First get the basic principles right and then move on to the essay tips.

We are glad to note that Kellogg has introduced word length limits instead of page lengths; we are also a little tickled that the approximate word lengths we had recommended last year are exactly the lengths recommended by Kellogg for 2009-2010!

Kellogg Essay 1

A. Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at the Kellogg School. (600 word limit)

Kellogg Essay 1 Tips

The Kellogg admissions committee is extremely interested in EACH part of this flagship application essay question: your past, your future and Kellogg.

Your objective here is to assess and evaluate your career progress while also addressing the relevance of a Kellogg MBA to your future career goals. Describe your career progression, and the reasons that connect Kellogg with your past, present and future. As usual in an MBA "goals essay", if you can establish a logical and credible link between your past, present and future, this Kellogg essay almost writes itself.

Delve into the Pre-Kellogg, Kellogg and Post-Kellogg phases of your career (and life) to explore and reveal your personality to the Kellogg admissions committee in a manner that incites an interview invitation. If you can add a dash of passion as well, you have the recipe for a great essay. Blending key non-career aspects that are relevant to your story will only add to the strength of your application. "Why Kellogg?" (and not any other business school) needs to be explicitly addressed here with application, research and intelligence. Look beyond cutting/pasting info gleaned from the Kellogg website. Personalize your answer as much as possible.

Be realistic and be as specific as you need to be while detailing your Post-Kellogg career goals (both about the industry and the functional role). Find as many matches between what the Kellogg MBA specifically offers you and your future goals. Having said that please remember that perfect links of professional and personal "fit" are acceptable but not at the expense of credibility.

Perhaps if you can convincingly accomplish all of the above you may have got it made.

Kellogg Essay 2

Describe your key leadership experiences and evaluate what leadership areas you hope to develop through your MBA experiences. (600 word limit)

Kellogg Essay 2 Tips

Leadership is the most focused-on single trait that almost all Business Schools look for: Kellogg is no exception. This essay replaces and rephrases the leadership focused question from 2008 & 2009 applications: "How have your past and current leadership experiences prepared you for Kellogg? What leadership areas are you hoping to develop through your MBA experience?"

This is a straightforward essay that calls for an revelation of your leadership qualities. Assemble your most significant leadership experiences till date and portray your leadership capacity in the best light. While you can go back in time in case you want to show leadership progression, do not be stuck way back in time. Try to focus a substantial portion of the essay on recent experiences. If the essay also uncovers your attitude and approach to leadership, the Kellogg adcom will not complain.

You can tackle the second Kellogg link in this essay - what leadership areas are you hoping to develop through your MBA experience - by matching the areas of special focus that Kellogg delivers in aiding leadership development with your own leadership traits/focus-areas that you find improvable.

Kellogg Essay 3

Assume you are evaluating your application from the perspective of a student member of the Kellogg Admissions Committee. Why would your peers select you to become a member of the Kellogg community? (600 word limit)

Kellogg Essay 3 Tips

Each MBA applicant is unique. But every admissions committee hungrily awaits candidates who can actually display that uniqueness in their essays. All MBA essay packages are basically about selling YOU: this Kellogg essay is an explicit expression of that. What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition)? What sets you apart?  Why should Kellogg bother talking to you when there are hundreds of other applicants with a comparable GMAT score or work experience or whatever? What value do you add to the Kellogg class?

A repeat question from previous years 2008/2009 might help: "Each of our applicants is unique. Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experience of other Kellogg students."

To get info for this Kellogg application essay you should not mind knocking at many doors. Now you have a legitimate defense when you bug your friends, peers, spouse for insights to write all those overlong MBA essays! Your friends, colleagues and family are excellent sources for giving you obvious answers which you might have overlooked; but the best source is always going to be the one you see in the mirror. Ask this person about you at work, play and studies to uncover traits, situations, values, distinctions, hobbies, passions and skills that set you apart. In addition to integrating this Kellogg essay with the ones that follow, all you have to do (!) is to portray a convincing picture of a person who can add definite value to Kellogg and the Kellogg student community.

Umm... please read up on Kellogg - the school, student activities, class profile etc. before you write this essay.

Kellogg Essay 4 Complete one of the following three questions or statements. Re-applicants have the option to answer a question from this grouping, but this is not required. (400 word limit)

Kellogg Essay 4a

Describe a time when you had to make an unpopular decision.

Kellogg Essay 4a Tips

Moral courage. Decision making skills. Vision. Communication abilities. Strength of character. Reasoning power.

These are just some of the qualities that you can base this essay on.

