kellogg application essay

Kellogg Essay Examples (23-24): Cracking The Code to Win

Are you an applicant trying to crack the code of Kellogg’s MBA admissions process? Crafting a stellar application essay can be daunting for many, but with our helpful tips and tricks as well as detail-oriented Kellogg essay examples, you’re sure to create an effective piece of writing that will set your candidacy apart. Whether it is through illustrating growth in professional experiences or leveraging diversity stories – we’ll show you how to tell the story of who you are and why Kellogg should say yes! We understand that the road to MBA admission can seem murky—but fear not! With this post focused on 2023-2024 Kellogg essay examples, get ready to take ownership of your story and begin your journey toward achieving your business school dreams.

Introducing Kellogg and Its Application Process

Kellogg School of Management , a part of the esteemed Northwestern University, is renowned for its emphasis on global and experiential learning. The application process at Kellogg is designed to assess not just the academic prowess of potential candidates, but also their leadership attributes, team skills, and potential to make an impact. The process typically involves multiple essays, recommendation letters , and an in-person or virtual interview . These components strive to give the admissions team a holistic view of each applicant, ensuring that those accepted will not only thrive in the academic environment but also contribute meaningfully to the Kellogg community.

Why studying Kellogg essay examples is key to success

Studying Kellogg essay examples is key to success for several reasons. These examples provide invaluable insight into what the admissions committee values and is looking for in potential candidates. They offer a blueprint for effective storytelling – showcasing not just the what, but the how and why of your experiences, aspirations, and values. Examining these essays can help applicants understand how to balance between personal anecdotes and professional accomplishments, demonstrating both competence and character. Understanding the structure, tone, and content of successful essays also allows applicants to avoid common pitfalls, craft compelling narratives, and ultimately stand out in a highly competitive applicant pool.

Picture of girl in need of Kellogg essay examples

How to read and analyze Kellogg essay examples for improved application essays

When reviewing Kellogg essay examples, it’s vital to approach them analytically rather than imitatively. The goal is not to replicate another applicant’s story but to glean insights on structure, tone, and content. Start by examining how the essay begins – does it grab your attention, and how does it do so? Take note of the balance between personal anecdotes and professional aspirations; a compelling essay seamlessly weaves these elements together. Look at how the writer demonstrates their understanding of Kellogg’s culture and values. Do they make clear connections between their goals and what Kellogg can offer? Pay attention to the language and style – is the tone formal or conversational? Does the writer use complex sentence structures or keep it simple? These considerations can help in honing your own unique narrative that is compelling and authentic.

Tips for writing an effective Kellogg essay

In crafting an effective Kellogg essay, it’s crucial to be clear, concise, and authentic. First off, start with a compelling introduction that hooks the reader’s attention. Draw on experiences that have shaped your professional aspirations, ensuring to tie these elements back to Kellogg’s values and offerings. Remember, specificity is key. Instead of writing in broad strokes, detail precisely how Kellogg’s resources or programs align with your goals. Finally, maintain a balance in tone – while professionalism is essential, a bit of conversational flair can inject personality into your essay. Keep the language simple and clear, and always proofread for grammar and punctuation errors. A well-crafted essay not only communicates your suitability for Kellogg but also reflects your ability to communicate effectively and thoughtfully.

Areal picture of Northwestern University

Question 1: Analysis and Tips

Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish? (450 words)

Analyzing the Question

This question from Kellogg is seeking to understand your problem-solving skills, leadership ability, and flexibility to use a combination of skills. It’s looking for evidence of how you’ve navigated complex situations to achieve a desired outcome. Your response should demonstrate your ability to think critically, adapt, collaborate, and lead, tying into the overall theme of leadership that Kellogg emphasizes.

The mention of boardrooms and neighborhoods suggests a consideration for community. Therefore, it is important to select leadership examples that not only demonstrate your ability to rally and guide others toward a common goal but also showcase your innovative approach.

This essay question allows for a wide range of recent examples, both personal and professional. Instead of solely measuring the importance of an experience based on monetary value or percentages, the focus should be on the challenges faced and the lessons learned. These challenges can range from logistical hurdles, such as coordinating internal teams while managing client expectations, to interpersonal obstacles, such as building a positive working relationship with a difficult colleague. Effective responses will highlight transferable skills that were developed or strengthened throughout the process, with the result being a lasting and positive impact.

When it comes to structure, we highly recommend using the STAR approach for crafting your response. Begin by setting the stage with a detailed description of the situation, including the key players and stakeholders involved. Then, transition smoothly into discussing the task at hand—clearly outlining the specific goals you needed to accomplish. Furthermore, it is imperative to recognize the challenges faced, highlighting the multitude of factors and complexities that were overcome to achieve victory. As you move forward, provide a cohesive and chronological account of the actions you took throughout the project or process. To maintain narrative flow, integrate the challenges you encountered and how you overcame them within this section, rather than separating them into distinct segments.

Finally, wrap up your response by commenting on the positive outcome of your efforts and how the story resolved. Conclude with a reflective note, discussing the valuable lessons learned and how they continue to shape your ability to bring significant value to the Kellogg community.

View of Northewestern University where  applicants will go if they follow our Kellogg essay examples

Tips for Convincing Response

  • Choose an impactful story: Select a situation from your past experiences that had a significant impact on your professional or personal life. This could be a challenging project at work, a community initiative, or an unexpected crisis that required quick thinking and action.
  • Detail your skills: Explicitly mention the skills you employed to address the situation. This could range from technical skills to soft skills like communication, team management, strategic thinking, or negotiation skills.
  • Showcase problem-solving ability: Illustrate your problem-solving process clearly – how you assessed the situation, identified the problem, considered various solutions, and decided on the most effective one.
  • Highlight your achievements: Conclude your response by discussing the outcome of the situation. What did you accomplish? How did the situation improve as a result of your actions? This should ideally tie back to the skills you employed.
  • Connect with Kellogg: Finally, subtly highlight how this experience has prepared you for Kellogg’s leadership-focused environment. Show how this instance has honed your abilities and how you intend to further develop these skills at Kellogg

During my tenure as a Project Manager at XYZ Corp, we were faced with a complex challenge. A high-stakes project we were handling for an important client was falling behind schedule due to unforeseen technical issues. As the leader of the team, it was my responsibility to navigate this situation and deliver the project as promised.

I utilized a combination of technical, analytical, and interpersonal skills to tackle this problem. First, I applied project management and technical skills to understand the nature of the technical issues and assess their impact on the project timeline. I collaborated with the technical team to explore potential solutions, and we decided to implement a more efficient algorithm that could speed up our processing time.

Simultaneously, I leveraged my communication and negotiation skills to manage the client’s expectations. I clearly communicated the issues we were facing, and the steps we were taking to resolve them, and negotiated a slight extension for the project delivery.

To ensure that the team was motivated and focused, I employed leadership and team management skills. I arranged daily stand-ups to track our progress, identified and addressed any concerns team members had and fostered a positive and collaborative work environment.

