Video Essay Strategy and Preparation

By Geri T.4.9· 92 reviewsFormer HBS AdCom I 150+ M7 Admits I 3X Top MBA Coach

The Camera-Ready Package Writing a great essay is one thing. Doing it live (or pre-recorded), on camera - that's a completely different skill set, and it's usually the thing applicants have practiced the least. Video submissions are a growing part of many MBA applications. Schools are no longer satisfied with static essay submissions. I built this package for candidates who want to walk into their video assessments like they've done it a hundred times before. Because by the time we're done, that's how you'll feel. Here's the roadmap: 1. The "What Am I Actually Being Evaluated On" Discussion Video components aren't essay questions with a camera pointed at you—they're testing presence, quick thinking, and authenticity under pressure. We'll break down exactly what your target schools are looking for, whether it's a pre-recorded video or a live, unscripted format, so you know what "good" actually looks like before you start practicing. 2. Your Story, On Demand You already know your narrative from the work you did on the rest of your app. Now we make it retrievable—fast. We'll distill your key stories, values, and spark into a mental toolkit you can pull from, no matter what angle the prompt comes from. 3. The Pre-Recorded Playbook For videos you can prepare in advance: we'll workshop your talking points, tighten your delivery, and run practice takes until you sound natural instead of rehearsed. (Adcom won't be excited to watch a memorized speech. We're going for confident and genuine.) 4. The "On the Fly" Training For live, unscripted formats, I'll run you through realistic surprise prompts—behavioral, ethical, some odd ones so you build the reflexes to structure a strong answer in the moment. 5. Camera Presence Coaching Eye contact with a lens instead of a person is weird. So is knowing what to do with your hands. We'll work on posture, pacing, energy, and framing so you come across as warm and composed. 6. The Full Dress Rehearsal We'll simulate the real thing end to end: lighting, background, tech setup, timing, the works. If something's going to go wrong, better it happens with me than on submission day. 7. Mock Sessions with Live Feedback We'll run through timed, on-the-spot mock questions and record them so you can see yourself the way admissions will. Then we'll break down what's working, what's not, and fix it before it counts. The Bottom Line: You get a coach who's part storyteller and part performance trainer. Reach out when you're ready.