For selecting the particular situation/story for the essay, look back to identify professional or personal circumstances in which you found yourself making an unpopular decision which you had good reasons to make. The objective is to describe why and how you went about it and to write in a manner that underlines you as Kellogg-class leadership material. Though this cannot be a fairy tale, please understand that a long-term positive conclusion to the story would help.

Kellogg Essay 4b

b. People may be surprised to learn that I….

Kellogg Essay 4b Tips

Show differences.

Show uniqueness.

Write about a quality, trait or achievement that has not been covered in the other essays. Hobbies, interests or social activities that highlight qualities like leadership, initiative, creativity, innovation, teamwork, courage etc. that make you a strong Kellogg applicant could be chosen. Though we do not have space for rambling stories one or two succinct anecdotes would help the cause.

Beware of overlaps with the other Kellogg essays especially essays 2 and 3.

Kellogg Essay 4c

c. I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me…

Kellogg Essay 4c Tips

Mouth watering stuff! Write on ANYTHING you want to tell the Kellogg admissions committee. Preferably use this essay to traverse an area in your personality or life that has not been covered in the other essays.

Kellogg Reapplicant Essay

Required essay for re-applicants only: Since your previous application, what are the steps you’ve taken to strengthen your candidacy?

Kellogg Reapplicant Essay Tips

They can't be clearer than that. It would make a great difference if you have any objective or subjective feedback from Kellogg about your last application (though I doubt it). Seek out specific areas of critical weaknesses in your last Kellogg application and illustrate how they have been neutralized. Specific achievements - academic, professional or personal - that have occurred after your last Kellogg application should also find a place here.

Go for it!

First get the basic principles right and then move on to the essay tips.

Kellogg Essay 1

A. Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at the Kellogg School. (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Essay 1 Tips

Kellogg wants you to assess and evaluate your career progress in the context of your MBA application. This essay should also address the relevance of a Kellogg MBA for your future career goals. As usual in an MBA goals essay, if you can establish a logical and credible link between your past, present and future, this Kellogg essay almost writes itself. If you can add passion as well, you have the recipe for a great essay. While "why Kellogg" is an important question that needs to be addressed in this essay, blending key non-career aspects that are relevant to your story will only add to the strength of your application.

Kellogg Essay 2

Each of our applicants is unique. Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experience of other Kellogg students. (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Essay 2 Tips

Each MBA applicant is unique. But every admissions committee hungrily awaits candidates who can actually display that uniqueness in their essays. All MBA essay packages are basically about selling YOU: this Kellogg essay is an explicit expression of that. What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition), what makes you different, why should Kellogg bother talking to you when there are hundreds of other applicants with a comparable GMAT score or work experience or whatever?

To get info for this Kellogg application essay you should not mind knocking at many doors. Your friends, colleagues and family are excellent sources for giving you obvious answers which you might have overlooked. But the best source is always going to be the one you see in the mirror. Ask this person about you at work, play and studies to uncover traits, situations, values, distinctions, hobbies, passions and skills that set you apart. In addition to integrating this Kellogg essay with the ones that follow, all you have to do (!) is to portray a convincing picture of a person who can add definite value to Kellogg and the Kellogg student community.

Kellogg Essay 3

How have your past and current leadership experiences prepared you for Kellogg? What leadership areas are you hoping to develop through your MBA experience? (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Essay 3 Tips

A double-edged new essay question from Kellogg.

Leadership is the most focused-on single trait that almost all Business Schools look for: Kellogg is no exception. So we will just assume that the good people at Northwestern University want an even stronger focus on your leadership profile this time.

You can tackle the second Kellogg link in this essay - what leadership areas are you hoping to develop through your MBA experience - by matching the areas of special focus that Kellogg delivers in aiding leadership development with your own leadership traits/focus-areas that you find improvable.

Kellogg Essay 4 Complete two of the following six questions or statements. (Two to three double- spaced paragraphs each)

Kellogg Essay 4 A

Outside of work I…

Kellogg Essay 4 A Tips

Show differences.

Show uniqueness.

Talk about all your hobbies and interests.

Show non-work activities that highlight the qualities that make you a strong Kellogg applicant. These can include, but need not be limited to, leadership, initiative, creativity, innovation, teamwork, courage...

Kellogg Essay 4 B

I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me…

Kellogg Essay 4 B Tips

Mouth watering stuff! Write on ANYTHING you want to tell the Kellogg admissions committee. Use this essay to traverse an area in your personality or life that has not been covered in the other essays.

Kellogg Essay 4 C

Describe the most challenging professional relationship you have faced and how you handled it.

