Kellogg emphasizes leadership that’s inclusive and collaborative. In this in-depth Kellogg MBA Interview Tips, we cover:
• Format
• Duration
• Style
• Scheduling
• Location
• Do’s
• Don’ts
• Interview Questions
Format
The interview format is blind, which means the interviewer has access only to your resume.
Duration
Kellogg MBA Admissions interview lasts between 30 to 45 minutes.
Style
The interview is conducted by Alumni, Admissions Staff, or Current Students, and the style of the interview is conversational.
Scheduling
Interview for All: Applicant schedules their own interview within 6 weeks of the application deadline. Kellogg allows all applicants to schedule an interview.
Location
In the recent application cycle, the interview format has been entirely virtual.
Do’s
Know Your Resume and Be Ready to Walk Through It with Depth
Kellogg values deep reflection, so when you walk through your resume, go beyond simply recounting the roles you’ve held.
Take a story-driven approach: discuss why you made the decisions you did, what obstacles you faced, how you grew, and how those decisions prepared you for Kellogg.
Share insights about your professional journey, whether it's a leadership role, an innovative project, or a personal challenge. This allows your interviewer to connect your experiences to the collaborative and self-aware leadership Kellogg values.
Demonstrate Strong Collaborative Leadership
Kellogg emphasizes leadership that’s inclusive and collaborative.
Don’t just describe moments where you led a project; focus on how you enabled others to lead within the team.
Share examples where you helped build consensus, facilitated diverse opinions, or led by empowering your team.
Highlight moments where you moved beyond your individual goals to achieve team success.
Make it clear that you're someone who understands that leadership is about lifting others and making sure that everyone is contributing to a common goal.
Show Intellectual Curiosity About the Program
Kellogg is looking for students who are intellectually curious, who engage deeply with the program beyond just its rankings.
Show that you’ve researched the school’s specialized programs, such as Global Lab, Kellogg’s Social Impact Program, or the Kellogg Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative.
Be specific: What professors or electives excite you?
Which student clubs or initiatives resonate with your career goals? This signals your long-term interest in Kellogg and how you plan to contribute to the community.
Be Clear on "Why Kellogg?"
One of the most critical questions you’ll face during your interview is,“Why Kellogg?” This isn’t just about Kellogg’s reputation but about how the school aligns with your unique goals and values.
Kellogg is known for its collaborative culture.
Team-based learning is core to its curriculum, ensuring you thrive not just individually but as part of a collective.
Be sure to emphasize how you value teamwork, and how you’ve demonstrated this in your professional and academic experiences.
Also, discuss Kellogg’s strong entrepreneurship focus.
With initiatives like the Kellogg Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative (KIEI) and the Kellogg Venture Lab, the school offers you the chance to turn your ideas into real-world projects.
Whether through Global Lab, where you’ll tackle business challenges in global markets, or exchange programs with over 20 global business schools, Kellogg’s focus on global exposure is a great opportunity for you to highlight.
Finally, don’t forget to speak about authentic leadership, an essential part of Kellogg’s culture.
The school encourages leaders who are not only skilled but also deeply self-aware and empathetic.
Reflect on how you align with this approach, perhaps through past leadership experiences where you exhibited empathy and self-awareness, helping teams and communities thrive. This combination of collaboration, entrepreneurship, global perspectives, and ethical leadership makes Kellogg unique, and showcasing how you resonate with these elements will set you apart.
Be Open About Challenges and Mistakes
Kellogg values resilience and learning from setbacks.
Don't be afraid to talk about when things didn’t go as planned, but more importantly, explain how you adapted and learned from those experiences.
Kellogg is looking for leaders who bounce back and see failure as a growth opportunity.
Share a story that highlights your ability to overcome difficulties and emerge more effective.
Build Connections with Your Interviewer
While you should be professional, don’t shy away from letting your personality shine through.
Kellogg prides itself on a culture where authenticity is key.
Use the interview to build a genuine connection with your interviewer, ask thoughtful questions about their experiences, share insights about your personal background, and engage with enthusiasm.
If you demonstrate your genuine interest in Kellogg’s community, it will reflect positively on your application.
Talk About Your Long-Term Vision and the Impact You Want to Have
Kellogg is looking for leaders who are driven by a sense of purpose. When asked about your long-term career goals, don’t just talk about climbing the corporate ladder.
Kellogg is interested in students who are motivated by something larger than themselves, whether it’s creating social impact, launching a sustainable business, or reshaping an industry.
Make it clear that you see the MBA as a platform for meaningful change and that you understand how Kellogg's values align with your vision.
Focus on Your Global Perspective
Kellogg prides itself on offering students global exposure, both in and outside the classroom.
Mention impactful international experiences, whether they are through your work, studies, or personal life.
If you’ve worked in global teams or handled cross-cultural challenges, highlight them.
Show how Kellogg’s international learning opportunities, such as Global Initiatives in Management (GIM), align with your goals and how you will bring a global mindset to the classroom.
