Glimpse by InitialView: What’s New for 2026–27 Applications

Last fall, I wrote about the growing use of Glimpse by InitialView here, a short video that students can submit alongside their college applications. At the time, I wondered whether these “college selfie videos” were going to become another increasingly common part of the admissions process. After attending an InitialView counselor training this week, I have an update: Glimpse isn’t going away. In fact, its reach appears to be expanding.

But I also came away from the training with a much clearer understanding of how colleges are using these videos, what makes a good Glimpse, and perhaps most importantly, whether students should feel like they need to make one. The short answer? Not necessarily.

But for the right student, a 90-second video can give an admissions officer something that is becoming increasingly difficult to find in a college application: an authentic sense of the person behind it.

What Is a Glimpse Video?

Glimpse is a short video from InitialView that students can submit as an additional component of their college applications. Students record directly through the InitialView platform using a computer or phone. There is no editing or post-production. Once students are happy with their video, they select the colleges they want to receive it, and InitialView handles the rest.

The cost is $22, and importantly, that is a one-time fee, not $22 per college. Students can send the same video to as many colleges as they choose. Fee waivers are also available, and InitialView reported that about half of Glimpse users last year used one.

Is Glimpse Becoming a Bigger Deal?

It certainly appears that way. One of the most interesting things I learned during the training is that there really isn't a definitive list of colleges that “accept Glimpse.” InitialView does not operate like the Common App, where colleges formally become members. Colleges can receive and experiment with Glimpse without making a public announcement that they are using it. More than 100 institutions have integrated InitialView with Slate, the admissions platform many colleges use to read applications.

During the training, InitialView identified Duke, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame, College of the Holy Cross, Middlebury, Swarthmore, and Occidental as “power users.” Brown and Washington University in St. Louis were also mentioned as schools where students should consider submitting a Glimpse video.

QuestBridge is another important development. Glimpse is included in the QuestBridge application process, and a student's video can become available to QuestBridge partner colleges. And yes, colleges really are watching them.

InitialView shared a particularly interesting example involving Notre Dame. Last year, its executive director of admissions sent personalized video replies to admitted students who had submitted a Glimpse. According to InitialView, the responses specifically referenced things students had discussed in their videos.

That doesn't mean every admissions officer at every college will watch every Glimpse. InitialView itself was careful not to make that claim. But it does tell us that at some colleges, these videos are becoming a meaningful part of application review.

Why Are Colleges Interested in Video?

A traditional college application gives admissions officers a tremendous amount of information about a student, from grades and activities to essays and recommendations. But there is one thing that can be harder to capture on paper: what the student is actually like as a person.

With a Glimpse video, an admissions officer gets to see your face, hear your voice, and get a little better sense of your personality. In a process where so much is conveyed through grades, numbers, lists, and carefully edited writing, 90 seconds of a student simply being themselves can add another dimension.

What Makes a Good Glimpse?

Do not try to make it perfect.InitialView says colleges have specifically told them that videos don't work as well when students are obviously reading, sound scripted, or appear to have practiced the exact same thing 150 times. The entire point is for an admissions officer to get an authentic look at the student. That doesn't mean you shouldn't prepare.

I would absolutely think about what you want to say beforehand. You might even jot down a few bullet points. But there's a big difference between knowing what you want to talk about and memorizing 90 seconds of dialogue.

Students can re-record as many times as they want before submitting, but I wouldn't recommend doing 50 takes in search of perfection. At some point, you risk losing exactly what makes the video valuable: you.

What Should You Talk About?

There isn't one right answer. Some students simply sit in front of their computer and talk. Others use their phone and move around. InitialView described students taking admissions officers into their neighborhoods or showing them places that are meaningful to them. One student even approached her Glimpse video as though she were having a FaceTime conversation because she wanted colleges to see her social, personable side. The key is to ask yourself: what could an admissions officer learn about me in 90 seconds that is not already in your application?

Maybe you're obsessed with restoring old cars, or you referee basketball games every weekend. Perhaps you make elaborate birthday cakes for everyone in your family. Or is there something you could happily talk about for hours? In fact, InitialView said QuestBridge has used a prompt along those lines, asking students to talk about something they could discuss for hours. It doesn't have to be impressive. It needs to reveal something about you.

