{"id":49251,"date":"2020-07-09T17:37:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T00:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=49251"},"modified":"2020-09-29T12:21:13","modified_gmt":"2020-09-29T19:21:13","slug":"kellogg-mba-essay-tips-and-deadlines-2020-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/kellogg-mba-essay-tips-and-deadlines-2020-21\/","title":{"rendered":"Kellogg MBA Essay Tips and Deadlines: 2020-21"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Kellogg has released its application deadlines and essays for the 2020-21 application season. The essay questions remain unchanged from last year. The first question asks about your leadership experience and the impact made, and the second question asks about your values and motivation in life and work and their influence on you. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Application Deadlines<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n  \n <\/td>\n Application Deadline<\/strong>\n <\/td>\n Decision Released<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Round 1\n <\/td>\n September 16, 2020\n <\/td>\n December 9, 2020\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Round 2\n <\/td>\n January 6, 2021\n <\/td>\n March 24, 2021\n <\/td><\/tr>
\n Round 3\n <\/td>\n April 7, 2021\n <\/td>\n May 12, 2021\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The 2020 MBA application is live now. Applications are due no later than 5 p.m. CT on the\napplication deadline date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If\nyou're an international applicant, Kellogg encourages you to apply in Round 1\nor 2 to allow time for your visa application.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essays<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kate\nSmith, Assistant Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Kellogg advises in her blog post:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"From our conversations with\nstudents, we know that the most challenging trait to demonstrate and evaluate\ncontinues to be leadership<\/strong>. We're looking specifically for\nexamples of spearheading change, striving for excellence or creating a\nlasting impact. We want our students to be the kind of people who aim to\nleave an innovative mark on their companies before and after Kellogg.\"<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is MER's analysis of the essay questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Written\nEssay 1: Kellogg's purpose is to educate, equip & inspire brave leaders who\ncreate lasting value. Tell us about a time you have demonstrated leadership and\ncreated lasting value. What challenges did you face, and what did you learn?\n(450 words)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This\nquestion asks the applicants to recount a leadership experience in which they\nmade a significant impact while overcoming challenges and learning something\nthat helped them in similar situations in the future. Please note the word \"brave\nleaders\" and choose a leadership example in which you stepped outside your\ncomfort zone to guide people around you towards a goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regarding\nexamples of leadership, you may choose stories from your personal or\nprofessional experiences. Make sure that the impact you have made and the value\nyou have created is not only in terms of dollar amounts or percentages but also\nin terms of the challenges faced. The examples can be handling an uncooperative\nteam member, or a supervisor, taking a decision with insufficient information,\nconvincing someone of your innovative ideas, handling a new project, meeting\nstringent deadlines, managing a client's expectations, or resolving the\nconflict between two team members, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  In\nthese exceptional times, when the whole world is dealing with a global health\ncrisis, what actions you took to do your part in helping people that made a difference\nin their lives? Did you take the initiative to make masks or PPE for the\nhospitals,  or did you private tutor kids,\nor got involved with a local NGO to contribute in any way you could, or connected\nwith your alma mater in their virtual efforts to help the underprivileged.  Maybe you stepped up to volunteer in your\ncommunity and helped an old and physically disabled people in your neighborhood\nwith groceries or medicines or took the responsibility of your family as your\nparents have immunity issues. During this ongoing crisis, you can show\nleadership in many different ways. The key is you stepped out of your comfort\nzone at this challenging time, took the reins, and made a difference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As always, we recommend you follow\nthe 4-part STAR framework below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Situation:<\/strong> what was the situation\/ challenge? Who were the people\ninvolved in this situation- players, stakeholders?<\/li>
  2. Task: <\/strong>what you needed to accomplish? What conflict\/ challenges did\nyou encounter?<\/li>
  3. Action<\/strong>: What were the actions you took? Describe this in detail as\nit will become a crucial part of your essay.<\/li>
  4. Result\/\nImpact:<\/strong> What was the outcome of your\nleadership efforts? Were you able to address the situation? What \"lasting\nvalue\" you created? What lessons did you learn?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Since\nthe second part of the essay question asks you to share what the experience\ntaught you, you must explain at length why that experience is meaningful to\nyou, in terms of what you achieved and what you learned about yourself. The\nexperience may have revealed to you your strong attributes, which you might not\nhave been aware of earlier. For example, you might have never known that you\ncould rise to the occasion to contribute to the ongoing crisis, but this complicated\nsituation offered you an opportunity to lead people that yielded great results.\nYou may wrap up the essay with a final note about how you are now applying or\ntrying to apply those lessons in similar situations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You\nmay also use this essay as an opportunity to comment on a leadership position\nyou are interested in holding as a student at Kellogg and add value to the\nKellogg community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kate\nSmith's advice<\/strong>: This question is unchanged. We're\nlooking for those individuals who have found or plan to find unique ways to\ndemonstrate the Kellogg purpose in their careers. As you consider leadership,\nin particular, keep in mind that Kellogg was the school that pioneered the\nteam-based learning model that is now ubiquitous among the top business\nschools. We want all of our students to be able to step up when their teams\nneed them. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Written\nEssay 2: Values are what guide you in your life and work. What values are\nimportant to you, and how have they influenced you? (450 words)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This\nessay requires applicants to do a significant amount of self-reflection to\nunderstand what values and beliefs are meaningful to them. Simply discussing\nvalues that you think will impress the admission committee members will not\nwork here as it is crucial to explain how you have demonstrated those values\/\nbeliefs in your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Also,\nplease don't be tempted to provide a laundry list of values. You may discuss\nonly 2-3 values, and back up your statements with concrete examples from your\nlife (personal or professional). Also, explain how these values have shaped\nyour personality and have influenced your decisions and actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You may wrap up your essay by\nstating how you will enrich the Kellogg community through these values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Kate\nSmith's Advice<\/strong>: Our goal is to uncover what\nmotivates and inspires you. What drives you? How will this make you a\nmeaningful member of the Kellogg community?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Reapplicant Essay:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Since your previous application,\nwhat steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (250 words)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Additional Information Essay:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All applicants have the opportunity\nto provide explanations or clarification in Additional Information. Use this\nsection if you think the person reviewing your application might have a few\nquestions about one or more of your responses. This could include:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This\nis a straightforward re-applicant essay<\/a>. Through this question, the Ad Com would like to know if\nyour need for the Kellogg MBA is as strong as it was last time. Hence you\nshould demonstrate your continued interest in Kellogg by explaining how you\nhave enhanced your application since you applied last time. Focus on the areas\nyou have improved upon since you applied last. Whether you have taken extra\nclasses, boosted your GMAT score, received a promotion, led a new and exciting\nproject, increased your community involvement, taken on a personal challenge, or\narticulated your goals, the key here is to demonstrate that you are now a\nstronger candidate. Your conscious efforts to strengthen your profile and to\nwork on your weak areas will prove how determined you are about your Kellogg\nMBA.<\/p>\n\n\n\n