Despite the odds, we managed to complete and deliver the project within the extended deadline. The client was satisfied with our transparency and the quality of our work. As a result, we not only retained the client but also secured a new project from them.

This experience was instrumental in enhancing my problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills. I also learned the importance of agility and adaptability in managing unexpected challenges. I believe the skills and experiences I have gained align well with Kellogg’s focus on cultivating versatile leaders who can navigate complex situations effectively. I am excited about the prospect of further developing these skills and leveraging them to tackle pressing issues in the Kellogg community and beyond.

Pic of classroom at Kellogg School of Business

Question 2: Analysis and Tips

At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community? (450 words)

Analyzing this question, it becomes apparent that Kellogg is seeking individuals who contribute diversity and richness to their community. Therefore, your response should demonstrate how your unique personal and professional experiences can add value to the Kellogg community.

In essence, since the aim of this Kellogg MBA essay question is to provide the admissions team with greater insight into who you are, it’s beneficial to begin with some reflections on your personal journey, experiences, and accomplishments, and then work backwards to uncover the prevailing qualities. Remember that it’s not your direct “answer” to the question that will set you apart (which may even be somewhat ordinary), but rather the series of anecdotes and supporting evidence you provide that will effectively convey your unique candidacy to the admissions team.

The admissions committee is eager to learn how your background, perspective, and experiences can contribute to the Kellogg community. To conclude your essay effectively, it would be prudent to establish connections with Kellogg’s offerings. Gaining insights into the school’s curriculum, special programs, and extracurricular activities—whether through a campus visit or conversations with alumni—will enable you to craft a standout response.

To address this convincingly, focus on the following areas:

  • Professional Experiences: Share specific examples of how your professional experiences have shaped you as a leader and how you can bring these insights to Kellogg. Discuss the skills and competencies you have developed, such as problem-solving, leadership, communication, etc.
  • Personal Experiences: Talk about your personal background and experiences that have influenced your values, beliefs, and perspectives. Relate how these elements will enhance the diversity of the Kellogg community.
  • Contribution to the Kellogg Community: Clearly articulate how you plan to use your experiences and skills to enrich the Kellogg community. This could involve discussing your plans to participate in specific clubs, initiatives, or programs, and how your unique perspective would contribute to these activities.
  • Alignment with Kellogg’s Values: Highlight how your experiences and perspective align with Kellogg’s values of leadership, diversity, and community.

Remember to keep your response authentic and personal. The readers should get a sense of who you are as an individual and what you can bring to the table, so make sure your personality shines through in your response.

Main building of Kellogg School of Business

Throughout my professional journey and personal life, I have sought to embrace diversity, thrive in leadership roles, and contribute positively to my community. These experiences, I believe, align remarkably with Kellogg’s values and will enable me to enrich your esteemed community.

Professionally, as a project lead in a multinational tech firm, I have had the privilege of working with and leading diverse teams spread across different continents. This exposure to various cultures, work ethics, and perspectives has honed my problem-solving and leadership skills. I have learned to appreciate the power of diverse ideas and have seen firsthand how a multifaceted team outperforms a homogeneous one. At Kellogg, I intend to share these experiences and insights, potentially influencing my peers’ understanding of creating and managing diverse teams.

On the personal front, I come from a small town in Asia with a unique cultural heritage. My upbringing in a multicultural environment has instilled in me a deep appreciation for diversity and an understanding of different perspectives. I believe my background will add a unique flavor to the Kellogg community, broadening its cultural and experiential diversity.

Beyond just adding to the diversity at Kellogg, I plan to contribute actively to the community. Particularly, I am interested in the Technology Club and Entrepreneurship Club. As someone who has worked in the tech industry and harbors entrepreneurial ambitions, I can bring a unique, ground-level perspective to these clubs. I would love to organize workshops and seminars to share industry insights and foster a culture of technological innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.

Lastly, my experiences have reinforced my belief in the power of community and collaboration. Throughout my academic and professional life, I have always prioritized contributing to my community, be it through mentorship roles or voluntary services. At Kellogg, I intend to continue this trend, using my experiences to contribute to the community positively and constructively.

In conclusion, I believe my professional experiences, personal background, commitment to community service, and alignment with Kellogg’s values equip me to make a significant contribution to the Kellogg community. I look forward to enriching and being enriched by this diverse community of future leaders.

Mastering your MBA essays for Kellogg

Considering the high caliber and diversity of candidates applying for the Kellogg MBA program, it’s undoubtedly a daunting task to stand out from the crowd. The admissions committee seeks applicants who not only excel academically and professionally, but also demonstrate distinct personal experiences, unique perspectives, and a strong commitment to the community. The scrutiny and attention to detail in their evaluation process can be intimidating, as even minor shortcomings or inconsistencies in your application or essays can potentially impact your chances of admission. Therefore, it is essential to critically assess the quality of your essays to ensure they effectively highlight your strengths, uniqueness, and alignment with Kellogg’s values.

The Kellogg essay examples provided above should serve merely as sources of inspiration, and by no means as templates to emulate. Each candidate brings a unique set of experiences and perspectives, hence, it is paramount to reflect this uniqueness in your essays. Instead of replicating these examples, let them inspire you to weave your own narrative that genuinely encapsulates your individuality. Remember, the objective is to distinguish yourself from other applicants, so strive to imbue your essays with personal experiences, distinctive insights, and an authentic voice that resonates with the ethos of Kellogg. Your essays should unequivocally reflect who you are, what you value, and how you envision contributing to the Kellogg community.

Happy girl who used Kellogg Essay Examples

Final thoughts on cracking the code with Kellogg essay examples

In conclusion, cracking the code with Kellogg essay examples comes down to understanding your personal narrative and how it intersects with Kellogg’s values. The essay should be a window into your professional aspirations and how Kellogg’s unique resources and culture can help you realize these goals. While showcasing your proficiency in clear and effective communication, also embrace your uniqueness and authenticity.

You have what it takes to craft a great Kellogg application essay; you just need the know-how of how to do it. What sets The Admit Lab apart is our focus on delivering a portfolio-driven approach that helps applicants craft narratives to stand out from the competition. With our unique approach, you can create an eloquent portrayal of your journey thus far —and why you deserve a seat at the world’s greatest business school, Kellogg! So if you’re ready to join the Kellogg community take ownership of your story and don’t hesitate to reach out to us for advice and guidance every step of the way. We’ll be more than happy to guide you in any way we can. And if writing powerful essays just isn’t your strong suit, remember that we offer top-notch MBA admissions consulting services so that you can stay ahead of the competition. So grab hold of this golden opportunity and plan for success – let the journey begin!

With a Master’s from McGill University and a Ph.D. from New York University, Philippe Barr is a former professor and assistant director of MBA admissions at Kenan-Flagler Business School. With more than seven years of experience as a graduate school admissions consultant, Dr. Barr has stewarded the candidate journey across multiple MBA programs and helped hundreds of students get admitted to top-tier graduate programs all over the world .

