Scott Edinburgh
January 20, 2023

Kellogg EMBA Application Deadlines and Essay Tips: 2022-2023

Kellogg has released its 2022-2023 EMBA application essay questions. This application cycle, the admissions committee asks candidates to respond to two essay questions. 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. On average, 2022 entrants had 15 years of work experience and 72% of students hold senior-level positions. The class consists of 46% US minorities, 35% women and 20% international students.

Below, Personal MBA Coach has shared the upcoming Kellogg EMBA application deadlines and our tips for completing the latest Kellogg EMBA essays.

2023 Kellogg EMBA Application Deadlines:

Round 1: April 19, 2023

Round 2: June 7, 2023

2022-2023 Kellogg EMBA Essays:

Kellogg EMBA Essay 1:

What are your short-term and long-term career goals? What have you already done to get there and how do you think Kellogg and an Executive MBA will help? (450 word maximum)

This first Kellogg EMBA essay is a very direct goals and why MBA question, and we recommend a straightforward response.

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. A strong answer here will be very specific and go beyond sharing your target company and role. Instead, tell the reader what specifically you hope to accomplish in these roles. Adding a brief perspective on how you arrived at these aspirations may also be relevant and helpful here, particularly if your goals are not obvious.

Finally, ask yourself what skill gaps you have that might prevent you from succeeding in these goals and how a Kellogg EMBA will help you close these gaps. Close this essay by sharing this detail with Kellogg. You should discuss not only the skills you are hoping to gain but also specifically how Kellogg will help you. To answer this 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. Do not include a laundry list. Instead, focus on a few key items. Think about classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with.

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:

Define what community means to you. Share an example of how you contribute to a community and how that contribution is impacting that community. (450 word maximum)

Through this second Kellogg EMBA essay, you want to convey a few equally important points: your sense of community, your understanding of what it means to participate in a community, and a realistic, thoughtful analysis of your impact on that community.

Start out by defining what community means to you: it could be your neighborhood or your city; it could be a group you belong to by religious affiliation or by ethnicity; or it could be a group you affiliate with through passion or commitment.

Then choose something you have done that has impacted this community: it should be something that is easily explainable and showcases your leadership, thoughtfulness, and engagement. Next, detail the effect you had through this achievement or contribution. For example, if your community is a cultural group you belong to, show how an event you organized brought greater awareness of the group, or widened the membership, or bettered the group somehow. If your community is centered on a cause—say fighting homelessness in your neighborhood—show how you engaged your skills to bring resources to the effort. Be practical and specific in showing your leadership, your use of your skills, and your impact.

Given that Kellogg’s other main EMBA essay is centered on your professional work and goals, if possible, pick an example outside of your day-to-day job. This essay can be a great opportunity to show another side of yourself: your sense of your position and role in the greater world.

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.).

Kellogg EMBA applicants should complete the optional essay prompt only if they have extenuating circumstances such as a low GPA or employment gap. 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.

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