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16 things every Kellogg MBA applicant should know

Kellogg MBA Facts and Statistics

The Kellogg School of Management is known as the first business school in the world to begin interviewing student applicants to assess their leadership potential and suitability.

Today, along with GPA and GMAT scores, “fit” is an important element in the admissions process in many b-schools around the world.

Here are some other interesting facts and figures about the school, with a focus on its two-year full-time MBA program.
 

16 things every Kellogg MBA applicant should know

 

Location

The Kellogg School of Management of the Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinoi, about 20 km north of downtown Chicago. Evanston lies in Cook County near Lake Michigan and is home to the university and 75,000 residents. Evanston grew over the decades mainly because it is accessible from Chicago by rail. It has these rail links even today, but there are also other modes of transportation—buses, cars, and bicycles. Moreover, walking enthusiasts have miles of sidewalks.

The top employer is Northwestern University, with about 9,500 employees. Evanston is a “truly urban suburb,” with its residential localities, parks, beaches, and recreational facilities. Its housing districts and accessibility from Chicago have made Evanston a popular filming destination — Home Alone 3, Dennis the Menace, and many other popular films were shot here. It has witnessed coordinated efforts on sustainability by its government, people, and organizations.

Evanston has a cold and temperate climate. There is a lot of rainfall, and the city records about 900 mm of precipitation each year. The lowest precipitation is in February and the highest in July. July is also the hottest month, with an average temperature of 23 degrees C. The lowest average temperature occurs in January, -5.2 degrees C.
 

Campus

The Kellogg School Global Hub, the 415,000 sq. ft. facility where the full-time MBA program is conducted, is located in Northwestern’s Evanston campus, and gives great views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. The main element of the building, opened in March 2017, is the Collaboration Plaza, a 6,000 square-foot space, with Spanish steps, used for discussions and gatherings.

The Faculty Summit, a 9,000 square-foot atrium, and the White Auditorium are also part of the Global Hub. The Hub’s 15 high-tech classrooms support many types of learning. Most Kellogg students live in Evanston, and enjoy its restaurants, shopping centers, film theaters, and art galleries, while some prefer Chicago.

The McManus Living-Learning Center, an apartment complex exclusively for Kellogg students, can accommodate single students, couples, and families. Kellogg students have access to Northwestern’s recreational sports and sports facilities. A health service for students is available on campus.
 

Ranking

Kellogg is placed 12th in FT’s 2018 Global MBA Ranking. Business Insider ranks it fourth (2017) among US business schools, along with Stanford and Sloan.

US News’ 2018 list gives Kellogg the same position among US b-schools as does Business Insider, along with the same schools mentioned by Insider.
 

Faculty

The Kellogg faculty comprises scholars and researchers who bring knowledge of real-world problems to their classroom training. They use teachings methods such as case studies and field studies, seminars and simulations.

Research is a major activity at Kellogg, and faculty members have developed many new theories in fields such as banking, strategy, marketing, and game theory. Several research journals are edited at Kellogg, including the “Journal of Economics and Management Strategy” and “Games and Economic Behavior,” which were founded at Kellogg. Dean Sally Blount has about 150 academic staff members to support her in her work.
 

Programs

Kellogg conducts two full-time MBA programs with durations of one year and two years. The one-year MBA program, the fastest way to a Kellogg MBA, allows qualified students to bypass core courses and focus on electives that can help in their career journeys.

The two-year program provides mastery in multiple disciplines and explores a wide range of electives and learning opportunities.

The MMM program helps students build good foundations in business management and design innovation, and graduates receive an MBA from Kellogg and an MS in Design Innovation from the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

The JD-MBA program allows students to become business leaders with legal expertise or pursue law careers with business management knowledge. Evening and weekend MBA programs, executive education programs, and MS in Management Studies are also available.
 

Curriculum

Kellogg’s two-year full-time MBA program starts in September with the students working on nine core topics and then moving on to their electives. Expert faculty impart fundamental knowledge but also provide the latest in course innovation.

Students are given settings that allow them to develop their leadership skills. Multidisciplinary courses, over 1,000 experiential learning opportunities, and exchange programs in 20 countries are other program features.