Kellogg Essay 4 C Tips

Read your first draft and ask yourself - does this relationship portray my best interpersonal qualities? If you can show yourself as a mature, intelligent person who can calmly handle tough professional and personal situations, you will win 80% for this essay. Not 100% - that depends on how well you do that.

Kellogg Essay 4 D

Since your previous application, what are the steps you have taken to strengthen your candidacy? Question 4F must be answered by all re-applicants as one of the required two questions.

Kellogg Essay 4 F Tips

They can't be clearer than that. It would make a great difference if you have objective or subjective feedback from Kellogg about your last application. Seek out specific areas of critical weaknesses in your last Kellogg application and illustrate how they have been neutralized. Specific achievements - academic, professional or personal - that have occurred after your last Kellogg application should also find a place here.

Go for it!

First get the basic principles right and then move on to the essay tips.

Kellogg Essay 1

A. Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at the Kellogg School. (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Essay 1 Tips

Kellogg wants you to assess and evaluate your career progress in the context of your MBA application. This essay should also address the relevance of a Kellogg MBA for your future career goals. As usual in an MBA goals essay, if you can establish a logical and credible link between your past, present and future, this Kellogg essay almost writes itself. If you can add passion as well, you have the recipe for a great essay. While "why Kellogg" is an important question that needs to be addressed in this essay, blending key non-career aspects that are relevant to your story will only add to the strength of your application.

Kellogg Essay 2

Each of our applicants is unique. Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experience of other Kellogg students. (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Essay 2 Tips

Each MBA applicant is unique. But every admissions committee hungrily awaits candidates who can actually display that uniqueness in their essays. All MBA essay packages are basically about selling YOU: this Kellogg essay is an explicit expression of that. What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition), what makes you different, why should Kellogg bother talking to you when there are hundreds of other applicants with a comparable GMAT score or work experience or whatever?

To get info for this Kellogg application essay you should not mind knocking at many doors. Your friends, colleagues and family are excellent sources for giving you obvious answers which you might have overlooked. But the best source is always going to be the one you see in the mirror. Ask this person about you at work, play and studies to uncover traits, situations, values, distinctions, hobbies, passions and skills that set you apart. In addition to integrating this Kellogg essay with the ones that follow, all you have to do (!) is to portray a convincing picture of a person who can add definite value to Kellogg and the Kellogg student community.

Kellogg Essay 3

How have your past and current leadership experiences prepared you for Kellogg? What leadership areas are you hoping to develop through your MBA experience? (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Essay 3 Tips

A double-edged new essay question from Kellogg.

Leadership is the most focused-on single trait that almost all Business Schools look for: Kellogg is no exception. So we will just assume that the good people at Northwestern University want an even stronger focus on your leadership profile this time.

You can tackle the second Kellogg link in this essay - what leadership areas are you hoping to develop through your MBA experience - by matching the areas of special focus that Kellogg delivers in aiding leadership development with your own leadership traits/focus-areas that you find improvable.

Kellogg Essay 4 Complete two of the following six questions or statements. (Two to three double- spaced paragraphs each)

Kellogg Essay 4 A

Outside of work I…

Kellogg Essay 4 A Tips

Show differences.

Show uniqueness.

Talk about all your hobbies and interests.

Show non-work activities that highlight the qualities that make you a strong Kellogg applicant. These can include, but need not be limited to, leadership, initiative, creativity, innovation, teamwork, courage...

Kellogg Essay 4 B

I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me…

Kellogg Essay 4 B Tips

Mouth watering stuff! Write on ANYTHING you want to tell the Kellogg admissions committee. Use this essay to traverse an area in your personality or life that has not been covered in the other essays.

Kellogg Essay 4 C

Describe the most challenging professional relationship you have faced and how you handled it.

Kellogg Essay 4 C Tips

Read your first draft and ask yourself - does this relationship portray my best interpersonal qualities? If you can show yourself as a mature, intelligent person who can calmly handle tough professional and personal situations, you will win 80% for this essay. Not 100% - that depends on how well you do that.

Kellogg Essay 4 D

Since your previous application, what are the steps you have taken to strengthen your candidacy? Question 4F must be answered by all re-applicants as one of the required two questions.

Kellogg Essay 4 F Tips

They can't be clearer than that. It would make a great difference if you have objective or subjective feedback from Kellogg about your last application. Seek out specific areas of critical weaknesses in your last Kellogg application and illustrate how they have been neutralized. Specific achievements - academic, professional or personal - that have occurred after your last Kellogg application should also find a place here.

Go for it!

