<p>how good is it to send in additional stuff like pictures, videos or personal item in applications? i've heard that some schools even require it by putting in the request at the bottom of the app.</p>
<p>my dream schools are brown and princeton and i'll probably apply ED to one of these and i'm really thinking of making a video about me to send in.</p>
<p>is this advisable? if yes, what sort of movie and what sort of stuff should i include?</p>
<p>thanks a buncH!</p>
<p>Depends, I don't know it works for ivy league schools like Brown, but the schools to where I applied, including a Big 10 school, they didn't want nor care for recommendations or any kind of stuff to try to make yourself look better to the selection people. </p>
<p>I'm sure you need letters of recommendation to the schools you're applying to, but I don't know what's the need for all these videos that you're saying. You don't want to give them the impression THAT YOU ARE TRYING TO BUY THEIR ACCEPTANCE, YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO THINK YOU ARE TRYING TO MAKE YOURSELF OUT TO BE SOME SORT OF PERFECTIONIST. </p>
<p>Take a look on the school's site of what they want. Some schools want interviews, some don't. </p>
<p>But if they don't say anything about sending in videos or pictures, THEN DON'T DO IT. IT'S A WASTE OF TIME, AND THE COLLEGES WILL PAY ABSOLUTELY NO ATTENTION TO IT IF THEY DON'T WANT IT. </p>
<p>IN FACT, THEY'LL PROBABLY BE MAD BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T LISTEN AND FOLLOW THEIR INSTRUCTIONS</p>
<p>ok i guess i'll look around on the app. what i was originally going to do was put some short clips together of who i am and what i do everyday and such.</p>
<p>the reason i got the idea was because everyone's always talking about portraying your passions and your personality and since film is one of my hobbies and the movie would show my personality i thought it might work.</p>
<p>thanks for your input! that last sentence makes a lot of sense...</p>
<p>Unless your video skills are spectacular and unless the colleges you're applying to allow extras, don't include what you're considering. The info that you're describing should be in your essay and other aspects of your application.</p>
<p>Presumably, you're not applying to film school or something similar that would judge you by your expertise in creating clips. Colleges judge you by your expertise in writing -- essays -- short answers, etc. -- what their applications require. That's because to get through college, you'll need excellent writing skills. Consequently, concentrate on portraying yourself the best way possible (good grammer skills, lively writing, etc.) in the application.</p>
<p>i know what you mean man. I know you wanna show those schools the talents you have. But at the same time, those people who will be lookin over your application don't know who you are. They make take it as that you are bragging and trying to be a show off to them about your talents. </p>
<p>Utilize those talents you have when you're writing your college essays b/c I'm sure there'll be some kind of essays where it'll ask you to write about yourself or your interests or whatever, and that's where you can shine and tell them about yourself and your talents. </p>
<p>Now like the other guy said, if you're going into film school or something, that's different, cause maybe they'll want a short video or something, I have no idea. </p>
<p>But yea, you just gotta go on the school's website and take a look at what they require you to give to them when you're sending applications. Don't try to show off UNLESS THEY TELL YOU TOO cause that's a turnoff for sure.</p>
<p>What if you list it as an "addtional essay"? Say it's a film essay.</p>
<p>If it's creative, entertaining, informative and a "fresh" look at your application, I'm sure it'll be very welcome, ESPECIALLY if you show in your resume that you have a talent/passion for film. Best of luck! (Hope you get in ED so I won't have to compete with you RD ;))</p>
<p>lackadaisy, that's exactly what i thought too! my counselor said i should send in a film essay. what kind of things would be appropriate as being "informative" though? well, thank you and best of luck to you too!</p>
<p>anyway, just in case some of you guys were wondering i wasn't going to make an action drama film with dialogue and everything.</p>
<p>it was gonna be a life essay (pardon me for putting this in, but the movie elle sent to harvard in legally blonde is what it's kind of like haha :D) and i would include:</p>
<p>1) an introduction of myself
2) some shots of me at a golf tournament
3) i volunteered in africa for a month and i took a bunch of video footage there so i could include that
4) some stuff from argentina (where I'm from)
5) and some other random facts that i think would strengthen the app</p>
<p>anyway, i was going to do this for mainly three reasons:</p>
<p>1) i heard that you can get an advantage at brown by showing a true passion for the school, and making a video specifically for the app might help</p>
<p>2) with the tens of thousands of people applying, i'd maybe make myself stand out and put a face and a voice to my app</p>
<p>3) one of my passions is film and it would make it stand out even more</p>
<p>However, i sent an e-mail to the admissions office last week about sending films. they just now responded and said that they do accept them!</p>
<p>I am kind of curious about sending in supplemental stuff like this as well. I am going to be the Editor of the yearbook staff, and I was wondering if it would be smart to include a yearbook or possibly just a few of the best spreads. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?</p>
<p>This year my D won top 12 in a national film festival (student division) for a 10 minute film she co-directed and wrote. She most definitely included a DVD with her application along with a note explaining that even though she wasn't intending to major in film, that the honor of the high acheivement was something she wanted to share. Some of her EC's included interning on independent films, so the DVD went hand in hand. Her GC made note in the mid-year report about the honor. So it all intertwined. </p>
<p>She was accepted into her #1 (and a reach for her).</p>
<p>Best of luck. </p>
<p>If you're creative, then by all means step outside of the box!</p>
<p>For small LACs or any smaller school that takes the time to look at an application hollisticly i recommend it. Do not fall into the trap of thinking you will **** off your adcom or be a burden if you send in extra info. If you think it will help you, ie demostrates/ explains something you really want that college to know about you, then do it.<br>
Also with the activity list. If you run out of space attach a sheet telling about yourself. Do not just leave off several things about yourself becuase you ran out of room on their paper. send a resume. Remember you need to be bragging about yourself. Make yourself sound as attractive to the school as possible.
Just know that soem larger school will not look at much besides GPA, rank, and test scores, because they have too many students and applicants to spend a whole lot of time on each. I believe that at U of Iowa, they use a formula where they add and multiple your ACT with your GPA and if you end up with a number above a certain level you are automatically in. If you're below they will take time to consider whether they want to accept you or not.</p>
<p>well, williams and wesleyan are one of my top choices so for a small LAC i guess this could work...</p>