F1GMAT: How should a SKOLKOVO MBA Aspirant prepare for the application and Interview? The video presentation is unique. How did you prepare for the Video Presentation? 
Anna Shay: This may sound like a cliché, but at the end of the day it’s about being yourself. You may have the knowledge and a vast experience, but you must have a spark in your eyes, which is something that the founders are looking for and that spark is the breaking point. There are now even discussions in regards to using Alumni students throughout the admission process to get a second opinion and be able to distinguish that spark.
The video is definitely a unique part. I was in the last admission group so had very little time to prepare and when I saw the amazing Oscar worthy videos on YouTube I really started to freak out, but then I decided that it’s substance over form and wrote a text, which I memorized and read in front of the camera. It’s not about how you film it, but what you say, yet of course being creative helps. 
Elina Mannurova: Video presentation is an opportunity to create a lasting impression. That is why applicants should use it to show their personality. For me, it's been much fun to shoot the videos, write speech, and put music. I'm not a technical geek, never shot a video and put it together. That is why I enjoyed the production process a lot. I'm not sure whether I want to repeat this, but at that time it was an interesting challenge.
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