kellogg mba essay analysis

Malvika Patil

Northwestern Kellogg MBA Essays & Analysis 2024 - 2025

Northwestern Kellogg has updated its MBA Essay Questions for the 2024 - 2025 application cycle. The 2 core essays continue to maintain the 450 word limit, but focus on career goals and leadership in this year's new prompts.

Here are the Northwestern Kellogg MBA Essay Written and Video Questions for 2024 - 2025.

Northwestern Kellogg MBA Essay 1

Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (450 words)

This year, Kellogg has chosen to ask applicants a classic career goals essay, including a specific "Why Kellogg" component.

Start with a story about a past experience that shaped your interest in your target industry or role. This could be a personal or professional experience, but it should lead to a mission statement that clearly states what impact you want to have through your career. You don't need to have a grandiose mission like solving world hunger or becoming President, but you should aim to showcase the overall positive impact you will have on others through your work.

Now that you have a mission, outline the short-term and long-term goals that will help you achieve it. Ensure that you state your target role, industry, and geography.

You can now discuss the skills you already have gained so far that are useful for these goals. This could be transferable skills from your career, extracurriculars, or personal experiences, direct experience in your target industry, and even expanding your network to include people from your target industry.

Then, discuss the skills that you still need to develop to achieve your goals. Kellogg asks you to explain why this is the right time to pursue an MBA. You may have reached a point in your career where you cannot move forward without covering these skill gaps, so you need an MBA.

Finally, be specific with the skills, knowledge, and community you need from your MBA. Research classes, student clubs, extracurriculars, conferences, competitions, and any other resources that will help you achieve your goals. For example, you may be planning to pivot to a strategy role from a tech role after your MBA. Going forward, you would need to develop your strategic thinking and communication skills, which you'll get from certain courses in your curriculum.

You also need to demonstrate how you can give back to Kellogg's community. Note the use of the word "intentionality". Again, do your research and seek opportunities where your skills and experiences will add value to your MBA cohort and the larger university. Speak to alumni, current students, and school staff to add a personal touch to your essay and show that you are already getting involved with the school's community. If you can, you should also consider visiting the school campus to understand its culture and speak to students.

Northwestern Kellogg MBA Essay 2

Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (450 words)

This question requires you to narrate a compelling story of a professional challenge you faced. Highlight how you embraced the situation, formed your strategy, and managed to create a “long-lasting impact”. Finally, reflect upon your learning from this situation - recount how you grew professionally, improved your leadership style/skills and added value.

Kellogg appreciates candidates with the potential to take calculated risks in service of the larger value-added proposition. Thus, your ability to take calculated risks, overcome challenges, and push beyond the boundaries would be an excellent point to add.

Consider using a story in the SCAR framework to answer this question. Start the essay by defining the situation , explaining the challenge at hand, stating the action(s) you took and concluding with the result of your leadership efforts.

Here's the SCAR framework in action:

Situation: Provide some context

Challenge: Describe the immediate challenge you faced

Action: Explain what you did to overcome the challenge

Result: Give a concrete result, try to quantify

Analysis:

Demonstrate leadership skills by reflecting upon your values that resonate with Kellogg’s core cultural values. These could be - teamwork, collaboration, long-lasting impact, sync with the Kellogg purpose in post-MBA career, innovative approach, etc.

Learning - How you dealt with challenges and received feedback are important for all MBA programs. Therefore, reflect on how this situation enabled you to grow further and highlight your willingness to learn and develop throughout your MBA.

Northwestern Kellogg MBA Reapplicant Essay

Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words)

Write about how you’ve grown since the last time you applied to Kellogg. This answer is where you would refer to your improved GMAT/GRE score and add recent leadership experiences such as extracurricular activities, community work, and/or new projects you began since the last time you applied. Also, mention any promotions or new responsibilities you’ve been given since you last applied.

Northwestern Kellogg 1-Year Applicant MBA Essay

Please discuss your post-MBA career goal, the current experience you will leverage to support the transition, and the Kellogg 1Y opportunities that will help you reach this goal. (250 words)

A classic career goals essay. Don’t over-complicate it. Start by stating your post-MBA career goal. Don’t commit to a specific company and role, but show that you’ve done your research. Ideal is to apply to 3 companies in a similar space, such as McKinsey, Bain & BCG or Pfizer, J&J & AstraZeneca.

Next, explain the skills you already have and the skills that you’ll need. Ideally, this would be a mix of soft skills and technical skills. Examples of soft skills include public speaking. Technical skills might be valuations of early-stage startups. Tie the skills you need to specific electives, trips, treks, societies, programs and clubs at Kellogg.

Northwestern Kellogg MBA Video Essays

Guidelines: .

Three questions will be available post-application submission and payment.

Essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.

For the final assessment, join through an internet-connected laptop or computer with a webcam and microphone.

Answers should be consistent with your application, but try not to repeat yourself verbatim. For example, feel free to refer to a project you already wrote about, but if you wrote about it from a leadership standpoint, best to use it from a different angle such as teamwork.

Northwestern Kellogg Video Essay 1

Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee.

Think of this as your elevator pitch. Share with the admissions committee what makes you different. Talk about some key aspects of your professional role and what you do outside of the office.

Northwestern Kellogg Video Essay 2

What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you?

Begin by explaining your career goals. These should be clear to you by now. Avoid sounding overly committed, but show that you’ve done your research. If you’ll be taking on a new job after MBA, a good idea is to refer to 3 specific companies or roles which you would consider. Then talk about the skills you’ll need and how an MBA at Kellogg is going to give you these

Northwestern Kellogg Video essay 3

This question will be based on a challenge you've faced and what you've learned from it.

For this behavioural question, stick to the SCAR format. Describe the situation, explain the challenge, what you did and what the result was. A good story will demonstrate one or more of the 12 key traits .

Check out our Kellogg MBA Interview Guide for in-depth insights into Kellogg's interview process, what they're looking for in prospective candidates, interview schedule and questions for 2024, and tips to ace your interview.

For the full Northwestern Kellogg MBA application course with example essays based on real essays by previous applicants, check out the Kellogg application program on MBAconsultant.com .

We help determined applicants get admitted to top business schools. Get in touch if you think we can help you with your MBA application. Book a free 20 mins chat now.

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Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

June 12, 2024

Jeremy Shinewald

Applicants to the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University must submit two written essays. For the first, candidates are asked to provide a somewhat short, but dense, explanation of their path to and motivation for pursuing an MBA from Kellogg and their vision for their professional future. The second essay deals with an experience in which the applicant had to navigate a challenging decision. In addition, the admissions committee requires that candidates respond to three brief questions via video. Although all of Kellogg’s required submissions are on the shorter side, they cover a lot of territory, so together, they should allow you to share a good deal of information about your past, your personality, and your strengths. For more advice on interpreting and approaching the school’s prompts for 2024–2025, read on.

Northwestern Kellogg 2024–2025 Essay Tips

Essay 1: intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful kellogg leaders. help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an mba, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. moreover, share why you feel kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (450 words).

“Intentionality” is clearly an important concept here—Kellogg has put the word front and center, after all—but do not let it distract you from what the admissions committee is really wanting here. ( Hint: It is not an essay about the importance of being intentional. ) At its core, this essay prompt is essentially asking you to provide a pretty standard personal statement:

“the specific goals you aim to achieve” = What do you want to do?
“your motivations for pursuing an MBA” = Why do you need an MBA to do it?
“why you believe now is the right moment” = Why now?
“why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst” = Why our school?

Add in a little context for your goals (“help us understand your journey”) and a dash of how you will be additive to the Kellogg experience (“what you will contribute to our community”), and you have yourself a very robust personal statement indeed.

For some applicants, at least, the most vexing part of this essay will likely be figuring out how to fit all of this information into a mere 450 words (the prompt itself is 75), which is a scant two or three paragraphs, at best. So you will need to be concise, direct, and clear. This is, we believe, where the “intentionality” factor really comes in. If you are truly focused on your goals and your vision of your future—in other words, if your intentions are strong and set—you should be able to articulate the different elements of your path pretty easily. Think of how entrepreneurs are often given mere seconds in which to convey their concept and expected game plan when pitching to investors. The ones who have the clearest and most definitive message about what they want to do and how they are going to make it a reality are the ones who tend to get awarded the funding they need. In this case, you are the entrepreneur of your future, and Kellogg wants you to convince them that you are a smart investment.

Of course, this does not in any way mean that you cannot change paths once you are in the MBA program. That is not what we are saying here. No one from the admissions committee is going to monitor your coursework or recruiting choices and raise a red flag if you deviate from what you present in this essay. But the school wants to know you are coming into the program with a fire in your belly, so to speak, and a real sense of direction.

