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How to Answer Kellogg’s Video Essay Questions

If you’re applying to the Kellogg MBA program, you’ve likely seen that the application requires three video essays, which must be submitted within 96 hours (4 days) of the application deadline. For the 2024-2025 cycle, the deadlines are September 11 for Round 1 and January 8, 2025 for Round 2. These Kellogg video essay questions are a key part of your application, offering a chance to showcase your personality, communication skills, and leadership potential beyond your written essays. To help you succeed, we’ve compiled expert tips for approaching and answering Kellogg’s video essay questions. While the official instructions can be found on Kellogg’s website , we’ve added additional insights and strategies to help you prepare effectively and leave a strong impression.

Timing is Key

From a tactical standpoint, once you see each question, you will have 20 seconds to gather your thoughts and 60 seconds to deliver your response. Our top advice is to focus your practice on mastering the timing – a minute passes faster than you might expect! Over the years, we’ve worked with many clients, and most initially get cut off mid-sentence. To build your confidence, use the list of potential Kellogg video essay questions at the end of this article to practice answering them (out loud!) with a timer. Repeat this process several times to get comfortable speaking for exactly 60 seconds. Kellogg’s portal also offers practice questions to help you fine-tune your timing – use this resource!

Content Should be Complementary, not Repetitive

Our next word of advice focuses on content. Since the admissions committee will have already read your written essays, it’s important not to simply repeat what you’ve shared. Instead, Kellogg’s video essay questions provide a great opportunity to build on your application and introduce new details. Additionally, it’s a chance to showcase your personality. Feel free to have a little fun, especially with the first question, which will likely ask you to introduce yourself. For instance, you could mention a hobby you enjoy, or talk about your family, pets, or spouse. For the second and third questions, while you won’t know the exact prompts, they typically fall into common categories. With that in mind, review the list of potential questions at the end of this article and prepare a few brief stories. That way, you’ll have adaptable examples that can fit several different questions. These should be some of your best stories that didn’t fit into your written essays but are important for the admissions committee to hear.

Delivery is the Icing on the Cake (the Best Part, Right?)

Lastly, put thought and practice behind your delivery. This is what separates good video essays from great ones. Look directly at your webcam, speak slowly and clearly (a computer mic can sound muffled!), and – most importantly – smile!

In our experience, mindset is everything here. Put on the shirt or dress that makes you feel like a million bucks, imagine there is a warm, receptive face on the computer screen and talk directly to it. As we said earlier, this is likely the admissions committee’s only chance to see you ‘live’ (Kellogg’s interviews are done by alums), so make the most of it.

Practice Makes Perfect

When you sit down to record your video essays, it would be unwise to assume you have a comprehensive list of potential questions from a source you found on the internet so don’t get complacent. While Kellogg isn’t trying to trick you with these, they are looking to see how you think on your feet and whether you can communicate coherently and effectively. This is exactly what you’ll need to do in an MBA classroom and as a future business leader.

With that said, after grounding yourself in the stories you might leverage from your arsenal, take a stab at answering the following…in 60 seconds…on camera. Practice will help, even if you end up getting a question that surprises you.

• Introduce yourself by telling admissions something they wouldn’t already know from your resume. (**Note that this question or a variation of it is asked of all applicants**).
• Why is Kellogg the right program for you?
• Tell us about a time when you experienced a team conflict.
• Share an innovation you made in the past year.
• Tell us about a time you created value.
• Tell us about a positive impact that you made. Why was it important to you?
• Tell us about a time you solved a problem in a creative way.
• Tell us about a time you contributed to improving a process in your organization.
• Tell us about a time you worked with a diverse team.
• Tell us about a time when you initiated something that encouraged people to collaborate.
• What is the most challenging aspect of working in an internationally diverse environment?
• Tell us about a time when you faced a conflict on a team that affected its productivity. How did you face it?
• 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 were out of your comfort zone.
• Share a misconception people have about you. If you had the opportunity, how might you shift their thinking?
• What will your classmates be most surprised to learn about you?
• Share an important relationship in your life.
• Tell us about a time you experienced a professional failure. What did you learn from it?
• Tell us about a time you’ve asked for help.
• Tell us about a time you took a risk. What did you learn?
• What accomplishment are you proudest of?
• Tell us about a time you created an inclusive environment.
• Tell us about an organization or activity to which you have devoted a significant amount of time. Why was it meaningful to you?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• Who is someone you deeply admire and why?
• Whose leadership style do you 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?
• Talk about an environment you work well in and thrive in.
• How long have you considered an MBA and what have you learned about yourself / your goals in the process of doing so?
• Tell us about a life experience you’ve had outside of the classroom or the office that prepared you to pursue graduate-level education.

