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As I have done on other essay tips, my comments are in red. Kellogg's copy is in black.

Kellogg 2007 MBA Application Submission Deadlines

Round 1: October 20, 2006

Round 2: January 5, 2007

Round 3: March 9, 2007 

2007 Kellogg Application Essay Questions

1. All applicants must complete A, B, or C as appropriate.

A. Master of Business Administration applicants only. Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at the Kellogg School. (one to two pages double-spaced)

This question is the same as Kellogg's #1 for the last several years.  Kellogg wants to know your goals and how Kellogg will help you achieve them. As I have said repeatedly, goals are front and center in the MBA application. You need to connect the dots between your past, your desired future and Kellogg to answer this question well. Thought and research are prerequisites for this essay.

Just today we received an email from a client who started working with us last year. In the mail, he thanks his advisor for pushing him to clarify  his goals -- which he didn't want to do. He now recognizes how important they are. 

(There are variations of this question for MMM and joint degree applicants. Click on the link above for exact wording.)

2. Each of our applicants is unique. Describe how your background, values, academics, activities and/or leadership skills will enhance the experience of other Kellogg students. (one to two pages double-spaced)

Again, the same as last year (and if my memory serves me, the last several years). What are you going to bring to the Kellogg party that every other IT professional, investment banker, marketer, and consultant cannot bring? Is it a commitment to community services? a sports craze? musical talent? dance ability, auto racing, a unique personal story? This essay begs for an anecdotal approach and individuality.  However, don't forget Kellogg's commitment to community and teamwork. If you can show those qualities too, this essay will be a home run.

3. You have been selected as a member of the Kellogg Admissions Committee. Please provide a brief evaluative assessment of your file. (one to two pages double-spaced)

Evaluations, hmm. Does that mean the kind of objectivity your grandmother provides? Definitely not. Clearly you are trying to market yourself so you should emphasize the positive and provide a cogent argument for acceptance using Kellogg's criteria, but most of you will have weaknesses in your profile. What compensates for them? Why should Kellogg admit you despite your weakness? This is a great place to show why a substandard GMAT or GPA should be overlooked.

In general you want each essay to reveal something new about your experience. How can you do so with this question, which by its very nature requires you to use the information found in other parts of your application? Include at least one or two elements that you either discussed in your interview or intend to discuss in your interview. Or go into more depth about something mentioned in an application box or your resume, but clearly this essay is not going to provide a lot of new information.

Someone recently asked me about the first sentence in the question. That sentence implies you should pretend you are an adcom member and evaluate your file. Don't ignore that intro.

4. Complete three of the following six questions or statements. (two to three double- spaced paragraphs each)

A. What have been your most significant leadership experiences to date?

Last year's questions included this question and added, "What was the most valuable lesson learned?" I suspect they dropped the second question because the analysis was coming back sounding all the same. "I learned blah blah blah..." However, don't be fooled. While the adcom does not necessarily want to know what you learned, it will want more than just a description of this experience. Include analysis and reflection. What did you learn? Why is it so significant? Why were you successful? or not? What was the impact of your leadership?

Don't be taken in by Kellogg's teamwork mantra and laid-back reputation. Employers wants to see leadership in Kellogg's grads, and you need to show leadership in your application -- especially in answering this question.

B. Describe an ethical dilemma that you faced and how it was resolved?

Please see :

• #3 in "Solving the Puzzle."
  
• B-School ethics.
  

C. Outside of work I…

enjoy doing what? Again, if you have multiple pleasures, choose one that shows teamwork or other qualities Kellogg values.

D. Describe a professional situation where you were able to successfully persuade others to see things your way.

New this year. The instructions are quite clear. Choose a professional situation not discussed in other essays where you used persuasion, not rank or title, to get others to follow your lead.  

E. I wish the Admissions Committee had asked me…

Have fun with this one. Again let this essay show a different facet than is revealed by the other essays.

F. Since your previous application, what are the steps you have taken to strengthen your candidacy? **

** Question 4F must be answered by all re-applicants as one of the required three questions.

No trick questions here. How are you a better candidate today than when Kellogg rejected you last time? Have you addressed weaknesses in your previous application?. If you aren't sure where you fell short, see if you can still obtain feedback from Kellogg or obtain an MBA Application Review.

Responding to the Kellogg application essays will tell the committee a lot about you, your character, and your interests -- if you do a good job.  It is a solid and comprehensive set of questions. And Kellogg provides them to you early enough to get a head start.

If you want to start now on your Kellogg application, please keep in mind that Accepted.com is running an Early Bird Special through the end of this month: 10% off all essay packages. In addition we just introduced our Kellogg consulting and Editing Comprehensive Packages. They too are 10% off this month. Start your applications early, submit first round, and save money.