In the mbaMission Personal Statement Guide , we go into detail about why these elements (why you need an MBA, why now, etc.) matter to admissions committees and offer expert guidance on how to approach and frame this information effectively in your application essays. The guide also includes a number of illustrative sample essays. We encourage you to download a free copy of the guide in preparation for writing this essay for Kellogg. Also, because one element of this essay relates to how you anticipate contributing to the Kellogg community, you will need to ensure that you are thoroughly familiar with the school’s MBA program, from its location to its extracurriculars, core curriculum, standout faculty members, special programs, and other key features. So, in addition to reading Kellogg’s site, checking out its YouTube channel, reading student blogs, and connecting with students and alumni, be sure to download a free copy of the mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the Kellogg School of Management .

Essay 2: Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (450 words)

Again, the Kellogg admissions committee is tasking you with covering a lot of material in relatively little space, so making every word count is imperative here. With this prompt, the school wants to know how you approach and navigate situations in which things are not as clear-cut as you would like or you might need to make a sacrifice of some kind. How do you reason through options and reach conclusions, especially when doing so is complicated? The prompt very clearly states that the experience you discuss in this essay must be one from your professional past, but the scale or scope of the situation in an objective sense is not as important as how affecting it was for you personally and how revelatory it is of who you are and how you think and operate. This is really what the admissions committee is looking to learn.

For this essay, you will need to share an anecdote in which something was at stake—the reader must feel and understand that your decision involved some level of risk. If you faced no possibility of negative ramifications, making the choice involved could not have been very complex or daunting. You need to convey that you had an indisputable quandary on your hands and had to weigh your options carefully.

The phrase “difficult decision” might immediately lead you to start combing through your experiences to identify a time when you had to choose between two equally good (or perhaps bad) options, but decision-making can be complicated in other, more subtle ways as well—beyond just having multiple options. So we encourage you to think more broadly to ensure that the anecdote you choose is indeed the best one for this prompt. Thoroughly consider what the nature or source of the difficulty was in each potential story. For example, was a lack of key information the complicating factor? Was the “difficulty” the anticipated fallout or repercussions of your choice? Perhaps, for example, your decision was objectively, maybe even undeniably, positive but would inevitably upset someone who was important to you. Maybe you knew were making the right decision but had to overcome resistance from your supervisors or other authority to move forward. When you are brainstorming for this essay, temporarily disconnect the word “difficult” from “decision” here to really open your mind to story options you might not have otherwise considered.

In your essay, take the reader through your decision-making process, briefly noting the different possible consequences of your various choices—as much as Kellogg’s word limit will allow. Sharing your motivations and the factors you weighed most heavily (or discounted) will give the admissions committee insight into your values, as the essay question stipulates. You must also share what you learned from the experience and how it has subsequently made you a better leader. Kellogg needs to know not only that you have faced and worked through the demanding process of reaching a particular resolution but also that you are capable of growing and improving from such situations and know how to use them as building blocks.

Keep in mind that your decision does not need to have been proven right, and you could even show that all the options available to you at the time were less than ideal and explain how you optimized the imperfect outcomes. At the same time, a “difficult” decision is not the same as a “wrong” decision, so do not interpret this to be an essay about failure, either. The question allows you to discuss a situation in which you might have struggled but that did not necessarily end in defeat or disappointment. Your ultimate goal with this essay is to help the admissions committee understand how you process complex information, what motivates you to act, and that you can identify and apply takeaways to continue evolving professionally.

Reapplicants: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

Whether you have improved your academic record, received a promotion, begun a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement, or taken on some sort of personal challenge, the key to success with this essay is conveying a very deliberate path of achievement. Kellogg wants to know that you have been actively striving to improve yourself and your profile, and that you have seized opportunities during the previous year to do so, because a Kellogg MBA is vital to you. The responses to this essay question will vary greatly from one candidate to the next, because each person’s needs and experiences differ. We are more than happy to provide one-on-one assistance with this highly personal essay to ensure that your efforts over the past year are presented in the best light possible.

Additional Information: We know that life is full of extenuating circumstances. Whether you want to explain gaps in work experience, your choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance or something else, you can use this section to briefly tell us anything we need to know about your application. (280 words)

However tempted you might be, this is not the place to paste in a strong essay you wrote for another school or to offer a few anecdotes that you were unable to incorporate into any of your other essays. Instead, this is your opportunity, if needed, to address any questions an admissions officer might have about your candidacy. We encourage you to download our free mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , in which we offer detailed advice on when and how to take advantage of the optional essay, along with multiple sample essays, to help you mitigate any problem areas in your profile.

Video Essays: We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:, video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline., a video essay link will appear on your application status page after you submit your application and payment., you will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone, the video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup., after submitting your application and payment, you will be able to access the video essay through your application status page., here are some additional tips:, there are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. the practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, to help you prepare., we encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. you will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions., you will have 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response..

During a Q&A session at a past mbaMission annual conference, a Kellogg admissions representative explained that the school’s video component sprang from the admissions committee’s desire to actually see and hear the applicants they were evaluating. Given that Kellogg’s interviews are conducted by alumni, the video is the committee’s only “live” interaction with candidates. Keep this in mind as you tackle this segment of the application, and make being authentic and natural your primary goal. Kellogg is not looking for the next viral TED Talk presenter or late-night TV host. They just want to get to know you as a unique individual who may one day join its community.

So, start by taking a deep breath. We understand that these video essays can make you feel like you are being put on the spot, but Kellogg is really not trying to scare you. The admissions committee simply wants a more dynamic representation of your personality than a written essay can provide. You cannot answer any of the school’s video questions incorrectly, so do not concern yourself with trying to give the “right” answer. Just respond to each query honestly, as smoothly as you can (despite any nervousness you may be feeling), and be yourself.

In the past, Kellogg has provided the questions applicants would encounter in the application’s video segment, but this year (at least at the time this post was written), the specific questions posed are unknown. Do not let this panic you. The core reason for this component is still to put a face to a name for the admissions committee and to see how you communicate and conduct yourself when questioned in this way (very similar to how you will eventually be interviewed by recruiters as a Kellogg student). Not knowing the questions beforehand just ensures a higher level of spontaneity and therefore authenticity. We would not be surprised to learn later that candidates were asked similar questions to those posed in the past, which focused on introducing oneself, one’s career goals, one’s interest in the Kellogg MBA program, and a challenge one has faced—pretty basic stuff for an MBA admissions interview, really.

Remember to speak with energy and enthusiasm. You are trying to connect with others, so charisma is welcome, and a little less rigid and traditionally “professional” demeanor is okay. Forego any fancy or dramatic tactics, and just be as natural and authentic as possible. As they say, you only have one chance to make a first impression, so dedicate some time to prepping (just in case) to ensure that your introduction is engaging, substantive, and true to who you are.

Even though you do not know exactly what you will be asked, you can still practice and prepare to some extent. We encourage you to download a free copy of the mbaMission Interview Guide , which includes a list of 100 common MBA interview questions that you can use in getting comfortable with responding to the types of queries you will likely encounter for these videos. And even though this is not an official Kellogg interview, our school-specific Northwestern Kellogg Interview Guide could still be a helpful resource. One minute is not very long, so run through several practice sessions—perhaps in front of a mirror—to get a sense of how quickly those 60 seconds will pass when you are in front of the camera. Although you can prepare as much as you want, you get only one chance at the recording. If you stumble while answering or ultimately are unhappy with your answer, unfortunately, you cannot do anything about it. You will not be able to rerecord your responses or try again another time. This might make you nervous, but we encourage you to view the situation a little differently. Kellogg wants to get to know the authentic you through these video essays. If you fumble for words or lose your train of thought, just laugh or shrug and continue with your response. Accepting a mistake with a sense of humor and grace will give the admissions committee a more positive and natural impression of your personality than rigid scripting and overpreparation ever could.

The Next Step: Mastering Your Kellogg Interview

Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. And to help you develop this high level of preparation, we offer our free Interview Guides ! Download your free copy of the Northwestern Kellogg Interview Guide t oday.

To learn more about the essays for other top business schools, visit our MBA Essay Tips and Examples Resources Page .

