Decision Process

Interviews are not part of the general application process. Due to the number of applications Kellogg receives each year, it isn’t feasible for faculty to interview every applicant. Instead, each program initiates phone or campus interviews for only those candidates who are being strongly considered for admission or for candidates for whom additional information is needed. An applicant cannot request an interview.

The applicant’s academic record is closely examined. Transcripts, test scores, letters of recommendation, résumé, and the statement of purpose will be reviewed by the admissions committee to determine the applicant’s fit within the doctoral program and his or her potential for scholarly research. Each application will also be evaluated against the applications the Kellogg School received as a whole. The process is very competitive — more than 600 applications are received each year for an incoming class of approximately 25 students. All decisions are finalized in late February for admission in the coming fall.

When the decision is processed, an applicant will be able to access that decision online through ApplyYourself, where the online application was completed.

To access this feature, the same pin number and password is used from the application. If the pin and password were forgotten, the "Search" feature may be used in the User Login box to obtain that information.

All applicants should check the status of their admission decisions through this interface. Once an admission decision has been made, a link to "View Decision" will appear on the online application "Applicant Status" page. If no "View Decision" link is present, an admission decision has not yet been made.