Evaluative Interviews
The Admissions Committee requires every applicant to request an evaluative interview. The Admissions Committee evaluates on-campus and off-campus interviews equally. The interview provides an opportunity for the applicant to learn about Kellogg. It is also an opportunity for the Admissions Committee to further evaluate an applicant’s level of maturity, interpersonal skills, career focus and motivation. However, the interview is only one criterion used in the admission decision. The interview is conducted based on the resume only. The interviewer will not have reviewed the application prior to the interview. Each applicant must bring a current resume to his or her interview. Off-campus interview candidates must email a resume ahead of time to the interviewer. All interviews will be conducted in English.
Chicago-area applicants must request an off-campus interview unless applying to the JD-MBA program. The interview requirement will be waived for Chicago-area applicants who request an on-campus interview. On-campus interviews are reserved for applicants with less direct access to Kellogg.
On-campus Interview Request
Applicants requesting an on-campus interview should wait two business days after submitting Part I to schedule their on-campus interview. Interviews may be scheduled by calling the Office of Admissions. On-campus interviews are conducted by a member of the admissions staff or student admissions interviewers. Interviews are conducted Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from September through April and on select Saturdays from late fall until early spring. On-campus interviews typically last 30-45 minutes.
Off-campus Interview Request
Applicants requesting an off-campus interview will be notified of their assignment or waiver via email within eight weeks of submitting Part I. Off-campus interviews are conducted by the admissions staff or members of the Kellogg School’s Alumni Admissions Organization (AAO). An email may be sent requesting the candidate register for a Kellogg Interview Day (KID). The vast majority of candidates, however, will receive an email notification with the interviewer’s contact information. Because applicants may not receive emails due to spam filters, we encourage applicants to periodically view the Check Application Status page on the Kellogg Full-Time website. The interviewer’s contact information will be posted on this page when an assignment is made.
The candidate is responsible for contacting the interviewer to arrange for a mutually convenient time and location. We strongly recommend the interview be completed within 21 days of receipt of the assignment. We encourage applicants to contact the interviewer immediately upon notification. Candidates who do not contact their interviewer in a timely manner may receive an interview waiver. We recognize delays in conducting the interview may result due to scheduling conflicts. If an interview will take place more than 21 days after the assignment is made or if the interview is scheduled to take place within three weeks of the decision release deadline, please notify the Office of Admissions so we are aware the interview has been scheduled.
One-Year (1Y) and international applicants who apply in Round 3 and request an off-campus interview may be selected to interview by invitation only.
Interview Waiver
The Office of Admissions will make every effort to assign an off-campus interview to each candidate who requests one. However, in areas of heavy demand or remote location, candidates may be offered an interview by invitation only or receive an interview waiver. Candidates with less than two years of full-time work experience may be selected to interview by invitation only. Waivers have no negative impact on one’s candidacy. Each year, many applicants who receive waivers are admitted to Kellogg. If an interview is waived, candidates should not attempt to schedule an on-campus interview. All applicants may make one interview request only.
Phone Interview
If an off-campus interview request is waived, the admissions office may contact the candidate to schedule a telephone interview. The interview may be used to gather additional information or material that will help the Admissions Committee make a final decision. Applicants who receive a waiver may not request a telephone interview.
All Interview Requests Are Final
Due to the high volume of interview requests, all interview requests (on- or off-campus) will be final; you may not change your interview request after submission. If you are unable or no longer wish to interview, please contact the Office of Admissions to cancel your request. We understand that cancelations may take place due to unforeseen circumstances. A waiver will be granted and will not have a negative impact on your candidacy. Once you submit an interview request, you must be prepared to complete an interview as soon as it is assigned.
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Academic Transcripts
Kellogg requires applicants to list all colleges, universities and study abroad programs attended or currently attending. For each program, we require a scanned copy of the transcript or an uploaded electronic version provided by the institution. Transcripts for study abroad programs are not required. Transcripts for transfer programs are not required if the grades are included on the transcript of the degree-granting institution. Self-reported transcripts will not be accepted. Hard-copy official transcripts will be required upon matriculation only. Applicants to the JD-MBA Program who are accepted and opt to matriculate must submit two sets of official transcripts — one to the Law School and one to Kellogg.
Applicants who scan images of transcripts should ensure that all sides and pages of the transcript are included in the scanned document and the candidate’s name and the name of the institution are clearly visible. Be sure the scanned version is legible. Submission of an illegible document will result in an incomplete application and possible delay in rendering an application decision.