Demonstrate Your Interest in Innovation
Kellogg is a powerhouse for innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Kellogg Innovation Network (KIN) and Global Lab allow students to apply their skills to create meaningful solutions to real-world problems.
If you have experience launching a project or taking calculated risks, share it.
Make sure to explain how Kellogg’s resources will help you continue to innovate and how you see yourself contributing to its entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Stay Calm and Collected Under Pressure
Interviewers may present you with difficult or unexpected questions.
Kellogg values composure and emotional intelligence.
So, it’s important to show that you can handle pressure with grace.
If you don’t know the answer immediately, take a deep breath, think critically, and walk your interviewer through how you would approach the problem. This not only demonstrates problem-solving skills but also that you're not afraid of ambiguity, a key quality in business leadership.
Don’ts
Prepare and work on the Delivery
While preparation is important, Kellogg values authenticity. Avoid giving answers that sound like they're straight from a template or a “how-to” guide. Your stories should feel genuine and natural, not memorized.
One way to do that is by working on your delivery and narrating your script as if the words came from your memory.
Don’t Overlook Teamwork
Kellogg wants leaders who thrive in collaborative environments. If your answers focus solely on personal achievements, you might miss the mark. Even in moments where you led, highlight how you collaborated with others.
Don’t let your response suggest that you are a “lone wolf.”
Kellogg is looking for applicants who demonstrate how their success is intertwined with the success of others.
Don’t Give Generic Answers to "Why Kellogg?"
Admission committees can spot a "one-size-fits-all" response from a mile away.
Saying something like "Kellogg has a great reputation" or "I’ve heard it’s a top business school" won’t differentiate you from other applicants.
Make sure you understand what makes Kellogg unique and why its values, culture, and offerings align with your personal goals.
Discuss specific aspects of the program that resonate with you, such as the collaborative environment, the focus on leadership development, or the global perspective Kellogg provides.
Personalize your answer by connecting your experiences and aspirations to Kellogg’s resources or community.
Don't Be Vague About Your Goals or Experience
It’s tempting to give a broad, generic answer, especially when discussing your career goals or leadership experiences, but this can hurt your application.
Admission officers are looking for clarity, specificity, and depth. Instead of saying, “I want to work in consulting and help companies grow,” focus on why consulting is your passion and how your previous experiences have uniquely prepared you for this role.
Explain the "how" and "why" behind your career journey. Provide examples of specific projects you've worked on that demonstrate the skills you're looking to further develop. The clearer and more focused you are, the better you will communicate your drive and purpose.
Don't Over-Emphasize Personal Achievements Over Team Successes
MBA programs, especially Kellogg, which highly value collaboration and teamwork.
While it’s important to highlight your individual contributions, don’t overshadow the importance of working within a team.
Overemphasizing personal achievements can come across as self-centered or lacking in humility.
Instead, ensure that you demonstrate your ability to lead, support, and contribute to team efforts. Even if you’ve worked on individual projects, show how those projects impacted the team, department, or company as a whole, emphasizing collective success.
Don’t Rush to Answer Questions Without Thinking
Take a moment before you respond.
Kellogg is looking for thoughtful, deliberate responses.
While speed can be important in some environments, thoughtful reflection is what Kellogg values in decision-making. Pause for a second to gather your thoughts, don’t feel like you need to fill every silence immediately.
Don’t Be Negative About Your Past Experiences
Even if you’ve faced challenges or difficult times in your career, avoid framing them in a negative light. Instead, focus on what you learned from the experience and how it has made you stronger or better prepared for the future.
Kellogg wants leaders who have a growth mindset, not those who dwell on the past.
Interview Questions
Career Path & Motivation
1. Walk me through your resume.
2. Why Kellogg? Why now?
3. What are your short-term and long-term career goals?
4. Why is now the right time for you to pursue an MBA?
5. How do you plan to make the most of your time at Kellogg?
Leadership & Teamwork
6. Tell me about your leadership experience.
7. What do you believe are your strengths and weaknesses as a leader?
8. How do you approach conflict resolution in teams?
9. What is the most challenging team project you’ve worked on?
10. How would your colleagues describe your leadership style?
11. What’s your experience working in global teams?
Problem-Solving & Innovation
12. Tell me about a time when you had to innovate to solve a problem.
13. Describe a time when you had to work with a difficult colleague. How did you handle it?
14. Tell me about a time when you had to navigate ambiguity.
15. Share an example of when you failed, and what you learn from it?
Personal Contribution & Fit
16. How do you plan to contribute to Kellogg’s community?
17. What do you think sets Kellogg apart from other MBA programs?
Work-Life Balance & Stress Management
18. How do you prioritize when juggling multiple projects?
19. How do you handle stress or pressure in fast-paced situations?
Ambitions Beyond Academics
20. What do you want to achieve during your MBA beyond academics?