management MBA graduates of top business schools around the world spend a year at Yale.; Master's in Asset Management Intensive introduction to investing with leading faculty and practitioners.; Master's in Global Business & Society A year of ...
Yale SOM Essay Analysis and Tips
Get a detailed understanding of exactly what Yale admission officers want to see in your Yale application essays, including the best and worst practices for ...
Yale MBA: The Inside Scoop on The Essay, Videos & Behavioral Assessment
The idea is that to be successful you need to be action-oriented - what have you done in support of your commitment, what behaviors have you demonstrated. We also have video questions, which are three 60-90 second answers. One is about our mission, one is behavioral about the MBA, and one is about thought process.
MBA Video Essay Samples
Yale video essay comprises three questions. Applicants will have 20 seconds to prepare and 60 seconds to answer the first two questions. For the third question, applicants will have 30 seconds of preparation time and 90 seconds to answer. Let's take a look at some of the prompts that have been used for Yale MBA video essays in the past:
Video Essay for MBA Admissions
MBA Motivations (Group 1): The initial question in the Yale SOM video essay will center on your motivations, specifically regarding your interest in Yale or the rationale behind pursuing an MBA. Behavioral Questions (Group 2) : Yale values individuals who embody purpose-driven adaptability, teamwork, and strong communication skills.
Prep Tips for MBA Video Essay Questions
Follow the prompt: Be sure to read and understand the prompt for the video essay carefully. Make sure to answer the question or address the topic thoroughly and completely. Plan your content: Before you start filming, take some time to think about what you want to include in your video. Consider your strengths, accomplishments, and what makes ...
Yale MBA Essays
Yale MBA Essay & Analysis 2023-2024. Let's take a closer look at the 2023-2024 Yale SOM essay questions. ... I'd messed up the second video question. May 14, 2024 12:10am ET Accepted from Waitlist to NYU Stern Round: Round 3. Received via email on May 10, 2024 GPA: 3.4. GRE: 333.
MBA Video Essay and Interview Tips (and Kellogg, INSEAD, and Yale
INSEAD, Yale, Kellogg, Georgetown, and Sloan are just a few of the business schools that have video essays and/or interviews. In a post-Covid world, we could even see more schools adopt video ...
Yale SOM Essay Tips & Application Deadlines: 2023-2024
Yale School of Management has released deadlines and essays for the 2023-2024 application year, changing their essay section for the first time in eight years.. As one of the smaller top MBA programs, Yale SOM's intimate class size is a defining characteristic of the program, with 347 students enrolled in the class of 2024.Of these students, 43% identify as women, 48% are international ...
Yale SOM Video Questions : r/MBA
Describe a time where you had to complete a task without any supervision. (90 seconds) New Haven Theater is one of the oldest theaters in the United States (or something to that effect, I don't really remember), please name a piece of entertainment - theatre, film, or music - which has had the most significant impact on you and why. 3.
Application updates, Part 2: Essays . . . and video questions
Essay 1: What motivates your decision to pursue an MBA? (300 words maximum) Essay 2: The Yale School of Management provides leadership education for broad-minded, rigorous, and intellectually curious students with diverse backgrounds; a distinctive integrated curriculum; connections to one of the great research universities in the world; and ...
ALL Yale Video Essay Questions : MBA Archive
Feel free to dive into our dedicated Yale Forum for all fresh things related to the Yale MBA program. Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring! angelfire213 Director. Joined: 26 Aug 2014 . Posts: 823. Own Kudos ... Below is the link to download ALL the Yale Video Essay Questions that was used this year. These are the videos that you ...
Free Yale School of Management MBA Essay Samples
ARINGO MBA Admissions Consulting is a boutique MBA admissions consulting firm helping candidates get into top MBA and business school programs. Free Yale MBA Essay SamplesThe Yale School of Management was founded in 1976 and offers a two-year MBA program. The following MBA essays were written by ARINGO MBA candidates who got accepted to the ...
When is Yale SOM's video essay due? : r/MBA
Admissions. I submitted application for Yale SOM an hour ago, but the video essay isn't showing yet. My question is when is the video essay due? The application was due today evening, is the video essay also due around that time? Also, Yale's behavioral assessment is the most ridiculous thing I've seen in such a long time and 130 questions too ...
Yale SOM video essay questions : Yale
Send PM. Re: Yale SOM video essay questions [ #permalink ] Tue Apr 09, 2024 12:29 pm. hey guys, i compiled all the real questions I found on the gmatclub and reddit into this document. all of them are records this this application cycle (R1, r2, r3). hope it helps anyone for this last round or future applications.
The Yale SOM Resume, Essay & Video Questions
Find out what the Yale SOM admissions team wants to learn about you from your resume, essay and video questions in this conversation with Bruce DelMonico, As...
Video: Memories from the Class of 2024
Video: Memories from the Class of 2024. May 16, 2024. Congratulations, Class of 2024! We asked students to tell us about their favorite Yale SOM memories. Yale School of Management. Edward P. Evans Hall. 165 Whitney Avenue. New Haven, CT 06511-3729. Congratulations, Class of 2024!