Kellogg MBA Essay Tips
A. Master of Business Administration applicants only. Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at the Kellogg MBA program. (one to two pages double-spaced)
This is very similar to the Wharton and Chicago why MBA question. As with these schools, be sure to answer each of the questions embedded in this question.
Briefly assess your career progress to date? As always, avoid simply putting your resume into sentence form. Instead, give descriptions of your experiences, tell them why you have made certain career moves, and explain what you learned. Focus on the positive aspects of your career and demonstrate that you applied lessons learned with each step in your path. If you have a few random twists and turns, explain your reasoning for making changes. Finally, note that they want you to be brief here.
Elaborate on your future career plans?
Though they haven’t asked specifically for short and long term goals, you can lay out your plans within that structure. Articulate concrete goals and explain why these goals are meaningful to you. Your career goals should in some way reflect what is important to you (this does not mean they are one and the same, but that there is some correlation).
Your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at the Kellogg MBA program?
Similar to the Stanford, Chicago, and Wharton’s career essays, you must be specific about how the Kellogg MBA program will help you achieve your goals – offer up classes, clubs, etc that will help you. Show that you are ready to make a difference in the Kellogg MBA community.
2. Each of our applicants is unique. Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experiences of other Kellogg MBA students.
(one to two pages double-spaced)
This is very similar to Tuck‘s essay 4, and it’s a great opportunity to show your personality and round out your application. Give colorful and specific examples that don’t out in your other essay responses. Think broadly about who you are, where you’ve come from, and what has shaped your life. Also they have asked you to explain how you will bring these aspects of yourself to the Kellogg MBA program, specifically how will you engage your classmates? They want to see that you will inspire your peers and develop meaningful relationships.
3. How have your past and current leadership experiences prepared you for a Kellogg MBA? What leadership areas are you hoping to develop through your MBA experience? (one to two pages double-spaced)
Similar to the Wharton leadership question, you don’t need to write about work to answer this. In addition to work, consider volunteer experiences or even personal experiences that have required resilience, vision, creativity, and achievement. Think about when you have demonstrated your ability to motivate a group and make things happen. Also be sure to present areas of development that could be addressed through the MBA experience – classes, clubs, etc.
4. Complete 2 of the 3 essays. (two to three double spaced paragraphs for each question).
A. Outside of work I”¦
B. I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me”¦
This two are really open questions, so you can take the opportunity to round out your examples, present a surprising aspect of your background or mitigate a red flag. Show the Kellogg MBA program your self-awareness, resiliency, and passion for living a well-rounded life.
C. Describe the most challenging professional relationship you have faced and how you handled it.
Though this question is asking for a difficult situation, remain positive. Briefly state the conflict, then focus on your actions and the lessons learned.
D. (Required essay for re-applicants only)–Since your previous application, what are the steps you’ve taken to strengthen your candidacy?
Be sure to address personal and professional changes in your life and how this will make you a dynamic student at the Kellogg MBA program.
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