By Anna Lynne Ramsey (McIntire ’26)
With the UVA McIntire undergraduate program’s evolution into a three-year program, it’s no surprise the admissions application has been developed to reflect this change. The revamping of the application brings some changes to the application for the Class of 2028. Questions about what to expect for all application components have been flooding our inbox. In an effort to alleviate some of these worries, I will share my tips for how to approach the newly added recorded video essay response portion of the application.
Treat this like any other interview.
Although it can feel foreign if this is your first video essay, you should prepare like any other professional interview. Dress in business casual attire, and make sure your appearance is clean and put together. This can mean a button-down shirt, blouse, sweater, or polo. Although you will be assessed on the content of your response, your reader’s first impression of you goes a long way toward substantiating what you are saying.
As you prepare, set aside a solid 30 minutes to an hour. This should include checking and adjusting your camera, microphone quality, lighting, and background noise. Don’t try to fit this into the weird 25-minute gap you have between classes in your schedule! If you feel rushed, your responses can reflect this and not be your best work.
Practice what you can ahead of time.
This applies primarily to the first of the two questions. The first question for all applicants will ask them to answer “What inspires you to pursue Commerce?” This doesn’t mean having a written script that you robotically regurgitate to your camera.
Rather, write down a couple bullet points on a Post-It that you can stick on your laptop to reference and then expand on in the moment. With the second question being random (don’t worry, I’ll get there), make sure to think through what you can to minimize uncertainties.
Use what information has been already released to your advantage.
This is more helpful for the second question. Each applicant’s second question will be pulled randomly from a bank crafted by the admissions team. None are “gotcha” questions. They are behavioral, and were written to gauge how an applicant fits their criteria.
I’ll give you a hint: They already outlined their criteria.
On the First-Year Student Admissions webpage, the qualities the admissions officers believe are reflective of someone who will align well with McIntire’s programs are listed.
Look through this section, and think of experiences you have that are related to each listed trait (especially if they differ from how you answered the first question, so you can ensure you are maximizing the information your reader has when assessing you). Write them on a Post-It so that you can immediately pick the most appropriate narrative after seeing your question. Your preparation time can then be more focused.
Confidence is key.
This sounds so cliché, I know. Especially considering everything I’ve just told you really boils down to ensuring you are prepared. This is to make sure you can minimize the uncertainties where possible and come across as the best version of yourself.
When you record your videos, make sure you’re not fidgeting or looking everywhere except your camera (the virtual equivalent of eye contact). Answering the questions coolly and confidently will further help validate what you are saying.
At the end of the day, these video essay responses are simply designed to help the admissions team get to know you better. I promise they are nothing to fear. Best of luck as you look ahead to the entirety of the application process!