Don't Just Perform. Explain Why It Matters.

InitialView gave an example during the training that I thought was particularly helpful. Imagine you're a trumpet player. You could spend your entire Glimpse playing the trumpet. An admissions officer would learn one thing: you play the trumpet. Instead, you could explain when you started playing, why you love it, how it has shaped you, or how you hope to continue playing in college. If you want to spend 10 or 20 seconds actually playing, great. Now the admissions officer has learned something about you, not simply your ability to play an instrument. Glimpse isn't an arts supplement or an athletic highlight reel. The focus should remain on the person behind the activity.

Don't Turn It Into Another “Why Us?” Essay

InitialView specifically discourages students from naming an individual college in their Glimpse. The video is designed to be sent to multiple schools, but more importantly, colleges already have other places in the application where you can explain why you want to attend. They don't need another 90 seconds about why their college is wonderful. They want to learn about you. So resist the temptation to say, “I've dreamed of attending Duke since I was six.” Use those precious 90 seconds to tell them something they don't already know.

What About Production Value?

Don't worry about it. In fact, you can't do much production at all. Glimpse doesn't allow post-production editing. You can't add filters, music, photographs, graphics, or splice together multiple takes. Students record one continuous video through the platform. Students have enough to worry about without suddenly needing to become video producers. Ensure you have good lighting, clear sound, and a setting where you feel comfortable.

There Are Some New Features Worth Knowing About

Glimpse has expanded beyond the video itself. Students can now connect their counselor to their Glimpse account earlier in the process. Counselors can see where students are in the process, watch their videos, and provide feedback. Students can also connect more than one counselor, which is helpful for students working with both a school counselor and an independent educational consultant.

Glimpse users also receive access to Echo, a 60-second video recommendation from someone who knows the student. That could be a teacher or counselor, but it could also be a coach, club advisor, or another person in the student's community who can offer a different perspective. One Echo is included with Glimpse at no additional charge and is available to the colleges receiving the student's video.

There are also two interesting ways students can signal interest.

Students receive two Virtual Stars that they can assign to their top-choice schools during the Regular Decision process beginning December 15. InitialView explained that these are intended to help colleges identify students who are particularly serious about attending during the much larger Regular Decision round.

Students also receive one Yellow Rose after March 15 that can be sent to a college where they've been waitlisted as another way of signaling continued interest.

When Should You Submit It?

Glimpse doesn't necessarily have the same deadline as the college application. InitialView said that some colleges allow students to submit it after the application deadline as supplemental material. However, they recommend getting it in relatively quickly, ideally within about a week, so that the student's first application reader has access to it.

Students generally create one Glimpse and send it to all their colleges. However, a student who created a video for Early Decision or Early Action can request a one-time re-record for new Regular Decision schools. Note, the new recording does not replace a video that was already sent to an early school.

So, Should You Submit a Glimpse?

This is where I don't think the answer should automatically be yes. The college admissions process already asks a lot of students. I don't believe in adding another item to the checklist simply because it exists. Even InitialView acknowledged during the training that if a student isn't motivated to make a Glimpse and doesn't feel they have anything meaningful to add to their application, it may not be necessary. But I do think Glimpse is worth serious consideration, particularly if you're applying to colleges that are actively using it. And I think it could be especially valuable for a student whose personality doesn't completely come through on paper.

Maybe you're funny. Maybe you're incredibly enthusiastic when you talk about something you love. Maybe you're warm, curious, thoughtful, quirky, energetic, or just much more engaging in conversation than you are in a 650-word essay. Then 90 seconds of video might add something genuinely useful to your application. The question I would ask isn't: “Will submitting a Glimpse get me into college?” Instead, ask: “Is there something about me that an admissions officer would understand better after seeing and hearing me for 90 seconds?” If the answer is yes, Glimpse may be 90 seconds well spent.

Every student's application is different, and Glimpse is just one of many ways to help admissions officers understand who you are beyond your grades and test scores. At Mentor Admissions, we help students determine which application strategies make sense for them and how to present their experiences, interests, and personality authentically throughout the admissions process.

If you have questions about Glimpse or would like help developing your college application strategy, we'd love to hear from you. Contact us at info@mentoradmissions.com to learn more or schedule a call here.