northwestern mba video essay

• Northwestern Kellogg School of Management Essay Tips and Examples

July 19, 2023

Jeremy Shinewald

Northwestern Kellogg 2023–2024 Essay Tips

Required essay 1: kellogg leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. which skills did you use what did you accomplish (450 words) .

Challenges and obstacles can be powerful learning opportunities. Kellogg wants to learn three primary things here: (1) what are some of the key skills and strengths you already possess, (2) how do you apply them and use them synergistically, and (3) how do you act (and react) in situations that do not go as planned. You of course want to convey that you are not easily discouraged by setbacks and instead use them as learning tools or stepping-stones on your path forward.

For this essay, you could discuss a one-time occurrence or an ongoing issue that you deal with regularly (and have learned to “overcome” when it arises). And because the school does not stipulate that the challenge you share be strictly professional or personal, you should consider every possible option you have from the various facets of your life—your workplace, academic background, family, personal life, community engagements, and so on. Also, the problem could be something you faced alone or as part (or leader) of a group. We recommend using a narrative approach to present your story, but in addition to clearly explaining how you approached and prevailed over the challenge at hand, ensure that you detail the inner workings of your decision making—the thought process and motivation(s) behind your actions. This way, the admissions committee will get a clear impression not only of what you accomplished but also of the abilities and aspects of your character that enabled your success. And be sure to not focus solely on one skill; the prompt specifically notes “a combination of skills,” so you will need to describe a situation in which you drew from different areas and capabilities to create synergy.  

With just 450 words for this essay, you have limited space, but if you can work it in easily, consider mentioning a skill that you could gain at Kellogg that would have made your experience easier or somehow more successful. Similarly, Kellogg does not specifically ask you to explain what you learned from the experience, but if word count allows enough for you to include this element in your essay, we would encourage you to do so. This would demonstrate to the admissions committee an advanced level of self-awareness and highlight your ability to learn from obstacles, rather than be daunted by them. 

One final note: do not be afraid to reveal a weakness or error on your part. Although this is not a “failure” essay, if your own actions helped create the problem or you failed to see the obstacle right before you (and should have), you should not shy away from an honest discussion of your responsibility. Such incidents are usually very effective learning opportunities and could therefore make for a compelling essay.

Required Essay 2: At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community? (450 words)

At its core, this is a kind of diversity, equity, and inclusion essay, which many top schools are introducing this year (if they did not already have one). Kellogg is directly stating its belief that when people who represent a diversity of experiences, viewpoints, and capabilities work together, the results are better than those produced by teams of individuals who are more similar than different. The admissions committee is not asking you to comment on this part of the prompt specifically, though, but rather to keep it in mind when formulating your response. Your job with this essay is to convey the special attributes you possess that would be additive to the Kellogg learning environment and community by describing the situations and circumstances that have helped you develop them. Although your personal background, strengths, and abilities might overlap with those of other Kellogg applicants in some way, you can differentiate yourself here via the stories you choose to illustrate them. 

A good way to start identifying your best options for this essay is by making a list of things you believe are notable about you and that would be helpful to have in an MBA environment and then pinpointing the experiences you have had that engendered these qualities. As the prompt notes, you can draw from both your career and your personal life. Look for and especially consider experiences from your past that not only allow you to discuss your strengths and standout characteristics but also involve situations in which you worked with or alongside individuals who were different from you. If you can show the admissions committee concrete evidence that you know how to collaborate and communicate effectively with diverse coworkers, clients, and/or team members, your essay will be even more powerful. 

You will then need to demonstrate both self-awareness and a thorough understanding of the Kellogg MBA experience by drawing connections between (1) what you have done and who you are and (2) what you can subsequently provide at the school as a member of its community. To do this effectively, you will need to truly familiarize yourself in depth with what the Kellogg MBA experience is like. Go beyond the school’s website and published materials and connect directly with students, alumni, and other people who can provide firsthand, insider knowledge. Absolutely visit campus if at all possible, and sit in on a class. Read news articles about the school as well as student blogs, check out Kellogg’s YouTube channel , and, if offered, attend admissions events in your area. As you do all this research, look for places where your skills, strengths, and personality would not just fit but also contribute in some way. You want to make sure that in your essay, you are not merely showcasing traits, events, and achievements that you think are interesting or singular. They also need to clearly fit with Kellogg specifically. 

To further familiarize yourself with the Kellogg program and get an insider’s perspective on its academic program, unique offerings, social life, and other key characteristics, be sure to download a complimentary copy of the  mbaMission Insider’s Guide to the Kellogg School of Management .

Reapplicants: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words) 

Whether you have improved your academic record, received a promotion, begun a new and exciting project, increased your community involvement, or taken on some sort of personal challenge, the key to success with this essay is conveying a very deliberate path of achievement. Kellogg wants to know that you have been actively striving to improve yourself and your profile, and that you have seized opportunities during the previous year to do so, because a Kellogg MBA is vital to you. The responses to this essay question will vary greatly from one candidate to the next, because each person’s needs and experiences differ. We are more than happy to provide one-on-one assistance with this highly personal essay to ensure that your efforts over the past year are presented in the best light possible.

Additional Information: We know that life is full of extenuating circumstances. Whether you want to explain gaps in work experience, your choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance or something else, you can use this section to briefly tell us anything we need to know about your application. (280 words) 

However tempted you might be, this is not the place to paste in a strong essay you wrote for another school or to offer a few anecdotes that you were unable to incorporate into any of your other essays. Instead, this is your opportunity, if needed, to address any questions an admissions officer might have about your candidacy. We encourage you to download our free  mbaMission Optional Essays Guide , in which we offer detailed advice on when and how to take advantage of the optional essay, along with multiple sample essays, to help you mitigate any problem areas in your profile.

Video Essays: We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

We find these videos to be a great opportunity for you to tell us more about your story, experiences and why kellogg is the right place for you., here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:, video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline., a video essay link will appear on your application status page after you submit your application and payment., you will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone, the video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup., after submitting your application and payment, you will be able to access the video essay through your application status page., here are some additional tips:, there are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. the practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, so this is meant to be a useful tool to help you feel prepared., we encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. you will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions., you will have 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response..

During a Q&A session at a past mbaMission annual conference, a Kellogg admissions representative explained that the school’s video component sprang from the admissions committee’s desire to actually see and hear the applicants they were evaluating. Given that Kellogg’s interviews are conducted by alumni, the video is the committee’s only “live” interaction with candidates. Keep this in mind as you tackle this segment of the application, and make being authentic and natural your primary goal. Kellogg is not looking for the next viral TED Talk presenter or late-night TV host. They just want to get to know you as a unique individual who may one day join its community. 

So, start by taking a deep breath. We understand that these video essays can make you feel like you are being put on the spot, but Kellogg is really not trying to scare you. The admissions committee simply wants a more dynamic representation of your personality than a written essay can provide. You cannot answer any of the school’s video questions incorrectly, so do not concern yourself with trying to give the “right” answer. Just respond to each query honestly, as smoothly as you can (despite any nervousness you may be feeling), and be yourself. 

In the past, Kellogg has provided the questions applicants would encounter in the application’s video segment, but this year (at least at the time this post was written), the specific questions posed are unknown. Do not let this panic you. The core reason for this component is still to put a face to a name for the admissions committee and to see how you communicate and conduct yourself when questioned in this way (very similar to how you will eventually be interviewed by recruiters as a Kellogg student). Not knowing the questions beforehand just ensures a higher level of spontaneity and therefore authenticity. We would not be surprised to learn later that candidates were asked similar questions to those posed in the past, which focused on introducing oneself, one’s career goals, one’s interest in the Kellogg MBA program, and a challenge one has faced—pretty basic stuff for an MBA admissions interview, really. 

Remember to speak with energy and enthusiasm. You are trying to connect with others, so charisma is welcome, and a little less rigid and traditionally “professional” demeanor is okay. Forego any fancy or dramatic tactics, and just be as natural and authentic as possible. As they say, you only have one chance to make a first impression, so dedicate some time to prepping (just in case) to ensure that your introduction is engaging, substantive, and true to who you are. 

Even though you do not know exactly what you will be asked, you can still practice and prepare to some extent. We encourage you to download a free copy of the mbaMission Interview Guide , which includes a list of 100 common MBA interview questions that you can use in getting comfortable with responding to the types of queries you will likely encounter for these videos. And even though this is not an official Kellogg interview, our school-specific Northwestern Kellogg Interview Guide could still be a helpful resource. One minute is not very long, so run through several practice sessions—perhaps in front of a mirror—to get a sense of how quickly those 60 seconds will pass when you are in front of the camera. Although you can prepare as much as you want, you get only one chance at the recording. If you stumble while answering or ultimately are unhappy with your answer, unfortunately, you cannot do anything about it. You will not be able to rerecord your responses or try again another time. This might make you nervous, but we encourage you to view the situation a little differently. Kellogg wants to get to know the  authentic  you through these video essays. If you fumble for words or lose your train of thought, just laugh or shrug and continue with your response. Accepting a mistake with a sense of humor and grace will give the admissions committee a more positive and natural impression of your personality than rigid scripting and overpreparation ever could.

