Acing the Application for Kellogg’s Evening & Weekend MBA Program

By Emily Haydon, senior director of admissions, Executive and Evening & Weekend MBA Programs

Before you tackle the all-important application checklist, we would like to share some tips with you, so you can confidently ace the application for Kellogg’s Evening and Weekend MBA program.

Here are six key insights in what we look for in a strong application:

Provide your resume and career goals: The resume should be 1-2 pages and there is no specific format required. Try to keep it high-level, the less technical the better. Your resume will be reviewed by the admissions committee and your interviewer, so you want to make sure your bullets make sense to folks who may not be as intimately familiar with your job responsibilities.

We will also ask about your short-term and long-term career goals. We understand that these can change as your career journey unfolds, but we want to learn more about how your goals align with pursuing an MBA.

Submit two letters of recommendation: The first should come from your current supervisor. The second should be from someone senior to you who knows you and your work experience well. When you first reach out to the individuals who you’d like to write your recommendation letters, indicate to them why you are interested in Kellogg and discuss your career accomplishments and career goals.

Provide test scores and transcripts: Kellogg accepts both the GMAT and GRE, and no preference is given to either test. We encourage candidates to do their research on both exams and take whichever one is best suited to their strengths. If you have taken the exam multiple times and report more than one score, rest assured, the committee will utilize your highest score! Unofficial transcripts are submitted as part of the application, and don’t have to be sent directly from an educational institution at the time of application.

Submit written essays: This is where you have a chance to tell us your unique story. Since leadership and teamwork are integral parts of the Kellogg experience, our first essay asks you to describe a recent and meaningful time when you assumed a leadership role, either formally or informally. Discuss specifics such as career progression and promotions, increasing work responsibilities, and stretch projects you undertook in the workplace.

Go one step further and in the second essay, reflect on the values that have guided you in your life and work. What values are important to you and how have they influenced you?

We encourage you to offer details on your involvements and activities outside of work – such as passions, hobbies, and interests. Who you are as an individual will inspire how you shape your time at Kellogg.

All applicants receive an interview: This is completed after you submit your application. Culture and fit are two of the many important factors we take into consideration when evaluating applications, so it’s important for us to get a better idea of who you are outside your application.

Prepared with all of these insider tips, we hope you feel ready to start your application with confidence. Put your best foot forward, and help us get to know you. We can’t wait to hear your unique story! If you have any questions, we encourage you to schedule a chat with one of our admissions officers.