sample admission essay

Northwestern University’s business school, known as Kellogg School of Management, is one of the best in the country. Featuring a wide variety of courses, programs, and degrees, Kellog School of Management takes pride as an educational system that stresses the significance of team leadership and teamwork. Read on to learn more about this great business school and its MBA program.

Degrees offered

Kellog offers a number of different degrees, depending on the type of program that you go into. For the full-time MBA program, students can enroll in a 2-year or 1-year course. A dual degree program called MMM is a two-year program in which students can earn both an MBA from Kellog and the Master of Engineering Management degree from McCormick. The JD-MBA joint degree program is great for students who want to take up Law School courses. There are also part-time courses, executive MBA programs, PhD programs, certificate programs, and executive Education programs.

Alumni

Here’s a list of some of the notable alumni from Kellog School of Management:

* Jerome P. Kenney – Vice Chairman and Member, Executive Client Coverage Group of Merrill Lynch
* Thomas J. Wilson – President and CEO of Allstate Insurance Company
* Robert Wayman – former CFO of Hewlett Packard
* Robert P. Dotson – President & CEO of T-Mobile USA
* Douglas R. Conant – President and CEO of Campbell Soup Company
* Richard H. Lenny – Chairman, President, & CEO of The Hershey Company
* Joseph M. DePinto – President and CEO of Seven-Eleven

Rankings and reviews

Ranked fourth overall among national schools in US News & World Report’s Best Graduate Schools of 2011, Kellog is certainly among the best around. Some of the other national rankings of Kellog include 3rd from BusinessWeek, 8th from Forbes, and 12th from Wall Street Journal. The Economist ranked Kellog 15th among international schools and Financial Times ranked the school 21st among international schools.

Admission tips

Take some time to reflect on what you can contribute as a student of the Kellog School of Management. Try to focus on this when you write your application essay. The idea is to try and convince the admissions committee that you have a lot to offer to Kellog by enriching their student body with another unique person with a unique perspective.

Admission facts

Here are some admission facts gathered by BusinessWeek and published in 2009:

Graduate business school enrollment:

- Total: 2894
- Full-Time MBA: 1200
- Part-time MBA: 1150
- Executive MBA: 414
- PhD Program: 130
- Applications (admitted and denied) to the newest class: 5,268
- Applicants who were accepted to the most recent class: 19%
- Admitted applicants who enrolled in the newest class: 57%
- Applicants (admitted and denied) who were interviewed: 88%
- Admitted applicants who were interviewed: 100%

GMAT scores:

- Mean: 707
- Median: 710
- Middle 80% range GMAT scores: 650-760

Contact info

Kellogg School of Management
2001 Sheridan Rd
Evanston, IL 60208
General information: 847-491-3300

Full-time MBA Program:

Web site: kellogg.northwestern.edu/admissions
Phone: 847-491-3308
Email: MBAadmissions@kellogg.northwestern.edu

Getting a Master’s Degree in Business Administration seems to be an “automatic requirement” for many people in the corporate world these days. But knowing how to determine the prestige of an MBA program and choosing where you want to get your degree takes some careful planning and decision-making on your part. Otherwise, you could just be holding a degree (an expensive one at that) that won’t open too many doors for you.

Program Types

You can choose an MBA program depending on your situation in life. Taking up a part-time master’s degree may be better for working professionals who are available only at night or weekends; or you make enroll in one that requires you to be a full-time student for two years on average, if you can dedicate two years to learning. Distance education is available, where the class doesn’t meet on a fixed basis and the learning pace depends on the student. If you’re a non-traditional student , your needs may also differ. Executive programs will be better suited for those managers who have been at their jobs and just want to master high-level skills and strategic management.

School Rankings

Among those schools that you could go to, determining the prestige of an MBA program that they offer is fairly easy. Go with schools that garner respect from others in your field, because it doesn’t matter if you have a master’s degree if it comes from some unknown school nobody even heard of. One way to determine the prestige of an MBA program is look at your school’s ranking among others in a list, like the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) . Top schools on this list are there for a reason, and that’s because they really do offer programs that have a “global” appeal.

However, if you’re looking at an MBA degree as mostly a way to get promoted within your current organization, then an MBA program that has local cache would probably do the job. Again, determining a degree’s value depends on your intended purpose for it.

MBA Faculty

Another thing that is essential in determining the prestige of an MBA program of a particular school is the credentials of the faculty teaching the course. Former/retired CEOs and distinguished authors will be excellent gauges on the quality of the program a school offers. That’s not to discount managers and other people, however, because they will have valuable hands-on experience that they can pass on to their students.

Successful Graduates

The alumni of an MBA program will also be able to help you choose a program that is right for you, and you can see how closely their experiences parallel with your goals for getting an MBA. The success that they’ve had in their field will also be an excellent gauge determining the prestige of an MBA program.

Company Preferences

If you’re eyeing a career with a particular company, look into their history of employment and see the experiences they’ve had with graduates from particular schools. Companies will have preferences when it comes to their choice graduates of a particular school because of the good experiences they’ve had with these individuals, or because their board members are all from the same institution. This can greatly influence your choice of school.

Career Management

An MBA program should have a career management aspect, and these functions should have input on what they have to offer for your career. This function should also include feedback from students who have completed their courses, to be used a way to constantly improve their curriculum according to the changing times. This aspect on how to determine the prestige of an MBA program will also help you define your choices more sharply, and see if what they have matches what you need from an MBA.

