USC Marshall MBA Video Assessment
The USC Marshall School of Business Full-Time MBA video assessment is a critical component of the admissions process. While your written application shows what you’ve done, the video assessment allows the admissions committee to see who you are—your communication style, presence, values, and ability to think on your feet.
The video assessment is an asynchronous interview—meaning you record your responses online rather than speaking live with an interviewer. You’ll be given prompts and a limited amount of time to prepare and record each answer.
It is not a test of memorization or acting ability. Instead, Marshall uses it to assess:
- Communication clarity
- Leadership mindset
- Authenticity and self-awareness
- Professional maturity
- Cultural fit with USC Marshall’s collaborative values
Marshall places strong emphasis on:
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Leadership with humility
- Emotional intelligence
- Global and ethical perspective
The video format helps admissions officers evaluate:
- How you express ideas verbally
- Whether your personality aligns with Marshall’s community
- How you handle pressure and time constraints
- Your confidence and composure
Importantly, there are no “perfect” answers—they are looking for real, thoughtful responses.
While exact formats may vary slightly year to year, the assessment typically includes:
- 2–5 video questions (usually 4!)
- 30–60 seconds of preparation time per question (usually 30)
- 60–120 seconds to record each response (120…)
- One attempt per question (no re-recording)
Questions may be:
- Behavioral
- Reflective
- Situational
- Values-based