2024-2025 Business School Essays MBA Essay Tips Northwestern University (Kellogg)

Tags: business school essay free guides Insider's Guides MBA application essays Northwestern Kellogg optional essay reapplicants video essay

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Upcoming Deadlines

Aug 15, 2024 Columbia J-Term (Round 2)
Aug 27, 2024 Cambridge Judge (Round 1)
Sep 4, 2024 HBS (Round 1)
Sep 4, 2024 Penn Wharton (Round 1)
Sep 5, 2024 Notre Dame Mendoza (Early Decision)
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Sep 10, 2024 Columbia (Round 1)
Sep 10, 2024 INSEAD (August Intake)
Sep 10, 2024 Stanford GSB (Round 1)
Sep 10, 2024 Yale SOM (Round 1)
Sep 11, 2024 Northwestern Kellogg (Round 1)
Sep 12, 2024 Berkeley Haas (Round 1)

Click here to see the complete deadlines

2024–2025 MBA Essay Tips

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Michigan Ross School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
MIT Sloan School of Management Essay Tips and Examples
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UVA Darden School of Business Essay Tips and Examples
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Click here for the 2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

MBA Program Updates

Berkeley-Haas
Boston University (Questrom)
Cambridge Judge Business School
Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
Cornell University (Johnson)
Dartmouth College (Tuck)
Duke University (Fuqua)
Emory University (Goizueta)
George Washington University (GWSB)
Georgetown University (McDonough)
Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
IE Business School
IESE Business School
Indian School of Business
Indiana University (Kelley)
Ivey Business School
London Business School
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
New York University (Stern)
Northwestern University (Kellogg)
Notre Dame (Mendoza)
Ohio State University (Fisher College)
Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
Penn State Smeal College of Business
Rotman School of Management
Saïd Business School
Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
University of Cambridge (Judge)
University of Chicago (Booth)
University of London (London Business School)
University of Michigan (Ross)
University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
University of Southern California (Marshall)
University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
University of Virginia (Darden)
Vanderbilt University (Owen)
Villanova School of Business
Yale University (School of Management)

Kellogg MBA Essay Advice and Application Deadlines: 2024-2025

Kellogg School of Management has opened its application for the 2024–2025 application cycle, updating its essay questions for 2024–2025 applicants. In doing so, Kellogg joined the list of top MBA programs that include a “goals” essay in their application. This is a change for Kellogg, which traditionally did not ask MBA applicants to directly discuss their goals or why Kellogg was a good fit in its essays.

In its second essay, Kellogg continues to ask applicants about leadership, but does so in a different way, tying in values. This change replaces Kellogg’s long-standing values essay.

See details below on the 2024-2025 essay questions and Personal MBA Coach’s tips on how to tackle them!

Looking for help with your Kellogg MBA applications? Personal MBA Coach’s team includes Frenk Nebiu. Frenk is a former Kellogg Admissions Director with 8+ years of professional experience across consulting, higher education, and nonprofits.

Reach out today to find out how Frenk and the Personal MBA Coach team can support you with your Kellogg applications through our Comprehensive Packages .

The 2024–2025 Kellogg MBA Application Deadlines:

Round 1: September 11. 2024

Round 2: January 8, 2025

Round 3: April 2, 2025

Read Personal MBA Coach’s Top Tips For Tackling Kellogg’s MBA Essays Below!

Kellogg mba essay 1.

Though Kellogg’s first essay is what Personal MBA Coach often considers a “ goals/why MBA essay ,” this question also includes a contribution element. With a 450-word limit and several questions to answer, it will be important to be succinct as you tell Kellogg what you plan to do after business school, why NOW is a good time in your career path to pursue an MBA, and how Kellogg specifically will help.

Personal MBA Coach recommends that you begin by briefly setting the stage for Kellogg in terms of where you are in your career and why now is a good time for you to make a transition. This is not the time to cover your past accomplishments in detail (leave this for your resume and the short-answer questions ). However, it is important to illuminate for the reader where you currently are in your professional career and why NOW is a good time to pursue an MBA.

Next, share your career aspirations with Kellogg. Personal MBA Coach recommends discussing both your short-term and long-term goals here. Remember to select goals that are logical, ambitious, and achievable. (For more on how to think about MBA goals, check out this blog ).

In your next section, let Kellogg know how they factor into this path. To do so, think about the skills you need to gain to be successful in your career and how a Kellogg MBA will help you develop these skills. While it is important to research Kellogg’s unique offerings, do not simply include a laundry list of things you will do on campus. Instead, be thoughtful in selecting a few specific classes, clubs, or programs you are interested in and how these will help you succeed.

Finally, show the value that you will add on campus, considering your uniqueness. While this essay is NOT a classic personal story essay and there will be limited space to include your story here, you should consider your specific areas of expertise (either personally, professionally, or both) and how you might share them with your peers and the broader Kellogg community.

Kellogg MBA Essay 2

For the second year in a row, Kellogg has reworked its leadership essay. While the objective is similar to that of recent years—giving Kellogg an example of how you are an accomplished leader—this year’s essay has a bit more depth to it. After removing the separate essay question on values, applicants must now weave their values into the leadership story.

Also new this year, candidates are instructed to use a professional example in this essay.

Be sure to think of a decision for which you can clearly articulate the challenge faced. This story should also be easy enough to explain that you do not have to waste too many words setting up the situation.

A strong essay will discuss the actions you took and show which specific leadership skills and values you called upon as you made the decision. MBA admissions committees today are increasingly looking for candidates who are interested in not only driving their specific businesses but also in creating value for broader society. Similarly, DEI remains top of mind.

While neither of these topics is specifically covered in this essay, keep these themes in mind as you choose a story to tell. You want to show the type of leader you will be by detailing how you have led in uncomfortable or difficult situations in the past.

Optional Kellogg MBA Application Essay

We know that life is full of extenuating circumstances. Whether you want to explain gaps in work experience, your choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance or something else, you can use this section to briefly tell us anything we need to know about your application. (250 words)

Personal MBA Coach always advises to tread carefully here, as less is more with optional essays.

Need help tackling these new Kellogg MBA essays? Check out our Comprehensive Packages to see how we support you!

Additional Kellogg MBA Application Essays

Kellogg requires candidates considering options other than the full-time MBA to answer these additional essay questions.

One-Year applicants: Why is the Kellogg One-Year Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (250 words)

MBAi applicants: Why is the Kellogg McCormick MBAi Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (450 words)

JD-MBA applicants: Why is the JD-MBA Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (250 words)

MMM applicants: Why is the MMM Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (250 words)

This year, Kellogg asks applicants to the One-Year MBA program, MBAi, JD-MBA, or MMM program to answer an additional essay. For those unfamiliar with the MMM program, it is a dual degree program offering graduates both an MBA from Kellogg and an MS in Design Innovation from the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The question for all four programs is essentially the same, but applicants to the MBAi have a little more space to work with.

Since you will discuss your career goals in Essay 1, these essays give applicants a chance to expand on their interests in these specific programs and how the specific offerings of each program are best suited to help them achieve their career goals.

Be specific here, outlining what you will take advantage of on campus and how each opportunity will help you.

You should also consider how you will contribute specifically to the program of your choice by sharing what you uniquely bring to the table. Be sure not to repeat anything already discussed in Essay 1.

Reapplicants are also required to answer one additional question:

Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words)

Reapplicants should use the required additional essay to demonstrate growth. We advise candidates to review our tips for reapplicants before tackling this essay.

Finally, Kellogg has historically included video essay questions. Though not formally announced, we expect these will remain this year. See details below.

Woman at Desk Reviews Kellog MBA Application Deadlines

Kellogg MBA Video Essay Questions

“We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.”

This component of the application offers admissions committee members the chance to learn more about you on a personal level.

Once you submit your application and payment, you will be able to access the Kellogg video essay through your application status page. The school has not shared these essay questions in advance.

Read Personal MBA Coach’s tips for handling videos and other Kellogg MBA application extras.

Schedule a consultation today for 1:1 Kellogg application support including essay brainstorming and unlimited editing , resume review, and more!

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2024-2025 Kellogg MBA Essay Analysis and Tips

Admit expert.

July 23, 2024

Thinking about pursuing an MBA at Kellogg? Well, get ready to put your thoughts into words! In this article, we’re diving into the essay prompts for Kellogg MBA admissions. Don’t worry, we’ll break things down and give you an analysis and a few tips to tackle these prompts like a pro.

The application process at Kellogg is distinctive in that it includes both written and video essays.

So, if you’re aiming to make a splash with your Kellogg MBA application, stay tuned for the juicy tips and insights coming your way. Let’s make those essays work for you!

Ready? Let’s dive in!

Kellogg MBA essays for the 2025 admissions

Written essays.

All applicants are expected to submit the following two essays:

Essay Prompt 1 (450 words)

Essay Prompt 2 (450 words)

Reapplicants will receive a prompt about their growth since their last application: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

To learn more about what Kellogg is looking for and how to make your application stand out, get in touch with us at [email protected]

Kellogg MBA Application Deadlines


Application Deadline	September 11, 2024	January 8, 2025	April 2, 2025
Decisions	December 11, 2024	March 26, 2025	May 7, 2025

Kellogg MBA Essay Analysis

What kellogg admissions committee seeks.

The Kellogg MBA admissions committee is looking for applicants who demonstrate a strong sense of intentionality. This means candidates should show clear, purposeful thinking and deliberate actions in their career and educational choices. The committee seeks individuals who have a well-defined path and who can articulate their motivations for pursuing an MBA, their specific goals, and why now is the right time for them to pursue this degree. Additionally, the committee wants to understand why Kellogg is the best fit for the applicant’s aspirations and what the applicant will contribute to the Kellogg community.

