Kellogg MBA Video Essays
https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/programs/full-time-mba/admissions/application-process.aspx
Possible Kellogg Video Essay Questions 2018:
• What possession or memento do you treasure most and why?
• If you had an extra hour every day, what would you do with it?
• What piece of technology could you not live without and why?
• What word describes you best and why?
• Tell us about the first job you ever had?
• What’s the best book you have ever read and why?
• When you have a problem, whom do you approach for advice and why?
• What accomplishment are you really proud of?
• What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?
• If you could witness any event..past present or future-what would it be?
• What one interesting / fun fact would you want your future Kellogg classmates to know about you?
• If you could teach a class on any topic. What would it be and why?
• If you were given a chance to meet anyone, current or historical, who would you meet and why?
• What was the most interesting class you took at University?
• Tell us about an organization or activity in which you have dedicated significant time. Why was it meaningful to you?
• Tell us about something good someone else did for you and how you felt about it?
• Tell us about the most interesting place you’ve traveled to. What did you enjoy most about it.
• Talk about a team disagreement and how you handled it.
• What invention during your lifetime has had the biggest impact on you and why?
• If money was not a concern. what would you do?
• Why did you choose your college major?
• What is the most meaningful thing anyone has done for you in your life? X 2
• If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
• What food do you like? Will you be able to eat that food everyday?
• How do you define success?
• How have you changed in the last 5 years?
• Whom do you respect most, and why?
• What is your favorite motto or quote, and why?
• Describe a leadership style you admire?
• What risk have you taken and what did you learn?
• What impact do you have on your co-workers?
• What inspires you?
• What are you most passionate about?
• What is your favorite song/artist/album?
• What superpower you’d want and why?
Video Essay Advice
Director of Admissions Melissa Rapp provided to Clearadmit some insight into the 2019 MBA application along with some great advice on how to prepare.
Rapp recommends using your video essay as your chance to tell your story in your voice. In the video portion, you’ll answer three questions:
- What path are you interested in pursuing? How will you get there?
- Why is this program right for you?
- Randomly generated question about overcoming obstacles.
When answering these questions, Rapp encourages applicants to speak from the heart and to avoid repeating phrases from their written essay. You’ll have a few practice questions to help you get comfortable; then, they’ll dive straight into the official questions. Think of the video portion like an interview more than an essay.
As for the technology, the Kellogg technical team is available 24/7 with questions or concerns, though Rapp says few if any candidates struggle.
VIDEO ESSAY DECODED {https://poetsandquants.com/2018/07/24/insider-analysis-how-to-ace-the-kellogg-mba-essays/}
Kellogg asks each applicant to complete video essay questions after submitting the application. The admissions committee is looking for your unscripted answers, which convey a sense of your personality and character. “Be yourself,” advises the school in its video essay Q&A, which also stresses that you prepare some fresh material and avoid regurgitating examples from your essays.
You can expect a “getting to know you” type of question. There’s no right answer to this one, so let your personality and poise shine through. Everyone will also get this Kellogg-specific question, “What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you?” This means know your 30 second career path pitch cold — how does your current experience tie into your desire to obtain an MBA, and how does that relate to what you plan to do longer term after you graduate?
The rest of the questions will be randomly generated of the interview variety. You’ll have 10 practice questions to warm up, which you can complete as many times as you want to get comfortable with the format and technology. That said, you won’t be able to re-do answers to the official video essay questions.
HERE’S A FEW TOP TIPS TO PERFORMING WELL ON THE VIDEO ESSAYS:
- Plan your answers: you’ll have 20 seconds to think about the question before you answer. Jot down a few bullets or talking points. It might be helpful to outline a quick structure, e.g., main answer, and supporting examples.
- Stand for more energy.
- Prepare for this question that Kellogg has revealed they will ask — “What path are you interested in pursuing, how will you get there, and why is this program right for you?”
The question that’s not asked here, that I recommend including in your response, is “Why are you interested in pursuing this path?” - Be prepared for a behavioral question on a conflict you’ve faced at work.
- Record yourself when you practice. What type of impression are you giving off? Are you friendly? Would others feel comfortable working with you?
- Don’t forget to smile — you’re on camera after all.
- Think through — if the person reviewing my video essay takes nothing else, what is the number one thing I want them to remember about me?