All summer, college admissions counselors have been reading admissions essay after admissions essay. There are loads of Mighty Ducks-like underdog stories, Pretty In Pink-like wrong side of the tracks kid makes it happen stories, and Save the Last Dance-like following the dream stories. Amongst the less narrative essays, there are explanations of why the GPA is somewhat low, why the GPA is inconsistent, and why the high GPA should be the only admissions factor at all. Then, there is that crop of brave souls that ventures into the world of video essays, which may range from the sublime to the horrifyingly terrible. What then makes the difference between the good and the bad?

Like most situations which involve recommending oneself, the video essay is a time to avoid presenting an inflated ego. Maybe you think you are the best thing that’s happened to the world since Gandhi, or even including Gandhi. That’s all fine and good, but keep it to yourself. Also, don’t seem like too much of a whiner even if your life is totally freaking horrible, your parents don’t love you, you cut yourself, and your girlfriend dumped you for your best friend because he has a bigger penis. In short: have a sense of humor. And if that doesn’t work, just go back to the drawing board and work the pity factor with a big old sob story.

Here's my favorite, a Chapman video application.