The Next Step: Mastering Your Kellogg Interview

Many MBA candidates find admissions interviews stressful and intimidating, but mastering this important element of the application process is definitely possible—the key is informed preparation. And to help you develop this high level of preparation, we offer our   free Interview Guides ! Download your free copy of the   Northwestern Kellogg Interview Guide  t oday.

To learn more about the essays for other top business schools, visit our  MBA Essay Tips and Examples Resources Page .

2023-2024 Business School Essays MBA Essay Tips Northwestern University (Kellogg)

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2023–2024 MBA Essay Tips

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MBA Program Updates

• Berkeley-Haas
• Boston University (Questrom)
• Cambridge Judge Business School
• Carnegie Mellon University (Tepper)
• Columbia University (Columbia Business School)
• Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
• Cornell University (Johnson)
• Dartmouth College (Tuck)
• Duke University (Fuqua)
• Emory University (Goizueta)
• George Washington University (GWSB)
• Georgetown University (McDonough)
• Harvard University (Harvard Business School)
• IE Business School
• IESE Business School
• Indian School of Business
• Indiana University (Kelley)
• Ivey Business School
• London Business School
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)
• New York University (Stern)
• Northwestern University (Kellogg)
• Notre Dame (Mendoza)
• Ohio State University (Fisher College)
• Oxford University (Saïd Business School)
• Penn State Smeal College of Business
• Rotman School of Management
• Saïd Business School
• Southern Methodist University (Cox School of Business)
• Stanford University (Stanford Graduate School of Business)
• University of California Los Angeles (Anderson)
• University of Cambridge (Judge)
• University of Chicago (Booth)
• University of London (London Business School)
• University of Michigan (Ross)
• University of North Carolina (Kenan-Flagler)
• University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
• University of Southern California (Marshall)
• University of Texas at Austin (McCombs)
• University of Virginia (Darden)
• Vanderbilt University (Owen)
• Villanova School of Business
• Yale University (School of Management)

How to Successfully Complete the Kellogg Video Essay

Sep 14, 2023

Why does Kellogg require a video essay?

How does the kellogg video essay work, which types of questions are asked, the difference between a good and great video essay, make sure you get into kellogg.

UPDATE : This article was originally posted on September 16, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below! 

With its Global Hub, Kellogg of Management at Northwestern University has reinforced itself as a haven for collaboratively-minded leaders. However, if you want to experience the Global Hub for yourself, you’ve got quite the road ahead, as Kellogg is one of the world’s most elite, competitive business schools.

Despite this fact, many applicants dedicate countless hours to writing Kellogg’s admissions essays and then rush through the video essay component. 

This is a huge mistake. 

In addition to giving the admissions committee the chance to “put a face with a name,” the video essay is an essential part of the Kellogg application, as it allows committee members to determine if your communication style and values are a good fit with the Kellogg community. 

In fact, in our experience helping our Kellogg applicants secure a place at the school, we have noticed that the video essay can be as influential in an applicant’s admissions decision as the admissions interview . 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you understand how the Kellogg video essay works and have shared a list of Kellogg video essay questions to ensure you put your best foot forward! 

When we first started working with Kellogg applicants many years ago, the video essay component had not yet been introduced. However, since its launch in 2013, the video essay has quickly become a critical part of the application. 

That’s because it gives the admissions committee the chance to truly “meet” candidates — as well as identify red flags in potential members of the Kellogg community. 

According to Kellogg’s admissions committee, 

“The Video Essays provide applicants with an additional opportunity to demonstrate what they will bring to our vibrant Kellogg community – in an interactive way. Each applicant will complete two short video essay questions. The questions are designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper.” 

They also give applicants this advice:

With that in mind, it’s extremely important to make sure you fully understand this component of the application. 

The way the video essay works is very simple. 

After submitting your application, you will receive an email from a company called Kira Talent. This email will contain a link that allows you to access the video essay platform. 

After signing in and starting the session, you will get three Kellogg video essay questions in total, one at a time. After receiving the questions, you will have 20 seconds to think and then 1 minute to answer. There are no opportunities to redo the question, and you only get one chance to speak and provide your answer.

Unlike previous years, where some of the questions applicants received were random, Kellogg has pre-announced the three questions you will need to answer this year. We’ll go more into detail about the types of questions you can expect below. 

If you’ve taken the TOEFL exam , you’ve already practiced for the type of format you can expect in the Kellogg video essay! 

After signing in and “starting” the session, a video will appear on the screen. This video will show a member of the Kellogg community, who will read the question you are tasked with answering. The question will also appear in written form under the video. 

After the time runs out, the screen video will disappear and your image will be visible on the screen. At this point, your 20 seconds to think will automatically appear. 

After the preparation time runs out, the clock to answer (60 seconds!) will start, and you will need to give your answer during this period of time. Remember: you cannot redo any of the questions.

After you answer the question, the system will upload your answer to the server (depending on your connection this can take a while) and will present you with the next question. 

DO NOT leave your computer during the upload time , even if it’s taking a while. You cannot pause the process, and you may end up missing questions!

Technical requirements

Given past applicants’ issues with iPad and mobile versions of the application, we strongly suggest you record your answer on a computer . 

If you do end up experiencing technical issues, access the support page here . 

Regardless of when you submit your application, you need to submit your video essay response no more than 96 hours after the round’s deadline . Find Kellogg’s most current application deadlines here . 

If you submit your application early, you can submit your responses to Kellogg’s video essay questions at any time, as long as you make the final deadline.  

The Kellogg video essay questions are grouped into three different categories, each with a different focus. 

Question 1: Introduce Yourself

The first question Kellogg asks gives you the chance to share who you are beyond your CV and admissions essays. 

“ Please introduce yourself and tell us something that is not on your CV that you want us to know about you.” Consider this your opportunity to share what you would want your future Kellogg classmates and our admissions committee to know about you. What makes you, you?”

Despite the innocent-seeming question, be careful about what you choose to show here. Keep in mind that Kellogg prefers community-focused, growth-minded leaders, so don’t miss an opportunity to reinforce your personal brand and your fit with the school’s values. You should also focus on reinforcing elements of your profile that you might not have had a chance to explain elsewhere, such as volunteer work or a special skill you possess. 

You do not need to speak about your goals or why you want to attend Kellogg. 

Questions 2 & 3: Randomized interview-type questions

For this question, there won’t be a specific prompt you can answer in advance. Instead, you’re going to receive a random behavioral-based question. This question may be focused on your characteristics, or it may allow you to share a professional example that highlights your personality traits. 

The best advice for this section is to think about what it’s asking you and what you can show about yourself, your achievements, and your values.

If the question asks about your favorite book, the admissions committee will get a certain impression of you based on what you choose. If you choose a book that’s all about adventure, we’ll assume that’s important to you. If you choose a book about economics, we’ll assume that’s a key part of your life. 

So think about how you want the admissions committee to learn about you beyond what you’ve already shared in your application. 

If you get a question that’s more like a traditional behavioral interview question, try to draw on examples. Furthermore, make sure to show your human side and demonstrate that you genuinely care for others and want teams you join to succeed. It can be easy to answer in a very conversational way, but doing so can often lead to an answer without a point, so make sure you use your planning time to structure the key elements of your answer. 

Regardless, be careful about what you choose to show here. Keep in mind that Kellogg prefers globally-minded leaders who embrace diversity, so don’t miss an opportunity to reinforce your personal brand and your fit with the school’s values. 

Here is a list of the types of questions you can expect.

• Tell us about a time you took a risk. What did you learn?
• If you were a team leader and you had a member of your team who constantly under-delivered, what would you do?
• Tell us about a time you experienced a professional failure. What did you learn from it?
• Tell me about a time you worked with a dysfunctional team. How did you manage the situation?
• Tell us about a conflict you have had with your boss/with a team at work. How did you manage to resolve it?
• What accomplishment are you proudest of?
• Tell us about an organization or activity to which you have devoted a significant amount of time. Why was it meaningful to you?
• What will your classmates be most surprised to learn about you?
• What is the most challenging aspect of working in an internationally diverse environment?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• Tell us about a time a team member did not “pull his weight” in the team.
• Who is someone you deeply admire and why?
• What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received that you also shared with other people?
• When you have a problem, who do you approach for advice and why?
• How would your teammates describe you?
• If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be and why?
• Tell us about a time you worked with diversity in the workplace.
• Tell us about a time you contributed to improving a process in your organization.
• Tell us about a time you solved a problem in a creative way. 
• Tell us about a time when you faced a conflict on a team that affected its productivity. How did you face it?
• Tell us about a positive impact that you made. Why was it important to you?
• Whose leadership style do you admire and why?

