How to Prepare for the Casper Snapshot

The Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (Casper) test is an online, open-response exam where you are presented with various scenarios or prompts, and must respond through a timed text or video response through your webcam.

The Casper Snapshot is another component of the Casper test that is required by certain professional schools. This test is an online one-way interview where you are presented with a question and must provide a short video response through your webcam. Its purpose is to assess your communication and interpersonal skills, as well as your ability to articulate your thoughts and respond to questions on the spot. There are 3 questions in total, and after you are presented with a question, you are given 30 seconds to brainstorm and then 2 minutes to record your video response for each question. This means the entire test will span a total of about 10 minutes. Depending on the program, the Snapshot is weighted in varying degrees of importance in the admissions process – for example, it may be used as the main interview component for certain schools, while serving as extra information in addition to an existing interview for other schools. However, the weighting of the Snapshot is not disclosed, so adequate preparation should be taken to maximize your performance in all cases. In this article, we will discuss 8 ways on how to prepare for the Casper Snapshot.

1. Test out your Technology

A few days before your Casper Snapshot, head to the Casper website and run a Systems Requirements Check to make sure your webcam, browser and internet connection are good to go. On the day of the Snapshot, it would also be a good idea to restart your computer and close any background programs to prevent any unwanted technical difficulties during your exam.

2. Set up your Environment

As the Snapshot will require recorded video responses, you want to make sure the lighting in your video is bright enough. At the same time, ensure that you will be sitting centred in your video, with a white or neutral background behind you. You will want to have optimal video and sound quality, which means wearing a headset if needed. Minimize any background noise and distractions as well, so remember to put your phone on silent and either head to a quiet room in your house or book a private study room in a café or library if needed.

3. Dress to Impress

Treat the Casper Snapshot like an interview, so dress in business casual attire like you would for a professional interview, and avoid any distracting jewelry. Note that the viewer will only be able to see your top half, so this means a blouse or polo for women and a dress shirt for men. However, wearing appropriate bottoms would be also be a good idea, in order to help you feel more professional, focused and confident.

4. Be Professional

During the test, you will first be presented with a question as a 30-second timer begins to count down. The initial 30 seconds is provided for you to gather your thoughts before answering the question, so remember that it is okay to take a few seconds to think. After the 30 seconds is over, you will be prompted to answer the question before the 2-minute timer automatically starts to count down and your webcam starts to record. As you provide your response, remember to make “eye contact” by looking at your camera instead of looking down at your screen. Speak in a calm and concise manner while avoiding the use of filler words, and try not to fidget or touch your hair or face too much. You do not get to watch or re-record your response after the 2 minutes is up, so try to relax, smile and do your best! If you feel like you messed up on a question, take a few seconds after you finish recording to breathe and calm your nerves before taking on the next question.

5. Run through Interview Questions

The type of questions that will be presented to you in the Snapshot will be similar to typical interview questions. To best prepare, search up some common interview questions and be ready to provide responses, as well as any experiences or achievements that will help support your answers. Avoid rehearsing your responses, but you want to have points or experiences ready so you can comfortably discuss them to prevent from blanking on the spot. Even more, you could ask a friend or family member to run through practice interviews with you to simulate a more realistic interview setting and become more comfortable expressing your answers verbally. To do so, you can either use practice interview questions found online. The Altus Suite website also provides sample Snapshot questions, including:

• Tell us about someone you admire and why.
• What is your favorite book?
• What is an obstacle you have faced, and how did you get through it?
• What aspect of your future profession are you most excited about?

6. Practice

After getting through some practice interviews, the next step is to get comfortable in front of the camera. The only way to get over the awkwardness of being in front of your webcam is to have multiple practice runs. Using the practice interview questions, try to imagine having a real conversation or interview with someone and record yourself using Camera (for PC users) or Photo Booth (for Mac users). Review the video afterwards and identify any areas for improvement. You could also show your friends or family members your recorded responses to get their “first impressions” on how you come across on video and see if you can improve in any way. Better yet, if you have a friend preparing for the Casper Snapshot as well, you could watch each other’s recordings and provide peer feedback. It’s always good to have extra practice and other perspectives, whether it be reviewing your own video recordings or having someone else review your takes for you.

7. Refresh your Memory

When preparing for the Casper Snapshot, it would also be a good idea to review your personal statement and supplemental essay submission(s) for the professional school programs that you have applied for. The questions that are asked in the Snapshot are similar to general interview questions, such as questions about your greatest strengths/weaknesses, a past obstacle you faced, a situation where you showed teamwork, etc. This way, you will be ready to potentially discuss any important events that may have shaped your career path, your passion for your specific field, and your life goals down the road.

8. Show your Gratitude

Just like a real interview, and if time allows, you can also take a few seconds to thank the listener at the end of your video recording to show your appreciation for their time. Non-verbal body language is very important, so remember to also sit up straight and smile!

Conclusion

The Casper Snapshot is a one-way interview used to assess your self-reflection and communication skills. It is used as an extra metric for admission into certain professional schools, but remember that it is weighted differently for different professional programs. I hope this has helped provide some insight on how to best prepare for the test – keep these 8 tips in mind and I’m sure you will ace the Casper Snapshot. Good luck!