Photo Credits: The Alieness

Deciding to enroll in an MBA program is an important decision, but even more significant is your decision of which program to take up. Some people choose to look at rankings to guide their decision. In truth, there is much more to consider when choosing the MBA program that is right for you.

Committing to Commitments

One thing that you have to be cautious of when choosing your MBA program is commitment. Not only do you have to mind your commitment to your program, but you must also be mindful of any prior commitments that you’ve made – such as a job or your family. Depending on your situation this factor has the potential to hold the most weight in deciding which MBA program you take. Luckily, there are many kinds of program types to choose from:

Part time vs Full time
One year vs Two years
MBA vs Executive MBA
Specialty degree vs Joint degrees

Although your commitments play a central role in this decision, there are other factors that will help you hone in on what is just right for you.

Key Elements

There are a number of key factors that will help you narrow down your choices. Most of these elements have to do with MBA schools and their accommodations.

Location – this will have an effect on where you live, what kind of people you will deal with, and the culture that you will encounter
Students and Faculty – a program that is culturally diverse and intellectually stimulating can broaden your view of business and challenge you to higher achievements
Networking – the people you work with will determine much about your comfort level and your future network
Accreditation – which of your subjects will be accredited when you enter your program of choice?
Cost – be sure to look into tuition, scholarships, and any other costs that may come about like living quarters

Choosing Success

Choosing a program that you find interesting, achievable, and beneficial to your future plans will greatly increase your chances of success. Talk to people who have taken the programs that you’re interested and try to discern whether or not the course is right for you. Ask for opinions, insights, and suggestions as to what school to choose, which program to take, and what program types to consider. There are many ways of determining what is right for you, it is just a matter of choosing success.

Click Here for customized MBA application services

photo credit: markhillary

How does one apply to a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) Program in the US?

Getting ahead in this world of information and technology requires not just the usual panache and street smarts. The foundation to sure-fire success is a good… no… make that an excellent, education. In most job opportunities, an undergraduate degree is enough. But if one really dreams of becoming a CEO, graduate and post graduate degrees are a necessity. What does an MBA mean and entail? How does one go about applying for an MBA?

Free sample admission essay outlines customized to YOUR biography
Free admissions essays examples

An MBA is graduate degree that can be attained at a university or college. It’s syllabus focus on the theoretical and practical training of its students. The aim of which is for the scholar to gain an even more thorough understanding of general business management functions as compared to an undergraduate degree. MBA degrees usually concentrate on the mastery of topics on accounting, finance or marketing.
Most major academic institutions offer MBA programs and the program can usually be completed within two years. Different universities have various criteria but there are standard essentials that one needs to take note of if one is interested in the acquisition of an MBA degree.
How to apply?
The application process for any program under any academic institution requires time, energy, and of course, money. Planning your course of action is important. Awareness of application schedules and deadlines in the university of your choice is a must. Plan and strategize! This will give you the much needed time to acquire the basic requirements.
The Basic Requirement
An undergraduate degree is a must. Your academic records in your undergraduate course will be your ticket in convincing MBA programs that you are worthy of admission. A four-year college or university is preferred. Your undergraduate transcripts will vouch for your abilities.
Other academic activities, such as extra classes outside of your course or academic papers that you were able to publish will also help your application.
The GMAT
More often than not, an MBA program requires an applicant to take the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and be accepted by the program based on its results. What exactly does the GMAT inspect in an applicant?
The GMAT basically examines the ability of the applicant to cope with the demands of a graduate program. The GMAT exam measures basic verbal, mathematical, and analytical writing skills that should have been developed in the span of years spent on one’s education and work experience. The cost for the GMAT exam is $250 worldwide. This is the standard rate but taxes vary depending on the countries where the exam will take place. Most business schools recognize the GMAT as an effective tool in assessing the competency of an applicant.

Does this automatically mean that passing the GMAT ensures an entry to any graduate program? Does this also mean that all who wish to study for an MBA have to take the GMAT? Not necessarily. Sometimes, the institution only requires more years of work experience or an excellent academic record in lieu of a GMAT.

Work Experience

Other graduate programs, like Master of Arts or Sciences degrees, do not require work experience but that is not the case with MBAs. MBA programs require work experience because the workplace is an excellent arena to test the capabilities of people. The responsibilities you were able to handle, the projects you were able to head or the tasks you were assigned to- these are all excellent qualitative ways in which business schools can gauge your talents and skills.

Essays, Interviews and Recommendation Letters

Like most job opportunities or academic applications, admission essays (also known as personal statements or statements of purpose) and interviews are necessary to give the university a sense of who you are and who are they basically admitting to their halls of learning.

Your essay should not only be perfectly composed in terms of delivery, content and grammar, it should also provide a glimpse as to who you are now and what you expect to become when you enter their program. This will impress upon the administrators your intellect and foresight. More importantly, it will underscore your seriousness in scholarly pursuits.

An interview is an indication that you are one step ahead in becoming a graduate student. The privilege of an interview means that your records speak for itself and that you are being considered for a spot in their school. Now, all you need to do is cement the good impression that you have given by being honest and forthright during the interview.

A good recommendation can make or break an application. It gives particular evidence of your skills and talents. People whom you should ask to give you an evaluation are your employers, colleagues, associates and peers.

Extra, Extra

Any other interests as evidenced in your extracurricular activities, community involvement and hobbies give insight to your character and personality. These should also be included in your application. You may have a chance to mention them in your application form, submitted essays and interview. Consistency is a must but a well-rounded personality is always appreciated.
Take note of all these and you are on your way to becoming a true blue scholar.

photo credit: lumaxart