Students may choose one of seven majors or none at all. Students who do not choose a major graduate in “General Management.” Kellogg also offers students pathways to explore their interests in the evolving industries, such as data analytics, growth and scaling, and social impact.
 

Application requirements

The eligibility for Kellogg’s full-time two-year MBA is a college-level education equivalent to a four-year baccalaureate degree from the US. A degree from a three-year undergraduate program, as offered by institutions in India, may be accepted.

Students are evaluated for their scholastic ability, personal character, motivation, leadership ability, interpersonal skills, career performance, and management potential.

Personal essays, academic transcripts, GMAT/GRE scores, letters of recommendation (one from a current manager and another from a former supervisor), TOEFL/IELTS scores, and video essay are among the requirements. The application fee is $250.
 

Fee, expenses

The estimated (2017-18) expenses for the first year of the two-year MBA program is about $100,000, including tuition $69,000, room and board $17,000, and personal expenses $3,150.
 

Scholarship, aid

Admitted international students are considered for all merit-based scholarships. Among the scholarships are the Diversity Scholarship, James P. Gorter Scholarship, Forte Foundation Scholarship, Kellogg Scholarship, Kellogg Growth Scholarships, Frederick C. Austin Scholarships, and Donald P. Jacobs International Scholarships.

Need-based scholarships are also offered. Students can also opt for private student loans but may need a US cosignor in most cases. Scholarships are also available for students entering their second year with proven leadership skills and academic excellence.
 

Admission statistics

The two-year MBA Class of 2019 has 478 students with 42 percent women and 35 percent international students. The average GMAT score is 732 and the range 600-780.

The average age is 28 years and average work experience 5.1 years (range 3.5-7, for the middle 80 percent).

Twenty-seven percent of students have an industry background of consulting, 20 percent financial services, and 12 percent tech/communications. Forty-nine percent are undergraduate majors in economics/business, 30 percent in STEM, and the rest in humanities.
 

Career development

Kellogg’s Career Management Center helps students draw up a career plan, evolve job-search strategies, and connect with recruiters.

The CMC’s basic principles for the student are “aspire, explore, and mobilize.” The Kellogg Job Board posts 5,000 job listings every year for Kellogg alumni.
 

Jobs after MBA/employers

Ninety-six percent of Class of 2016 students received a job offer within three months of graduation, and 93 percent accepted job offers. Thirty-three percent took consulting jobs, 22 percent tech jobs, 14 percent consumer goods jobs, and 13 percent finance jobs.

Thirty-nine students accepted full-time positions in startups or started their own business. As many as 200 companies—from AT Kearny to Cisco, Dell to Google, Microsoft to Tishman Speyer—hired Kellogg graduates.
 

Salaries

The median salary of the Class of 2016 graduates was $125,000 and the median sign-on bonus $25,000.
 

Alumni network

The Kellogg alumni network, which consists of 60,000 members across various industries in 100 countries, shares their resources with new graduates and students.

There are over 70 regional, industry, or special interests clubs that help graduates stay in touch. The network provides a comprehensive alumni directory and also information about events and networking opportunities.
 

Notable alumni

The list of Kellogg’s notable alumni includes James L. Allen and Edwin G. Booz (founders of Booz Allen Hamilton), Arthur E. Andersen (founder of Arthur Andersen), Tony Vernon (CEO, Kraft Foods), Brad Blum (CEO Emeritus, Burger King), Mallika Chopra (President, Intent), Kushagra Bajaj (CEO, Bajaj Hindusthan), Vinita Gupta (CEO, Lupin), Roshni Nadar (CEO, HCL), Sally Blount (Dean, Kellogg), and Christopher Galvin (former CEO, Motorola).
 

USP

Kellogg’s mission is to develop “brave leaders” who inspire growth in people and organizations. The school enables students to become thought leaders and exemplary problem-solvers. It offers an environment that is supportive, requires teamwork, and inspires innovation.
 

 
MBA Crystal Ball asked Melissa Rapp – Director of Admissions – Full Time MBA & MSMS Programs, Kellogg School of Management – if there was anything else that she’d like Kellogg aspirants to know. Here’s what she shared:

1. Video essay – Kellogg is unique in that we are one of the only top school that features a video essay component in our application process, requiring students to answer several short video essay questions which are designed to bring to life the person we have learned about on paper.

