For a few years now SMU’s graduate programs in Dedman College have been introducing a new component to their application process—a video essay. While it might sound intimidating, a graduate school video essay is actually a very informal way of introducing yourself to the entire admissions committee for your department of interest.
It's not something to be scared of. Rather, think of it as one of the best tools and opportunities you have to showcase your personality to the school.
To further de-mystify this element of the application, read on as we share more about the grad school video essay and how to prepare as you prepare your application.
Who should submit a video essay?
The video essay is required for all Dedman College Ph.D. applicants who submit TOEFL or IELTS scores and have received a TOEFL speaking score of 23 or below or an IELTS speaking band score of 6.5 or below.
For all other Dedman College applicants, the video essay is optional, but a tool that can definitely work to your advantage.
What should you expect from the video essay?
To begin, SMU faculty and administrators will ask you one question. The question is randomly generated, and could be about your goals, background information, or preparation for your graduate program. After you see the question, you’ll have 60–90 seconds to respond in your own video.
You'll have one chance to re-record your response if you're not satisfied with your first attempt, but you may receive a new question. So make sure you are ready to film. However, don't worry; you'll have the opportunity to practice and test your equipment before filming the real responses.
Many applicants can look the same on paper, but your personality can really shine through when you're able to speak directly with the admissions committee via a recorded response.
We hope that these video essays for graduate school admission will provide you with an opportunity to express yourself and share why you are interested in your chosen field. Best of luck!
P.S. — Need a laugh to ease your nerves before recording? Watch this outtake from when we filmed one of the questions, and the wind got in the way. Don’t worry, we know that video recordings don’t always go perfectly!