In essence, the admissions committee is interested in five key aspects:

Motivations for pursuing an MBA : Understanding the underlying reasons driving the decision to pursue an MBA.
Specific goals : Outlining clear, achievable goals that the applicant aims to accomplish with the help of an MBA.
Timing : Explaining why this moment is the right time to embark on the MBA journey.
Fit with Kellogg : Demonstrating how Kellogg’s unique resources, culture, and community will serve as a catalyst for achieving the applicant’s career aspirations.
Contribution to the Kellogg community : Highlighting how the applicant will add value to the Kellogg community through their unique skills, experiences, and perspectives.

How to Write This Essay

1. articulate your motivations for pursuing an mba.

Begin with a brief story that captures the inspiration behind your goals. This could be a pivotal moment in your career, a personal passion, or a professional challenge that highlighted the need for further education. Make sure this story sets the stage for why an MBA is crucial for your future.

2. Outline Your Specific Goals

Clearly define your short-term and long-term career goals. Your short-term goals should be specific and achievable immediately after graduation, while your long-term goals should convey your broader vision and impact on your industry or community. Be concise but specific, ensuring that your goals are ambitious yet realistic.

3. Explain Why Now Is the Right Time

Discuss the timing of your MBA pursuit. This could involve your current career stage, the evolving trends in your industry, or personal circumstances that make now the ideal moment for an MBA. Emphasize how the current timing aligns with your career trajectory and aspirations.

4. Demonstrate Kellogg’s Fit for Your Goals

Research Kellogg thoroughly to identify specific programs, resources, and opportunities that align with your goals. Rather than listing numerous resources, focus on a few key aspects that are most relevant to your career aspirations. Explain how Kellogg’s curriculum, culture, and community will uniquely support your journey. For example, if you’re interested in entrepreneurship, you might highlight the Zell Fellows Program or Kellogg’s robust network of successful entrepreneurs.

5. Highlight Your Contribution to Kellogg

Think about how you can add value to the Kellogg community. This could involve your professional expertise, leadership skills, cultural insights, or extracurricular interests. Mention specific clubs, activities, or initiatives at Kellogg where you can contribute meaningfully. For instance, if you have experience in organizing events, you might discuss how you could help plan a major conference or lead a student club.

Intentionality: The Key to a Compelling Essay

Given the 450-word limit, it’s crucial to be intentional in your writing. Allocate roughly 90 words to each of the five key points. You might use fewer words for the timing aspect, allowing more space to discuss why Kellogg is the perfect fit for your goals. Your narrative should be coherent and focused, seamlessly connecting your motivations, goals, timing, Kellogg’s fit, and your contributions.

Wrap up your essay by reiterating your enthusiasm for Kellogg and summarizing how the MBA program will help you achieve your goals. Highlight the mutual benefits – how Kellogg will aid in your professional growth and how you will enrich the Kellogg community. A well-structured, intentional essay will resonate with the admissions committee and demonstrate that you are a thoughtful, purposeful candidate ready to make a meaningful impact.

By carefully considering each aspect of the prompt and thoughtfully structuring your response, you can craft a compelling essay that showcases your intentionality, ambition, and fit for the Kellogg MBA program.

What the Admissions Committee Seeks

Kellogg School of Management’s admissions committee looks for candidates who exemplify a unique combination of leadership, empathy, and creativity. They are in search of individuals who elevate the performance and morale of those around them without seeking the spotlight. This particular essay prompt provides an opportunity to showcase these qualities through a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision.

Kellogg leaders are known for their high-impact, high-empathy perspective, leveraging creativity and innovation to create opportunities and solve problems. Collaboration with a sense of empathy and intentionality, coupled with a strong sense of purpose, is highly valued. The pay-it-forward mentality of Kellogg’s alumni network underscores the school’s emphasis on community and collective success.

Understanding the Prompt

This essay prompt asks you to describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. It’s essential to focus on one concrete example rather than blending multiple experiences. While the prompt mentions both professional and community contexts, it is advisable to discuss a work-related example unless you have substantial leadership experience in a community-based organization.

When selecting your example, consider the following:

Did you take a risk to advocate for a position that could improve your organization’s future?
Did you collaborate with others to achieve a common goal?
How did your decision impact the broader organization or community?

Structuring Your Response

A well-structured response can follow the CAR (Challenge/Action/Result) or STAR (Situation/Task/Action/Result) model:

Situation/Challenge : Begin by describing the context of your story. Outline the specific challenge or situation you faced, the stakeholders involved, and the complexities of the decision at hand.
Task : Clarify what you needed to accomplish. Define your objectives and the stakes involved in making the decision.
Action : Provide a detailed account of the actions you took to address the challenge. Highlight how you navigated obstacles, collaborated with others, and applied your problem-solving skills. Emphasize the values that guided your decision-making process.
Result : Describe the outcome of your actions. Focus on the positive impact you had on your organization or community. Share any measurable results or qualitative improvements that resulted from your decision.
Reflection : Conclude with a reflection on how this experience influenced your leadership style. Discuss the insights you gained about your values and how this has shaped your approach to leadership. Consider how these lessons will enable you to contribute to the Kellogg community.

Example Analysis

When reflecting on a suitable example, think about significant professional challenges you have faced. For instance, you might describe a situation where you had to advocate for a new strategic direction that involved considerable risk. Explain how you rallied your team, gathered diverse perspectives, and made a decision that ultimately led to successful implementation and organizational growth.

Throughout your essay, focus on demonstrating key attributes that Kellogg values:

High-Impact Leadership : Show how your decision led to substantial positive changes.
Empathy and Collaboration : Highlight your ability to understand others’ perspectives and work collaboratively.
Innovation and Creativity : Illustrate how you used innovative thinking to overcome obstacles.
Purpose and Intentionality : Reflect on your commitment to meaningful goals and the intentional steps you took to achieve them.

By structuring your response effectively and selecting a compelling example, you can convey your potential as a Kellogg leader who is prepared to tackle challenges in any setting, be it the boardroom or the neighborhood. This approach will help you create a narrative that not only showcases your professional accomplishments but also aligns with the values and vision of the Kellogg community.

Video Essay

The Kellogg admissions team advises the following in regards to the video essay: We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

Take a look at this article on video essays to get more tips on Kellogg’s Video essays.

Video Essays for MBA Admissions: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How to Create One

There are 3 video essays:

Video essay 1: Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee.

– Consider this your opportunity to share what you would want your future Kellogg classmates and our admissions committee to know about you. What makes you, you?

Video essay 2: What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you?

– This is an intentionally broad question so you can answer honestly and meaningfully. We want to know why you’re pursuing an MBA and why you’re choosing a particular Kellogg Full-Time Program.

Video essay 3: This question will be based on a challenge you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from it.

Other Essays

Additional information.

Address any employment gaps or academic concerns honestly, providing a clear and concise explanation of the challenges you faced and how you have overcome them. This will demonstrate your determination and resilience as a candidate.

Focus on highlighting your strengths and unique qualities that set you apart. Discuss your engagement in extracurricular activities, such as local philanthropic drives, sports, or hobbies, and explain how these experiences have shaped you as a person and contributed to your work ethic.

Ensure that your narrative centers around your suitability as a candidate and adds value to the discussion of your candidacy for the program. Avoid irrelevant information and stay focused on showcasing your potential to thrive in the MBA program.

Reapplicants

Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words)

In this answer, show how you have improved your candidacy in a way that can be seen and touched. A higher GMAT score could be one sign of improvement that can be seen. Also, give us your grades from any new math classes you’ve taken.

You could also talk about a promotion at work or some new volunteer work. You might also need to take on more responsibility at work or in extracurricular activities. Or, talk about how your goals for your career have changed. Lastly, you could talk about how you’ve changed your own goals.

Let us help you get into Kellogg

We will help you write essays that portray your unique strengths and experiences in the most favorable light so that your application shines above the rest. We have helped hundreds of students get into top US business schools. Let us help you too.

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Kellogg MBA Essay 2024-2025 Analysis, Tips, and Framework for Success

By admitStreet Team

4 July 2024

For aspiring candidates applying to the Kellogg School of Management MBA program in 2025, crafting compelling essays is crucial to showcasing your unique journey, motivations, and readiness for the challenges ahead.

The essays are designed not only to understand your past experiences and future ambitions but also to evaluate how you align with Kellogg’s values and community. This article will help you analyze and approach the Kellogg MBA Essay prompts effectively, ensuring you present a comprehensive and compelling application.

Kellogg MBA Essay 1

Kellogg mba essay 2, reapplicant essay, video essay, final thoughts.

Question 1: Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (450 words)

This prompt from Kellogg School of Management seeks to understand the applicant’s motivations, career goals, timing, and fit with Kellogg’s culture and community. The essay should cover four main areas:

Motivations for pursuing an MBA: Why do you want to pursue an MBA?
Specific goals: What are your career aspirations and objectives?
Timing: Why is now the right time for you to pursue an MBA?
Fit with Kellogg: Why do you believe Kellogg is the best place for your MBA journey, and what will you contribute to the community?

