About the Northwestern Kellogg MBA Program
The Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management, founded in 1908, is currently ranked as one of the top three business schools.
With over 65,000 alumni, Kellogg has produced big names in business. Getting accepted into Kellogg School of Management can provide a starting point that can place you in some of the top CEO positions in the country.
So, what does it take to get accepted to this competitive program?
What is Kellogg's MBA Program Looking For?
Kellogg likes to see applicants who are strong, motivated, and collaborative leaders who want to make an impact. Your work experience should show career progression and showcase your business acumen. You should also demonstrate that you are willing to challenge conventional thinking and collaborate to solve global issues.
Kellogg prides itself on a creative and diverse learning environment. You must be able to demonstrate your ability to approach business problems with intellect and energy. Class discussions are very engaging, and the admissions team wants to ensure that applicants will be able to contribute to class and group projects.
Kellogg MBA Class Profile
What does the incoming MBA class at NWU Kellogg typically look like?
- GMAT & GRE: Competitive, with successful candidates typically scoring in the 700+ GMAT range
- Undergraduate GPA: Average around 3.6–3.7
- Professional Experience: Most students have 4–6 years of work experience
- Global & Diverse: Nearly half of the class are women, and students come from dozens of countries and industries
Why Kellogg Stands Out
Kellogg’s culture is built around collaboration, leadership, and experiential learning. Students work closely in teams on projects, case competitions, and global initiatives while developing leadership skills inside and outside the classroom.
The program is renowned for its student-driven community, featuring over 100 clubs, conferences, and leadership opportunities, as well as its strong placement outcomes in consulting, technology, finance, healthcare, and other industries.
With such a competitive admissions environment, we strongly recommend considering using our professional MBA admission consulting services.
Kellogg Application Process
Your application will be evaluated holistically. Here’s a breakdown of the components:
1. Standardized Test Scores (GMAT Focus / GMAT or GRE)
Kellogg accepts the GMAT Focus Edition, the legacy GMAT, or the GRE, with no preference among tests. There is no minimum required score. Submit official results that are valid at the time you apply. For context on the competitive range, review Kellogg’s latest class profile.
Tip: Pick the test that lets you demonstrate your strengths; use your resume and essays to round out quantitative or qualitative gaps.
2. Essays (Written + Video)
Kellogg requires written essays and a short video essay. The written essays invite you to explain your goals, fit with Kellogg, and how your experiences shaped your leadership and collaboration style. The video portion includes several short, timed questions designed to bring your story to life. You’ll receive the video-essay link in your application portal after you submit, and you’ll have a limited window (typically within a few days) to complete it.
- Make it personal: Show authentic motivations, values, and impact, especially around teamwork and leadership.
- Be consistent: Align your message across resume, essays, recommendations, and interviews.
- Show research: Reference Kellogg programs, clubs, courses, and communities you plan to engage with.
3. Interviews (Virtual)
Interviews are conducted virtually and are scheduled by the admissions team during the evaluation period. The interview helps assess your interpersonal and communication skills, career focus, and motivations for Kellogg, while giving you a chance to ask thoughtful questions about the program.
- Prepare a clear resume walkthrough: highlight progression, leadership, and teamwork.
- Answer succinctly: be specific about actions you took and results you drove.
- Stay professional and positive: frame challenges as learning and growth.
4. Recommendations
Kellogg requires two professional recommendations. Ideally, one should come from your current supervisor or manager; the second should be from someone who can credibly assess your performance and leadership potential (e.g., a former supervisor, senior colleague, or client).
- Choose depth over title: prioritize recommenders who can cite specific examples.
- Brief them: share your goals for Kellogg and reminders of projects that show collaboration, leadership, and growth.
- Stick to two: additional letters are neither required nor encouraged.
Final Thoughts
Kellogg prides itself on creating well-rounded managers and leaders. They have eight majors to give students a unique intellectual experience. There are also global travel offerings to equip students to be global leaders.
Kellogg’s experiential learning allows students to learn from one another, as well as from faculty members and corporate partners, to solve critical business issues.
If you are interested in this competitive school, you will need to make your application stand out from the crowd. Find ways to make your personality and goals shine throughout your application.
The Kellogg admissions process can be overwhelming. If you need assistance, Solomon Admissions can provide guidance through the entire process.
Kellogg MBA Application Timeline
Kellogg offers three application rounds for its Full-Time MBA program:
- Round 1: Applications typically due early September
- Round 2: Applications typically due early January
- Round 3: Applications typically due early April
- Decisions are released about 6–8 weeks after each round deadline.
For Evening & Weekend MBA applicants, admissions are offered on a rolling basis with start dates in Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall quarters.
For more information about the Kellogg admissions process, reach out to us via any of the contact options below.