TOP TIP : Remember that Kellogg values teamwork-oriented, collaborative individuals. 

Given the importance of the video essay in your Kellogg application, it’s crucial to make sure you don’t just have a good video essay, but that you have a great video essay. 

Now that you’ve learned how the video essay will work, we’ve gathered our top 5 tips here to ensure your video essay performance brings you one step closer to reaching your goal of attending Kellogg. 

You have stressed about every aspect of your Kellogg application, and now you are ready to record your video essay! With the right preparation, this can be your chance to shine and get a highly-coveted spot at Kellogg. 

However, maybe you don’t know where to start in preparing, or maybe you ramble on and lose your focus while answering. Maybe you’ve even downloaded the sample questions and written out your answers. The problem is, when you try to apply these templates to your own story, it doesn’t quite work.

Our video essay prep focuses on helping you determine how to present yourself to Kellogg while using appropriate, impact-driven language without being artificial, or worse, robotic.

Regardless of where you’re from or what type of experience you have, we are focused on helping you do your best. 

Want to put the Ellin Lolis advantage to work for you? Schedule your preparation session with our team of interview experts today! 

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Tips for Your Northwestern Kellogg Application Essays 

July 17, 2023

Donna Bauman

Northwestern Kellogg Application Essay Tips, 2023-2024

• R1 Deadline: September 13, 2023
• R2 Deadline: January 10, 2024
• R3 Deadline: April 3, 2024

Kellogg’s essays for the upcoming admissions season represent a fresh update and yet remain consistent with the school’s philosophy of valuing collaborative leadership. These questions will challenge applicants to think one level deeper about the different layers related to leadership and creating impact. Rest assured, however, that Kellogg is still looking for high-impact, low-ego leaders—“the kind of people who elevate the level of everyone in the room without making it all about them”—to loosely quote a former Kellogg admissions staffer when describing how they think about the program’s ideal applicants. 

Consistent with Kellogg’s tradition to holistically review all applicants, the admissions committee has both written essay questions and video response essays to gain as complete a picture of an applicant as possible. Kellogg is also continuing its intention to make the application process less stressful for applicants by allowing people to express interest in multiple MBA program options through the same application. 

Question 1 (450 words)

Kellogg leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. which skills did you use what did you accomplish.

This question still speaks to Kellogg’s purpose: To educate, equip and inspire leaders who build strong organizations and wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value . In answering this question, applicants can draw from different aspects of their life—both professional and personal—to identify the best example of where they have achieved impact in solving a problem. Candidates have the opportunity to be more granular in thinking about the different tools in their skill set to approach solving a problem. Big challenges are not solved by one person, so applicants should think about how they have motivated teams, brought varied perspectives into the decision-making process, and inspired others to achieve meaningful results. 

Applicants can think about breaking this question into a CAR (Challenge/Action/Result) model, wherein the problem is presented along with the specific actions that were taken and the skills used to achieve results. This question also presents applicants with the opportunity to reflect upon their own leadership journey, utilizing self-awareness to recognize and describe how they have made valuable contributions in their professional or extracurricular activities. 

Question 2 (450 words) 

At kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. how do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the kellogg community .

In approaching this question, it can be helpful to review the qualities that Kellogg shares on its website regarding its ideal applicants: 

WE VALUE INDIVIDUALS WHO:

• Approach business problems with a mix of hard and soft skills.
• Seek to adapt to the evolving business world with open curiosity and innovation.
• Believe in strong, empathetic collaboration as a way to strengthen work, perspectives and outcomes.
• Embrace the power of diversity in your teams and networks.

WHAT WE LOOK FOR:

• Academic readiness
• Work experience
• Professional goals
• Interpersonal skills”

Kellogg gives applicants the opportunity to reflect further on their personal leadership journey by thinking about how they have problem-solved utilizing the talents of different groups of people. The admissions committee wants applicants to first share an experience when they have embraced diversity—thinking about any of its components: functional, cultural, socioeconomic and even age—and then provide a sense of how applicants can bring those talents to the Kellogg community. In the previous iterations of the Kellogg application, the video essay was the only opportunity candidates had to share how they could contribute to the Kellogg community. In this version, applicants can be specific about naming particular clubs and resources where they can add value. Reach out to students to learn more about the specifics of Kellogg’s offerings, and spend some time thinking about how you can enhance the community. 

If your example in Essay 1 drew on your professional experience, consider how some of your extracurricular experiences can inform your answer to Essay 2—or vice versa—to give Kellogg the fullest version of who you are and what drives your interests.

Certain applicants will respond to an additional question about their interest in our specialty programs. Reapplicants will receive a prompt about their growth since their last application: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

How are you a stronger applicant than when you last applied? Have you retaken the GMAT or GRE? Completed new courses? Been promoted or faced with new challenges at work? Use these 250 words to show growth, change, improvement, and excellence. 

In  Stratus Admissions’ Guide to Getting into Kellogg School of Management   you will find information on a variety of the MBA program’s offerings, such as the Global Hub building, Complete Immersion in Management, the Kellogg Ski Trip, and the Kellogg Tech Conference. This free guide also includes class profile statistics.  Download our guide to learn more about Kellogg!

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How to Nail Your Kellogg MBA Application Essays

Tips and tricks that will help you craft the best application essays possible and get admitted into Kellogg.

Posted January 9, 2024

Featuring Victoria G.

The Summer Before Round 1: Setting Yourself Up for Success

Tuesday, may 28.

3:00 PM UTC · 45 minutes

Table of Contents

Introduction.

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University is consistently ranked high and is one of the top seven business schools (“M7”) in the United States. The essay portion of the Kellogg MBA application is unique because it comes in two parts: a written essay and a video essay portion.

The written essays are due along with the application while the video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline. Once the application and fee have been uploaded, a link will appear on the application portal that will give the applicant access to the video portion.

2022-2023 Kellogg Application Deadlines

Round 1: September 14, 2022

Round 2: January 10, 2023

Round 3: April 5, 2023

To read more about the MBA program at Northwestern, visit The Kellogg School of Management–MBA Program and Application Overview .

Written Essays

The written essay portion is a great place to highlight the skills and experience that can’t be found on your resume or any other part of your MBA application. Your essays should present a compelling, concise, and clear story of your path to business school generally as well as Kellogg specifically. Kellogg requires two essays for all its applicants and a third for certain kinds of applicants (JD-MBA, reapplicants, etc). See the additional questions here .

2022-2023 Prompts

Kellogg’s purpose is to educate, equip and inspire leaders who create lasting value. Provide a recent example where you have demonstrated leadership and created value. What challenges did you face and what did you learn? (450 words)

Reading this prompt closely provides several insights. Firstly, Kellogg asks for an example, not examples. Choose one that makes the most compelling case. Secondly, in asking about challenges, Kellogg acknowledges that leadership comes with difficulties. Talk about the trials you faced throughout the story, don’t just throw them in at the end. Lead the adcom through the ups and downs of the example and make sure that the lessons learned tie into the overall narrative and aren’t tangential.

Values are what guide us in our life and work. What values are important to you and how have they influenced you? (450 words)

This question is purposefully left broad to allow you the space to craft a response that is genuine to your story. A good way to start brainstorming your response is to work backward. Make a list of the major decisions you’ve made in your life and identify why you made them. Then, see if there are any reasons that come up often. Going through the process like this will help you write your response to the second part of the question as well, as how the values have influenced you. You don’t have very many words so stick to one or two of the most important ones and choose examples that concretely show them.

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Kellogg Admissions Basics: Video Essays & Demonstrating Fit

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During an interview with Menlo Coaching’s Founding Partner David White, Kate Smith, the Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Northwestern Kellogg, was kind enough to share her insider’s perspective on the Kellogg MBA admissions process, covering the program’s use of video essays and the importance of demonstrating a personality fit in the application.

It is worth mentioning that at the time of the interview, MBA admissions was largely business as usual, especially compared to the 2020-2021 app cycle, which was widely disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. And in light of the current situation, Kellogg’s approach to video essays has proven to be both innovative and prescient; now more than ever before, the global business community has embraced video communication.  

Kellogg MBA Admissions Insight

Note: Video interview with Kate Smith recorded in 2019.

Read on to learn more about Kellogg’s MBA application and video essay requirement, along with other important factors at play for students who wish to take part in the prestigious and competitive Kellogg MBA admissions process.

