Glimpse Videos and Video Portfolios: The New Application Components Top Schools Want in 2027
By Rona Aydin
What Are Glimpse Videos and Why Are Schools Adopting Them?
Glimpse is a platform created by InitialView that allows applicants to record a short, unedited video introduction and send it to multiple colleges. The video is typically 60-90 seconds long, filmed by the student on their own device, and cannot be edited or produced. This intentional simplicity is the point – schools want to see and hear the real person, not a polished production.
The adoption of video components is accelerating for two reasons. First, application volumes at selective schools have grown so large (Harvard received 47,893 applications for the Class of 2029) that admissions officers are looking for efficient ways to differentiate applicants beyond written materials. Second, the rise of AI writing tools has made essays less reliable as indicators of a student’s authentic voice. A 90-second unedited video is much harder to fabricate than a polished essay, making it a more trustworthy signal of who the applicant actually is. For more on how AI is changing the admissions landscape, see our AI in admissions guide.
Which Schools Currently Accept Video Submissions?
| School | Video Format | Required or Optional | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brown University | Glimpse or direct upload | Optional (encouraged) | 90 seconds max |
| University of Chicago | Video introduction via any platform, uploaded to the UChicago Account (in lieu of an interview) | Optional (recommended) | 2 minutes max |
| Vanderbilt | Glimpse | Optional | 60-90 seconds |
| Duke | Glimpse (US high school students only) | Optional | 60-90 seconds |
| Boston University | Glimpse | Optional | 60-90 seconds |
| Colby College | InitialView Elevator Pitch | Optional | 60-90 seconds |
Source: Institutional admissions pages, 2025-2026 cycle; NACAC reporting. Schools update policies annually – verify before submitting.
How Should Your Child Prepare for a Video Submission?
The most important principle is authenticity over polish. Schools explicitly state they do not want professionally edited or heavily rehearsed videos. They want to hear your child speak naturally about who they are and what interests them. The preparation process should involve writing a loose outline (3-5 bullet points, not a word-for-word script), practicing conversationally 3-4 times until the content flows naturally, and recording in a quiet, well-lit space with a neutral background.
The content should complement the written application, not duplicate it. If your child wrote their personal statement about their research project, the video should highlight a different dimension – perhaps their sense of humor, their family’s cultural traditions, or a passion that does not appear anywhere else in the application. The goal is to give the admissions officer a reason to remember your child as a person, not just an applicant file.
What Does This Mean for Rising Juniors and Sophomores?
For students who will apply in the 2027-2028 or 2028-2029 cycles, video submissions are likely to be even more widespread. The strategic implication is that your child should become comfortable speaking about themselves on camera well before application season. This does not mean formal public speaking training – it means regular practice articulating interests, experiences, and ideas in a conversational format. Students who can speak authentically and confidently about what they care about have an advantage that extends beyond video submissions to interviews, campus visits, and demonstrated interest interactions.
For more on how to build the kind of application narrative that translates well to both written and video formats, see our Common App essay guide and interview preparation guide.
Final Thoughts
Video submissions represent a fundamental shift in how selective schools evaluate applicants. In an era where AI can generate polished essays and activity lists can be strategically manufactured, a 90-second unedited video is one of the few remaining components that is genuinely hard to fake. The schools adopting these formats are signaling that they want to know who your child actually is – not just what they have accomplished. For families targeting Brown, UChicago, Vanderbilt, Duke, and the growing list of schools that accept video introductions, preparing for this component is no longer optional.
At Oriel Admissions, our team of former admissions officers coaches students on video presentation, helping them find the balance between preparation and authenticity that makes a lasting impression. Schedule a consultation to discuss video strategy for your child’s target schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Glimpse video is a 60-90 second unedited video introduction that students record through the InitialView platform and send to participating colleges. Schools that currently accept Glimpse or similar video submissions include Brown, University of Chicago, Vanderbilt, Duke, Boston University, Colby, and a growing list of selective institutions. The video is optional at most schools but provides a genuine competitive advantage because it gives admissions officers something they cannot get from the written application: your child’s voice, presence, and personality in real time.
Yes, with very few exceptions. Optional components in college admissions are almost never truly optional – they are an additional opportunity to differentiate your application. The only reason to skip a video submission is if your child has severe presentation anxiety that would result in a video that actively hurts their candidacy. For the vast majority of applicants, even a simple, authentic 90-second introduction adds a dimension that written materials cannot convey. Admissions officers consistently report that video submissions help them connect with applicants on a more personal level.
The goal is conversational authenticity, not polished performance. Write a loose outline (not a script) covering: who you are, what excites you intellectually, and one specific thing about the school that connects to your interests. Practice the outline conversationally 3-4 times until it feels natural, then record. Film in a quiet, well-lit space with a neutral background. Schools explicitly state they do not want edited or produced videos – the point is to hear your natural voice. If it sounds rehearsed, re-record until it sounds like a conversation.
Glimpse costs $22 for unlimited school submissions. Fee waivers are available for students who qualify. At $22 for a supplemental component that can meaningfully differentiate your application at Brown, UChicago, Vanderbilt, and other top schools, this is one of the highest-ROI investments in the entire admissions process.
The trend is clearly toward more video and multimedia components. As AI makes written essays easier to fabricate, schools are seeking application elements that are harder to fake. A live, unedited video is much more difficult to generate with AI than a written essay. Brown, UChicago, and Vanderbilt have been early adopters, and admissions professionals expect 50+ selective schools to offer some form of video submission within the next 2-3 cycles. Students who are comfortable on camera will have an increasing advantage.
Do not recite your resume – the admissions officer already has it. Do not read from a script or teleprompter. Do not try to be funny unless humor is genuinely part of your personality. Do not mention other schools you are applying to. Do not use the video to explain weaknesses in your application (that is what the additional information section is for). Instead, use the 90 seconds to share something genuine about yourself that does not appear anywhere else in the application – a story, a passion, a perspective that makes the admissions officer remember you.
Yes. Arts portfolios and music auditions are entirely separate from Glimpse-style video introductions. Schools like RISD, Parsons, Juilliard, and Berklee require substantive creative portfolios or audition recordings that demonstrate technical skill and artistic development. These are evaluated by faculty in the relevant department, not general admissions readers. Glimpse videos are conversational introductions, not talent demonstrations. If your child is applying to both art/music programs and traditional universities, they will need different video materials for each.
Record the video after your child has submitted their written application but before the video deadline (typically November 4-6 for ED/EA and January 5-8 for RD, but check each school). This timing ensures your child’s video messaging is consistent with their essays. Submit within one week of the written application so the video is included in the initial review. Do not wait until the last minute – give yourself time to re-record if the first attempt does not feel right.
