Tips for applying to Kellogg – Part 5

Applying to business school is a commitment. You will devote hours to test prep, drafting and redrafting essays, practicing for interviews, perusing websites and visiting campuses.

We get lots of questions about how applicants can make their application stand out, so this week, we are sharing suggestions on how you can help distinguish yourself and express why Kellogg is the right school for you. 

TODAY’S TOPIC: THE INTERVIEW 

ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Test scores, essays, letters of recommendation, video essays

Since we offer both on-campus and off-campus interviews, many applicants wonder if there is an advantage to doing one over the other.

The honest answer is no: All interviews are evaluated the same way, so you should choose whatever works best for your schedule.

The interview is your opportunity to highlight aspects of your story that you believe are most important and to let us know about anything you weren’t able to address in the application. Whoever interviews you will not have seen your application — just your resume — so be sure to provide context and background for him or her. We won’t ask you to solve any business cases or tough quant questions, so you can relax and enjoy the conversation! We really want to hear why you believe Kellogg is the right school for you and how you will contribute to our community.

How Kellogg applicants are assessed – Part 5

When Kellogg admissions officers review an application, they evaluate potential students based on six categories. Here, Melissa Rapp, director of admissions for Kellogg’s Full-Time MBA Programs, demystifies what happens once you submit your materials and helps you think about how to craft the story that will help the Admissions team learn more about you. 

TODAY’S TOPIC: IMPACT 

ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Work experience, Intellectual ability, Professional goals, Leadership

Our team understands how demanding a career can be, but pursuing interests outside the office helps maintain a balanced and engaged life. Our Admissions committee wants to understand what fulfills applicants outside of work and how they’ve made an impact within an organization or a community that matters to them. In the United States, we think of this as “extracurricular activity,” but it applies all over the globe.

What matters here is quality of experience over quantity; two years of involvement with one activity means a lot more than eight brief commitments in eight different places. We like to see our applicants involved with something they’re truly passionate about.

How I built and scaled my tech startup at Kellogg

“Jared, are you still alive?”

My classmates often ask me this question in this jest because I am the typical Kellogg School student entrepreneur: an entrepreneur that eats, sleeps and breathes his startup, while still juggling the rigors of Kellogg’s academics and extracurriculars.

Being an entrepreneur at Kellogg is a challenging journey that many people will never truly understand, but at the same time, it is a journey that can be incredibly rewarding if done right.

I am the CEO of eRetirements, a tech startup that provides user-friendly, personalized retirement location information for soon-to-be retirees.

The inspiration for my startup came in March 2015 when my parents called me to complain about their “dream” retirement location. When my friends asked me what resources my parents used to select their location, I explained that they didn’t use any.

When I spoke with other retirees, I learned that a comprehensive resource for retirement location planning did not exist. I knew then that I had to solve this problem by creating eRetirements, an online tool that that offers tailored relocation recommendations for retirees.

Tips for applying to Kellogg – Part 4

Applying to business school is a commitment. You will devote hours to test prep, drafting and redrafting essays, practicing for interviews, perusing websites and visiting campuses.

We get lots of questions about how applicants can make their application stand out, so this week, we are sharing suggestions on how you can help distinguish yourself and express why Kellogg is the right school for you. 

TODAY’S TOPIC: VIDEO ESSAYS 

ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Test scores, essays, letters of recommendation

Don’t stress too much about the video essay. It’s meant to be personal and authentic. If you’ve ever used Skype or Facetime, it will feel familiar and easy.

We will start by asking you one icebreaker question with no “right answer” to help us get to know you.

Want an example? Here’s one: If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be and why? See, not so hard.

The second question will be about Kellogg.  And to make this even less mysterious, we are going to give you the question.  Seriously. Here it is: What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there and why is this program right for you?

How Kellogg applicants are assessed – Part 4

When Kellogg admissions officers review an application, they evaluate potential students based on six categories. Here, Melissa Rapp, director of admissions for Kellogg’s Full-Time MBA Programs, demystifies what happens once you submit your materials and helps you think about how to craft the story that will help the Admissions team learn more about you. 

TODAY’S TOPIC: LEADERSHIP 

ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Work experience, Intellectual ability, Professional goals 

Many people pursue an MBA to gain experience and improve their management and leadership skills. The Kellogg Admissions team is looking for both demonstrated leadership in the past and an applicant’s leadership potential.

It is important to note that leadership experience means different things for different types of candidates. For example, someone with a military background will present different accomplishments than someone with a few years as a junior analyst or a teacher. What showcases your leadership is going to depend on the path that you’ve taken and the organizations that you’ve been a part of – and we take both into account when assessing applicants.

Tips for applying to Kellogg – Part 3

Applying to business school is a commitment. You will devote hours to test prep, drafting and redrafting essays, practicing for interviews, perusing websites and visiting campuses.

We get lots of questions about how applicants can make their application stand out, so this week, we are sharing suggestions on how you can help distinguish yourself and express why Kellogg is the right school for you. 

TODAY’S TOPIC: LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Test scores, essays

When it comes to letters of recommendation, many applicants wonder about who they should ask. The admissions committee is most interested in someone who knows you and your work experience, regardless of title or prior connection to Kellogg. A supervisor who understands your daily contributions could have more valuable insight for us than a Kellogg alum who is less familiar with your work.

It’s a good idea to talk to your recommender about why you’re interested in Kellogg and how you want your Kellogg MBA to further your career goals, but it’s even more important to allow them to provide their own opinions and write the recommendation themselves.

How Kellogg applicants are assessed – Part 3

When Kellogg admissions officers review an application, they evaluate potential students based on six categories. Here, Melissa Rapp, director of admissions for Kellogg’s Full-Time MBA Programs, demystifies what happens once you submit your materials and helps you think about how to craft the story that will help the Admissions team learn more about you. 

TODAY’S TOPIC: PROFESSIONAL GOALS

ADDITIONAL TOPICS: Work experience, Intellectual ability

Ask any alum, and he or she will tell you that Kellogg was a pivotal point in his or her career. That’s why our Admissions team is interested in learning about your professional experiences and goals; by outlining your professional goals, you help us understand how a Kellogg MBA will bridge your past and future together.

Since there many different candidates drawn to Kellogg, your reason for pursuing an MBA will be unique. Some applicants have a specific idea of how an MBA will help them grow within an industry they already know; others want to pursue a significant career pivot, while still others have more general long-term goals and are open to multiple paths that might take them there. All of these reasons for pursuing an MBA are totally acceptable — just be sure that you can articulate your goals throughout the application.