--- title: Will colleges accept a video instead of an essay on applications? description: Colleges require an essay as part of their application, even for kids with dysgraphia. But there are strategies to make writing a college essay easier. An expert explains. slug: will-colleges-accept-a-video-instead-of-an-essay-on-applications author: Jim Rein, MA published: '2019-10-16T11:45:13.166Z' thumbnail: https://cdn-images.understood.org/p0qf7j048i0q/A24860BEE6234EDDA1B5B13848EEC89F/c1e441906731ce5d584b35d040d71f2c/i66241707.jpg source_url: https://www.understood.org/en/articles/will-colleges-accept-a-video-instead-of-an-essay-on-applications lang: en --- # Will colleges accept a video instead of an essay on applications? **Q. My high school senior has dysgraphia and is having trouble writing her college essay. Will colleges accept an alternative, like a video?** **A. **A few four-year colleges have recently introduced the concept of submitting a video as part of [the application process](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/10-steps-to-a-more-organized-college-application-process). But that’s as a substitute for a high school transcript. It’s not to replace the essay. Schools in the visual and performing arts will require a portfolio or audition. Those, too, are *in addition* to the application. Asking the admissions staff if you can use a video instead of the essay could send up a red flag. College courses involve writing papers. There will be essay questions on tests. Schools want to assess your child’s ability — even if she [struggles with writing](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/understanding-trouble-with-writing-in-kids). To help her do her best with essay, I’d consider some of the following strategies: 1. Use a [speech-to-text program](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/examples-of-assistive-technology-adaptive-tools) to convert her spoken ideas into written form. This is something she could take with her to college. 2. Have her record her ideas, and then have a scribe write these out by hand or on the computer. (That scribe could be you!) 3. Encourage her to use a [graphic organizer](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/download-graphic-organizers-to-help-grade-schoolers-with-writing) to help focus her ideas and create a structure for her essay. 4. Have her discuss her ideas with you, a friend or family member, a teacher, or an essay-writing coach before she sits down to write. She could even write about how she has faced the challenges of having dysgraphia and has found ways to work around them. One more thing to consider: Some colleges, particularly [two-year programs](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-to-know-if-your-child-would-be-better-off-at-community-college), don’t require an essay to apply. If your child completes a year successfully she can apply to a four-year school as a transfer student. In that case, she may be able to avoid the standard application. --- ## Explore related topics and articles - [How I owned it: 3 college application essays](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/how-i-owned-it-3-college-application-essays) - Many students \(and families\) wonder if its a good idea to disclose their learning and thinking differences in their college application essay. Whether to disclose is a personal decision. But for these three students, all mentors with Understood founding partner Eye to Eye, it was a positive move. He - [Classroom accommodations for dysgraphia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/at-a-glance-classroom-accommodations-for-dysgraphia) - Students with dysgraphia can have trouble with handwriting, typing, and spelling. What classroom accommodations can help? Here are some ways teachers can make all aspects of writing easier. Classroom materials and routines - Provide pencil grips or different types of pens or pencils to see what wo - [Treatment for kids with dysgraphia](https://www.understood.org/en/articles/treatment-options-for-dysgraphia) - - There are different teaching strategies that can help with dysgraphia. - Theres no medication for dysgraphia. - Assistive technology can be a big help to kids who have difficulty writing. 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