Goal of the Essay from the Admissions Committee’s Point of View

The admissions committee aims to understand several key aspects through this essay:

Self-Awareness and Intentionality : Kellogg want to see that you have a clear understanding of your motivations and goals. Your ability to articulate these reflects your self-awareness and intentionality, which are crucial for effective leadership.
Interest in Kellogg : The committee looks for evidence that you have thoroughly researched Kellogg and have a genuine interest in what the school offers. They want to see that you are not only a good fit for Kellogg but that Kellogg is a good fit for you.
Potential Contributions : Kellogg is interested in what you will bring to the Kellogg community. They look for candidates who will enrich the learning environment, contribute to the school’s culture, and engage actively with their peers.
Readiness for Kellogg MBA : Kellogg wants to ensure that you are at a point in your career where an MBA makes sense and that you are prepared to take full advantage of the opportunities Kellogg provides.

Kellogg MBA Essay 1 Framework for Analysis

Crafting compelling MBA application essays requires a blend of introspection, strategic planning, and authentic storytelling. By following a structured framework, you can ensure that your essays not only reflect your unique journey but also align seamlessly with the expectations of Kellogg’s admissions committee.

Self-Reflection : Reflect on your professional and personal journey. Identify the key moments and experiences that have motivated you to pursue an MBA.
Clarity of Purpose : Clearly articulate your reasons for wanting an MBA. This should include both broad motivations (e.g., career advancement, skill development) and specific personal motivations (e.g., desire to transition into a new industry, entrepreneurial ambitions).
Short-Term Goals : Define your immediate post-MBA career goals. Be specific about the roles, industries, geographies, or companies you are targeting.
Long-Term Vision : Describe your long-term career aspirations. Explain how these goals are connected to your personal and professional values and aspirations and importantly how your short term goals will help you get there.
Why Now? : Justify why this is the right time for you to pursue an MBA. Consider factors such as career progression, personal circumstances, industry trends, and readiness for new challenges. Also, identifying a skill gap in your current professional toolkit can serve as a compelling justification for pursuing an MBA at this point in your career.
Kellogg’s Unique Offerings : Research and identify what makes Kellogg unique. Consider its curriculum , faculty , culture , clubs , and other resources.
Alignment with Your Goals : Explain how Kellogg’s specific offerings align with your career goals and how they will help you achieve them.
Personal Qualities and Experiences : Kellogg boasts about its alumni having qualities like thirst for creativity and innovation, collaboration that is a true exchange of ideas, and empathy. Highlight what you bring to the table keeping in mind these qualities.
Community Engagement : Discuss how you plan to engage with and contribute to the Kellogg community. Mention specific clubs, initiatives, or programs you are interested in.

Let’s get you into Kellogg MBA Program

Are you aiming to secure a spot in the prestigious Kellogg MBA program? With our personalized guidance, in-depth feedback, and proven strategies, we’ll help you highlight your unique strengths and align your story with Kellogg’s values.

Question 2: Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (450 words)

Type of Essay

This prompt falls under the category of a behavioral or situational essay. It requires you to narrate a specific professional experience where you encountered a difficult decision. The focus is not merely on the decision itself but also on the thought process behind it, the values influencing the decision-making, and the subsequent impact on the candidate’s leadership approach.

Goal from the Admissions Committee’s Perspective

Assessment of Decision-Making Ability: The admissions committee wants to gauge how applicants approach and handle challenging situations in professional settings. This includes understanding the context, complexity, and consequences of the decision made.
Evaluation of Leadership Potential: By reflecting on the values that guided the decision-making process, applicants are expected to showcase their leadership philosophy and style. This helps the committee assess whether the candidate’s values align with those emphasized at Kellogg, such as collaboration, integrity, empathy, and innovation.
Insight into Personal Growth: The reflective component of the prompt is crucial as it provides insights into how the experience has shaped the applicant’s leadership journey. Admissions officers are interested in understanding how candidates learn from experiences and adapt their leadership style accordingly.

Kellogg MBA Essay Framework to Craft a killer essay

This essay framework guides you in crafting a compelling narrative by setting the stage with a specific professional experience, providing context, and stating the critical values involved.

Briefly introduce the specific professional experience you will discuss.
Provide context regarding the challenge or decision you faced.
State the values that you believe are critical to effective leadership in this context.
Describe the situation in detail, outlining the challenges and complexities involved.
Highlight your role and responsibilities within the scenario.
Discuss any dilemmas or conflicting priorities that influenced the decision.
Articulate the thought process behind your decision.
Explain the values or principles that guided your choices.
Discuss any strategies used to navigate uncertainties or risks associated with the decision.
Reflect on how the chosen values influenced your leadership approach.
Analyze the outcomes of your decision—both immediate and long-term.
Discuss any feedback received or lessons learned from this experience.
Connect the experience to your broader leadership journey.
Explain how this experience has shaped or refined your leadership style.
Discuss any adjustments you have made in subsequent leadership roles based on this experience.
Summarize the key lessons learned from this experience.
Reiterate how this experience aligns with Kellogg’s values and your career goals.
Briefly mention how you envision applying these lessons at Kellogg and beyond.

Essay Prompt Analysis

The prompt for re-applicants typically asks: “How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)”

Purpose and Goal: This essay serves several purposes from the admissions committee’s perspective:

Assessment of Growth: It assesses how you’ve evolved since your last application, both personally and professionally. The committee wants to see concrete examples of how you have developed in these areas.
Demonstration of Self-Awareness: It evaluates your self-awareness by examining whether you can reflect on past experiences and identify areas where you’ve improved or learned from setbacks.
Commitment to Improvement: It looks for evidence of your commitment to becoming a stronger candidate, indicating that you’ve taken proactive steps to enhance your skills, knowledge, and experiences relevant to an MBA.

Tips for Crafting Your Reapplicant Essay

Reflect Honestly: Take time to introspect and identify specific instances where you’ve grown. This could be through new experiences, challenges overcome, or skills acquired. Authenticity is key.
Focus on Impact: Describe not only what changes you’ve undergone but also how these changes have made you a better candidate. Discuss the skills you’ve developed or the insights you’ve gained that align with Kellogg’s values and goals.
Connect with Kellogg: Align your growth narrative with what Kellogg values in its students. Highlight aspects such as leadership, collaboration, diversity, and innovation, demonstrating how your growth enhances your fit with Kellogg’s community.
Be Concise yet Specific: With a limit of 250 words, every sentence counts. Avoid vague statements and focus on concrete examples that illustrate your growth trajectory clearly.
Address Feedback (if applicable): If you received feedback from Kellogg or elsewhere after your previous application, address how you’ve used that feedback to improve. This shows responsiveness and a willingness to learn from past experiences.
Show Continual Progress: Emphasize that your growth is ongoing and that you are committed to further development, highlighting future goals that align with your MBA aspirations.

The video essay is designed to provide the admissions committee with a glimpse into your personality beyond what is conveyed through your written essays and resume. It consists of three questions, each carefully crafted to help assess your fit with Kellogg’s culture and values. This is your chance to showcase your communication skills, presence, and authenticity in a dynamic format.

Logistics and Preparation

Timing and Submission : The video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline. This allows you ample time to complete and upload your video responses. Remember to plan accordingly to avoid any technical issues or last-minute rushes.
Equipment and Setup : Ensure you have access to a reliable internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone. Test your equipment beforehand to make sure everything is functioning properly. Set up in a quiet, well-lit environment to ensure clear audio and video quality.
Time Allocation : You will have approximately 20-25 minutes to complete the entire video essay, which includes setup time. Each question will have a specified time limit for response, typically ranging from 1-2 minutes per question. Practice speaking clearly and concisely to make the most of your allotted time.

Strategic Tips for Success

Authenticity is Key : Be yourself! The video essay is your opportunity to let your personality shine. Authenticity resonates with the admissions committee more than rehearsed responses. Show enthusiasm and passion for your experiences and goals.
Structure Your Responses : While spontaneity is important, it’s also beneficial to have a general structure for your answers. Consider outlining key points you want to address for each question to ensure you cover all aspects within the time limit.
Showcase Your Fit with Kellogg : Research Kellogg’s values, culture, and program offerings beforehand. Tailor your responses to demonstrate how your background, experiences, and aspirations align with what Kellogg stands for. Highlight specific aspects of Kellogg that attract you and how you envision contributing to the community.
Practice, Practice, Practice : Take advantage of any practice questions or mock interviews provided by Kellogg. Additionally, rehearse with friends or family to get comfortable speaking in front of the camera. Practice will help you refine your delivery and boost your confidence.
Technical Considerations : Familiarize yourself with the platform or software used for recording and uploading your video essay. Ensure you understand the submission process and double-check that your video has been successfully uploaded before the deadline.

Crafting your Kellogg MBA essays requires thoughtful reflection, strategic storytelling, and a clear alignment of your past experiences with your future ambitions. Remember to leverage specific examples, demonstrate authenticity, and articulate how Kellogg fits into your career trajectory. Lastly, the video essay is an opportunity to showcase your personality and experiences in a dynamic format, complementing your written application.

