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admitStreet
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Joined: 14 Mar 2023
Last visit: 20 Nov 2025
Posts: 1,638
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Location: India
Concentration: Strategy, Finance
Schools: HEC Jan 2018 Intake (A$) ISB '19 (A)
WE:Management Consulting (Consulting)
Schools: HEC Jan 2018 Intake (A$) ISB '19 (A)
Posts: 1,638
Kudos: 571
Kellogg MBA Essays 2024-2025: Analysis, Tips & Frameworks for Success 06 Nov 2024, 02:41
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If you're applying to the Kellogg MBA program in 2024/ 2025, crafting compelling essays is essential for showcasing your unique journey and readiness for future challenges.

Kellogg's essays aim to understand your past experiences, future ambitions, and alignment with Kellogg’s values and community.

In this article, we uncover insights on how to approach the Kellogg MBA essay prompts to ensure a comprehensive and impactful application.

Kellogg MBA Essay 1

Question 1: Intentionality is a key aspect of what makes our graduates successful Kellogg leaders. Help us understand your journey by articulating your motivations for pursuing an MBA, the specific goals you aim to achieve, and why you believe now is the right moment. Moreover, share why you feel Kellogg is best suited to serve as a catalyst for your career aspirations and what you will contribute to our community of lifelong learners during your time here. (450 words)

What the AdCom Looks for

The admissions committee seeks to understand the following key aspects through this essay:

  • Self Awareness and Intentionality: Kellogg wants to see that you understand your motivations and goals, as articulating these reflects self awareness and intentionality—crucial traits for effective leadership
  • Interest in Kellogg: The committee looks for evidence of thorough research on Kellogg and genuine interest in its offerings, ensuring that both you and the school are a good fit
  • Potential Contributions: Kellogg is interested in what you will bring to the community, seeking candidates who will enrich the learning environment and actively engage with peers
  • Readiness for Kellogg MBA: The committee wants to ensure that pursuing an MBA makes sense for you at this point in your career and that you are prepared to take full advantage of Kellogg’s opportunities

Kellogg MBA Essay 1 Framework

Follow this structured framework to align your essays with Kellogg’s admissions committee expectations.

Intentionality and Motivation

  • Self Reflection: Reflect on key moments in your personal and professional journey that have motivated you to pursue an MBA
  • Clarity of Purpose: Clearly articulate your reasons for wanting an MBA, including broad motivations (e.g., career advancement) and specific personal motivations (e.g., transitioning industries)

Specific Goals

  • Short Term Goals: Define your immediate post MBA career goals, specifying roles, industries, geographies, or companies
  • Long Term Vision: Describe your long term career aspirations and explain how they connect to your personal values. Discuss how your short term goals will help you achieve your long term vision

Timing

  • Why Now?: Justify why this is the right time for an MBA, considering career progression, personal circumstances, and readiness for new challenges. Identifying a skill gap can serve as a compelling justification for your MBA pursuit.


Fit with Kellogg

  • Kellogg’s Unique Offerings: Research and identify what makes Kellogg unique, such as its curriculum, faculty, culture, and clubs
  • Alignment with Your Goals: Explain how Kellogg’s specific offerings align with your career goals and how they will help you achieve them

Contribution to Kellogg Community

  • Personal Qualities and Experiences: Highlight how you embody qualities valued by Kellogg, such as creativity, collaboration, and empathy
  • Community Engagement: Discuss your plans to engage with and contribute to the Kellogg community, mentioning specific clubs, initiatives, or programs of interest


Kellogg MBA Essay 2

Question 2: Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle challenges everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Describe a specific professional experience where you had to make a difficult decision. Reflecting on this experience, identify the values that guided your decision making process and how it impacted your leadership style. (450 words)

This prompt is a behavioral or situational essay requiring you to narrate a specific professional experience where you faced a difficult decision. The focus is on your thought process, the values influencing it, and its impact on your leadership approach.

What the AdCom Looks for

  • Assessment of Decision Making Ability: The committee wants to understand how you approach challenging professional situations, including the context, complexity, and consequences of your decisions
  • Evaluation of Leadership Potential: They seek insights into your leadership style and values, evaluating if they align with Kellogg’s focus on collaboration, integrity, empathy, and innovation
  • Insight into Personal Growth: Your reflection should reveal how the experience shaped your leadership journey and how you adapt based on these learnings

Kellogg MBA Essay 2 Framework

This framework guides you in crafting a compelling narrative by introducing a specific professional experience, providing context, and stating the values involved.

Step 1: Introduction (Setting the Stage)

  • Introduce specific professional experience
  • Provide context regarding the challenge or decision faced
  • State the critical leadership values relevant in this scenario

Step 2: Description of the Experience

  • Describe the situation in detail, outlining the challenges and complexities
  • Highlight your role and responsibilities
  • Discuss any dilemmas or conflicting priorities that influenced the decision

Step 3: Decision Making Process

  • Articulate the thought process behind your decision
  • Explain the values or principles that guided your choices
  • Discuss strategies used to navigate uncertainties or risks associated with the decision

Step 4: Reflection on Values and Impact

  • Reflect on how chosen values influenced your leadership approach
  • Analyze the outcomes of your decision—both immediate and long term
  • Discuss feedback received or lessons learned from the experience

Step 5: Integration with Leadership Style

  • Connect the experience to your broader leadership journey
  • Explain how this experience shaped or refined your leadership style
  • Discuss adjustments made in subsequent leadership roles based on this experience

Step 6: Conclusion

  • Summarize key lessons learned
  • Reiterate how the experience aligns with Kellogg’s values and your career goals
  • Mention how you envision applying these lessons at Kellogg and beyond

Kellogg MBA Video Essay

The video essay provides a glimpse into your personality beyond your written essays and resume, consisting of three questions crafted to assess your fit with Kellogg’s culture and values.

Logistics and Preparation

  • Timing and Submission: The video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline. Plan accordingly to avoid technical issues
  • Equipment and Setup: Ensure reliable equipment with a webcam and microphone. Set up in a quiet, well lit space
  • Time Allocation: You have 2025 minutes to complete the video essay, with each question typically allowing 12 minutes for response

Strategic Tips for Success

  • Authenticity is Key: Be yourself! Show enthusiasm and passion for your experiences
  • Structure Your Responses: Have a general structure for your answers to cover all aspects within the time limit
  • Showcase Your Fit with Kellogg: Research Kellogg’s values and tailor your responses to demonstrate alignment with its culture
  • Practice, Practice, Practice: Utilize practice questions or mock interviews and rehearse with friends or family to boost confidence
  • Technical Considerations: Familiarize yourself with the recording and submission process to avoid issues

Final Thoughts

Crafting your Kellogg MBA essays requires thoughtful reflection and strategic storytelling.

By approaching these prompts with clarity and authenticity, you can effectively convey why you belong at Kellogg and how you will contribute to its vibrant community.

If you're looking for highly personalized support on your B-school application journey, feel free to reach out for a deeper chat.

Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com