Should Students Add Video to Their College Applications? Understanding InitialView, Glimpse, ECHO & VIVA
- mrsorrispsea
- 17 hours ago
- 5 min read
By Mrs. Dahlia Orris | Orris Post Secondary Education Advising, LLC
I recently had the opportunity to attend an "Ask Me Anything" session with InitialView co-founder Gloria Chyou Crawford, and one thing became very clear: video is becoming another way students may be able to add context, personality, authenticity, and even verification of their work to the college admissions process.
If you are thinking, “Wait… students are submitting videos with college applications now?” you are not alone.
Video is not replacing the traditional application. But tools such as InitialView, Glimpse, ECHO, and VIVA are giving some students another way to communicate with colleges, add context to their application, and, increasingly, demonstrate that they understand the work they submit.
The important word here is some.
These tools are optional, and one of my biggest takeaways from Gloria's conversation was that we should not turn every optional opportunity into another requirement for students.
So, what are they?
What Is InitialView?
InitialView is a video-based admissions platform offering several ways for colleges to hear directly from students.
Its traditional InitialView Interview + Writing Sample is primarily recommended for students studying outside the United States, international students studying in the U.S., and homeschooled or nontraditional applicants.
The current undergraduate package includes a 12–15 minute live, unscripted interview and a 20-minute proctored writing sample. The cost is $265, and the completed package can be sent to unlimited colleges. Importantly, InitialView does not score or grade the interview. Colleges receive the student's actual responses.
Glimpse: A 60-90 Second Introduction to YOU
For many U.S. high school students, Glimpse is the tool they are most likely to encounter.
Glimpse is a 60–90 second unedited video that can be sent to multiple colleges. Students create one general video rather than a separate video for each university.
The current cost is $22, regardless of the number of colleges receiving it, and fee waivers are available for eligible students.
What should a student talk about?
There is no magic formula.
During the webinar, Gloria shared examples ranging from a student performing an original song to a quieter student simply explaining his music-production setup.
The common denominator was not polish.
It was authenticity.
A Glimpse might show an interest, hobby, cultural connection, project, sense of humor, or side of the student that simply did not appear naturally elsewhere in the application.
The key word is add.
Do Not use 90 seconds to repeat your activities list or recite another version of your Common App essay.
ECHO: A New Feature Within Glimpse
ECHO adds another voice to the Glimpse experience.
A student can invite one person who knows them to submit a 60-second video recommendation. That person might be a counselor, teacher, coach, mentor, or pastor.
The ECHO recommendation appears separately alongside the student's video, and the student does not view the recommendation before it is submitted.
I particularly appreciated the possibilities Gloria discussed for counselors. Sometimes another human voice can provide context that simply does not fit neatly into an application box.
VIVA: Can You Explain the Work You Submitted?
VIVA caught my attention for a different reason.
Students can upload work such as research, coding, engineering, or another significant academic project. VIVA then generates questions about that work, and the student responds on video in real time, with 60 seconds per response.
The idea is wonderfully simple: Can you explain the work you say you did?
The current cost is $22 per VIVA, and one completed VIVA can be sent to multiple institutions during that admission cycle at no additional charge.
And yes, this connects directly to the conversation surrounding AI and authenticity.
As AI becomes increasingly involved in writing, coding, research, and other academic work, a student's ability to explain their thinking, contributions, challenges, and learning may become even more important.
Instead of only asking whether AI was used, colleges can ask a much more meaningful question:
Does the student understand the work?
Maybe CollegeBoard should take a closer look at tools like VIVA for AP Seminar submissions. . . .
So . . . Should My Student Submit A Glimpse?
Here comes the counselor answer families love:
It depends.
A video may be worth considering when an important part of the student is missing from the written application.
Perhaps their personality comes alive when they speak. Maybe they have an unusual interest, creative pursuit, family tradition, intellectual curiosity, or sense of humor that did not find a natural home in their essays or activities.
But video is not automatically better.
If a student becomes extremely uncomfortable on camera, communicates much more effectively in writing, or already has an application that tells their story beautifully, adding another component simply because it exists may not strengthen the application. Gloria specifically cautioned against turning optional tools into perceived requirements.
My Two Cents . . .
Before deciding whether to submit a video, ask: What would this add that admissions does not already know?
If the answer is “nothing,” you may not need it.
If you decide to create a Glimpse:
Do not read or memorize a script
Do not repeat your résumé or essay.
Do not overproduce it.
Do not try to become someone different because a camera is on.
Prepare your thoughts, practice talking naturally about what matters to you, and then allow yourself to sound like . . . YOU!
Admissions officers already receive plenty of polished information. Sometimes what adds the most value is simply another opportunity to understand the student behind the application. And that may be exactly why video deserves a place in the college admissions conversation.
A special thank you to the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) for organizing this webinar, and to InitialView co-founder Gloria Chyou Crawford for her detailed explanations and candid responses to the many questions shared throughout the session.
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Dahlia Orris is an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) and the founder of Mrs. Orris Post-Secondary Education Advising, LLC, supporting students and families in grades 8–12 through bilingual college advising.
With over 24 years of experience in education, she partners with families across Florida and Puerto Rico, providing culturally responsive, strategic guidance in English and Spanish.
Dahlia values authentic, collaborative relationships and is known for offering honest guidance that keeps student well-being and family goals at the center of the planning process.
College admissions policies and optional application opportunities may change. Always confirm each institution's current requirements and policies directly with the college.
This content was researched by Mrs. Dahlia Orris and drafted with AI tools to deliver timely, accurate information to families faster.
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