With a little practice, you’ll do great. Video essays tend to stress applicants out more than they need to. This might be easy for us to say from our seat at the table but view them as an opportunity more than a hurdle!

As always, we’re here to help, including with hourly advice on things such as interview skills and waitlist strategy. Click here to request an initial consultation .

Katie is a passionate mentor and coach, helping her clients craft a unique, compelling story by leveraging her experience as a corporate executive, alumni interviewer, and campus recruiter. Before completing her MBA at Kellogg, Katie spent five years in banking where she learned practical finance skills as well as how to operate in a demanding, high pressure environment. She pursued an MBA in order to transition to an industry role where she could utilize her finance knowledge to drive change within an organization. Post-MBA, she worked in finance and strategy for a leading CPG firm, progressing to an executive role leading the finance function for a $2B business segment. Her experience managing diverse teams led to a passion for developing others. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, she led her firm’s MBA recruiting efforts and served as an alumni admissions interviewer for Kellogg.

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How to apply to a Full-Time MBA

Tell us your story

Our application process is designed to give us a sense of who you are, what drives you and why Kellogg is the right place for you. 

We recommend becoming familiar with what is required for each section of the application. You’ll find information and key resources below to help you prepare, navigate and successfully complete your application.

Preparing to apply

Eligibility.

A bachelor’s or equivalent degree from an accredited college or university by the time of matriculation is required to apply. Previous study in business or economics is not required, with the exception of the One-Year Program . Since much of the MBA curriculum utilizes quantitative skills, we encourage students to complete introductory courses in calculus and statistics prior to enrolling.

Evaluation and assessment

When we evaluate our applicants, a few qualities really stand out to us, including the ability to push past comfort zones and question the norm. These responses and instincts help us understand if an applicant is ready to seize all of the opportunities that come with joining Kellogg.

The committee assesses your:

• Application responses
• Transcripts
• Test scores
• Letters of recommendation
• Interview report

Video essays

For international candidates, the committee also assesses:

• TOEFL, IELTS or the Duolingo English Test

Professional experience

The committee also values professional experience, including military service. We look for breadth and depth of skills and experiences to serve as a foundation for the MBA classroom. We look for people who are not afraid to question the status quo, can motivate a team to drive impact, and are eager to dive in and collaborate with an engaged, ambitious community of peers.

Choosing the right program for you

There is no "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to business, so why should your MBA be any different? At Kellogg, we are proud to offer six distinct Full-Time MBA Programs — One-Year , Two-Year , MBAi , MMM , JD-MBA and MD-MBA — all uniquely designed to fit your personal and professional goals. If you haven’t already, we highly encourage you to research all program options to make sure you’ve found the right fit for your needs.

Each applicant is allowed to apply to one full-time Kellogg program per year . Once you submit your application, you have the option to select one alternate Full-Time Program of interest and/or the Kellogg Evening & Weekend MBA Program. If you select an alternate program, you'll be asked to provide a short paragraph explaining your interest in the another program.

TOOLS + RESOURCES

• Take our quiz and see which program is right for you

To apply to Kellogg, you’ll need an updated version of your resume or CV, transcripts from all educational institutions, test scores and two recommendation letters. If you know you plan to apply but do not want to begin your application yet, we recommend beginning to gather these materials.

Writing your application

The most important thing you can do during this process is to be your authentic self. We can’t stress enough that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers. Rather, we encourage you to tell your story as authentically and honestly as possible, because we truly want to get to know you and the experiences that helped shaped you as a person, student and employee.

These components of the application are a core part of showing us your experience and aptitude so we can get a better idea of your ability to tackle the challenging MBA curriculum.

You’ll be asked to provide a current resume or CV as part of the application. It should be similar to one you would use for a job application, but tailored to a more general audience as it will be reviewed by those with different backgrounds. You are not obligated to submit it in a specific format or length. Instead, try to ensure our team can look at your resume and application and easily understand your professional background and accomplishments.

In addition to submitting a copy of your resume/CV, the application has an employment section. This is to provide us with a more in-depth understanding of your career history, key transitions between jobs, and promotions. Make sure to double-check the accuracy of the information in this section.

Work experience

With the exception of our Kellogg Future Leaders Deferred Enrollment Program , we strongly recommend that you have at least two years of full-time work experience upon matriculation. We firmly believe work experience will enrich your academic experience and allow you to fully participate in classroom discussions and group projects.