By approaching these prompts with clarity and authenticity, you can effectively convey why you belong at Kellogg and how you will contribute to its vibrant community of leaders and learners. Good luck!

2024-2025 Kellogg MBA Essay Tips and Example Essay

Jun 14, 2024

Who is Kellogg looking for?
How should I answer the Kellogg essay questions?
Make Your Story Shine
Kellogg Deadlines

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on August 7, 2018. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With its Global Hub, Kellogg of Management at Northwestern University has reinforced itself as a haven for collaboratively-minded leaders. With its unique MBAi and MMM programs, the school also stands out for those focused on tech and design innovation, respectively. Furthermore, Kellogg is one of the few top business schools in the US to offer a 1-year MBA program.

However, getting a spot at Kellogg also requires serious smarts, as the school continues to add incredibly appealing majors and pathways, including options on Social Impact and Energy & Sustainability to name a few, getting into Kellogg is more challenging than ever.

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Kellogg admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips and links to Kellogg MBA sample essays to ensure you give your Kellogg application your best shot.

1. Who is Kellogg looking for?

Source: @kelloggschool on Instagram

Each year, Kellogg selects around 500 students to take part in its two-year program. Though there is no one “perfect” type of Kellogg student, the university does favor high test scores (the mean GMAT for the Class of 2025 was 731 and the average GRE score was 163 Quant, 163 Verbal ).

Additionally, Kellogg is committed to admitting a diverse class, as the composition of the Class of 2025 reflects. 48% of the incoming class are female, 39% are international, 42% are U.S. students of color, and 9% identified as LGBTQ+.

However, at Kellogg, showing fit with the school goes far beyond having the right GMAT or GRE score. That’s why Kellogg also looks for a set of “soft” skills in its applicants.

In our experience, Kellogg also responds well to applicants with a demonstrated history of giving back.

So, if this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll have to think of the ways in which you align with the main characteristics of Kellogg’s students. This means forming your business school brand and then focusing on the aspects of that brand that align with changing the status quo, collaborative leadership, and giving back to society.

2. How should I answer the Kellogg essay questions?

2.1. essay 1 tips.

This question is new this year and is a traditional goals essay, a common type of essay required of applicants at many elite business schools.

In this essay, you have a big task. In around 500 words , you need to discuss:

Context for your goals
Your specific-post MBA goals and why you are pursuing them at this moment
Why you believe an MBA is necessary to reach these goals
How a Kellogg MBA will help you reach these goals

Each of these elements must be included and must build off of each other.

First of all, many candidates think they do not need to specifically state their goals, or that it’s better to leave “their options open.” If you are applying to elite business schools, however, you must have and present absolute clarity about your goals.

TOP TIP : If you’re having trouble figuring out what your post-MBA goals are, we’ve prepared this post to help you decipher this essential part of the application process!

However, goals without context can be a little confusing to decipher or understand (or they can just seem a bit lackluster). For this reason, we suggest starting your essay with context.

For example, a client last year initially started his essay by saying:

“I want to become a Business Development Director at a Brazilian company.”

While interesting, it’s better to give a little bit of context to help these goals come to life. Check out the final version of the same essay’s introduction:

“In the 1970s, the phrase “think global, act local” came into use, suggesting that to have global impact, one must be active locally. With this mindset, I focused my career on Brazilian multinational companies to start creating global change at home. While at Company 1, I led a diverse global team, which showed me that clear communication is essential. I later accepted a finance position at a real estate company where I learned how new technologies can impact traditional local industries and that leaders must adapt to these trends to maintain competitiveness. Most recently, I joined Company 2 to participate in its daring globalization plan. At Company 2, I have learned how challenging it is to formulate effective global strategies to thrive in diverse markets. I have also developed management skills since becoming Financial Coordinator, learning how important establishing a culture of collaboration is to providing stability for organizations.

I now seek to take the next step to becoming a “global” leader by becoming Business Development Director at a Brazilian company pursuing globalization, giving me the experience to assume my long-term goal of CEO of one such company.”

Second, you should clearly demonstrate why you need an MBA.

An MBA is not a catch-all degree that serves a purpose for all career paths. As such, you need to demonstrate that the goals you have set for yourself require the additional training an MBA can provide.

Be thoughtful about this particular section. If you don’t need to improve in any meaningful way, you might be presenting the argument the admissions committee needs for why you can’t actually benefit from an MBA.

Furthermore, if you show fluffy or unsupported reasons you need to hone your skills, you’ll also likely see your application tossed aside in favor of an applicant who was able to clearly demonstrate how they plan to leverage their time at business school.

Third, add how Kellogg can specifically help you grow in the areas you’ve identified. Mentioning that you want to go to Kellogg because of its ranking will not cut it here.

Instead, show that you understand the unique offerings Kellogg’s curriculum provides (I highly suggest you mention the pathway or major you’re interested in) and have done significant, thoughtful research into how the opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom can help you grow. If you have space, it’s also highly recommended that you mention how you can contribute to the community.

End with a winning conclusion statement that reinforces your personal brand and ties the whole essay together.

Need more guidance?

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of Kellogg MBA essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning Kellogg essay. Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides.

Click to join !

2.2. Essay 2 Tips

Though very similar to last year, this question is slightly different in wording this year.

Though you may be tempted to cram in as many examples of leadership as you can in this question, Kellogg clearly asks you for a single experience, though they do not dictate that you must draw this example from your professional experience.

As such, considering Kellogg’s focus on problem-solving, brainstorm a list of examples in which you faced a clear challenge and were able to overcome it using leadership.

That means you must focus on examples where your leadership skills were key in solving the problem you faced. As such, an example where your expert programming skills were what helped you face down the challenge won’t work well here.

Instead, think of examples rich in leadership skills like coaching others to deliver their parts of the project, active listening to ensure a solution was reached, or even resolving conflict. If you’re stumped, you can check out this list of leadership skills for inspiration.

You may also want to check out how Kellogg defines a Kellogg leader while brainstorming your stories.

Additionally, when narrowing down your options to a final choice, make sure you choose an example where you had to make a difficult decision of some sort . If you can’t easily and clearly define the decision, what made it challenging, and how you overcame it using specific leadership skills, and the values that guided you along the way, keep brainstorming!

Finally, make sure your story has a clear outcome or resolution. This shows that your leadership skills are effective!

Start with a hook introduction that sets the stage and makes your reader want to keep reading to find out what happens.

Then, show the difficult decision you were facing. When writing this essay, do not skim over the conflict part of your story . Though we work hard to avoid conflict in real life, a bit of conflict in your story here demonstrates the efficacy of your leadership skills. Finally, we truly feel you should stick to the STAR framework to ensure you deliver a winning answer.

Continue by showing what you did (this is the part in which you’re actively demonstrating your capacity to lead). During this section, focus on showing how you accomplished what you did and why you felt the actions you took were appropriate for the challenge. You also want to explicitly call out the values that guided your decision and specifically how they guided you. Just saying something like, “I was guided by empathy” won’t cut it here.

End your essay by showing the result you were able to achieve (we suggest you focus on examples with positive outcomes) and what you learned about leadership in the process.

Top Tip : It’s important to name values in the essay. You can mention them either throughout the essay or at the end.

If you have space, you may also include a conclusion sentence that relates to how you will apply this lesson at Kellogg.

2.3. 1Y Essay Tips (Applicants to 1 Year MBA Only)

Why is the Kellogg One-Year Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (250 words)

For this question, we suggest a straightforward statement that includes why the 1-year format is better to help you reach your goals and how the specific elements of the program will support your growth.

Most importantly, make sure your goals are stated clearly. Goals like “use the MBA to advance in my career” will not cut it here, so make sure you include the details and motivations you need to ensure you demonstrate why you’re ready for a shorter format MBA. Since you’re already mentioning your goals in Essay 1, a brief recap is ok here.

Finally, you want to make sure to highlight one or two unique experiences that you have not mentioned elsewhere that you can contribute to the program. Anything works here, as long as it’s relevant and can be concretely tied to some aspect of the Kellogg 1 Year Program.

2.4. JD/MBA Essay Tips

Why is the JD-MBA Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (250 words)

For this question, we suggest a straightforward statement that includes why this dual degree is the best option to help you reach your goals and how the specific elements of the program will support your growth.

Most importantly, make sure your goals are stated clearly. Goals like “use the MBA to advance in my career” or “I’ve always been interested in law” will not cut it here, so make sure you include the details and motivations you need to ensure you demonstrate why you’re ready for the rigors of this program. Since you’re already mentioning your goals in Essay 1, a brief recap is ok here.

Writing a 250-word essay can be challenging, but we’ve prepared an in-depth post to help you maximize every word.

2.5. MBAi Essay Tips

Why is the Kellogg McCormick MBAi Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (450 words)

For this question, we suggest a straightforward statement that includes why a tech-focused progam is best to help you reach your goals and how the specific elements of the program will support your growth.

