SBCErikaOlson wrote:
Hi there -
Just wanted to share some intel on this new tactic Kellogg is taking this year. Our understanding is that Kellogg is trying to make the experience more personal -- having current students reach out to applicants, holding lunches and dinners, etc -- because they have realized that since they hold rolling interviews with alumni across the world, it could be up to a few months between when an applicant submits his/her materials and when they next hear from the school. They're trying to break up that period of relative silence with these new efforts.
Unfortunately, however, it definitely seems to be giving some applicants false hope. I had someone in Round 1 who had a current student contact him who had a similar background and was the head of a club my client was interested in, AND my client was invited to a dinner. But then my client was not admitted and felt like he had been misled and was pretty angry about it. (Don't worry, he did end up at another top program -- but still.)
So while I think you can definitely take these events as an opportunity to learn more about Kellogg, I wouldn't read much into it or get your hopes up.
Hope that helps!
Thanks, Erika. Interesting take, and we certainly appreciate it. I haven't heard from them since late December (waived interview), so I can appreciate them wanting to reach out to individuals. I do have increased suspicion when individuals, who have interviewed, get invites to these events or individuals from extremely large cities get interview waivers.
Are we truly supposed to believe that interviews and events are separate from the application review process? I'll defer to you on this.