Follow Dr. Barr on YouTub e for tips and tricks on navigating the MBA application process and life as an MBA student.

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Tips for Your Northwestern Kellogg Application Essays 

July 17, 2023

Donna Bauman

Northwestern Kellogg Application Essay Tips, 2023-2024

  • R1 Deadline: September 13, 2023
  • R2 Deadline: January 10, 2024
  • R3 Deadline: April 3, 2024

Kellogg’s essays for the upcoming admissions season represent a fresh update and yet remain consistent with the school’s philosophy of valuing collaborative leadership. These questions will challenge applicants to think one level deeper about the different layers related to leadership and creating impact. Rest assured, however, that Kellogg is still looking for high-impact, low-ego leaders—“the kind of people who elevate the level of everyone in the room without making it all about them”—to loosely quote a former Kellogg admissions staffer when describing how they think about the program’s ideal applicants. 

Consistent with Kellogg’s tradition to holistically review all applicants, the admissions committee has both written essay questions and video response essays to gain as complete a picture of an applicant as possible. Kellogg is also continuing its intention to make the application process less stressful for applicants by allowing people to express interest in multiple MBA program options through the same application. 

Question 1 (450 words)

Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. which skills did you use what did you accomplish.

This question still speaks to Kellogg’s purpose: To educate, equip and inspire leaders who build strong organizations and wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value . In answering this question, applicants can draw from different aspects of their life—both professional and personal—to identify the best example of where they have achieved impact in solving a problem. Candidates have the opportunity to be more granular in thinking about the different tools in their skill set to approach solving a problem. Big challenges are not solved by one person, so applicants should think about how they have motivated teams, brought varied perspectives into the decision-making process, and inspired others to achieve meaningful results. 

Applicants can think about breaking this question into a CAR (Challenge/Action/Result) model, wherein the problem is presented along with the specific actions that were taken and the skills used to achieve results. This question also presents applicants with the opportunity to reflect upon their own leadership journey, utilizing self-awareness to recognize and describe how they have made valuable contributions in their professional or extracurricular activities. 

Question 2 (450 words) 

At kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. how do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the kellogg community .

In approaching this question, it can be helpful to review the qualities that Kellogg shares on its website regarding its ideal applicants: 

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.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR:

  • Academic readiness
  • Work experience
  • Professional goals
  • Interpersonal skills”

Kellogg gives applicants the opportunity to reflect further on their personal leadership journey by thinking about how they have problem-solved utilizing the talents of different groups of people. The admissions committee wants applicants to first share an experience when they have embraced diversity—thinking about any of its components: functional, cultural, socioeconomic and even age—and then provide a sense of how applicants can bring those talents to the Kellogg community. In the previous iterations of the Kellogg application, the video essay was the only opportunity candidates had to share how they could contribute to the Kellogg community. In this version, applicants can be specific about naming particular clubs and resources where they can add value. Reach out to students to learn more about the specifics of Kellogg’s offerings, and spend some time thinking about how you can enhance the community. 

If your example in Essay 1 drew on your professional experience, consider how some of your extracurricular experiences can inform your answer to Essay 2—or vice versa—to give Kellogg the fullest version of who you are and what drives your interests.

Certain applicants will respond to an additional question about their interest in our specialty programs. 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)

How are you a stronger applicant than when you last applied? Have you retaken the GMAT or GRE? Completed new courses? Been promoted or faced with new challenges at work? Use these 250 words to show growth, change, improvement, and excellence. 

In  Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into Kellogg School of Management   you will find information on a variety of the MBA program’s offerings, such as the Global Hub building, Complete Immersion in Management, the Kellogg Ski Trip, and the Kellogg Tech Conference. This free guide also includes class profile statistics.  Download our guide to learn more about Kellogg!

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Kellogg MBA Essay Advice and Application Deadlines: 2023-2024

Kellogg MBA Essay Analysis

Kellogg School of Management has released its essay questions and application deadlines for the 2023-2024 application cycle. Once again, Kellogg asks applicants to answer two essay questions. This year, Kellogg has changed its application essay and has made the video essay questions (which were optional last year) mandatory.

Looking for help with your Kellogg MBA applications? Personal MBA Coach recently welcomed Frenk Nebiu to our team. 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 2023-2024 Kellogg MBA Application Deadlines Are as Follows

Round 1: September 13, 2023

Round 2: January 10, 2024

Round 3: April 3, 2024

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

Kellogg mba essay 1:.

Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish? (450 words)

Kellogg has reworked its leadership essay this year; however, the objective is the same as in recent years: give Kellogg an example of how you are an accomplished leader.

Many candidates likely will share a professional story to answer this first prompt. However, strong leadership examples in your extracurricular activities could also work well here.

Be sure to think of a significant undertaking where you can clearly articulate the challenge that you overcame. Ideally, with this example you will also demonstrate the value you added. This story also should 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 you used in your approach. While this year’s question does not specifically ask, you might consider sharing some learnings from this experience. A strong answer not only will demonstrate your leadership experience but also will highlight your most impressive strengths.

Kellogg MBA Essay 2:

At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community? (450 words)

This second Kellogg MBA essay is completely new, replacing Kellogg’s longstanding “values” essay. As we have increasingly seen with other schools this year, Kellogg is giving applicants flexibility to talk about what makes them unique, noting the importance of diversity (though not in these exact words) in the classroom.

For this essay, you want to think about how you stand apart from your peers. You can think of this essay as you would any personal story essay (for more on how to think about a personal story essay – check out this blog .)

Ask yourself: “What makes me special?”

You might also evaluate what you have done beyond what is in your resume or items that you wish you had space within your resume to elaborate on.

As you draft you answer, consider how your accomplishments (both in and out of the office), background and/or experiences have shaped you. Then, as you discuss your past, go beyond just telling the reader what you did or how you were raised, and dig deeper. Think about what you have learned from these experiences.

Next, and most importantly, tell the reader how these experiences have prepared you to add value on campus. Write about how you might share your passions, perspective, experiences, and successes with your future peers. Tell the reader how you will improve and enrich the Kellogg community.

As with all essays, be specific about the contributions you will make on campus, and less is more. Do not submit a laundry list here.

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)

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 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 three programs is essentially the same, but applicants to the MBAi have a little more space to work with.

For all three questions, we advise applicants to be very direct both in terms of their career goal (need help on approaching a  career goal essay ?) and how Kellogg will help. To answer these specialty MBA questions, you want to tell the reader where you are in your career currently, and what gaps you are hoping to close. Next, you want to demonstrate how the unique offerings within your chosen program are best suited to help you close these gaps and reach your 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 2.

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.

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.”

Finally, Kellogg has mandatory video essays this year. 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. Unlike last year, 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 free consultation today for 1:1 Kellogg application support including essay brainstorming and unlimited editing , resume review, and more!

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How to Nail Your Kellogg MBA Application Essays

Tips and tricks that will help you craft the best application essays possible and get admitted into Kellogg.

