How do I write good Kellogg MBA essays?

Question

Ranjan J · Accepted Answer

Writing strong Kellogg MBA essays isn&rsquo;t just about structure &mdash; it&rsquo;s about showing who you are beyond the resume. Kellogg looks for leaders who are thoughtful, collaborative, and self-aware.
Here&rsquo;s what helps:

Use team-focused stories &mdash; not just leading, but lifting others. For example, a time you stepped back so someone else could lead speaks volumes at Kellogg.
Be specific in the &ldquo;Why Kellogg&rdquo; essay. Mention things like the MMM program if you&rsquo;re into design + business, or how you plan to contribute to clubs like Net Impact or Kellogg Board Fellows.
The tone matters. Kellogg essays should sound confident, not overly polished or salesy &mdash; especially since they also evaluate tone during the video essay.
For the video essay: Practice casual clarity. It&rsquo;s not a TED Talk &mdash; they want to see how you think and communicate in real life.

For essay samples and Kellogg-specific strategies , you can read this "Kellogg MBA Essay Guide".

T Mehta · Answer

Writing good Kellogg MBA essays starts with showing how your experiences connect to the school&rsquo;s culture of collaboration and leadership. The first essay usually asks about a leadership or teamwork experience, and this is where structured storytelling (situation, action, result) works best. Share a real example where you influenced others or supported a team goal, not just a personal achievement.
Clarity matters more than polished language. Be direct when explaining short-term and long-term goals, and tie them to Kellogg resources like pathways, clubs, or professors. For the second essay, which often focuses on values or personal motivations, admissions officers want authenticity&mdash;why these experiences matter to you, not just what you did.
One mistake many applicants make is writing generic content that could fit any school. Kellogg values authenticity, so personal stories tied to collaboration will stand out much more.

V Ritik · Answer

The hardest part of Kellogg MBA essays isn&rsquo;t the writing&mdash;it&rsquo;s knowing what to leave out. Many candidates try to list every achievement, but the essays are designed to dig into personality and decision-making.

Pick 2&ndash;3 strong stories that highlight leadership, teamwork, or resilience. Quality is better than quantity.
Use detail. Saying &ldquo;I led a project&rdquo; is flat, but describing how you handled conflict or motivated teammates makes the story come alive.
Show growth. Kellogg readers want to see how challenges changed your perspective.
Don&rsquo;t forget culture fit. Explain how you&rsquo;ll contribute to the community&mdash;through clubs, recruiting support, or group projects.
Prepare for the video essays too. Kellogg uses short on-camera responses to see how you communicate spontaneously, so practice answering concisely and naturally.

A point often overlooked: adding some personality or humor (when genuine) can make the essays feel more relatable, which fits Kellogg&rsquo;s collaborative culture.
For more details you can read this blog on "Kellogg  MBA essays"