Contrary to some popular movies and social networking sites, admissions officers don't spend their days poring over video resumes or DVDs of dance recitals to decide who is "in" and who is "out".

The less-than-glamorous truth is that character, hard work, dedication, academic success and evidence of commitment are still the ingredients for getting in to your dream school. According to a great myth-debunking article in the NY Times, admissions officers tend to toss out the "show and tell" application add-ons and dig deep into the standard college application and essay.

My advice: Focus on your essay, not your music video. This is your moment to distinguish yourself from the crowd of fellow applicants with similar GPAs, course selections and test scores. Write like you have never written before and get a very diverse set of test readers. If they did not know you at all, what sort of mental picture would they take with them? When you are satisfied that you have painted a compelling and accurate portrait of yourself, proudly submit your essay.