Posted January 9, 2024

kellogg application essay

Featuring John K.

Financing Your MBA

Tuesday, march 19.

10:00 PM UTC · 60 minutes

Introduction

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is consistently ranked high and is one of the top seven business schools (“M7”) in the United States. The essay portion of the Kellogg MBA application is unique because it comes in two parts: a written essay and a video essay portion.

The written essays are due along with the application while the video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline. Once the application and fee have been uploaded, a link will appear on the application portal that will give the applicant access to the video portion.

2022-2023 Kellogg Application Deadlines

Round 1: September 14, 2022

Round 2: January 10, 2023

Round 3: April 5, 2023

To read more about the MBA program at Northwestern, visit The Kellogg School of Management–MBA Program and Application Overview .

Written Essays

The written essay portion is a great place to highlight the skills and experience that can’t be found on your resume or any other part of your MBA application. Your essays should present a compelling, concise, and clear story of your path to business school generally as well as Kellogg specifically. Kellogg requires two essays for all its applicants and a third for certain kinds of applicants (JD-MBA, reapplicants, etc). See the additional questions here .

2022-2023 Prompts

Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)

Reading this prompt closely provides several insights. Firstly, Kellogg asks for an example, not examples. Choose one that makes the most compelling case. Secondly, in asking about challenges, Kellogg acknowledges that leadership comes with difficulties. Talk about the trials you faced throughout the story, don’t just throw them in at the end. Lead the adcom through the ups and downs of the example and make sure that the lessons learned tie into the overall narrative and aren’t tangential.

Values are what guide us in our life and work. What values are important to you and how have they influenced you? (450 words)

This question is purposefully left broad to allow you the space to craft a response that is genuine to your story. A good way to start brainstorming your response is to work backward. Make a list of the major decisions you’ve made in your life and identify why you made them. Then, see if there are any reasons that come up often. Going through the process like this will help you write your response to the second part of the question as well, as how the values have influenced you. You don’t have very many words so stick to one or two of the most important ones and choose examples that concretely show them.

Video Essays

The video essays are your chance to bring your candidacy to life in a way that is impossible to do on paper. Instead of seeing numbers and credentials, the admissions committee will see a person. The video essay is optional, however, it is definitely strongly preferred that you complete it.

Kellogg says that the video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, including time for setup. You’ll need to have a stable internet connection as well as a computer with a webcam and microphone. For each question, you’ll have up to one minute to respond.

There are three video essay prompts, all designed to help you make your case for admission. They are as follows:

  • Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee. – What do you want your future classmates and the adcom to know about you? What makes you, you?
  • What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you? – Answer honestly and meaningfully, why are you pursuing an MBA and why are you choosing the Kellogg full-time program?
  • One question will be based on a challenge you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from it.

kellogg application essay

Kellogg MBA Essay Tips

For each written essay, you are only given 450 words, and for the video you only have a minute for each prompt, both are not a lot. For this reason, make sure that every part of your answer is directly relevant to the question at hand. Here are several tips for acing your essays and making your application that much more competitive.

Use unique stories and anecdotes that aren’t found in other parts of your application.

Essays are a way for you to further expound on your candidacy and provide information that can’t be found elsewhere, whether that be on your resume, letters of recommendation, etc. Be intentional about where you choose to include certain information. If you have an important example that’s a bit lengthier, put it in your written essay. Have a funny or entertaining story? Talk about it in your video essay to add character.

Build Kellogg values into your answers.

After reading your essays and watching your video, the adcom should know exactly why you want to go to Kellogg specifically. You could go to any M7 and be successful and if you can get into one, you can get probably get into another. Even if Kellogg isn’t your top choice, showing that you understand what’s important to the institution will prove to the admissions committee that you care enough to have done some research.

You can do this by reading articles online–both on the school’s official site and third-party publications–taking tours of the campus, talking to alumni, contacting admissions for specific questions, and more. Get creative and work the values into your goals and plans.

Get specific.

When you talk about your strengths and the attributes you portray, make sure you’re providing concrete and specific examples. It’s easy to list off different things; it is much harder to prove how you’ve demonstrated them in the past. They should also be directly and obviously relevant to your overall narrative.

Remember: the admissions committee will not know any information that you don’t explicitly tell them. You have limited space to present a compelling reason that they should give you a seat in the class. Make that more likely by clearly demonstrating what you bring to the table.

Build a cohesive narrative.

At the end of the day, your entire application is basically one long story. Each part of the story should be related to the overall idea. Your candidacy is the culmination of the different parts of you that you’re choosing to present to the adcom.

As you write and film your essays, keep this in mind. Is the example you’re providing directly relevant to the narrative? If not, consider whether it should be there. There is a fine line between trying to portray as much of yourself as you can, in order to show your wide variety of strengths, and focusing on a set of core values. The right balance is usually somewhere in the middle.

Start early!

Start as early as you possibly can on your written essays. Usually, it takes a lot more time than you think it will to write multiple drafts, revise, receive feedback, and polish. For many people, it’s helpful to have a rough idea of your story before you start writing. Working with a coach can be really beneficial for this.

After writing your first draft, put it aside for a few days so that when you go back to it, you’re reading with a fresh perspective. Several drafts later after receiving feedback, read your essay out loud. Doing so will give you an idea of what it will sound like to an admissions committee member.

For the video essays, you should also start early. Practice your responses several times until you feel very comfortable giving them in a smooth manner. The last thing you want is to stumble over your words or be constantly “uhhh” and “umm”-ing your way through the answer. Talk to yourself in the mirror, practice recording yourself on Zoom, or role-play it with a friend.

Hopefully, you find these tips helpful as you put together your Kellogg MBA application. We know that it can be a very stressful process. For personalized, one-on-one advice and guidance, work with a Leland coach . We have lots who are Kellogg alumni who will be able to help you find the right narrative to tell. Here are some of our highest-rated MBA admissions coaches:

Leland provides you with the content, community, and coaching that you need to get into your dream MBA program and accomplish other ambitious goals. Sign up today to gain access to additional free resources, community events, small group classes, world-class coaching, and more.

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kellogg application essay

June 26, 2022

Kellogg MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines [2023 – 2024], Class Profile

kellogg application essay

Kellogg values individuals; who you are as a person, what you’ve done, and how you will be engaged in 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 about your personality, your values, and your 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. And 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, 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.

Kellogg is unique in that we ask you to complete written essays as part of the application as well as video essays. This is your chance to tell us why you think Kellogg is the right place for you. Take some time to think through the experiences that led you here and how they have shaped where you want to go.

Question 1 (450 words)

Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish?

This is a new question, and it indicates what is most important to Kellogg:  your ability to face a challenge and come up with creative solutions. In the process, you must also show your strong teamwork skills and collaborative nature. You’ll want to discuss how you motivate others, how you encourage your team to look beyond difficulties and seek nonconventional methods to achieve a goal, and what skills were most valuable in the process. 

