Michigan State Adding Video to Admissions Process

Michigan State University will be providing its applicants for admission the ability to supplement their required personal statements with video. Powered by CollegeSupplement.com, the feature allows candidates to express how their backgrounds, talents, and experiences will contribute to the university.

Admissions officers view videos through a uniform, secure online multimedia platform.

"We are fully committed to evaluating our candidates in their entirety, and CollegeSupplement.com's integration within our online application will be a great addition," said Jim Cotter, director of admissions. "We're also looking to increase enrollment of qualified international students, and video capability enables us to virtually meet any applicant worldwide."

"Michigan State is known as an innovator and offering our candidates this option aligns with our forward thinking," said Mike Cook, associate director of admissions, who is credited with introducing the technology to the East Lansing campus.

Using equipment available in most high schools, students record and upload video clips. The candidate then includes his or her personal passcode in the college application, giving colleges private access to view the supplement.

"Use of our proprietary system is being driven by two factors, the first being continued adoption of technologies which assist with candidate selection," said Steve Metzman, president of CollegeSupplement.com. "The second is providing equal access for financially or geographically disadvantaged applicants who can't personally present themselves on campus."

Some high schools have created instruction around the service. "After last year's success using CollegeSupplement.com, our school is now teaching English and technology curricula units around the product," said Sheryl Staszewski, director of counseling at Northern Burlington County Regional High School in Columbus, NJ. "Creating instruction around this unique resource not only strengthens certain fundamental communications and tech skills, but the students' work yields an end-product which is quite valuable during their upcoming college admissions process."

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • floating screens representing a variety of STEM education video resources

    George Fox University Expands STEM Learning Resources for Students Through Numerade Partnership

    In an effort to boost student success in STEM subjects, Oregon's George Fox University has partnered with STEM learning platform Numerade to offer students free access to the company's video tutoring platform.

  • close-up view of a heavily barricaded metal door with a large

    Kaspersky Closes Down U.S. Operations

    Security software company Kaspersky has announced it is ending its United States operations. The news comes just days before a federal ban on sales of its products was set to take effect, due to concerns about cyber espionage.

  • close-up illustration of a hand signing a legislative document

    California Passes AI Safety Legislation, Awaits Governor's Signature

    California lawmakers have overwhelmingly approved a bill that would impose new restrictions on AI technologies, potentially setting a national precedent for regulating the rapidly evolving field. The legislation, known as S.B. 1047, now heads to Governor Gavin Newsom's desk. He has until the end of September to decide whether to sign it into law.

  • white desk with an open digital tablet showing AI-related icons like gears and neural networks

    Elon University and AAC&U Release Student Guide to AI

    A new publication from Elon University 's Imagining the Digital Future Center and the American Association of Colleges and Universities offers students key principles for navigating college in the age of artificial intelligence.