Most importantly, make sure your goals are stated clearly. Goals like “use the MBA to advance in my career” will not cut it here, so make sure you include the details and motivations you need to ensure you demonstrate why you’re ready for this specialized MBA. Since you’re already mentioning your goals in Essay 1, a brief recap is ok here.

Finally, you want to make sure to highlight one or two unique experiences that you did not mention elsewhere that you can contribute to the program. Anything works here, as long as it’s relevant and can be concretely tied to some aspect of the Kellogg MBAi Program.

2.6. MMM Essay Tips

Why is the MMM Program the right fit to help you reach your post-MBA career goals? And what unique academic, personal or professional experience do you bring into this specific program? (250 words)

For this question, we suggest a straightforward statement that includes why this unique dual degree option is the best way to reach your goals and how the specific elements of the program will support your growth.

Most importantly, make sure your goals are stated clearly. Goals like “use the MBA to advance in my career” will not cut it here, so make sure you include the details and motivations you need to ensure you demonstrate why you’re ready for this uniquely tailored MBA. Since you’re already mentioning your goals in Essay 1, a brief recap is ok here.

Finally, you want to make sure to highlight one or two unique experiences that you did not mention elsewhere that you can share with the program. Anything works here, as long as it’s relevant and can be concretely tied to some aspect of the Kellogg MMM Program.

2.7. Reapplicant Essay Tips

How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

Here, make sure you clearly demonstrate how you have improved since your previous application. We have written extensively on the topic of reapplying to business school here .

2.8. Optional Essay Tips

First of all, don’t be tempted by the “no word count” element of this question. This is not a place for you to retell your life story or sum up your interest in Kellogg or need for an MBA. Make sure you focus only on weak spots and also discuss what steps you have taken or took to rectify the weaknesses. This essay should be short, sweet, and included only if strictly necessary!

TOP TIP : Not sure if you need to write an optional essay? Check out our post on the topic here .

Looking for Kellogg MBA essay examples?

Kellogg MBA Essay Tips and Example Essays

3. We Make Your Story Shine

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories . This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school.

Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner.

This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program.

Not only can you take advantage of our iterative feedback process through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!

No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine . Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.

4. Kellogg Deadlines

The deadlines for the 2024-2025 season are below. You can access the Kellogg application here .

Kellogg Round 1 Deadlines

Application Deadline : September 11, 2024

Interview Notification : Ongoing

Decisions Released : December 11, 2024

Kellogg Round 2 Deadlines

Application Deadline : January 8, 2025

Decisions Released : March 26, 2025

Kellogg Round 3 Deadlines

Application Deadline : April 2, 2025

Decisions Released : May 7, 2025

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Kellogg MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2024 – 2025], Class Profile

Kellogg values individuals; who you are as a person, what you’ve done, and how you will engage with the school’s greater community are all very important. Yes, academics and work experience are also key parts of your profile, but the school’s essay prompts seek to elicit more information about your personality, values, and goals so the admissions committee can determine your “fit” with its program. That is one of the reasons they also require video essays.

Kellogg has three excellent videos on preparing its application , and I urge you to watch all of them so you’ll understand better what the school is looking for. In addition, Kellogg provides detailed explanations of its different MBA programs so you can find the one that is right for you. Each MBA program requires that you write these essays, and in some cases, you must provide an additional essay related to the specific dual degree being pursued (e.g., MBA/JD, MMM, MBAi).

Ready to get to work on your Kellogg application? Read on.

Kellogg application essay tips

Kellogg application deadlines, kellogg class profile, question 1: intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful kellogg leaders. help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an mba, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. moreover, share why you feel kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (450 words).

This essay seeks to elicit an honest answer from you as to why you want an MBA from Kellogg. It isn’t that different from the typical question “Why do you want an MBA?” but requires a more thoughtful and personal answer. I suspect that Kellogg has chosen this specific wording to weed out essays written by AI, which tend to be vague generalizations. Please don’t respond with canned responses like “I need to hone my business skills” or “an MBA from Kellogg will enable me to advance in my career.” That really says nothing! You can hone your business skills on YouTube; you can advance your career by having a mentor. Reflect on your real reasons for earning an MBA, and respond with specific examples. This could be an instance from your past when you realized you didn’t know how to manage your team well, or perhaps you’ve observed coworkers with MBAs and seen how they approach problem-solving strategically.

For this essay, you need to think back on times when a lightbulb came on, and you thought, “Wow, if I had studied XXX, I could do this job faster and more efficiently.” This is true whether or not you have a business background or degree. And you need to be specific about your goals. “I intend to be a project manager with Amazon, Google, or Microsoft” is a poor answer, as is “I want to do strategic consulting.” Many of these companies have recently been laying off people, so if you don’t know about current trends in your area of interest, shame on you! These are also banal answers, because every computer engineer who applies answers the same way.

Look at the job descriptions on your target company’s website. What positions is it hiring for, and what do applicants for that position have to know? Having this information will show the committee that you have done your research and that you have feasible goals.

As for what you will contribute to the Kellogg community, find something in your background that sets you apart from other applicants. This doesn’t have to be a professional quality. If you say, for example, “I am a strong leader and good at managing my team,” how does that help you stand out from the pack? Don’t you think that other individuals applying to Kellogg also have this quality? Think about values you cherish, hobbies that might help bring a group together, ideas for a business to start discussions, or even research you’ve done on your own. And take a look at the class profile to see where your classmates have come from. Finally, if you are an international candidate, you can always discuss how things are done in your country, compared to how they are done in the United States.

Question 2: Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods.

Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (450 words)

Again, this essay requires a specific example, not a hypothetical situation. They don’t expect you to discuss how you found a cure for cancer or peace in the Middle East. It can be something relatively small that still made an impact on the company, on you, or on someone else. For example, you realized that women were underrepresented in a specific department, so you brought that up with the department head and volunteered to help recruit more women and develop programming to keep them. The key here is to refer back to the values you hold that propelled you to take this action.

Reapplicant Essay: Reapplicants will receive a prompt about their growth since their last application: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

For this and any other reapplicant essay, you need to show what’s changed from your former application. It could be a new test score, it could be a promotion, or it might simply be a reevaluation of your goals and the realization that what you thought you wanted to do wasn’t really feasible. Keep your message short and to the point, and don’t reiterate anything you said in your previous application essays.

Video essays: Things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:

Video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.
A video essay link will appear on your Application Status Page after you submit your application and payment.
You will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone.
The video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, including setup time.

The video essay doesn’t need to be a Hollywood-perfect documentary! Don’t over-rehearse or read from a script. You won’t know the questions until you’ve submitted your application, but the questions are usually about something you know, and you will have time to prepare for them.

Practice speaking into a camera, and record yourself to be sure you are looking at the camera and not somewhere else. Also, speak slowly and clearly. If you rush, you’ll look nervous, and worse, your listeners might not be able to understand what you are saying.

Have a neutral background with lighting in front of you. And lock the doors so no one can interrupt you while you are recording. If you want to discuss something personal that defines you, you could consider, for example, filming yourself in the outdoors hiking, in your studio creating art, or playing a musical instrument.

Kellogg isn’t trying to trip you up with this video component; the admissions committee wants to find out who you are apart from your work, and they are looking for reasons to admit you, so breathe deeply, do a few practice runs before you begin (to be sure your equipment is working), and don’t forget to smile!

For expert guidance with your Kellogg MBA application, schedule a free consultation with an Accepted MBA expert. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to Kellogg’s MBA program and look forward to helping you, too!


Round 1	September 11, 2024	December 11, 2024
Round 2	January 8, 2025	March 26, 2025
Round 3	April 2, 2025	May 7, 2025

Source: Northwestern Kellogg website

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with Kellogg directly to verify its essay questions, instructions, and deadlines.***

Here is a look at the Kellogg MBA Class of 2025 (data taken from the Kellogg website ):

Class size: 529

Female: 48%

International: 39%

U.S. students of color: 42%

Average GMAT score: 731

GMAT score range: 620-780

Median GRE Verbal: 163

GRE Verbal range: 148-170

Median GRE Quant: 163

GRE Quant range: 146-170

Average GPA: 3.7

GPA range: 2.8-4.0

Average years of work experience: 5

Undergraduate majors:

Economics/Business: 50%
Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics: 38%
Humanities: 25%

Industry background:

Consulting: 26%
Financial services: 19%
Technology: 19%
Healthcare/Biopharma: 8%
Consumer products: 5%
Government/Education/Nonprofit: 4%
Media and entertainment: 4%
Manufacturing: 3%
Military: 3%

Getting into Kellogg, or any of the top-tier MBA programs, is very competitive. Schedule a free consultation and we’ll match you with an experienced admissions consultant who will work with you one-on-one to create an outstanding application and prepare you to ace your interview. So give yourself the edge, and get accepted !

Dr. Christie St-John has more than 25 years of higher ed and admissions experience, including ten years in admissions at Dartmouth Tuck. She was formerly the director of MBA recruiting and admissions, director of international relations, and an adjunct faculty member at Vanderbilt University. Having also served on the board of directors of the MBA Career Services & Employer Alliance and the Consortium for Graduate Studies in Management, Christie has a deep knowledge of MBA and other graduate admissions. Want Christie to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!