If you have cross-functional skills and also cross-cultural skills, this is the place to show those. Briefly, reflect on examples that will demonstrate how you overcame a challenge, and this can be at work or outside of work. You’ll want to add something that the admissions committee doesn’t already know about you, so try to come up with a story that isn’t fully described on your resume. 

Once you’ve selected a strong example, think about how to describe the challenge in simple terms. Please don’t focus too much on technical details that people who are not in your profession won’t understand. Next, describe how you had to think of ways to work around the difficulty presented. Did you brainstorm with your team, or ask advice from people who might have dealt with a similar situation? How did you involve other people, and what did you learn from that? Which of your own skills were brought into play, and what did you discover that you didn’t know? Why did you make the choices that you did?

Question 2 (450 words)

At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community?

Certain applicants will respond to an additional question about their interest in our specialty programs.

Kellogg’s essays in the past have inquired about candidates’ “values.” This is similar yet brings the focus back to Kellogg and how your unique experiences will add to its community. Reflect on your values – how did you acquire them?  Family, culture, faith, a significant event in your life? Values represent principles that are important to you, guide your life, help you make decisions, and help you shape the world around you. In brief, they make you who you are, and each of us is unique in this respect.

In this essay, the Kellogg admissions committee wants to find out what you value and how that has been manifested in your actions, especially when interacting with people who might have a totally different value system. Are you someone who is open to others’ ideas and opinions? Can you give an example of when your judgment was challenged and you ended up seeing things differently? Or alternatively, did you manage to change someone else’s perspective, and if so, how did you do so? Again, the core of this question is conveying how you will collaborate with others and how you will be engaged in the Kellogg community. It doesn’t mean listing a lot of clubs you’re interested in or jobs you’ve had, but more importantly, what has enriched your life that you think will do the same for others? To answer this question well, you need to really understand the “personality” of Kellogg and its community. The best way to do that is to reach out to student ambassadors or talk with alumni of the program who can share with you valuable insights.  

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

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.

We find these videos to be a great opportunity for you to tell us more about your story, experiences and why Kellogg is the right place for you.

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.

The video essay should not be perfect!  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! 

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. 

Kellogg isn’t trying to trip you up; the admissions committee is 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, check out Accepted’s MBA Application Package , which includes comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We’ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to Kellogg’s MBA program and look forward to helping you, too!

***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 2024 (data taken from the Kellogg website ):

Class size: 503

Female: 48%

International: 38%

U.S. minorities: 37%

Average GMAT score: 729

GMAT score range: 620-780

Median GRE Verbal: 162

GRE Verbal range: 150-169

Median GRE Quant: 163

GRE Quant range: 148-170

Average GPA: 3.7

GPA range: 2.6-4.0

Average years of work experience: 5

Undergraduate majors:

  • Economics/Business: 45%
  • Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics: 38%
  • Humanities: 24%

Industry background:

  • Consulting: 24%
  • Financial services: 19%
  • Technology: 17%
  • Government/Education/Nonprofit: 7%
  • Consumer products: 7%
  • Healthcare/Biopharma: 7%
  • Media & entertainment: 4%
  • Military: 4%
  • Manufacturing: 2%

Getting into Kellogg, or any of the top-tier MBA programs, is very competitive. Our Comprehensive MBA Application Package has everything you need to get you there. 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!

Christie St John

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!

Related Resources:

  • Academic Performance in Your MBA Admissions Profile
  • Nine MBA Resume Mistakes to Avoid
  • Which B-School Is Best for You?

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Tuesday Tips: Kellogg MBA Essay Tips 2023-2024

Kellogg MBA essay tips

If you are getting ready to apply to Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management this year, these Kellogg MBA essay tips will help you prepare to knock it out of the park. The Kellogg School is a close-knit community that values a diverse community and philanthropy. Our insiders tell us that candidates who show the right combination of high-impact leadership and humility demonstrate “Kellogg DNA.”

Is Kellogg the right fit for you? To find out, do your research. For example, what are the programs, activities, clubs, and classes you are most excited about? While you are talking to students and alumni, look for ways you will contribute to the Kellogg MBA community.

Advice From One of SBC’s Resident Kellogg Experts

Caryn Altman, a tenured consultant on our SBC team, previously served as a Kellogg admissions officer and also holds an MBA from the school. For these Kellogg MBA essay tips, Caryn describes the importance of “unique points of difference” throughout your entire application—essays, resume, interview, etc. It can be challenging to distinguish yourself from other applicants of similar backgrounds.

“This is especially the case for those coming from oversubscribed professional backgrounds such as consulting and banking, along with oversubscribed populations from particular areas of the world,” Caryn notes.

Curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session with an SBC Principal Consultant.

Kellogg MBA essay tips

Kellogg MBA Essay Tips

Essay one: kellogg leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. which skills did you use what did you accomplish (450 words).

This essay focuses on leadership using a behavioral essay framework (the clue is “tell us about a time…”). Details about exactly what you did, said, and learned provide details about your skills.

As you structure the essay, spend some time setting up the background of the story. Then use most of the space to describe what you did, thought, felt, and how you behaved. Also, use details to entice the reader and set yourself apart. A few well-placed specifics will add color without adding length to these Kellogg MBA essays. Make sure you are outlining the skills that you used in this example.

If you choose a challenging situation that you overcame, make sure you demonstrate lessons learned. In addition, describe the various skills you used. Also, a willingness to be open to feedback and improve will be an asset.

As you consider the skills you highlight in your example, do not neglect teamwork, a Kellogg core value. Your leadership experience is likely part of a team at work or in an extracurricular activity. Also, collaboration demonstrates maturity and social skills. Finally, make sure you explain what you accomplished in this example. Ideally, it is impactful to the organization and those around you.

Kellogg MBA essay tips

Essay Two: At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community? (450 words)

This essay question is a hybrid of a classic career goals essay and a personal essay. Kellogg is interested in candidates who can integrate their values into their personal and professional goals. This question is also looking for what is unique about you. The ideal Kellogg class is a diverse group of people with varied backgrounds.

Consider what you will contribute from your unique background. Therefore, the story you tell provides insight into your decision to pursue an MBA. During the brainstorming process, you might come up with a whole list of facts about your background and perspective. Think about your upbringing, family background, places you have lived, and the people who have influenced you. Also, is there anything surprising about you? Because this isn’t a question about your entire work and life, choose only one or two main experiences to share.

Learn more about this program on B-Schooled Podcast #86 : Spotlight on Kellogg School of Management

The 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.

We find these videos to be a great opportunity for you to tell us more about your story, experiences and why Kellogg is the right place for you.

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.

Watching a video essay gives the admissions committee a truer sense of who you are. Therefore, the Kellogg admissions committee advises: “Be yourself. We don’t want scripted answers — we want to get to know you and learn something new. Please do not try to reuse an example from an essay that might, in some roundabout way, answer the video essay question asked. We already read that essay, so why tell us that story again?”