Kellogg’s Video Essays

For several years, the Kellogg School of Management has asked applicants to answer interview questions on-camera. Responses are recorded and reviewed by the admissions committee, much to the consternation of some Menlo Coaching clients!

Despite the anxiety some applicants may feel, however, the video essay has become a crucial—and unavoidable—part of the Kellogg MBA application.

As explained by Assistant Dean Kate Smith, the video essay fills in a certain “gap” in the admissions process; that is, when an applicant interviews with just one Kellogg alumni or admissions officer, there is no opportunity for the entire team to see the applicant in a “candid manner.” 

Further, the admissions department at Kellogg believes that the recorded responses prepare applicants for a practice that is becoming increasingly common in the business community: video communication. Indeed, in discussing the practice with Kellogg students, Ms. Smith noted that recorded video essays are becoming standard practice in regular hiring procedures with organizations like Goldman Sachs, Uber, Nike, Apple, and Google (to name a few).

Beyond the hiring process, many readers may also be aware of the importance of video communication in light of the coronavirus pandemic. In a world of social distancing and remote work, communicating well via video has become a fundamental component of professional life. 

For especially camera-shy applicants, two pieces of information regarding Kellogg’s video interviews may be of some comfort. The first is that the Kellogg admissions team does not expect applicants to be comfortable on video, especially in this high-stakes and unnerving context. Kellogg knows that its applicants are not movie stars, and you shouldn’t try to be!

The second fact to keep in mind is that the video essay is the last part of the application to be reviewed. Before the team sees a pre-recorded interview response, then, they will have read all the materials that were closely edited and prepared first. 

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What Else Is Kellogg Looking For?

With an acceptance rate hovering in the mid- to low-twenty percent (26% in 2019; and 20% in 2020), the Kellogg School of Management is not as competitive as some other top business schools like Stanford GSB or MIT Sloan. And yet Kellogg’s admissions committee is careful in their selection of that near quarter of its applicants which makes up their incoming classes. Of course, they keep in mind a few key factors that help to create a balanced and dynamic MBA cohort. So what exactly is Kellogg looking for?

The foundational elements that Kellogg looks for in all its MBA applicants include:

• Academic Rigor . Being able to thrive in a classroom environment is essential to the Kellogg experience. For the incoming class of 2021, Kellogg’s average GPA was 3.7 and their average GMAT was 727. These are among the highest in top programs. Hence, your application ought to reflect on whether you can be a strong student and handle the academic aspects of the MBA. 
• Commitment to Diversity . Northwestern Kellogg wants to recruit a diverse student body to maintain a team-oriented culture. Corollary to this, applicants should show how they themselves are ready to be personally challenged by diversity and eager to seek out a diversity of input in the classroom. During the admissions process, don’t shy away from sharing your diversity-related experiences. 
• High Engagement . Students at Kellogg are expected to be committed to making an impact in their field. The exact shape of this impact may vary, but it is important that they are committed to full immersion in their area and seeking to create real, dynamic change. This is of particular importance to Kellogg, and applicants should ensure that their application reflects a high level of engagement. 

How to Demonstrate Engagement

In order to communicate high engagement in an application, it is important that applicants take the time to network with Kellogg students, faculty, and alumni. Campus visits are an excellent way to target the first two groups, as is LinkedIn.

Alumni can also be targeted via LinkedIn or through campus events, but there is also an extensive network of Kellogg alumni groups in most major cities. It is recommended that applicants reach out to alumni, who are known for being responsive and enthusiastic about the program. 

As applicants speak with alumni, they often experience first-hand the kind of passion that Kellogg graduates are famous for, and if nothing else, applicants will at least have the opportunity to learn more about the Kellogg program.

No Secret Formula 

In summary, the underlying goal of Kellogg admissions officers as they review video essays and other application materials is to discover whether there is a strong fit between the Kellogg program and the applicant. If an applicant does their due diligence, thinks carefully about their career goals, and explains clearly why they would benefit from (and how they would contribute to) a Kellogg MBA, they will have checked all the right boxes.

In this way, the application process at Kellogg, as at other top MBA programs, does not rely on a secret formula or magic voodoo. Hard, honest work will result in an application that best communicates the personality of an applicant—and if the fit is right, it’s right!

Related Articles

• Kellogg MBA Program Overview
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Kellogg application tips: Written and video essays

By: the Kellogg admissions team , Full-Time MBA Program

  As you move through the MBA application process , one of the most important aspects is telling your personal and professional story as fully and authentically as possible. Each part of the application provides an opportunity for you to share what makes you unique. When you are submitting your written and video essays, consider examples that demonstrate who you are, what drives you and what you plan to achieve as a future Kellogg Leader.   Written essays   The application will give you two short essay prompts:

• Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish?
• At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community? 

Candidates for the MMM, MBAi, JD-MBA and One-Year MBA programs will answer an additional question to let us know how their program of choice will help them reach their post-MBA goals.

Those who have applied before will also have the opportunity to discuss what steps they’ve taken since their last application to become a stronger candidate. 

Video essays

You’ll complete video essays after you submit your application and payment. This is a great opportunity to tell us more about you and explain why Kellogg is the right place for you.

The video portion of the applications will include three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you to where you are today. 

Please note, video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.   Learn more

Today’s changing business landscape demands leaders who possess a blend of analytical, creative and social intelligence and who can uplift teams to their full potential — those are the candidates we at Kellogg are looking for. Know that there are no perfect answers to our essay questions. Instead, when you are writing your essays, think about how you can leave your mark on Kellogg and the world.

We also believe in a holistic approach to the application process. We look at all areas of a candidate’s application. For us, this is much more than a test score, essay or job title. All applicants have unique strengths and attributes. Please make sure we see and hear everything that makes you special.

If you are ready to become a Kellogg Leader, complete your application today.

To explore more application tips or learn more about Kellogg, visit our admissions site or sign up for an event to speak to an admissions officer.  

Good luck, and we look forward to reading your application soon!    Read next: Kellogg expands management education options for early-career professionals

Homepage > MBA Admissions > How to make an impressive MBA Application Video Essay

How to make an impressive MBA Application Video Essay

Posted by Nayeem Noor | Oct 4, 2022 | MBA Admissions , MBA Application Process

Video essays are an integral part of the MBA application process for many business schools. They are also an excellent opportunity for the admission committee to evaluate your interpersonal skills.

Through the video essay, the admissions committee gets a more direct understanding of who you are, and you get a chance to substantiate the authenticity of your story and offer a glimpse into your personality.

Here is a brief outline of this article:

• What is a video essay?

Types of MBA Video Essays

• Top B-Schools which ask for video essays and common questions

Tip #1 – Plan your answers

• Tip #2 – Create an ideal set-up for video recording
• Tip #3 – Importance of practice
• Tip #4 – Present yourself well

Tip #5 – Don’t get tensed

Instead, you can also watch this video on expert advice from admissions officers and consultants on how to create a video essay.

What is an MBA video essay?

The reason business schools made video essays a part of the MBA application was that they were looking for more genuine responses from applicants, without any direct involvement of admissions consultants or other professionals. Below are the responses of admission committees of Rotman, Kellogg, and INSEAD on why business schools ask Video Essays as a part of their application process?

• University of Toronto’s Rotman School, the B-School, which pioneered the video essay as a part of the application process, says that the video essay allows the admissions team to screen for different aptitudes and competencies in the admissions process.
• Kellogg MBA Admissions committee, says, “the video essay provides students with an added opportunity to demonstrate what they will bring to our vibrant Kellogg community — in an interactive way.”
• According to INSEAD’s Admissions committee , the video should be a unique opportunity for students to share their passions, their motivations, and who they are. The Admissions Committee is interested in finding an authentic view of the applicant as a person, to see how a student thinks on your feet and how he/she convey ideas.

Typically, the school will provide one or more questions, and some time to think about them (around 30 – 60 seconds per question) and is then expected to provide the school with a recorded answer.

Learn the importance of MBA Essays in Business School applications

There are two types of videos an applicant may be asked to submit as a part of the MBA application.

• Questions specified in the school’s application instruction: In such questions, you will get an opportunity to prepare for the question prior. The question can vary from asking about your career path to introducing yourself to the admission committee.
• Random Questions: School will ask a random question to each student. You will be provided a time frame to think and answer the questions. You must prepare yourself with some personal situational stories that are relevant to diverse topics.
• Record offline and submit the video : Schools like MIT Sloan asks applicants to provide a video statement on the topic specified in the application instruction. Most of the school as for single take (no editing) videos not lasting more than one minute.

For some business schools such as Texas McCombs, the video essay is not mandatory to submit during application. But the student gets an optional video essay as a part of the application. If you get an optional video essay as part of the application, it is better to take it. The optional video essay is an opportunity for you to showcase your personality and the motivation to pursue an MBA program.

