UPDATE: This article was originally posted on September 16, 2019. It has been updated with new information and tips below.

With its Global Hub, Kellogg of Management at Northwestern University has reinforced itself as a haven for collaboratively-minded leaders. 

However, getting a spot at Kellogg also requires a mix of serious smarts and a focus on community. 

That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your Kellogg interview to stand out. We’ve rounded up not only our best tips but have also included sample interview questions to ensure you give your Kellogg application your best shot. 

 

How the Kellogg MBA interview works 

Making sure you shine during your Kellogg interview, especially when the school interviews all applicants, is no easy task. 

Kellogg interviews, since they are conducted by alumni, tend to be slightly friendlier than interviews conducted by the admissions committee. Nonetheless, the interviewer is still trying to gauge how solid your motivations for wanting to pursue an MBA are, how interested you seem in the Kellogg program, and if you truly have a growth mindset. 

Interviewers often ask many standard MBA interview questions, as well as questions designed to test just how collaborative you really are. You can also expect numerous follow-up questions. 

Our clients who have interviewed with Kellogg in the past say that the interviewer was very friendly and demonstrated a genuine interest in their answers. Since Kellogg interviews all of its applicants, the pool of alumni interviewers is also larger and more diverse than most other schools. As such, though questions do tend to focus on standard MBA interview questions, be ready for anything. 

 

Who will interview you?

Kellogg has a rich tradition of alumni conducting admissions interviews. Occasionally, however, members of the admissions committee conduct interviews. Your interview may take place virtually. However, you will not be penalized in any way for completing an interview online as compared to in person. 

 

Will the interviewer have read my application?

The Kellogg interview is blind, meaning the interviewer will only have access to your CV. 

 

How long will the Kellogg interview last?

45-60 minutes. 

 

Who is Kellogg looking for?

(Photo courtesy of @kelloggschool on Instagram)

Growth is a key principle at Kellogg. 

According to Kellogg’s Admissions Team, “Growth is a challenge every leader and organization confronts – across sectors, markets, countries and economies. At Kellogg, we develop brave leaders who inspire growth in people, organizations and markets.”

Each year, Kellogg selects around 500 students to take part in its two-year program. Though there is no one “perfect” type of Kellogg student, the university does favor high test scores (the mean GMAT for the Class of 2024 was 729 and the average GRE score was 163 Quant, 162 Verbal). 

Additionally, Kellogg is committed to admitting a diverse class, as the composition of the Class of 2024 reflects. 48% of the incoming class are female, 38% are international, 37% are U.S. minorities, and 8% identified as LGBTQ+. 

However, at Kellogg, showing fit with the school goes far beyond having the right GMAT or GRE score. That’s why Kellogg also looks for a set of “soft” skills in its applicants.

In our experience, Kellogg also responds well to applicants with a demonstrated history of giving back.  

 

How can you prepare for your Kellogg interview?

Though no interview is 100% predictable, Kellogg interviews do tend to center around a fairly standard list of MBA interview questions. As such, we have prepared some model questions below that previous candidates have received in their past Kellogg interviews. 

 

Sample Kellogg interview questions

The questions below are drawn from our clients’ interview reports, as well as from sites like clearadmit.com. Though these are not all the potential questions you could possibly receive during your Kellogg interview, preparing for these (and any follow-up questions you think you might be asked) should give you a very solid foundation for your interview. 

 

RESUME – CAREER

1. Tell me about yourself. / Walk me through your resume. 
   1. Expect follow-ups These may be about a particular bullet point, a promotion/employment change, why you chose your major, why you chose your career, etc. 
2. Tell me about something that is missing from your resume that you’d like to tell me about?
3. Why did you decide to switch to the field that you chose?
4. How have you grown over the years?
5. Tell me about what’s challenging in your current role.
6. What are your current responsibilities?
7. What do you do outside of work?

WHY MBA / WHY KELLOGG

1. Why do you want an MBA?
2. Why now?
3. Why Kellogg?
4. What are your goals?
5. What is your backup plan in case your goals are not achievable? 
6. How will Kellogg help you achieve those goals?
7. How do you envision yourself being involved in the Kellogg community?
8. What clubs will you participate in?
9. How will you enhance the diversity of the Kellogg class? / What unique contribution do you bring to Kellogg?
10. What other schools did you apply to?
11. If you got into all of them, which would you attend?