Kellogg’s video essays should reveal your personality. Preparation will help you be comfortable and be yourself when you are recording the video. That said, it’s essential not to sound as if you are “acting.”

Also, it would be useful to do a few rounds of practice in front of the camera to get comfortable. Draft a friend or family member to ask you some common interview questions and record your answers. Think of a few personal stories about your background that may be good examples for the video questions you are presented with.

Kellogg MBA essay tips

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)

Provide tangible evidence that you have improved your candidacy in this answer. Some visible improvements could be a higher GMAT score. Also, grades from any new quantitative classes you took.

In addition, you could describe a promotion at work or new volunteer activities. Another area could be increased responsibility at work or in your extracurriculars. Or, discuss how your career goals have changed. Finally, you could focus on how you have refined your personal goals.

Now that you’ve seen these Kellogg MBA essay tips, would you like personalized help with your MBA applications? Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your needs, from our All-In Partnership  to test prep to hourly help with targeted tasks. Contact us today for a  free 15-minute advising session  to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant.  Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on  our SBC team .

kellogg application essay

SBC’s star-studded consultant team is unparalleled. Our clients benefit from current intelligence that we receive from the former MBA Admissions Officers from Kellogg, Booth and every elite business program in the US and Europe.  These MBA Admissions Officers have chosen to work exclusively with SBC.

Just two of the many superstars on the SBC team: Meet Beth who held the position of Director of Admissions for Kellogg’s Full Time MBA program selecting candidates for the 2-year, 1-year, MMM and JD MBA programs.

Meet Kim , who was an Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Chicago Booth.

Tap into this inside knowledge for your MBA applications by requesting a consultation .

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Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Questions and Strategic Guidance, 2023-2024

MBA students at Northwestern Kellogg often mention the strength of the community, with classmates dedicating themselves fully to both their own professional development and that of their peers. Kellogg is committed to producing capable leaders who are as thoughtful and driven as they are empathetic and inclusive.

According to Kellogg’s website, the school seeks candidates 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 teams and networks.

As you brainstorm what to share throughout your Kellogg application, keep these qualities in mind. Understanding what Kellogg looks for in its candidates before you start brainstorming can give you a frame of reference through which to view and consider your stories and perhaps help you identify which ones might be the most compelling to include in your application. But let us be clear that we are not saying the stories you share  must  reveal all or even any of these traits. As always, keep the focus on  you —your unique experiences and what you want the admissions committee to know about you.

Kellogg gives candidates ample opportunities to share who they really are throughout the submitted application. For example, the program’s online application includes some very brief questions about your short- and long-term goals. Although you might naturally discuss your goals at some point in your written essays, be aware that you are not required to do so because the aforementioned application questions allow you to share them elsewhere. Moreover, Kellogg asks every applicant to submit video responses to multiple prompts. Although you might be intimidated by this video component, we at Gatehouse see it as a boon for candidates. After all, the more opportunities you have for the admissions committee to get to know you, the better.

Kellogg requires two written essays. Our guidance for approaching the two essay prompts follows.

Question 1 (450 words)

Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. which skills did you use what did you accomplish.

First and foremost, Kellogg’s prompt is asking for a story. Stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end; they take place at a certain time and in a specific location; and they have a protagonist—which in this case is you. What is equally important is that Kellogg wants a particular kind of story, one in which you are a leader who faced and overcame a challenge to create value. Whatever story you tell, it must check each of these boxes. Practically speaking, this means that your essay should describe the specific obstacles you encountered, how you worked through them (which skills you used), and the results.

When choosing which story to tell, remember that “leadership” comes in all shapes and sizes. Perhaps you were the assigned or elected leader of an initiative, team, or project. Great! Depending on the experience, that might be an excellent story to share. But do not discount stories of when you acted as a thought leader, an informal leader, a leader from behind or the middle, a solo entrepreneur, or some other kind of unconventional principal figure. Each of these can also demonstrate compelling leadership.

When crafting your response, the STARR (Situation, Task, Actions, Results, Reflection) format can be a very effective tool for helping you construct your story. To learn more about how to effectively present a narrative in an essay, watch our video  “How to Tell a Great Story in Your MBA Essays.”  It covers all the critical elements of storytelling, including “show, don’t tell.” With this essay prompt, you have no need to discuss your goals or why you are interested in attending Kellogg. Only do so if these things are somehow integral to the rest of the story you are sharing.

Question 2 (450 words)

At kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. how do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the kellogg community.

This essay requires you to reflect not only on your personal experiences but also on how and why those experiences might matter once you are a part of the Kellogg community. When considering which experiences to share, start by looking inward. Think about the moments that have most influenced you and about the evidence that demonstrates that influence today. You can also reflect on critical inflection points in your life, key successes, and, conversely, noteworthy failures. What you choose to discuss is up to you, but remember that you are a multifaceted individual. If your leadership story in Essay 1 is about how you used your interpersonal skills to build morale on a team, for example, push yourself to highlight experiences in Essay 2 that illustrate different or new sides of you.

Once you have identified two or three experiences that you want to write about, the next step is to determine how these experiences can help you contribute to the Kellogg community. To address this part of the essay effectively, you want to go beyond saying something like “This unique perspective will enable to me to contribute to class.” Such a statement does not really tell the reader anything about you or what your contribution will be. (As an aside, our advice at Gatehouse is to avoid using the word “unique” in your essays. Show why you are unique instead of relying on the word!) Instead, be specific. Perhaps you have built your career thus far in artificial intelligence (AI) at a Big Tech firm and have spent the past seven months developing your company’s AI policy. How could your experience be valuable at Kellogg? Maybe you could lead a symposium on AI as part of the Kellogg Tech Club and bring in speakers from your company, or you could join the Kellogg Consulting Club to be part of a student team working to address AI-related issues for a client. Perhaps you could conduct a 101 training session for your peers who are new to the world of AI. Any of these could be a compelling example of how your specific personal experience would be meaningful on campus.

As you craft your response, dedicate time to researching Kellogg’s resources, courses, and clubs. Doing so will help you discuss your proposed contribution in more detail and illustrate how it fits the Kellogg MBA experience.

Topics in this resource:

MBA Essay Questions and Strategic Guidance

Northwestern Kellogg

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How to Successfully Complete the Kellogg Video Essay

Sep 14, 2023

kellogg application essay

Why does Kellogg require a video essay?

How does the kellogg video essay work, which types of questions are asked, the difference between a good and great video essay, make sure you get into kellogg.

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on September 16, 2019. 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. However, if you want to experience the Global Hub for yourself, you’ve got quite the road ahead, as Kellogg is one of the world’s most elite, competitive business schools.

Despite this fact, many applicants dedicate countless hours to writing Kellogg’s admissions essays and then rush through the video essay component. 

This is a huge mistake. 

In addition to giving the admissions committee the chance to “put a face with a name,” the video essay is an essential part of the Kellogg application, as it allows committee members to determine if your communication style and values are a good fit with the Kellogg community. 

