Kellogg School of Management
Application Deadlines for 2026-2027 / Class of 2029
Round 1
Application Deadline: September 9, 2026
Decision Notification: December 9, 2026
Round 2
Application Deadline: January 6, 2027
Decision Notification: March 24, 2027
Round 3
Application Deadline: March 31, 2027
Decision Notification: May 12, 2027
Applications are due no later than 11:59 p.m. CST the day of the deadline.
The following are the main essay questions on the 2026-2027 / Class of 2029 Kellogg School of Management MBA application:
We encourage the kind of thoughtful reflection that can benefit from a sounding board, and AI tools may serve that role. However, the authorship of this essay must be your own. Kellogg is looking for your voice, your reasoning, and your story. Those cannot be outsourced. Please ensure your response references the specific program you are applying to and the goals that brought you to it.
ESSAY 1:
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? (550 words)
Video Essays 2025-2026
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 three questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today.
Some things to keep in mind as you prepare to complete this section:
- Video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.
- A video essay link will appear on your Application Status Page after you submit your application and payment.
- You will need an internet-connected computer with a webcam and microphone.
- The video should take about 20-25 minutes to complete, which includes time for setup.
Here are some additional tips:
- There are practice questions that you may complete as many times as you like to get comfortable with the format and technology. The practice questions and experience will simulate the actual video essay experience to help you prepare.
- We encourage you to practice so you are comfortable with the format once it is time to complete the official questions. You will not have an opportunity to re-do the answer to the official video essay questions.
- You will have a brief moment to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response.
Additional Information
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. (280 words)
Re-applicant Essay
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 word limit)
Visit the Kellog admissions website for more application information.
Disclaimer: the information provided on this page is for reference only. Applicants are strongly advised to visit the admissions website link provided above to confirm essay prompts, deadlines, and other application information.