Kellogg 2012 - Calling All Applicants

I'm in Evanston right now as I came to campus for Kellogg's Diversity Preview Weekend. I just completed my on-campus interview yesterday. It was with a 1st year student. Here are some of the questions that I was asked (a bit out of order):

1) Walk me through your resume
2) Describe a typical day at work
3) What is your experience working in teams
4) What would the people who work with you say is a strength of having you on the team and a disadvantage. (my answer to this question led into the next one)
5) How do you think this weakness affects your ability to lead
6) What is your leadership style?
7) Why Kellogg?
8) What are your goals?
9) How would you contribute to the Kellogg community?
10) Tell me about your ECs
11) Is there anything in your application you'd like to address during this interview?
12) Any questions for me?

The interview lasted about 35 minutes and was very conversational. I prepared for the interview by making notes for all of the typical interview questions (resume walk-through, why Kellogg, goals, why MBA, why now? etc.). I also prepared 4-5 stories that could fit for multiple types of questions. I tried rehearsing aloud by myself but that was a hot mess. For the Diversity Preview Weekend I roomed with another perspective student who had already done her interview so she ran me through the questions so I could have some practice speaking my answers. This helped SO much. I recommend rounding up interview questions from this forum and doing a mock interview with a friend. It really calmed my nerves and boosted my confidence for the interview.

Kellogg Diversity Preview Weekend was GREAT!! We had a ton of interaction with current Kellogg students, had 2 mock classes (would have preferred to sit in on one actual class though), got fed some really good food (the cafeteria in the Allen Center has a freakin' cheese bar!), went to TG, got insight into how applications are reviewed and more. The prospective students were very cool and we all had a blast hanging out together. Kellogg was the first school I visited where I looked around at all of the perspectives and thought to myself, "I'd love to go to school with these people." I also met some fellow gmatclubbers! Hi mbalady, kannyg, and DR2012! I tried to find Jacksparrow, but I couldn't figure out who he was.

I was a bit nervous about visiting this weekend. I submitted my app and hadn't yet visited so it would have really sucked if I wound up feeling like Kellogg wasn't the place for me. Thankfully, my worries were unfounded. Kellogg is a school I would love to attend. Just checked online and my application status is complete. All that's left to do is wait for a decision. Now I can spend the next 44 days obsessing about getting in. FUN!!!

Have you had your interview? Interviews are self-initiated. If you have completed your interview then the only thing left to do is wait. Decisions won't be released until December.

No, I haven't had my interview yet...I requested for an off campus interview...

No, I haven't had my interview yet...I requested for an off campus interview...

Is 30-35 minutes about the norm? Seems so short to cover so much. I have my interview on Friday and trying to prep how long/detailed my responses should be. Especially the "Walk me through your resume" since there is so much information there.

Guys, any news on the timing of the final decision for R1?

Decision is to be rendered by Dec 19, 2012 according to the Kellogg website [https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Programs/FullTimeMBA/Applying/Deadlines-2012.aspx]

And to make matters a tad bit more alarming, I just got my waiver email. Hard luck cos even if they do shortlist me after reading my app, I'd have to do a telecon interview with the Adcom, which is always the less preferred option to meeting an alum.

Yes, Omnivorous. I interviewed ftf and got dinged last year. Kellogg refused feedback but I reached out to my alum who said he was surprised.

And to make matters a tad bit more alarming, I just got my waiver email. Hard luck cos even if they do shortlist me after reading my app, I'd have to do a telecon interview with the Adcom, which is always the less preferred option to meeting an alum.

Both interview formats have their pros and cons, I think alum interview > telecon with adcom cos:


1. Personal element: You have greater scope of judging how its going, gauge reactions etc which you obviously cant on the phone. Thereby you can exercise greater control over the interview. I have heard of instances of where adcom has merely asked their quota of questions and spent the rest of the time taking notes. Alum interviews are be more personalized, hence perhaps more influential.

2. Time Mgmt: They are typically longer and more flexible. Alum interviews are usually 40-60 mins, Adcom typically is 25-30 mins [from what I know of]. Thus greater scope of mentioning more details [as long as its got positive impact].

Again, these are just my thoughts..