Kellogg School of Management has opened its application for the 2026–2027 application cycle.

Looking for help with your Kellogg MBA applications?

Below, Personal MBA Coach answers your top questions about the 2026-2027 requirements and shares our tips on how to tackle this year’s essays.

Plus, Personal MBA Coach’s team includes Frenk Nebiu. Frenk is a former Kellogg Admissions Director with 8+ years of professional experience across consulting, higher education, and nonprofits.

Reach out today to find out how the Personal MBA Coach team can support you with your Kellogg applications through our Comprehensive Packages.

When are the 2026–2027 Kellogg MBA Application Deadlines?

Kellogg’s 2026-2027 MBA Application Deadlines are as follows:

Round 1: September 9, 2026

Round 2: January 6, 2027

Round 3: March 31, 2027

What has changed in the 2026–2027 Kellogg MBA Application?

The short answer is a lot!

Kellogg no longer has two required essays for all applicants. Instead, there is one 550-word essay.

Following an ongoing trend, Kellogg is challenging applicants to convey more information in a shorter space. (Last year, Kellogg applicants had 900 words across the two essays.)

Writing MBA Essay

What is the 2026-2027 Kellogg Full-Time MBA Application Essay question?

This year, the Kellogg essay question is:

Essay (550 words max)

Part I: An MBA is a significant investment of time, energy, and resources, and the decision to pursue one deserves serious reflection. 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: Now turn the lens outward: beyond what you hope to gain, what do you hope to contribute to the students who will learn alongside you?

How do I approach the 2026-2027 Kellogg Full-Time MBA Application Essay?

Part I: To approach this essay, Personal MBA Coach recommends that you begin by touching on your past experiences and successes, explaining how they informed and motivated your goals. (Keep in mind, Kellogg will ask you to share your short-term and long-term goals elsewhere in the application. Remember to select goals that are logical, ambitious, and achievable. For more on how to think about MBA goals, check out this blog).

The question does not require you to walk through your entire resume, and we do not recommend doing so. However, you should expand on the key experiences that have shaped your aspirations. You will want to select experiences that best highlight your key skills and explain how and why you will succeed in the future. Equally as important, you want to share the why behind your goal. Are your goals personally motivated? Did you uncover a gap that you hope to close in your career to date? These are just a few of the questions you want to ask yourself.

Next, as in past years, Kellogg is looking for you to explain why now is the right time to pursue an MBA.

Part II: In this section, demonstrate the value you will add to the Kellogg community by highlighting the unique perspectives, experiences, and expertise you will bring to campus. While this essay is not a classic personal story essay, you should consider your specific areas of expertise (either personally, professionally, or both) and how you might share them with your peers and the broader Kellogg community.

While it is important to research Kellogg’s unique offerings, do not simply include a laundry list of things you will do on campus. Instead, be thoughtful about selecting a few specific classes, clubs, or programs that interest you and explaining how you will add value.

Kellogg MBA Program Essay Advice and Application Deadlines

Are there any additional Kellogg MBA Application Essays?

No, not this year! Applicants to the One-Year MBA, MBAi, JD-MBA, or MMM program do not need to write any additional essays this year.

For those unfamiliar with the MMM program, it is a dual degree program offering graduates both an MBA from Kellogg and an MS in Design Innovation from the Segal Design Institute at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science.

What if I am a reapplicant?

Reapplicants will be asked to answer an additional essay discussing their growth:

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)

If you are reapplying to Kellogg, make sure to use the required reapplicant essay to demonstrate growth, showing Kellogg how you are better positioned to succeed since your last application. Topics to cover include promotions, improved test scores, and extracurricular improvements. We advise candidates to review our tips for reapplicants before tackling this essay.

Does the Kellogg MBA Application include a Video Essay?

Yes! Kellogg has historically included video essay questions. This year, Kellogg increased the number of required videos from 3 to 5 so plan accordingly!

“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 five questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.”

This component of the application offers admissions committee members the chance to learn more about you on a personal level.

Once you submit your application and payment, you will be able to access the Kellogg video essay through your application status page. The school has not shared these essay questions in advance, and applicants have 96 hours to complete their video.

It is worth noting that last year, the first question was: “Please introduce yourself to the admissions committee by sharing something about yourself we would not know from reading your resume.”

Read Personal MBA Coach’s tips for handling videos and other Kellogg MBA application extras.

Is there an optional essay?

Yes! Check it out below:

We know that life is full of extenuating circumstances. Whether you want to explain gaps in work experience, your choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance or something else, you can use this section to briefly tell us anything we need to know about your application. (250 words max)

Personal MBA Coach always advises to tread carefully here, as less is more with optional essays.