TEAMWORK

1. Describe a difficult team situation you have had to deal with in the past.
2. Tell me about a time a team member wasn’t pulling his or her own weight. How did you handle it?
3. How would teammates describe you?
4. Tell me about a time you were part of a diverse team. 
5. Discuss a team failure you were part of. How did you overcome the situation? / Tell me about a situation in which you were part of a dysfunctional team, and what steps did you take to improve the situation.

LEADERSHIP

1. Who do you admire as a leader?
2. How would you describe your leadership style?
3. What is the most important aspect of leadership?
4. Tell me about a time you acted as a leader.
5. Have you ever worked under a bad leader? How did you handle this situation?

GENERAL BEHAVIORAL

1. If you could hit the reset button, what would you do differently?
2. Anything that may be considered a weakness in your application you would like to explain or expand on?
3. How have you grown over the years?
4. What are your main strengths and weaknesses?
5. Tell me about a time you took a risk. What did you learn?
6. What feedback have you used to improve yourself?
7. What is the importance of diversity in the workplace? 
8. Tell me about a time you experienced diversity. 
9. Tell me about a piece of feedback you received and how you acted upon it. 
10. Tell me about a time you were faced with an ethical dilemma. 
11. Tell me about a time you had to come up with a creative solution. 
12. What three words would you use to describe yourself?
13. What do people misperceive about you when first meeting you?

CLOSING

1. Is there anything you wished I had asked you or anything you’d like me to pass along to the admissions committee?
2. Do you have any questions for me?

We have found that, for most candidates, answering real interview questions on the spot is a much better means of preparation than reading a list of potential interview questions. As such, we highly suggest you take a look at mock interview questions and sample interview responses before your interview. 

Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of real interview mocks from Kellogg, as well as detailed guides to help you prepare for questions ranging from “Why our MBA program?” to “Tell us about a time you failed.”

The Ellin Lolis Consulting MBA Resource Center is your one-stop shop for interview success.

Click to join!

If you’re still not quite confident with your interview skills, our interview experts can help you craft your answers or prepare you for the Kellogg interview through mock interviews tailored to your profile. 

 

What to do if you get a question you haven’t prepared an answer for

Despite your most diligent preparation, you will almost always receive a question you had not prepared. 

First, stay calm and take a deep breath. You have already made it this far in the process, and one question will not trip you up!

Second, make sure you directly answer the question the interviewer asked you. For example, if the interviewer asks you about a time you had to deal with a difficult manager, make sure to tell a story about a difficult manager and how you handled the situation. 

If you’re having trouble thinking of an answer or an example to support your answer, however, take a drink of water to give yourself a few more minutes to think. If you really can’t think of an example from your personal or professional experience, you can use a hypothetical answer about how you would act in a certain situation. 

Finally, assume that the interviewer is testing how you think on your feet and respond to questions you didn’t prepare in advance. Though your answer might not be as polished as if you’d had weeks to rehearse it, smile and confidently give your answer to show you can respond to any question they throw at you. 

 

Effectively Tell Your Story During Your Interview

One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA interviews is that candidates fail to tell compelling, well-constructed stories about their profiles while also nailing the basics. 

Striking this balance between sharing STAR-format examples that show off your background while also presenting strong answers to questions like “Why do you want an MBA?” is a challenging task that requires significant thought and preparation. 

Because of this, it’s no surprise that, on average, 50% of interviewed applicants walk away without an offer. 

This is why our interview preparation process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting is known as the best in the industry. We offer customized 1:1 support that ensures you’re able to turn your application’s strengths into compelling answers that show fit and sell your profile in any type of interview. That’s why 98.9% of our complete consulting clients get into at least one of their target schools. 

This approach was critical to helping our client Daniel secure a spot at his dream school. 

Forget simulation platforms or long lists of tips – our 1:1 preparation focuses on playing to your strengths and overcoming your weaknesses to turn you into an interview expert. Hire our interview services here. VIP packages that allow you to work directly with Ellin sell out quickly, so make sure you sign up today!