Debunking four myths of the One-Year Program
Richa Jatia ’26 One-Year MBA Program
When I was deciding whether to apply to the One-Year MBA (1Y) Program at Kellogg, I heard a lot of opinions — some helpful, some wildly speculative and some confidently incorrect. Writing this in February 2026, I’m eight months into the program, with the benefit of lived experience (and a calendar that still feels full every day).
So, if you’re considering an MBA and deciding between the one- and two-year programs at Kellogg, debunking some common one-year MBA myths might help.
Here’s the behind-the-scenes view from a 1Y — hope it helps and inspires your own MBA journey!
Myth 1: The One-Year MBA limits your Kellogg network
Before starting Kellogg, I kept hearing that it’s more challenging for 1Y students to build relationships across programs; the sense was that 1Ys mostly stay within their own circle. This genuinely worried me, but here’s what I’ve learned since:
- You absolutely build meaningful friendships across all Kellogg programs.
- The 1Y MBA community itself is unreal.
Summer quarter remains one of my favorite quarters. The 1Y program starts in June — before the Two-Year MBA class arrives in the fall — and being surrounded by other 1Ys allows us to bond quickly. Imagine: beach volleyball, the Global Hub all to yourself and zero social anxiety because everyone is invited to everything. Taking core courses together meant we were seeing the same people in class, group projects and social settings, helping deepen relationships.
A summer quarter cohort favorite was Business Strategy with Professor Jeroen Swinkels. The case discussions were dynamic with people bringing perspectives from different industries, geographies and leadership experiences. The early closeness developed inside and outside of class becomes an anchor, not a bubble.
By the time the fall quarter begins, that foundation makes it easier — not harder — to branch out. Some of my closest friendships are with people in entirely different programs. You sit next to someone in class, then run into them again at a club meeting, then end up on the same trip and suddenly they’re a constant. The lines between programs blur very quickly here, in the best way.
Myth 2: You won’t get a full, rich MBA experience
Several months into Kellogg, I can say this plainly: my MBA experience has been immersive, vibrant, exhausting and energizing — exactly what people romanticize when they talk about business school.
Yes, the 1Y runs on a shorter timeline than the traditional two-year experience. But shorter does not mean less than. If anything, the experience feels more concentrated. As 1Y students, we know that White Party, Super Bowl Ad Review and Trolley Night, won’t come around again for us. So, we show up. We’re usually the first ones to say yes and the last ones to leave.
The key difference is intentionality. You do need to be more focused on what you want out of your MBA. And if you have a rough focus on that, the 1Y will deliver a very real, very complete MBA experience.
Myth 3: You need a lot of work experience
During KWEST — one of the most popular pre-academic experiences at Kellogg — for the first few days, no one shares the usual introductory details: where you’re from, what you studied, what you do or even which Kellogg program you’re in. These details are shared later during the Big Reveal, but the anonymity helps create common ground from the start.
At one point, someone tried calculating my career experience based on my stories and confidently thought I wasn’t a one-year MBA student, believing that they all have 7+ years of professional experience. The reality is much broader.
Some of my peers are early in their careers while others in the cohort have 10+ years of work experience. Like most MBA programs, the range is wide, and the diversity is real.
While there are many sponsored 1Y students — since they plan to return to their companies after their MBA — the 1Y mix mirrors the broader Kellogg ecosystem. There are plenty of aspiring entrepreneurs, marketers, product managers, consultants and social impact folks like me. The one caveat I’ll offer is this: if a summer internship is essential for the career pivot you want to make, the 1Y program may not be the right fit, since it doesn’t include a summer internship. Outside of that specific consideration, I believe that most of the fears people have about the 1Y MBA just don’t hold up in practice.
Myth 4: You have access to fewer opportunities
As a 1Y student, you can do almost everything any other Kellogg student can do. You may need to be more deliberate about which opportunities you say yes to but access itself is not the limiting factor.
Personally, I’m in the Accelerated Board Fellows Program, competing in the Turner MIINT Impact Investing Competition, part of the Tech Crew for Kellogg’s musical, Special K! and serving as the director of the Education Industry Club — these just scratch the surface of my extra and co-curricular activities. None of these were limited by my program, only by how many hours I was willing to stretch in a week.
At Kellogg, you can do as much or as little as you want whether you’re in the 1Y or the other Full-Time MBA Programs. The 1Y compresses the timeline, but it doesn’t shrink the playing field. With less time, you get sharper about what actually matters to you; and in my opinion, that focus ends up being an advantage.
Embracing the one-year B-school experience
Looking back on these first eight months, I can say the 1Y MBA at Kellogg has been everything I hoped for and more. It’s intense, fast-paced and packed with opportunities to learn, connect and grow. Choosing between a one or two-year MBA program is a deeply personal decision, but if any of the myths I’ve shared have been giving you pause, I hope this has offered some clarity.
My advice for anyone considering the 1Y MBA: lean in, be intentional about what matters most to you and take on experiences you wouldn’t otherwise. Trust me, it won’t disappoint.
Read next: How the One-Year MBA delivers a full experience on a purposeful timeline
The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of the Kellogg School of Management or Northwestern University.