Your education is a major part of how you got here today, and we want to make sure we understand all parts of it. We ask that you list all colleges, universities and study abroad programs you have attended or are currently attending. Please note:

• If the grades you received from a study abroad program are on your transcripts , you do not need to submit a separate transcript for that program
• If the grades from your study abroad program are not included in your transcript , you’ll need to submit a separate transcript for that program
• Transcripts from transfer programs are not required if grades are included on the transcript of the degree-granting institution
• Hard copies of official transcripts are only required upon matriculation
• Your transcripts must have a conferred date. If it does not, you will need to submit a copy of your diploma and you must have a conferred degree prior to your expected matriculation to Kellogg
• Applicants accepted to the JD-MBA Program must submit two sets of official transcripts — one to Kellogg and one to Northwestern Law
• If academic records and diplomas are not originally issued in English, you must submit both the original record and an authorized verbatim English translation

All records must show your name, the name of the institution, enrollment dates, courses taken, units of credit, marks or ratings in each subject, and rank in the total class or group (if available).

Kellogg requires you to submit a GMAT, GMAT Focus, or GRE score; no preference is given to one particular test so choose the option that works best for you. If you’re interested in seeing a typical score range, check out our latest Class Profile . Note that we do not have a minimum acceptable score.

Please request that official test scores are sent to Kellogg by using one of the following school codes:

• Our GMAT and GMAT Focus code is 6WZ-3J-89
• Our GRE code is 7921

Important facts

• You must submit a complete application prior to the expiration date of your GMAT/GMAT Focus/GRE score. GMAT/GMAT Focus/GRE scores are valid for five years.
• Only valid test scores will be considered
• Test scores are just one criterion our admissions team considers and not the only indicator for success in business school

International students

If English is not your first language, we encourage you to read more about the additional English language proficiency test .

We want to get to know you. The written and video essays are your chance to tell us your story and why Kellogg is the right next chapter for you. Take some time to think through the experiences that led you here and how they have shaped where you want to go.

Written essays

The following two essays are required of all applicants:

Question 1 (450 words)

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

Question 2 (450 words)

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

Those applying to or listing a specialty program as their alternative choice will be prompted to complete an additional question. Re-applicants 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)

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.

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 to help you prepare.
• 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

Letters of recommendation provide insight into your experience and accomplishments as a leader through the eyes of someone else.

You’ll need to submit two letters of recommendation for your application to be considered complete. Ideally, one letter should come from a current supervisor or manager. The second should come from someone who can evaluate your professional performance and your managerial/leadership potential (e.g., former supervisor, previous employer, client).

Please choose your recommenders carefully as additional letters of support are neither required nor encouraged.

Recommender prompts:

• Kellogg has a diverse student body and values students who are inclusive and encouraging of those with differing perspectives and backgrounds. Please tell us about a time when you witnessed the candidate living these values. (300 words)
• How does the candidate’s performance compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (300 words)
• Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the candidate. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (250 words)

The application fee is $250. You will need to submit your payment via credit card within the application. Do not send payments directly to Kellogg.

Fee waivers are granted to:

• Active duty U.S. military applicants or U.S. military veterans who have been on active duty within three years of applying
• Candidates employed by Teach For America, Title 1 schools, AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps within the past three years
• Forte MBA Launch, JumpStart Network, Posse Scholar, Reaching Out MBA (ROMBA) and Riordan Program members, fellows and alumni. Those who request an application fee waiver at the time of submitting their applications will be prompted to provide supporting documentation for review

Provide supporting evidence of your current employment or military status. Military applicants should submit either a pay stub or a letter from a commanding officer to verify active duty status. For military veterans who have completed service within the last three years, please submit a copy of Form DD-214.

Candidates may not be considered for more than one program at a time. Please note that all application fees are non-refundable.

After you submit

The interview provides an opportunity for you to learn more about our community. It also allows the admissions committee to further evaluate your interpersonal and communication skills, career focus and motivations for pursuing a Kellogg MBA.

Virtual interviews

All interviews are virtual. You will receive an email regarding the status of your interview and scheduling instructions.

Interview waiver

Due to the high demand for interviews and the limited availability of interviewers, you may receive an interview waiver. If your interview is waived, the admissions committee may contact you if further information is needed to make a decision on your candidacy.

All interview requests are final

You may not change the time of your interview after it is scheduled. If you are unable to attend your interview, please contact the Office of Admissions at 847.491.3308 to cancel your request and the office will issue an interview waiver. Waivers do not have an impact on an applicant’s candidacy; we will reach out directly if further information is needed to render a decision.

You may submit employment changes, grades for recent classes, or new test scores to your application after submitting it. We encourage you to add this update directly to your application. To do this, please sign in to your application and then add your update in the supplemental information page. Please note that, due to admissions cycle timing, there is no guarantee that we will be able to consider updated information prior to rendering a decision.

You’ve invested time, energy and resources into completing your Kellogg application, so no doubt you’ll want confirmation that your application was received. And we want you to have that peace of mind, too! So, once you submit your application, you can log back in at any time to view the status and double-check that all sections were successfully completed.

You can check your application portal  for your decision.

Application dates and deadlines

Application questions talk with our admissions team..