If academic records and diplomas are not issued in English by the institution, you must submit both the original record and an authorized verbatim English translation. All records must show the applicant’s name, name of the institution, the dates of enrollment, courses taken, units of credit, marks or ratings in each subject, and rank in the total class or group (if available).
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Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
All applicants are required to submit a valid GMAT/GRE score. (JD-MBA applicants must submit a GMAT score, not a GRE score.) GMAT/GRE scores are valid for five years. The complete application (Parts I and II) must be submitted prior to the expiration date of the GMAT/GRE score. Information about the GMAT is available here and information about the GRE is available here.
Applicants should self-report GMAT/GRE scores in Part I of the application. If a test date is scheduled after the applicant wishes to submit Part I, the scheduled test date should be recorded in the GMAT/GRE Test section of the application. Updated test scores can be self-reported in Part II of the application. Submission of additional test scores after submission of Part II will be accepted, but there is no guarantee the new score will be evaluated at the time the file is reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Official score reports can be emailed to mbaapplicant@kellogg.northwestern.edu.
Please note, an application with no self-reported GMAT/GRE score will be considered incomplete until a score is received and will likely result in a delayed notification decision after the designated application deadline. For applicants taking the GMAT: The Kellogg School will record the highest score but encourages applicants to report additional scores if the test is taken more than once.
Candidates must request that scores be sent to Kellogg. Allow three weeks for Kellogg to receive the scores. To prevent processing delays, we strongly recommend that candidates upload the official GMAT/GRE score report (if available) to Part II of the application in addition to having the official scores sent.
- The GMAT code for the Kellogg Full-Time MBA Program is 6WZ-3J-89.
- The GRE code for the Kellogg Full-Time MBA Program is 7921.
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Letters of Recommendation
Two letters of recommendation are required for admission. If an applicant has applied within the last two years and received a decision, only one letter is required.
Ideally, one of these recommendations should be written by a current supervisor or manager. The second recommendation should be from someone who can evaluate the applicant’s professional performance as well as their managerial and leadership potential (e.g. a former supervisor, previous employer, client, etc.). If applicants are unable to ask a current supervisor or manager for a letter of recommendation, they should include a brief statement regarding their choice in the Additional Information section of Part II of the application.
The application is not considered complete until Kellogg has received both recommendations. Submitting the recommendations through the school’s online application is required.
Additional letters of support are neither required nor encouraged.
To ensure that the recommenders can be contacted, please apprise the Office of Admissions of any changes to their contact information.
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Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Proficiency in reading, writing and speaking English is required of all Kellogg students. Classes and group work demand strong English language skills. A valid TOEFL score is required for all candidates who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents. TOEFL scores are valid for two years. The complete application (Parts I and II) must be submitted prior to the expiration date of the TOEFL score. Candidates must request that TOEFL scores be sent to Kellogg. To prevent processing delays, we strongly recommend that candidates upload the official TOEFL score report (if available) to Part II of the application. International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores are not accepted as a replacement for TOEFL scores. International students may qualify for an exemption if one of the following criteria is met:
- The applicant completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university in the United States.
- The applicant completed an undergraduate or graduate degree at a college or university where English was the ONLY language of instruction.
Applicants who qualify for an exemption must provide the exact URL or additional documentation that states English was the only language of instruction. Graduates of Indian institutions whose website does not explicitly state English is the language of instruction should provide the URL from the school’s home page.
- The TOEFL code for the Kellogg Full-Time MBA Program is 1546.
Application Fee ($250)
Candidates using the online application must remit payment by credit card with the application and should not send the fee directly to Kellogg. The Kellogg School will grant an application fee waiver for active duty U.S. military applicants or U.S. military veterans who have been on active duty within three years of applying. Fee waivers will also be granted to candidates who are currently employed by Teach For America or the Peace Corps, or who have successfully completed their commitment within the past three years. Candidates who qualify for an application fee waiver must submit a formal request, before submitting Part I, via email to mbaadmissions@ kellogg.northwestern.edu and provide supporting evidence of their current employment or military status. Military applicants should submit a copy of Form DD-214 to verify active duty status within three years of applying. The Kellogg School cannot issue a refund after Part I and the application fee have been submitted. Refunds will not be issued for incomplete applications.
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