First get the basic principles right and then move on to the essay tips.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 1

A. Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at the Kellogg School. (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 1 Tips

Kellogg wants you to assess and evaluate your career progress in the context of your MBA application. This essay should also address the relevance of a Kellogg MBA for your future career goals. As usual in an MBA goals essay, if you can establish a logical and credible link between your past, present and future, this Kellogg essay almost writes itself. If you can add passion as well, you have the recipe for a great essay. While "why Kellogg" is an important question that needs to be addressed in this essay, blending key non-career aspects that are relevant to your story will only add to the strength of your application.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 2

Each of our applicants is unique. Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experience of other Kellogg students. (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 2 Tips

Each MBA applicant is unique. But every admissions committee hungrily awaits candidates who can actually display that uniqueness in their essays. All MBA essay packages are basically about selling YOU: this Kellogg essay is an explicit expression of that. What is your USP (Unique Selling Proposition), what makes you different, why should Kellogg bother talking to you when there are hundreds of other applicants with a comparable GMAT score or work experience or whatever?

To get info for this Kellogg application essay you should not mind knocking at many doors. Your friends, colleagues and family are excellent sources for giving you obvious answers which you might have overlooked. But the best source is always going to be the one you see in the mirror. Ask this person about you at work, play and studies to uncover traits, situations, values, distinctions, hobbies, passions and skills that set you apart. In addition to integrating this Kellogg essay with the ones that follow, all you have to do (!) is to portray a convincing picture of a person who can add definite value to Kellogg and the Kellogg student community.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 3

You have been selected as a member of the Kellogg Admissions Committee. Please provide a brief evaluative assessment of your file. (One to two pages double-spaced)

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 3 Tips

A favorite with Kellogg and with us.

It is interesting to see what a person does when given power. It is as interesting to see what that person does in a new situation. The structure of the question and it's almost unique nature, make this Kellogg essay worth spending some time on. You will have to use your logical persuasion, communication skills and even acting abilities (donning the role of a Kellogg Admissions Committee member) to get this essay right.

This essays provides excellent opportunities for

a. developing a closely argued case for your admission to Kellogg,

b. addressing critical weakness areas that are obvious in your application,

c. bringing in new perspectives about your recos (or resume) that might not have been possible in the other essays

and, d. demonstrating your powers of objective analysis and honest communication.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 Complete three of the following six questions or statements. (Two to three double- spaced paragraphs each)

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 A

What have been your most significant leadership experiences to date?

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 A Tips

Leadership is the most focused-on single trait that almost all Business Schools look for: Kellogg is no exception. Write about an experience where your leadership made a significant difference. Select an experience based on the extent of your contribution to the team's success and what the story tells about your leadership skills. Choose an experience that not only has been a definite success in the context of team objectives but also helps underline your leadership skills. Choosing an example where you also learnt significantly would make it almost perfect.

The story for this Kellogg essay can go back in time, but should preferably be recent. Yes, you do not have to limit yourself to a single experience. But taking them at their word and listing out all your major leadership experiences (say 4-5) does not seem to be the best course of action.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 B

Describe an ethical dilemma that you faced and how it was resolved.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 B Tips

Read your draft and ask yourself - was that really a situation in which you can feel an ethical dilemma. If you felt that was an ethical dilemma should you be applying to Kellogg or be safely ensconced in a federal penitentiary? Repeat this exercise 2-3 times.

The dilemma you choose should explain your own attitude towards ethics and show the strength of your value system. If you can link the situation with your personal/professional development and possibly show Kellogg how your ethical standards will help you in your chosen career - great!

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 C

Outside of work I…

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 C Tips

Show differences. Show uniqueness.

Show non-work activities that highlight the qualities that make you a strong Kellogg applicant. These can include, but need not be limited to, leadership, initiative, creativity, innovation, teamwork, courage...

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 D

Describe a professional situation where you were able to successfully persuade others to see things your way.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 D Tips

Leadership in a situation where you were not a designated leader. That might be the best approach here. Communication skills, persuasive powers, logical thinking and innovation can all form part of this Kellogg application essay; but leadership, we feel, is the crux.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 E

I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me…

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 E Tips

Mouth watering stuff! Write on ANYTHING you want to tell the Kellogg admissions committee. Use this essay to traverse an area in your personality or life that has not been covered in the other essays.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 F

Since your previous application, what are the steps you have taken to strengthen your candidacy? Question 4F must be answered by all re-applicants as one of the required three questions.

Kellogg Northwestern Essay 4 F Tips

They can't be clearer than that. It would make a great difference if you have objective or subjective (Kellogg's) feedback about your last application. Seek out specific areas of critical weaknesses in your last Kellogg application and illustrate how they have been neutralized. Specific achievements - academic, professional or personal - that have occurred after your last Kellogg application can find a place here.

Go for it!