Kellogg School of Management Essay Guide

Quick facts: Kellogg 2026–2027

Why Kellogg essays are different

Kellogg's 2026–27 application has one required written essay of 550 words in two parts. Part I covers the pivotal experiences and decisions that brought you to this point in your career, how they shaped your ambitions, and why now is the right time. Part II asks what you hope to contribute to the students who will learn alongside you. Full-Time MBA applicants also record five video essays of up to one minute each, due 96 hours after the application deadline. Kellogg's own announcement says the cycle brought “one written essay for all programs and five short video essays for the Full-Time MBA Programs,” which replaces the two 450-word essays of earlier years. Re-applicants add a 250-word essay. Round 1 closed September 9, 2026. Round 2 closes January 6, 2027 and Round 3 March 31, 2027. MBA Essay Critic is an AI tool, not affiliated with Kellogg. It critiques the written essay against a rubric built from both parts of the prompt. It does not review video answers.

• 01

  What Kellogg says it looks for

  “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.” Source: https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/admissions/ft-admissions/ft-how-to-apply/

• 02

  Answers both parts (25%)

  Part I covers experiences and decisions, ambitions, and why now. Part II faces outward, toward what you contribute to classmates. A missing or token Part II costs points.

• 03

  Decisions and ambition (20%)

  Pivotal choices explained, and ambitions that are credible.

• 04

  Collaboration and team impact (20%)

  Motivating others, collaborative leadership, and challenging the status quo constructively.

• 05

  Why now / readiness (15%)

  Clear logic for the timing.

• 06

  Specificity and voice (10%)

  Concrete details, and a voice that sounds like you.

• 07

  Balance and concision across 550 words (10%)

  Roughly proportionate parts, within the limit.

Some prompts are shortened here; the school's application site has the exact wording. Kellogg application site

Essay (Part I + Part II, 550 words total). Part I: Tell us about the pivotal experiences and decisions that have brought you to this moment in your career, how they have shaped your ambitions, and why now is the right time to take this next step. Part II: Beyond what you hope to gain, what do you hope to contribute to the students who will learn alongside you?

550 words limit

Grade with this prompt

Re-applicant: 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?

Optional · 250 words limit

Grade with this prompt

1. 01

   List the pivotal experiences and decisions that led you here. Keep the ones that explain both your ambitions and your timing.

2. 02

   Write a one-line answer to “why now” before drafting. Part I needs it.

3. 03

   For Part II, write down what classmates would gain from learning alongside you, based on things you have actually done for peers or teams.

4. 04

   Draft both parts, then check the balance. 550 words covers both, so neither part should shrink to a token paragraph.

5. 05

   Paste the full essay into the critique. It grades Part I and Part II together, against both halves of the prompt.

A strong Kellogg essay answers all of Part I: the experiences and decisions, how they shaped the applicant's ambitions, and a clear reason the timing is right. It then turns outward in Part II with a concrete picture of what classmates would gain, backed by evidence of how the applicant has motivated or supported teams before. Both parts get real space within the 550 words.

Want to see a fully scored example? Read a real HBS essay critique

• ✗ A token Part II

  Part II asks you to “turn the lens outward.” A closing sentence about contributing does not answer it.

• ✗ Part II as a list of clubs

  The question is what you give to the students alongside you, not which groups you will join.

• ✗ No “why now”

  Part I asks why now is the right time. Leaving it out skips a third of the question.

• ✗ Recycling a retired Kellogg essay

  The leadership/“lasting value” and values essays from earlier cycles no longer exist. A reworked old draft usually answers the wrong question.