Glimpse Video Submission : Clever, Optional, and Maybe Powerful

Let’s talk about Glimpse.

If you haven’t heard of it, Glimpse is a new-ish way for students to add a 60-90 second video to their college application. Think of it as a curated “What’s up? Here’s who I am” moment not a polished film project, but more like a confident selfie on a mission.

Some colleges (like Boston University) are dipping their toes in and offering students this optional space to share something that doesn’t show up in the application. It’s not required. It won’t hurt you if you don’t submit one. But if you do it right? It might just help.

🎥 What Is Glimpse?

Glimpse is a platform developed by InitialView to give applicants an informal but thoughtful video moment. It’s not a recorded interview. There’s no interviewer. Just a chance for students to speak directly to admissions with whatever they think matters most.

You film it on your phone or computer. No fancy lighting. No editing allowed. Just you, your voice, your story.

✅ PROS

• Adds dimension: Colleges are always trying to “get a feel” for the student. This gives them a real sense of how a student carries themselves and what matters to them.
  
• Optional, so low-risk: No one’s penalized for skipping it. But if you have a compelling presence, story, or angle, it’s a smart move.
  
• Fast turnaround: You can submit quickly and move on. No long prep process needed just a thoughtful response and real presence.
  
• Good for “non-traditional” strengths: If your essay didn’t capture it all, or your application needs a little spark, Glimpse can help.
  

⚠️ CONS

• Not universally embraced: Right now, only a handful of colleges use it. So don’t expect every admissions office to be watching these.
  
• Impact is unproven: It’s still early. No real data (yet) says it will move the needle dramatically.
  
• Hard to know what to say: Some students freeze when told “talk about something that’s not in your application.” (Tip: practice what you want to say, and pretend you're talking to a future professor who wants to get to know you.)
  
• One chance to get it right: Once you record and submit, it’s done. No do-overs. So be prepared but don’t overthink it.
  

So…Is It Worth It?

My honest take? If you’re applying to a school that accepts it (like BU), there’s nothing to lose and maybe something to gain. If your teen has a good camera presence, speaks from the heart, and can articulate something thoughtful and authentic go for it. If they hate the camera or have nothing to say beyond what’s already in their application, skip it.

My Advice:

Do it if:
✔️ Your teen has energy, presence, or a personal story that doesn’t show up in the rest of the app
✔️ They’re applying to a Glimpse-accepting school (especially BU)
✔️ They want to stand out a little more in a sea of test scores and essays

Skip it if:
🚫 It’ll stress them out more than help
🚫 Their application already sings loudly enough
🚫 They’re treating it like another assignment instead of an opportunity

Bottom Line

Glimpse isn’t a miracle tool. But it’s clever. It’s simple. And in a world where admissions offices are bombarded with sameness, it might be your teen’s moment to be remembered.

Want to talk more about whether it makes sense for your student? Let’s book a Strategy Session. But even if you go it alone: prepare, be real, and remember—the camera can’t lie, but it can connect.