The Kellogg EMBA application is now open. This application cycle, the Kellogg admissions committee asks EMBA and full-time candidates to answer two essay questions, both new for the 2024-2025 application season.
Applicants also have the choice of responding to an optional essay question.
If you are still determining whether the Kellogg EMBA program might be a strong fit for you, visit the program’s class profile to learn more about recently accepted students.
Below, Personal MBA Coach has shared the upcoming Kellogg EMBA application deadlines and our tips for completing the 2024-2045 Kellogg EMBA essays.
2024-2025 Kellogg EMBA Application Deadlines:
Round 1: January 29, 2025
Round 2: April 2, 2025
Round 2: June 4, 2025
2024-2025 Kellogg EMBA Essays:
Kellogg EMBA Essay 1: 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. (450 word maximum)
This first Kellogg EMBA essay is a very direct goals and “why MBA?” question, and we recommend a straightforward response. Brevity will be key as Kellogg asks EMBA applicants to share a lot of information in only 450 words.
Begin by establishing where you are in your career today. This question does not require you to walk through your entire resume. Instead, focus on your past just enough to establish your key skills as well as how and why you will succeed in the future.
Next, share both your short-term and long-term goals. It is common for EMBA candidates to remain in their current roles post-MBA, so do not feel compelled to develop a novel career goal here. That said, in some cases a career switch IS possible during an EMBA program.
Feel free to reach out if you are unsure which is the right option for you.
A strong answer here will be specific and go beyond sharing your target company and role. Instead, tell the reader what specifically you hope to accomplish in your career.
Once you have established your career aspirations, discuss any skill gaps you have that might prevent you from succeeding in these goals and how a Kellogg EMBA will help you close these gaps. This short essay should also cover your vision for how you will enrich the Kellogg community. To answer this part of the question, take the time to research all that Kellogg has to offer. Then, detail the opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus. Avoid vague statements or discussing offerings that would be available at any school.
A strong answer here will show that you have studied the school’s curriculum, resources, and culture in detail and that your plan and intent deserve a spot in the program.
Kellogg EMBA Essay 2: 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. (450 word maximum)
Check out Personal MBA Coach’s Kellogg full-time MBA essay tips for detailed advice on how to tackle Kellogg’s second required essay question. While the overall approach should be the same for EMBA applicants as it is for full-time applicants, it is expected that EMBA applicants have considerable leadership experience and have had their values tested during their careers. Try to pick a meaty story here that really gives you an opportunity to show how you live your values and give the adcom members a reason to believe that you will leave your future employer (and ideally the broader community) better than how you found it.
Optional Essay:
If needed, use this section to briefly describe any extenuating circumstances (e.g. unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, etc.).
Most Kellogg EMBA applicants will not complete this optional essay. Learn more about answering optional essays here.If you are looking for customized support during the EMBA application process, Personal MBA Coach is here to guide you through our Executive MBA admissions consulting packages. Personal MBA Coach’s team includes a former Kellogg admissions director and is the #1 MBA Admissions Consultant, according to Poets & Quants. Reach out today!
