Tufts University Accepts YouTube Video on College Application

I think it's a great idea. The flip side, though, is that applicants can shoot themselves in the foot if they submit either a lame video, or have pre-existing dodgy material that's easily found.

While it’s unclear to me whether institutions of higher learning across America will immediately embrace the personal video as part of the admissions process, what is clear is that it is a reality that video is taking its place alongside text and photography as a primary means of communication.   Video is no longer the unique realm of the affluent or corporate world. Video is what people are using today to communicate with their friends, to express themselves, and yes, to market themselves. While we once relied on written essays (not always created by the author), resumes (not always complete or accurate), and statistics like exams scores and class rank, we can supplement this information with video, which can add richness and depth to the interview process.  Yes, exam scores, achievements, job experience and class rank are important. And no, we won’t be selecting college or job applicants based on a video alone. But those who still think of video as an exclusive media will be left behind in the coming years.  Internet access is essentially free (for the moderately resourceful). The cost of digital cameras has fallen tremendously. And importantly, the knowledge of how to competently produce videos is available to us all. If you haven’t been on YouTube lately, you’ll find out what millions of teenagers around the world do with their time. And check out New York Video School (www.nyvideoschool.com/), and you’ll see how easy and inexpensive it actually is to get professional quality instruction to produce a great video.  Many of this year’s videos may elicit groans and grimaces, but I am willing to bet that there will be more than just 1,000 Tufts’ applicants making videos in 2015.