A video essay is one of the 5 types of MBA essays typically asked in a business school application.

Top B-Schools which ask for Video essays and common questions

Below are some of the top business schools which ask applicants to submit a video essay as a part of their admission process:

INSEAD Video Essay

After finishing your online application , you will receive an e-mail from the admission committee with a unique link to complete the video essay portion. Each applicant will be asked to record answers to 4 questions. The questions can be related to your interest in INSEAD, teamwork, diversity & culture, etc. After receiving the question, you will have 45 seconds to prepare each answer and 1 minute to record your answer.

You can practice on the INSEAD online platform before recording your answers. The practice session will have multiple questions available, and you practice as many questions as you need to feel comfortable. You can create an account on the online platform and come back later without any limit on the number of practice sessions.

Northwestern Kellogg Video Essay

Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management is the first amongst the M7 B-Schools, which popularized the video essay in the MBA admission process . After submitting your application and payment, you can access the video essay portal from your Kellogg application status page.

You will be asked to answer 3 questions. You will be given 20 seconds to think about the question and up to 1 minute to give your response. Out of 3 questions, Kellogg provides questions upfront in their application instructions for two, and one will be randomly selected question.

For the intake of 2020, the static questions given by the admission committee are, ‘Please introduce yourself to the admission committee’ and ‘What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you?’.

The third question will be a behavioral type question that asks about how you handled a challenging situation in your professional or personal life. You can answer as many practice questions as required to get comfortable with format and technology in the application portal.

Yale SoM Video Essay

After submission of your application, you will receive access to the video questions portal. You will get three basic behavior-based questions as a part of the admission process . You will get 30 seconds to structure your thought and 90 seconds to respond to the questions. Like Kellogg and INSEAD, you can utilize Yale’s Video question practice tool to get familiarised with the technology.

MIT Sloan Video Essay

As a part of the MIT Sloan application , you must submit a video statement along with other documents. Unlike the other schools, where you record the video in the admission portal, in MIT Sloan video statement, you can record and upload the video at your convenience on their portal.

The video prompt is – ‘Introduce yourself to your future classmates’. The video statement must be a single take (no editing) with a duration of fewer than 60 seconds. The admission committee recommends delivering a response that includes a bit on your experience and why you chose MIT Sloan to pursue your MBA. Upload instructions are provided with the application.

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How to prepare for video essays?

Video essays allow MBA admissions to evaluate your confidence, language skills, and capability to think on your feet. A video essay is one opportunity you can leverage to leave a long-lasting effect upon the admissions committee. The following are the top 5 tips that will help you create a better video essay for your MBA application.

Many applicants wobble when they hear ‘you have to think on your feet while facing video questions’. However, you will not feel like you’re being thrown under a bus when you see a question prompt on the screen if you create and a question bank and use a framework for your responses.

Identify personal and professional stories: You will get many practice questions from your target school’s website. You can find a part of questions school asks on the application instruction. A few business schools also mention the category under which the random question will fall into.

Many of the video essay questions fall under the why MBA/career goals, or behavioral type questions. Based on the category, you should create a repository of personal/career experiences and jot down your answers around it. When you get the opportunity, talk about why that B-School is an excellent match for your career ambition. Talk about your exact goals and how you will accomplish them through this specific program.

Learn to answer succinctly : Most of the schools ask applicants to think and answer the questions in less a minute. Try to answer questions in Situation, Action, Result (SAR) method. Answer the essay questions by using one of your personal or professional examples of a situation that you were in; the action that you took; and the result. Approaching questions in the SAR method will help you to answer concisely.

Choose words wisely : One key aspect of communication is vocabulary. You should keep your vocabulary on a professional level and choose words carefully. Avoid the usage of colloquial words, and although you are required to be formal, you should avoid the frivolous use of formality in the video essay.

Tip #2 – Create a set-up for video recording

While preparing your set-up for your video essay recording, make sure to follow the given instructions.

Choose quite and well-lit area : Make sure you choose a space where there is enough light on your face and no background noise. You should have any noise distractions while recording the video. If possible, ask a friend or family member to surveillance the area to avoid any voice distraction while you take the interview.

Recording accessories : Even though most of the schools don’t mention about the video output, it is advisable to use good quality webcam and microphone for recording your video essay. If you feel your laptop webcam output is substandard, connect an external webcam to record the video. When you choose the microphone, make sure your voice is audible properly. You must record a sample video and test the quality of the video, audio output, and the lighting.

Make sure your devices don’t take away your attention : Before starting the interview, make sure your mobile phone is on Do not disturb mode and close all unnecessary computer applications and browser tabs.

Chose plain background : While recording, it is advisable to choose a single color background. If there are too many elements behind you, the viewer may lose focus away from your presentation.

Keep a notepad and pen handy : In most of the essay questions, you will get less one minute to structure your thought before delivering the answer. You may need to keep a notepad and a pen ready in the table to jot down the main points and supporting examples you want to deliver while answering.

Tip #3 – Practice makes perfect

Once you have the question bank, learned how to respond in a crisp & clear manner, and set up your recording area, it is now time to practice and perfect your responses.

Using a camera, film yourself giving the response to the questions you have on your list. Filming the responses will help to introspect the style in which you respond. Start evaluating the video after at least a few hours have passed. While evaluating, make sure you are not saying fillers like “like..” and “umm…”. Hemming and hawing create the impression of being unprepared.

Check your posture and facial expressions while answering the questions. If you are not satisfied with the first take, do retakes, till you get the desired output. Send your final production to people you trust for critique. It is the best way to figure out what kind of judgments a person will make while evaluating your video essay.

Another way to practice is to get the help of a friend and replicate the video essay set-up at your home. Provide your question bank to your friend and connect for a video call through applications like Skype with your friend. Make sure he/she switches off the video. This mock video essay activity is an excellent exercise for you to get rid of camera shyness and improve your confidence.

Some B-Schools have portals where an applicant can practice video essay questions before starting the official attempt of essay questions. Using this portal is the best way to get a hold on the type of questions asked and get familiarised with B-School’s video essay recording platform.

During your final recording, you may get a situational question, choose whether one of your stories can help you answer the question. Also, be ready to think swiftly because some questions are genuinely random. The best response is to be authentic, so be yourself and don’t overthink things. While practicing with your friend, you can instruct him to ask a question that is out of your question bank to get used to such random questions.

Tip #4 – Present yourself well

Dress Professionally : The video essay is a professional video, and it is considered as a ‘pre-interview’ communication with the Admissions Committee. Because of the same reason, it is important to dress professionally.

Avoid excess motion : The video should be conversational like a speech. So, you should avoid excessive gesturing and movement throughout the recording of your video essay.

Speak Clearly with proper enunciation :  Make sure you do not narrate the whole essay expressionlessly. You should take enough pauses in between to emphasize your words and thoughts to encourage the admissions committee to accept you as a serious applicant. You must deliver the response in a fluid tone and pitch that carries your conviction and passion.

Mind your body language : It is a vital aspect to pay attention to during your video essay. You should keep in mind to sit straight throughout the recording. The best way to identify issues with your body language is by filming yourself, giving the response to some of the questions in your list, and analyzing them. Practicing while correcting such errors will remove nervousness and nervous ticks before sitting down for the final take.

Position the camera : Make sure you do not lean forward or put your head down to face the camera. Position the webcam to your eye level to deliver the answer with your head straight. Always make sure you look into the camera while responding.

Using a camera, film yourself responding to a few questions on your list. Evaluate your background, lighting, and outfit to make sure they look good.

You aced the GMAT, curated an impressive resume, got your letters of recommendation, filled out your entire application, and checked it thrice. You crossed all the hard checkpoints. For video essay, it is just one mantra – be your best self. When it’s showtime, let yourself relax and enjoy the experience. As you respond to the questions to the questions, don’t forget to smile.

Avoid these MBA application mistakes and make it to your dream business school.

Key Takeaways | How to Prepare for MBA Video Essays

• Video Essays are an opportunity for the admission committee to evaluate your interpersonal skills and determine your ‘fit’ for an MBA program.
• Video essay questions can be related to your personal and career experience, your post-MBA goals, and Why MBA?
• Prepare for your Video Essays by creating a framework and identifying stories from your personal and professional life that relate to the above topics.
• Many business schools offer the option to practice video essays and familiarise yourself with the process. Take advantage of this opportunity.

An increasing number of B-Schools have started to integrate video essays into their MBA applications. In a video essay, you are not expected to be scripted. You are expected to be prepared. The admission committee hopes applicants who are not great on paper will have a chance to shine and exhibit their personality that is not seen elsewhere in a traditional application. With structured preparation, you can make an outstanding video essay without it getting on your nerves.

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Nayeem Noor

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Poets&Quants Top Business Schools

Contact our general manager with any questions. Profile updated: August 14, 2023 .

Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University

• MBA Program Stats

Annual Tuition : $81,015

Annual Tuition Non-Resident : $81,015

Acceptance Rate : 31.4%

Full-Time Enrollment : 503

Average GPA : 3.7

Median GMAT : 729

Median GRE : 325

International : 38%

Minority : 19%

Female : 48%

Average Age : 27

• What You Need To Know

Founded in 1908, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management is a global business school with a mission to educate, equip, and inspire leaders to wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value. Kellogg offers a top-notch business education where students in cohorts of 493 on average will grow personally and professionally, in expected and unexpected ways. The B-School is in Evanston, Illinois –a charming suburb of Chicago and a city with beautiful lakefront views of Lake Michigan.

“Kellogg students get the best of both worlds between Evanston and Chicago. Chicago offers a world-class food scene, major sports teams, venues that attract major performers, and two major airports that can take you anywhere in the world. Evanston, on the other hand, offers the small, college town feel that serves as a retreat away from the faster-paced city. I love that Kellogg students are able to take advantage of both by going into the city on weekends for Cub games or to try hot restaurants. At the same time, I get to bump into friends unexpectedly at the grocery store or on the walk home while in Evanston during the week,” says MBA Hays Bynum.

Academics And Programs

The traditional two-year program kicks off with the B-School’s signature experience: KWEST – otherwise known as the Kellogg Worldwide Exploration Student Trips. In essence, 20 incoming students – all strangers – join 5 second-year organizers for a week-long excursion. In some cases, these groups take “mystery trips” – where they don’t know where they’re going or what they’re doing until departure. At the same time, no one can reveal their identities or backgrounds, which forces students to focus on who their classmates are rather than what they do.

Kellogg MBAs choose a major, such as Accounting, Finance, and Marketing, and a “pathway” designed to give MBAs the chance to focus on a particular skill set or industry. Recently added pathways include Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Technology Management, and Energy and Sustainability.

At Kellogg, being a team player is crucial. Over the course of two years, it is estimated that MBAs participate in over 200 team meetings. In the process, they absorb different work styles and problem-solving approaches, preparing them to tap into individual talents and backgrounds to build consensus and craft lasting solutions.

Kellogg has plenty of experiential learning opportunities such as the Private Equity Lab which offers internships with firms, the Growth Strategy Practicum which allows students to explore the challenges that growth-stage companies encounter, and the NUvention program and NUvention Medical program gives students innovation and entrepreneurial experience.

Throughout their educational experience, students can take advantage of Kellogg’s world-renowned Career Management Center with one-on-one coaching, workshops, a job board with more than 5,000 annual listings, as well as extensive alumni connections.

Kellogg values students who are fully engaged and “all in” with their student experience: specifically, people who will be high impact, low ego leaders who always look to elevate everyone in the room.  Along with GRE/GMAT scores, prospective students applying are expected to complete an interview, and video essays designed to get to know the personalities, values, and qualities of students that don’t come across on paper.

There are a number of global opportunities for students to immerse themselves in a culture outside of the U.S. and broaden their network significantly. Kellogg boasts one of the largest exchange programs, with 25 partner schools. Kellogg Worldwide Exploration Student Trips is one of the most popular global opportunities where incoming students, prior to beginning classes, travel abroad under the leadership of second-year students. There are also more than 120 student-led clubs and sends graduates to more than 500 companies worldwide.

Around one fifth of Kellogg’s grad students typically accept tech jobs after graduating, and graduates of the MBA have a good shot at working with the three largest employers of the program – Boston Consulting Group, McKinsey & Company, and Bain & Company.

Rankings Data For Kellogg SOM

Kellogg MBA Ranking

Getting Into This School

How To Get Into Northwestern University Kellogg School Of Management

Kellogg aims to educate, equip, and inspire brave leaders who build strong organizations and wisely leverage the power of markets to create lasting value

Northwestern Kellogg School Of Management Essay Questions And Strategic Guidance, 2023-2024

Understanding what Kellogg looks for in its candidates before you start brainstorming can give you a frame of reference through which to view and consider your stories

• MBA Program Consideration Set

If you believe you’re a close match to this school–based on your scores, age and work experience, you could look at these other competitive full-time MBA programs as well. We list them by stretch, match, and more to consider. These options are presented on the basis of brand image and ranking status as a general guideline. These are meant to be a starting point for further exploration.

• Stanford GSB
• Chicago Booth
• Berkeley Haas

Partners who enable Poets&Quants to provide, free to our readers, information, inspiration, and greater access to graduate education opportunities.

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Why Students Chose

“The caliber of Kellogg’s professors and the breadth of classes on leadership development ultimately sold me on Kellogg. When I came to Day at Kellogg (Kellogg’s Admitted Students’ Weekend), many of the top professors, including Suzanne Muchin and Harry Kraemer, led Master Classes that blew me away. I called my parents from the Chicago airport on the way home and was telling them that I wanted to buy the books those professors had written, when they asked ‘Why wouldn’t you just go to Kellogg and sit in their classes instead?’ In that moment it really clicked that Kellogg was where I needed to be.” Hays Bynum (‘24)

“Kellogg is a leader in pioneering MBA programs that are hyper-relevant to prospective students. With long-term aspirations to be an enterprise finance leader, I was looking for a program that would accelerate my career trajectory. A principal reason why I decided to attend Kellogg was the one-year program, also known as 1Y, which has a prerequisite of required courses. It provided the desired fast pace with the rigor of a top business school without sacrificing traditional two-year MBA benefits such as internships through the experiential learning courses. The immediate access to electives through the 1Y program allows me to build on my professional background in business and customize my experience to develop new skills to propel my career forward in a way that no other programs could.” April Chung (‘24)

“For me, it was Kellogg’s culture and values: leaders who are passionate about helping others and deliver high impact with low ego. Every person I met during the application process— alumni, faculty, or students — embodied this value and the collaborative culture. It was important to me because I wanted to learn from the best and be surrounded by people I admire, ultimately becoming the leader I aspire to be. Also, I wanted to be in a school where people truly connect, and Kellogg’s community, with its values and culture, sets it apart.” Maria Elisa Simas Donato (‘24)

“Kellogg’s team-driven environment. For me, a culture driven by collaboration was the best way for me to develop the leadership skills I needed to attain my long-term goals. A Kellogg education is not just focused on helping you be successful right after your MBA but setting you up for success for the rest of your career. The faculty we have around leadership, management, and organizations are inspiring and help us become better leaders for the changing and diverse workforce of the future.” Alfredo Zanatti Lizier (‘24)

“For me, a huge differentiator for Kellogg was the focus on experiential learning. I have an undergrad business degree, so in my MBA program I was really looking for lots of opportunities to learn beyond the classroom. Kellogg has an unparalleled variety of opportunities to be paired with companies and nonprofits to tackle real business problems through courses such as the Growth Strategy Practicum and the PE and VC Labs – just to name a few. I think by gaining more hands-on experience now, I’ll greatly accelerate my learning curve for my post-MBA role.” Max Schwein (‘24)

Student Features For Kellogg SOM

Meet Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2024

Another class of impressive team players

Meet Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2023

Team-driven class enjoys the best of both worlds in Evanston

Meet Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2022

A team-driven class that isn't afraid to say 'yes'

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Compensation Of Kellogg’s Graduate MBAs

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Admissions For Kellogg SOM

Essay Questions For Kellogg SOM

Written Essays

The following two essays are required of all applicants:

Question 1 (450 words)

Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where you’ve needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you accomplish?

Question 2 (450 words)

At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community?

Certain applicants will respond to an additional question about their interest in our specialty programs. Reapplicants will receive a prompt about their growth since their last application: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

Video Essays

We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

We find these videos to be a great opportunity for you to tell us more about your story, experiences and why Kellogg is the right place for you.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:

• Video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.
• A video essay link will appear on your application status page after you submit your application and payment.
• You will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone
• The video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup.

After submitting your application and payment, you will be able to access the video essay through your application status page.

Here are some additional tips:

• There are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, so this is meant to be a useful tool to help you feel prepared.
• We encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. You will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions.
• You will have 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response.

School Features And Admissions Analysis

Kellogg MBA Class Of 2025: Near-Records For GMAT & International, Women’s Enrollment

Kellogg stays at near-parity with 48% women & reports a near-record GMAT average of 731

Kellogg MBA Class Of 2024 Profile: GPA, GMAT & Internationals All Up

Kellogg is the third M7 school to announce a new class: What's missing from the data, and what it means

Kellogg Reveals MBAs’ Median Salary Saw Another Big Jump In 2023

Median salary for two-year MBA graduates of Northwestern's B-school grew to $175K in 2023, up $10,000 from last year

In Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2023, A Return To Normal — And Big Strides Forward

49% of new full-time class is women, a school record

Kellogg 2022 MBA Jobs Report: Median Salary Jumps 10% To $165K

99% of 2022 Kellogg MBAs had job offers 3 months after graduation & 97% accepted

Massive 54% Jump In MBA Apps At Northwestern Kellogg

After waiving GMAT & GRE and revisiting rejected apps, school sets app & class size records

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MBA Watch For Kellogg SOM

MBA Watch is where thousands of MBA applicants not only get to tell their story but have John A. Byrne, MBA admissions coaches and our audience, assess their odds of admission and get help to improve their chances of getting in!