2. Global Hub – Our new, 415,000-square-foot Global Hub took seven years of planning, more than one million human work hours, and materials from 17 countries to create what is both a beautiful and deeply functional space.

3. Global opportunities for students – From club trips to international learning experiences, Kellogg provides opportunities that equip our students for the global marketplace, including 37 exchange programs across 20 countries.

4. Career Management Center –96% of students from the Class of 2016 received full-time offers within three-months post-graduation. Of the 22-percent of Kellogg students who took jobs in the technology industry this past year, about half got jobs through on-campus recruiting through the CMC and the other half through a more individualized search in close partnership with the CMC.

5. Alumni network – Kellogg has more than 60,000 alumni strong in more than 100 countries, spanning almost every industry and endeavor. Kellogg also has more than 70 regional, industry or special interest alumni clubs, allowing graduates to connect with one another in their own communities.

 
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Kellogg MBA: International student experience, H1B, OPT and life after MBA
Compare Kellogg vs Booth – M7 B-Schools
 
Resources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21


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7 thoughts on “16 things every Kellogg MBA applicant should know”

  1. Hi Sameer,
    Thanks for all the wonderful advice you give to all of us. I am an engineer MBA with 7 year post MBA work-ex (no pre MBA work ex) in corporate banking domain (MNC banks) after MBA from IIT Roorkee. I have competed CFA & FRM from USA as well.

    I want to pursue second MBA from abroad (not sure currently weather would want to come back to India or stay abroad after MBA) with aim of getting better roles in corporate world which currently are available to IIM/top 10 MBA college graduates. However, do not want to write exams like GMAT, etc but at same time want to pursue second MBA only from top colleges. Please advise if this is possible. If yes, which are good colleges who take candidates without GMAT.

    best regards,

    Reply
  2. Hello Sir, I was going through this website for proper guidance and information regarding MBA. I am doing BAF (Bachelor of Accounting And finance) which is of 3yrs course . I am planning for MBA after completing my BAF, i just wanted to know that what exactly does MBA does in helping students to evolve in better personality. And when should i join classes for entrance exams , because right now i am having vacations and i have completed my 1st year. Sir i know that doing MBA from well affiliated institution gives you a better position than others, and I want to get admission in IIM-A . Sir i need to know in what way i have to improve myself.
    Hope that i would get your response and it will help in all possible manner.
    Thank you
    Ismail Contractor.
    from mumbai.

    Reply
  3. Hi Friends,

    Please guide me as , I wanna persue MBA but in a doubt, as which programme will be much suitable.As Iam from Industrial Engg background and have almost 5 years of work expereince. IT industry. My marks are as given:

    10th – 63%
    12th -58%
    Engineering -62%

    Also guide me are category students given preferance in PGPX programme in IIM’S or ISB.

    PLease do suggest ASAP.

    Reply
  4. hi sameer

    i am working in one of the manufacturing industries from the past 9 years in ERP technology in IT .I want to change my job but unable to do so due to no skill updations in my profile.I had tried PMP (35 hour course) also but still unable to change my job.I want to know what is best course suitable for me in order to switch or shall i change my stream.please guide

    Reply
  5. Hi Sameer,
    I have just completed my graduation from St. Xaviers. Wanted to enquire whether management consulting firms are interested at all to hire people with just bachelors and if yes then which are the companies which will hire bachelors?

    Reply
  6. @Rahul: You are making it too difficult for yourself with all those criteria. Take the GMAT and look at these programs that accept second MBA applicants: https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2013/01/21/second-mba-in-usa/

    @ismail: Here are some benefits of getting an international MBA: https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2016/08/31/benefits-of-international-mba-degree/

    However, it would not be the right degree for you at this stage. You can look at CAT options in India if you can’t wait for a few years.

    @swaranjit: There is no reservation for 1 year programs offered by the IIMs or ISB. Here’s how to select the right business schools for your MBA: https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2016/02/03/how-to-select-business-schools/

    @Rohini: Try switching from the manufacturing industry into an IT services company. You’ll find tons of additional roles that you can get into.

    @Hridaya: Consulting firms do hire bachelors as well, and not just MBA students. However, the colleges where they recruit are quite limited and you’d have to be among the top performers there (in all respects, not just acads)

    Reply

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