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Admissions Straight Talk Podcast for MBA Applicants

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Advice, tips and insights from the admissions dream team., table of contents, kellogg mba essays: strategy & tips.

By Jayne Mulcahy

Kellogg Global Hub in Evanston, Illinois.

Kellogg MBA essays have been released for the 2024–25 application cycle, with a new prompt for Essay 1 and revised language for Essay 2.

As in the past, the Kellogg essays explore applicants’ approach to leadership and their value system. Based on my years of experience evaluating and selecting candidates for Northwestern’s full-time MBA program, I’ve put together some tips below on how to tackle this year’s Kellogg MBA essays.

The key to delivering a series of standout essays to Kellogg — including required video statements — is to embrace your authentic story. Weaving a well-crafted narrative that conveys your passions and clarity of purpose in a way that elicits emotional impact is the secret sauce in creating a connection to an admission reader’s heart.

First, you’ll want to understand why Kellogg is asking each question and what the admissions committee is hoping to uncover. The clues, of course, are embedded within the Kellogg essay questions themselves.

Tips for Kellogg MBA Essay 1

Essay 1 asks:

This is a version of the classic “Why an MBA, why now, and why this school” question — seen through the lens of leadership traits. Notice the focus on “intentionality”; the Kellogg admissions committee is looking to understand whether you are deliberate and purposeful in your actions and decisions. It’s more important than ever to be crystal clear and direct about your reasons and your goals — your “whys.”

Go one step farther and share the “whys behind your whys.” The prompt asks about your journey, so be sure to share the personal experiences, perspectives and motivations that brought you to the point of applying to Kellogg. Help the Admissions Committee know you are making an informed decision about your future professional goals by linking them to specific experiences from your past. For example, don’t just say that your goal is a position as an associate in investment banking to influence future mergers and acquisitions. Share the “why,” and your personal motivation or interest. Maybe you worked as a nurse in a hospital that was acquired, and this experience motivates you to want to be involved in the business side of healthcare mergers and acquisitions in the future.

The word “catalyst” is another clue about what the admissions committee wants to learn from your response to this Kellogg essay question. They want to know what features and facets of Kellogg’s offerings and community attract you, and how those features will boost you toward your goals. Make sure you do your research thoroughly – but don’t simply share a dry list of classes, professors, programs and student organizations gleaned from the website that interest you. Every adcom and application reader has seen thousands of such lists.

What makes you stand out is how you link those offerings to your personal goals. For instance, you can say something like, “I am interested in taking class X to build my financial modeling skills, which will be vital in my ambition to do Y. I look forward to learning from professors with expertise in Z, the industry that I plan to enter. I am excited to learn from other students who share my passion for [insert activity] during the annual [insert event] sponsored by [insert club.]

Finally, this Kellogg essay question asks how you will contribute not just to your class but to its community of lifelong learners. This is an opportunity to introduce yourself and highlight some unique passions, experiences or perspectives that speak to what you will bring to the school, both inside and outside the classroom. How will you show up and get involved at Kellogg – and beyond?

I think one big, missed opportunity that many applicants make is to only think about how they are going to contribute during their time in the program/classroom. Does Kellogg have an alumni organization in the city that you would join post-graduation? Does the larger alumni community host or offer events that you could contribute to? Does the Career Center website highlight any annual events involving alumni from your desired industry that you would be excited to contribute to after graduating as a speaker? Would you be willing to serve as a club mentor? Since Kellogg values lifelong learners, this is also a good place to showcase curiosity and open-mindedness. How would you continue to learn and benefit from your links to Kellogg?

Show, Not Tell – On Video Too

Remember, it’s always best to show, not tell, and illustrate your points with one or two examples. These examples can show how you’ve contributed to group settings in the past and how you envision yourself engaging in the Kellogg community. The challenge is both to sift through your experiences to identify the best points to highlight, and to stay within the word limit.

Note that in addition to written Kellogg essays, the school also asks you to introduce yourself in a video essay. In the video, you’ll respond to three prompts to introduce yourself, explain your career goal and reasons for seeking a Northwestern MBA, and share a challenge you faced and what you learned from it. It’s important to keep this in mind while crafting your essays. You should plan complementary narratives for each format that reinforce but do not repeat each other. And keep in mind that the video offers an opportunity to share additional information or personal stories that don’t fit in your essays. For more advice, see our related blog on Kellogg MBA video essays.

Tips for Kellogg MBA Essay 2

Essay 2 asks: Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision-making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (450 words; hard cut off at 480 words)

In this Kellogg MBA essay, the admissions committee is looking to learn about your leadership journey thus far and gain a sense for how you will grow as a leader at Kellogg. Highlighting the role of leadership in addressing challenges “from the boardroom to their neighborhoods” reflects a core Kellogg value — that leadership is essential, universally applicable, and not something that one turns on or off. Consistently acting as an authentic leader to address any situation is crucial.

This Kellogg essay question also recognizes that leadership occurs in all kinds of different settings, but Kellogg now specifies (in a change from last year) that you must share a professional experience that shaped your leadership style. Ideally, the story you share will demonstrate the kind of leader you are today. However, the prompt does not rule out a story about a situation where you did not yet have formal leadership responsibilities but still had to make a tough decision that taught you important lessons about how you want to lead in the future.

This essay is an opportunity for you to share a compelling example of how you’ve faced a challenging situation, the action you took and the values that underpinned your decision.

And while the subject is “you,” Kellogg leaders recognize the value of bringing others along. Inevitably, the difficult decision would involve or impact others. Who were the players involved or that had to be considered in making this decision? How/when did you take other perspectives into consideration when navigating the difficult decision? While it’s smart to explain how you considered others in handling the situation, avoid the “we” game. Even if you were part of a team or group that addressed the challenge, make sure you are specific about your actions and contributions to the situation, because that is what the Admissions Committee wants to most understand. It’s useful to use examples that illustrate how recognizing differences and diverse perspectives create better solutions.

Tell a Story

The Northwestern Kellogg essays — especially Essay 2 — are your opportunity to tell a story. Think through: why must you tell this story? How is your organization better off thanks to the decision you made? What leadership experience can you share that reveals how you’ve succeeded in elevating others? What story will illuminate the impact you’ve had as well as the values guiding your behavior?

Keep in mind this values statement from the Kellogg website:

WE VALUE INDIVIDUALS WHO:

Approach business problems with a mix of hard and soft skills.
Seek to adapt to the evolving business world with open curiosity and innovation.
Believe in strong, empathetic collaboration as a way to strengthen work, perspectives and outcomes.
Embrace the power of diversity in your teams and networks.

Kellogg wants to get to know the authentic you and enroll those who lead with empathy. They don’t wish to read the ‘heroes’ journey where your strength and resilience led to success without thinking about the impact on others. This is an opportunity to reflect how you currently embody Kellogg values and will positively contribute to your classmates’ experience.

Formatting Guidelines

The directions for the Kellogg MBA application essays indicate the following: You can either upload your essays as a file or copy and paste your essay text into the form. Be sure to include the essay prompt in bold at the top of your essay. If you’re uploading a document, you should use 12-point Times New Roman font, 1.5 line spacing and 1-inch margins.

Also, note that the school now explicitly states that if you use AI as a tool for drafting your essays, you should do so with integrity (i.e. do not use it as a replacement for your own genuine insights and reflections) and you must also reference which tool you used at the end of the essay. Our advice at Fortuna is not to use AI; AI cannot tell you what is important to convey about your own story, and it’s best not to give the impression that you have taken shortcuts.

View our Kellogg & Chicago Booth Admissions Masterclass , an hour-long strategy session with essential advice and insight from Fortuna’s former Kellogg & Booth gatekeepers. View other MBA Essay Masterclasses in our series on Fortuna’s YouTube channel.

Let’s Get You In.

Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA admissions directors and officers from the top business schools, including Kellogg. With our unparalleled collective expertise, we excel at helping you develop a clear vision of your goals for business school and beyond. We work closely with you throughout the application process and provide expert guidance at every stage to maximize your chances of admission to a top school.

Our free consultations are consistently rated as the best in the industry. To learn more about Fortuna and assess your chances of admission to Kellogg and other top programs, request a free consultation .

Want More Advice?

Check out our team’s latest articles, videos, and analysis related to how to get into Kellogg:

Kellogg MBA Video Essays & How to Tackle Them
Kellogg MBA Interview: What You Need To Know + 7 Tips on How to Prepare
M7 Admissions Masterclass: Kellogg & Chicago Booth
Business School Profile on Kellogg

Jayne Mulcahy is an Expert Coach with Fortuna Admissions who formerly evaluated and selected MBA candidates as part of Northwestern Kellogg’s Full-Time MBA admissions team. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for a free consultation.

Posted on July 8, 2024

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