In fact, in our experience helping our Kellogg applicants secure a place at the school, we have noticed that the video essay can be as influential in an applicant’s admissions decision as the admissions interview . 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you understand how the Kellogg video essay works and have shared a list of Kellogg video essay questions to ensure you put your best foot forward! 

When we first started working with Kellogg applicants many years ago, the video essay component had not yet been introduced. However, since its launch in 2013, the video essay has quickly become a critical part of the application. 

That’s because it gives the admissions committee the chance to truly “meet” candidates — as well as identify red flags in potential members of the Kellogg community. 

According to Kellogg’s admissions committee, 

“The Video Essays provide applicants with an additional opportunity to demonstrate what they will bring to our vibrant Kellogg community – in an interactive way. Each applicant will complete two short video essay questions. The questions are designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper.” 

They also give applicants this advice:

kellogg video essay questions

With that in mind, it’s extremely important to make sure you fully understand this component of the application. 

The way the video essay works is very simple. 

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from a company called Kira Talent. This email will contain a link that allows you to access the video essay platform. 

After signing in and starting the session, you will get three Kellogg video essay questions in total, one at a time. After receiving the questions, you will have 20 seconds to think and then 1 minute to answer. There are no opportunities to redo the question, and you only get one chance to speak and provide your answer.

Unlike previous years, where some of the questions applicants received were random, Kellogg has pre-announced the three questions you will need to answer this year. We’ll go more into detail about the types of questions you can expect below. 

If you’ve taken the TOEFL exam , you’ve already practiced for the type of format you can expect in the Kellogg video essay! 

After signing in and “starting” the session, a video will appear on the screen. This video will show a member of the Kellogg community, who will read the question you are tasked with answering. The question will also appear in written form under the video. 

After the time runs out, the screen video will disappear and your image will be visible on the screen. At this point, your 20 seconds to think will automatically appear. 

After the preparation time runs out, the clock to answer (60 seconds!) will start, and you will need to give your answer during this period of time. Remember: you cannot redo any of the questions.

After you answer the question, the system will upload your answer to the server (depending on your connection this can take a while) and will present you with the next question. 

DO NOT leave your computer during the upload time , even if it’s taking a while. You cannot pause the process, and you may end up missing questions!

Technical requirements

Given past applicants’ issues with iPad and mobile versions of the application, we strongly suggest you record your answer on a computer . 

If you do end up experiencing technical issues, access the support page here . 

kellogg application essay

Regardless of when you submit your application, you need to submit your video essay response no more than 96 hours after the round’s deadline . Find Kellogg’s most current application deadlines here . 

If you submit your application early, you can submit your responses to Kellogg’s video essay questions at any time, as long as you make the final deadline.  

The Kellogg video essay questions are grouped into three different categories, each with a different focus. 

Question 1: Introduce Yourself

The first question Kellogg asks gives you the chance to share who you are beyond your CV and admissions essays. 

“ Please introduce yourself and tell us something that is not on your CV that you want us to know about you.” 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?”

Despite the innocent-seeming question, be careful about what you choose to show here. Keep in mind that Kellogg prefers community-focused, growth-minded leaders, so don’t miss an opportunity to reinforce your personal brand and your fit with the school’s values. You should also focus on reinforcing elements of your profile that you might not have had a chance to explain elsewhere, such as volunteer work or a special skill you possess. 

You do not need to speak about your goals or why you want to attend Kellogg. 

Questions 2 & 3: Randomized interview-type questions

For this question, there won’t be a specific prompt you can answer in advance. Instead, you’re going to receive a random behavioral-based question. This question may be focused on your characteristics, or it may allow you to share a professional example that highlights your personality traits. 

The best advice for this section is to think about what it’s asking you and what you can show about yourself, your achievements, and your values.

If the question asks about your favorite book, the admissions committee will get a certain impression of you based on what you choose. If you choose a book that’s all about adventure, we’ll assume that’s important to you. If you choose a book about economics, we’ll assume that’s a key part of your life. 

So think about how you want the admissions committee to learn about you beyond what you’ve already shared in your application. 

If you get a question that’s more like a traditional behavioral interview question, try to draw on examples. Furthermore, make sure to show your human side and demonstrate that you genuinely care for others and want teams you join to succeed. It can be easy to answer in a very conversational way, but doing so can often lead to an answer without a point, so make sure you use your planning time to structure the key elements of your answer. 

Regardless, be careful about what you choose to show here. Keep in mind that Kellogg prefers globally-minded leaders who embrace diversity, so don’t miss an opportunity to reinforce your personal brand and your fit with the school’s values. 

Here is a list of the types of questions you can expect.

  • Tell us about a time you took a risk. What did you learn?
  • If you were a team leader and you had a member of your team who constantly under-delivered, what would you do?
  • Tell us about a time you experienced a professional failure. What did you learn from it?
  • Tell me about a time you worked with a dysfunctional team. How did you manage the situation?
  • Tell us about a conflict you have had with your boss/with a team at work. How did you manage to resolve it?
  • What accomplishment are you proudest of?
  • Tell us about an organization or activity to which you have devoted a significant amount of time. Why was it meaningful to you?
  • What will your classmates be most surprised to learn about you?
  • What is the most challenging aspect of working in an internationally diverse environment?
  • What do you like to do in your free time?
  • Tell us about a time a team member did not “pull his weight” in the team.
  • Who is someone you deeply admire and why?
  • What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received that you also shared with other people?
  • When you have a problem, who do you approach for advice and why?
  • How would your teammates describe you?
  • If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?
  • Tell us about a time you worked with diversity in the workplace.
  • Tell us about a time you contributed to improving a process in your organization.
  • Tell us about a time you solved a problem in a creative way. 
  • Tell us about a time when you faced a conflict on a team that affected its productivity. How did you face it?
  • Tell us about a positive impact that you made. Why was it important to you?
  • Whose leadership style do you admire and why?
TOP TIP : Remember that Kellogg values teamwork-oriented, collaborative individuals. 

Given the importance of the video essay in your Kellogg application, it’s crucial to make sure you don’t just have a good video essay, but that you have a great video essay. 

Now that you’ve learned how the video essay will work, we’ve gathered our top 5 tips here to ensure your video essay performance brings you one step closer to reaching your goal of attending Kellogg. 

You have stressed about every aspect of your Kellogg application, and now you are ready to record your video essay! With the right preparation, this can be your chance to shine and get a highly-coveted spot at Kellogg. 

However, maybe you don’t know where to start in preparing, or maybe you ramble on and lose your focus while answering. Maybe you’ve even downloaded the sample questions and written out your answers. The problem is, when you try to apply these templates to your own story, it doesn’t quite work.

Our video essay prep focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself to Kellogg while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic.

Regardless of where you’re from or what type of experience you have, we are focused on helping you do your best. 

interview prep and practice

Want to put the Ellin Lolis advantage to work for you? Schedule your preparation session with our team of interview experts today! 