Mr. Concrete Angel

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Ms. Indian Business Analyst

Business Analyst at a global finance company for 3.

Ms. Gay Techie

4 years of IT consulting at a big4 followed by 2 years working in IT for a global CPG company.

Mr. Gay Singaporean Strategy Consultant

I work as a strategy consultant for Deloitte's London office.

Mr. Market Analyst

After working in the software industry for 18 months, I left to take up a role in the finance industry, taking a ~40% cut and leaving behind a stable career path that would have led to senior positions.

Ms. Sustainable Development

Bachelors in Communications, Master of Science in Sustainable Development.

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Mr. asian veteran.

6-year US Army veteran, wants to do Part-Time (Weekend) programs.

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News Coverage For Kellogg SOM

2024 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Lauren Eskreis-Winkler, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Congrats to Lauren Eskreis-Winkler of Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, for being named a 2024 Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professor.

2024 Best 40-Under-40 MBA Professors: Sean Higgins, Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University

Congrats to Sean Higgins of Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, for being named a 2024 Best 40 Under 40 MBA Professor.

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Inside what many consider the premier master in management program in the United States

Landmark $25 Million Gift Will Endow Kellogg’s Entrepreneurial Fellows Program For Generations

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Stanford's MBA program claims first for the fifth consecutive year

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Northwestern Kellogg Posts MBA Application Deadlines

The first Kellogg MBA application deadline is Sept. 13th

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Stanford, Harvard & Wharton Also-Rans In Topsy-Turvy U.S. News MBA Ranking

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• Academics and Programs
• Contact Information
• Rankings Data
• Student Features
• Application Deadlines
• Essay Questions
• Narratives Provided by School
• School News Coverage
• Visit School Website

Round 1: Sept. 13, 2023 Round 2: Jan. 10, 2024 Round 3: April 3, 2024

• Contact Information Location: 2211 Campus Drive Evanston Evanston, IL 60208 Admissions Office: 847-491-3308 Email

Esmeralda Los Angeles, California

Consulting Firm : Accepted

Rate : 400 | 3 School Package : 9400

Reviews : 24 | Net Promoter Score: 9

Eric Hollowaty

Consulting Firm : Gatehouse Admissions

Rate : 525 | 3 School Package : 10300

Educational Background : Harvard Business School, Yale University

Reviews : 0

Debbie Choy

Consulting Firm : mbaMission

Rate : 575 | 3 School Package : 11800

Educational Background : Stanford Graduate School of Business

Reviews : 74 | Net Promoter Score: 9

May 24, 2024

Master of Science in Business Analytics Info Session

June 4, 2024

Q&A Yale SOM Admissions

June 6, 2024

MBA Admissions Masterclass: How To Nail Your MBA Essays

June 11, 2024

Purdue Online MBA Webinar

July 11, 2024

July 30, 2024

CentreCourt Executive MBA Event

September 18, 2024

Backstage With Poets&Quants For Undergrads

October 29-30, 2024

CentreCourt Specialized Masters Event

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Kellogg MBA Essays for 2023-2024

Are you targeting Northwestern University’s  Kellogg School of Management ? Then it’s time to shift into high gear. The Kellogg MBA essays and deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions cycle have been confirmed.

The essays let you explain, in your own words, why you think Kellogg is right for you. Take some time to think through the experiences that led you here and how they have shaped where you want to go.

Kellogg MBA Essays for the Class of 2026

The following two essays are required of all applicants:

Question 1: Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where  you’ve  needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you  accomplish ? (450 words)

Question 2: At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations  comprised of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community? (450 words)

Reapplicants : How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be? (250 words)

All applicants have the opportunity to provide explanations or clarification in  Additional Information . Use this section if you think the person reviewing your application might have a few questions about one or more of your responses. This could include:

• Unexplained gaps in work experience
• Academic, GMAT, or GRE performance
• Extenuating circumstances that we should be aware of when reviewing your application

Video Essays

Per the Kellogg AdCom : We’ve read your essays, we’ve read your resume — now we want you to bring all that to life in a video. Show us the person behind all those carefully crafted words. The video will be comprised of three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.

We find these videos to be a great opportunity for you to tell us more about your story, experiences and why Kellogg is the right place for you.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:

• Video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.
• A video essay link will appear on your application status page after you submit your application and payment.
• You will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone
• The video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup.

After submitting your application and payment, you will be able to access the video essay through your application status page.

Here are some additional tips:

• There are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience, so this is meant to be a useful tool to help you feel prepared.
• We encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. You will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions.
• You will have 20 seconds to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response.

For more information on applying, please visit the Kellogg School MBA admissions website. If you need guidance on your Kellogg essays and MBA application or wish to discuss your MBA plans, reach out for a complimentary analysis of your candidacy. We’re here to help! Meanwhile, here’s a snapshot of the Kellogg expertise on our team:

SBC’s star-studded consultant team is unparalleled. Our clients benefit from current intelligence that we receive from the former MBA Admissions Officers from Kellogg, Booth and every elite business program in the US and Europe.  These MBA Admissions Officers have chosen to work exclusively with SBC.

Just two of the many superstars on the SBC team: Meet Beth who held the position of Director of Admissions for Kellogg’s Full Time MBA program selecting candidates for the 2-year, 1-year, MMM and JD MBA programs.

Meet Kim , who was an Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Chicago Booth.

Tap into this inside knowledge for your MBA applications by requesting a consultation .

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The primary focus of the top business schools in the United States is creating a robust and dynamic classroom experience. Diversity is necessary to achieve this goal; therefore, international candidates make up a significant ... →

Is Northwestern Kellogg on your target list of business schools? Then you are in luck! Kellogg’s updated essays and application deadlines for the 2023-2024 admissions season have just been released. Time to start working on those essays (scroll down to see the questions)! 🙂

NORTHWESTERN KELLOGG MBA DEADLINES – Full-Time MBA

Application due: September 13, 2023* Decision released: December 13, 2023

Application due: January 10, 2024* Decision released: March 27, 2024

Application due: April 3, 2024* Decision released: May 8, 2024

Applications are due at 5 pm CT. 

For more information on application requirements, check out the Kellogg admissions site .

If you are looking for advice on your Northwestern Kellogg application, make sure you sign up for ApplicantLab! We provide step-by-step guidance on every aspect of your MBA application, including updated advice (as of July 13th, I am in the process of updating this advice over the next few business days!), dissecting this year’s Kellogg essays questions, providing non-obvious “do’s” and “don’ts”, and explaining the Kellogg “DNA” so that you can tailor your application materials to show that you’re the sort of person they’re looking for! Sign up for a free trial. 

For the 2023 – 2024 admissions season, Northwestern Kellogg has changed its written essay questions for the first time in several years! While I do like their new essay #1 more than the earlier version, the change to essay #2  is a shame, since it was one of my favorite essays from the top schools, but of course that doesn’t actually matter , ha ha!

Question 1 (450 words)

Kellogg Leaders are primed to tackle today’s pressing concerns everywhere, from the boardroom to their neighborhoods. Tell us about a time in your life where  you’ve  needed a combination of skills to solve a problem or overcome a challenge. Which skills did you use? What did you  accomplish ?

For years, Kellogg asked a question about a time you created “lasting value” — they’ve changed that this year to focus more on describing which “combination of skills” you used.  In other words, the PROCESS you went through to solve a problem now matters more than WHAT the problem was, or WHAT the IMPACT was.

If you read Kellogg’s own blog post / website accompanying this new question (something you won’t really have to do if you sign up for ApplicantLab since I do it for you!) — you might get a sense of the SORTS of skills they’re looking for you to have demonstrated… but achtung ! I think some of the skills mentioned on the website are a bit of a trap! (I do NOT think that this is a trap that has been INTENTIONALLY SET, but it’s one I think applicants should be aware of all the same!).

Another trap I think applicants might fall in to here is choosing the wrong sort of “problem / challenge” to talk about. I realize that it’s  business school and so you (understandably!) might initially want to write about your greatest work accomplishment here… (especially if you got an early start on the Kellogg essays and already drafted an answer to the previous essay 1, ha ha)… but resist that temptation. Some types of “problems / challenges” here will make for better fodder than others, and it might not necessarily be your Most Impressive Work Story!