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2023-2024 Kellogg MBA Essay Analysis and Tips

Admit expert.

  • August 10, 2023

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.

Kellogg MBA essay analysis and tips

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 2024 admissions

Kellogg mba application deadlines, kellogg mba essay analysis, video essay, other essays, let us help you get into kellogg, written essays.

All applicants are expected to submit the following two essays:

Essay Prompt 1 (450 words)

Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish?

Essay Prompt 2 (450 words)

At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community?

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 Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish? (450 words)

Essay 1 Analysis

This question aims to explore various facets, prompting you to not only discuss your skills but also their evolution, application in challenging situations, effectiveness, and the ultimate outcomes. This comprehensive framework provides a platform to showcase the breadth of skills and talents you offer. By skillfully navigating these elements, you can make efficient use of the word limit and demonstrate to the admissions committee that you embody the qualities of a Kellogg Leader.

How to start writing this essay?

The first thing you should know what qualities Kellogg MBA adcom looks for and use those stories which highlight these qualities.

Some of the qualities Kellogg looks for are:

  • Strong, empathetic leader
  • Thinking outside the box, innovation, problem solving
  • Empathy, creativity, adaptability
  • Community, collaboration
  • High impact, low ego leader
  • Diversity, equitably/inclusion

Now follow this framework to create a structure for the essay 1

  • Start by delving into the concern you identified, providing a clear explanation of its significance and why you felt compelled to address it. Explain the reasons behind your decision to take action.
  • Move on to describing your approach to making a difference. Detail the specific areas where your skillset came into play during the strategic planning process. Showcase how your abilities were crucial in shaping your strategy.
  • Summarize the tangible outcomes that emerged from your strategic efforts, underscoring the positive impact you were able to generate within the community. Highlight the transformative changes that resulted from your actions.
  • Conclude by outlining the valuable insights you gained from this experience. Discuss how these takeaways will inform your future endeavors and demonstrate your commitment to applying these lessons in various contexts. 

Here are a few tips to help this essay

Outline concerns & skills

Before you begin writing the essay, set aside some time to create a list of challenges you’ve faced in both your professional workplace and your community. From this list, choose a particular concern that you personally tackled, demonstrating the full extent of your skill set. Take a deeper look within to understand why this specific skill set was crucial in addressing the issue. This form of mind mapping encourages thoughtful consideration of each aspect, allowing you to discuss them in a coherent and relevant manner within your essay.

Impact and accomplishment

When addressing impact and accomplishments, begin by describing the tangible results or material outcomes that stemmed from your actions. Before delving into your key takeaways, consider discussing these outcomes within the context of the ‘community’ aspect, aligning with the question’s emphasis on leadership and influence within communities. Be it in the boardroom or the neighborhood, emphasize how your skills have been harnessed to enhance the lives of others.

Once you’ve outlined the direct consequences of applying your skills and implementing your strategy, transition into discussing your takeaways. Reflect on the lessons you gained from these experiences and briefly mention how you intend to apply these insights in the future.

It’s beneficial to research and understand the attributes of a Kellogg leader – what qualities the admissions committee is seeking. Aligning your responses with these expectations can strengthen your essay and present you as a candidate embodying the traits they value.

Do you want to impress Kellogg’s Adcom?

At Admit Expert, we have helped hundreds of students get into top MBA programs around the world. We would be happy to help you too. Schedule a free call with us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve your goals.

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At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community? (450 words)

The Kellogg values, often referred to as their ‘purpose,’ are summarized as “To educate, equip, and inspire leaders who build strong organizations and wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value.” Examining this statement in the context of the question reveals their belief in the transformative potential of diverse thought and opinions within leadership. Such diversity can ignite change and drive superior performance compared to organizations led by a homogenous group. This notion resonates with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) practices, where the incorporation of diverse perspectives is believed to drive change, expand the talent pool, enhance financial performance, foster innovation, and facilitate decision-making .

In this context, it becomes crucial to demonstrate your engagement with individuals from various backgrounds, your exposure to international settings, and your experience across different industries. These experiences enrich your perspective, offering a breadth of acquired knowledge and resources that enable you to approach challenges from a novel angle.

In your essay, spotlight the distinctive blend of personal and professional experiences that have broadened your worldview. Emphasize how these encounters have introduced you to fresh ideas, diverse individuals, and new vantage points, enabling you to reevaluate and expand upon your previous understanding.

Tips to write Essay 2 effectively

First follow this framework

  • Begin by introducing the specific personal and professional experiences you’ve chosen to highlight.
  • Elaborate on the valuable insights gained and the skills honed through these experiences.
  • Transition into outlining your strategic approach for applying these learnings and skills within the Kellogg community. Emphasize the distinctive contributions you aim to bring to the table, aligning with Kellogg’s ethos.
  • Conclude by discussing your vision for integrating these takeaways with Kellogg’s values in your post-MBA professional pursuits. Illuminate how you plan to synergize these principles to drive positive change and influence in your future endeavors.

Follow these essay tips

Sort carefully

Given that this essay encompasses both your professional and personal experiences, there’s a wealth of material to navigate. It’s advantageous to categorize both these areas and assess which instances best illustrate your interactions with diverse individuals and situations.

To facilitate this process, consider the following aspects: where, what, who, and how.

  • Where: Reflect on the environments or settings where you encountered diversity. This could be within workplaces, community involvement, travel experiences, or educational contexts.
  • What: Identify the specific encounters or situations that exposed you to diversity. Whether it’s collaborating with internatinal teams, participating in cultural events, or engaging with varied perspectives during projects.
  • Who: Recognize the key individuals who played a role in facilitating these experiences. This could include mentors, colleagues, friends from different backgrounds, or community leaders.
  • How: Analyze how these experiences were facilitated. Was it through networking, volunteering, seeking out opportunities, or participating in cross-cultural initiatives?

By addressing these fundamental questions, you can effectively pinpoint experiences that underscore your takeaways. You can then elaborate on how these insights will contribute to enriching the Kellogg community. This structured approach ensures you highlight the depth and breadth of your exposure and its potential impact on your contribution to the Kellogg environment.

Discuss application

Equally essential is the exploration of how you intend to apply these takeaways and lessons. To ensure a balanced treatment, avoid relegating the latter half of the question to just a few lines. While briefly touching upon your experiences is important, the primary focus should shift towards how you plan to leverage these insights at Kellogg and the unique value you’ll contribute to an equally talented and diverse cohort.

Highlight a range of qualities garnered from your experiences, emphasizing how they enrich your interpersonal and communication skills. These enhanced abilities lead to effective interaction and a personable demeanor, allowing you to adeptly navigate challenging group dynamics. For example, if you’ve acquired proficiency in one or more languages during your personal or professional journey, you could discuss how this linguistic skill fosters deeper connections. Understanding people in their native tongue enables you to build friendships and establish rapport, particularly with individuals from diverse backgrounds. In doing so, you will be able to showcase how your skills align with the Kellogg values.

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.

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.

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.

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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