In ApplicantLab, I,m not only creating advice for how to tackle this essay, along with the Dos and Don’ts, but I also synthesize what we can glean from changes over time to the Kellogg leadership essay. What does the new wording mean? Does it mean that Kellogg is CHANGING what it looks for in applicants (I don’t necessarily think so!) — what I think it means is that the answers they were getting to the previous “lasting value” essay prompt were disappointing on some level. If we can try to analyze what might have been wrong (or, well,  sub-optimal ) about the previous answers they were getting, then we can be sure to try to  avoid doing those things for this new question!

Question 2   (450 words)

At Kellogg, our values are based on research that concludes organizations  comprised  of leaders with varied backgrounds and perspectives outperform homogeneous ones. How do you believe your personal and professional experiences to date will help to enrich the Kellogg community?

Ok ok so first of all, I know I was being a little grumpy above re: this new question #2, BUT I would like to first THANK Kellogg for pointing out  right up front that there is actual, real research showing the value of diversity in organizations. With “diversity” and / or “inclusion” essays being the Hot Trendy Essay Topic these days, I think it can be tempting for the more cynical folks out there to think that this focus is just a bunch of politcally-correct, “woke”, b.s. …  but hey there, it actually isn’t … since study after study PROVES that groups that have team-mates with diverse points of view statistically tend to out-perform teams where everyone thinks in similar ways.

Anyway, the part of this new essay question that DOES make me a little grumpy is that the question used to ask for a more general discussion about ” What values are important to you, and how have they influenced you?”, which to ME led to really interesting insights from candidates about a wide variety of lived experiences they’ve had.

This newer version of the question is… fine. But it’s basically a standard “contribution to our campus” essay (with a wink to “Hey, ideally you’ll tell us stuff about you that is a bit more unique, so that we don’t die of boredom reading these”) …but it’s still a “contribution to campus” essay all the same.

Basically, if you’ve already started working on your Wharton essay #2 (“…how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to [our] community”), then you can simply swap out the names of the Wharton-specific clubs, organizations, etc. and replace them with the Kellogg version.  I mean, the word-counts are essentially the same (400 for Wharton; 450 for Kellogg) so you don’t even need to do significantly different amounts of editing / word-smithing between them.

* Note! Since Wharton’s deadlines are roughly 1 week before Kellogg’s, work on THAT application FIRST, if you’re in a hurry!

Maybe, to the extent that the new essay 1 requires a bit more thought / nuance than it has in the past, maybe the thinking here was to make up for MORE heavy-lifting needed in essay 1, by making essay 2 a lot easier? Meh. I mean — I get it, but still.  RIP, previous essay #2   🙁

3 Video Essays

Once again, Kellogg is asking for 3 video essays (you get 20 seconds to think, and up to 60 seconds to respond).

In previous years, they’ve told us in advance what the questions are, which to ME goes a long way towards  defeating the purpose of these questions — after all, if it’s super-important to know what my personality, poise, like-ability, etc. are as part of the application process… isn’t a SPONTANEOUS question that I CAN NOT prepare for going to yield a much more authentic response?

Anyway, I’m going to reach out to them to get confirmation if once again this year they are going with 3 pre-determined questions, or if they’re going to mix it up and make them more like “randomly picking from a bucket of questions — e.g. a teamwork / leadership bucket; a ‘why Kellogg / why MBA’ bucket; an extra-curricular / something fun about you bucket)… “

… but either way, in ApplicantLab I have advice on how to prepare for / do [and look!] your best in these video essays, regardless of what the topic is.  Of course, one of my strongest pieces of advice for how to prepare is to NOT PREPARE TOO MUCH, because not only do you then risk sounding like a robot (yikes!), but if the actual question asked turns out to be a minor variation of a question you’ve overly-prepared a rehearsed answer for… welp, then you risk reciting an answer that on its face might seem OK, but in fact  answers a question that wasn’t actually asked (DOUBLE YIKES).

I know that these video essays can be really stressful, but IMHO any school that offers them is doing you, the applicant, a HUGE FAVOR by giving you this chance.

• I know it might be tempting to view AdComs’ claims of a “holistic” process with skepticism / cynicism, but these video interviews level the playing field for everyone who applies (you KNOW that you’re at least getting A SHOT for them to hear from you directly!)
• Other MBA programs’ interviews!
• Future MBA employer job interviews!
• … and this is valuable early feedback that — if you DO get invited to OTHER schools’ interviews later on — it might be a super-useful wake-up cal l to get more help (say, from the InterviewLab , which is ApplicantLab’s interview prep module) while there’s still time!

Anyway, this post will be evolving as:

• I complete / finish updating the essay advice for Kellogg in ApplicantLab
• I get more clarification on the 3 video essay topics — ie, if this year there is a plan to make them random!

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Northwestern Pritzker Law Celebrates Class of 2024 at Convocation Ceremony

On Friday, May 10, 624 graduates from 27 places around the world joined faculty, family, and friends for the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law’s 2024 convocation ceremony at the Chicago Theatre.

Presiding over the ceremony, Dean Hari Osofsky welcomed the graduates to the Northwestern Pritzker Law alumni community. “Today, we are honoring and celebrating an extraordinary achievement–our graduates’ successful completion of a rigorous legal education program,” she said. “The Class of 2024 has shown resiliency, support for one another, and leadership that has made such a difference. We are so proud of you, and it is with great pleasure that we celebrate and recognize our amazing graduates.”

Judge Jeffrey Cummings (JD ’87), United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, delivered the keynote address. He previously served as a Magistrate Judge from February 2019 to October 2023. Earlier in his career Judge Cummings was a litigation associate and partner at the law firm of Miner, Barnhill & Galland, where he specialized in the representation of plaintiffs in cases involving employment discrimination, whistleblower protection, civil rights, and voting rights. He has been a frequent speaker on voting rights and other civil rights issues before attorneys, bar associations, community groups, and students at universities and law schools. He also served as a Hearing Officer for the City of Chicago’s Commission on Human Relations and the City’s Police Board.    

“One of the most important things I do as a judge is to listen,” said Cummings. “Listening will be incredibly important to you too. Listen to your heart…listen to your inner voice. The practice of law has much more in common with art than with science. The best attorneys are able to adapt and improvise when circumstances call for it. You all have excellent brains…if you didn’t, you wouldn’t be sitting here today. Don’t be afraid when your inner voice tells you to shake it up and do something a little different.”

In addition to Cummings, student speakers Raúl Archundia Pavón (LLM ’24), Berto Aguayo (JD ’24), and Cameron Andrew Brown (MSL ’24) addressed their fellow graduates. Dean Osofsky concluded the ceremony with the presentation of the Class of 2024.

Last Lecture

On Wednesday, May 8, the Law School hosted the Class of 2024 Awards Ceremony and Last Lecture. During the ceremony, faculty and student awards were presented. Jason DeSanto, Senior Lecturer, delivered the last lecture of the school year. Members of the Graduation Committee presented the following teaching awards to:

Outstanding Adjunct Professor

Michael Y. Scudder, Adjunct Professor of Law

Outstanding First-Year Course Professor

Emily Kadens, Professor of Law, Vice Dean

Outstanding Professor of a Small Class

Deborah Tuerkheimer, Professor of Law 

Robert R. Wootton award for teaching Excellence in the LLM Tax Program 

Rebecca Rosenberg, Professor of Practice

MSL Outstanding Residential Professor

Jeffrey Shealy Carter-Johnson, Senior Lecturer

MSL Outstanding Online Professor

Janice Nadler, Professor of Law

Robert Childres Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence

Wendy Muchman, Professor of Practice

The student awards were presented to:

Courage Award

Yasmeen Elagha

Global Legal Profession Award

Ricardo Martinez Gonzalez

Leadership Award

Ariel Dickerman Whitmore

Legal Profession Award

Anne Serine Gottschalk

Leigh B. Bienen Prize

Annaliese Brellis

Lowden-Wigmore Prizes  

• Chelsea Hanna Blake, Northwestern Law Journal des Refusés  
• Joshua Bernard Concannon, Journal of Technology and Intellectual Property
• Elijah Nathan Gelman, Northwestern University Law Review
• Yuree Nam, Journal of Law and Social Policy
• Lisabelle Anahid Panossian, Journal of Human Rights
• Christopher Reagen Rodenbaugh, Journal of International Law and Business
• Carl Salvatore Stier , Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology (*second place contribution to JCLC)

MSL Residential Student Award

Jincheng Song

MSL Online Student Award

Christine Marie Mayer

Service Award

Zeinab Bakhiet

Victor Rosenblum Award

Catalina Saravia

Wigmore Key

Katelyn Elizabeth Richerson

Watch the full Convocation ceremony here .

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