We are excited you’ve decided to apply to the Kellogg School of Management and look forward to learning more about you. Our application process is designed to give us a sense of who you are, what drives you and why you think the Kellogg Evening & Weekend MBA Program is a good fit for you.
The most important thing you can do throughout this process is to be your authentic self. We can’t stress enough that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers. Rather, we encourage you to tell your story as genuinely and honestly as possible, because we truly want to get to know you and the experiences that shaped you into the person you are today.
Take a look at the sections below so you can become familiar with what is required for the part-time MBA application. We’ve included helpful articles, videos and blog posts to reference as you prepare for and complete each part.
If you have any questions during the application process, we’ve got you covered. Our admissions team is on hand and eager to help.
Alyssa Jackson, director of admissions for Kellogg’s Evening & Weekend MBA Program, takes you through the Kellogg application process and provides tips and insights on how to make your application shine.
When we evaluate our applicants, a few qualities really stand out to us, including the ability to push past comfort zones and question the norm. These qualities help us understand if an applicant is ready to seize all of the opportunities that come with joining Kellogg.
The committee assesses your:
The committee also values professional experience, including military service, that has provided a breadth and depth of skills and experiences to serve as a foundation for the MBA classroom. We look for people who can motivate a team to drive impact and are eager to dive in and collaborate with an engaged, ambitious community of peers.
There is no "one-size-fits-all" when it comes to business, so why should your MBA be any different? When you start your application, choose between the Evening MBA or Weekend MBA schedule, and decide if you want to follow a Traditional or Accelerated pace to earn your degree.
Curious to see if you qualify for the Accelerated Option ahead of time? Complete this form and we will let you know if you are eligible for it within a few days.
The Evening & Weekend MBA program also offers an Emerging Leaders opportunity for high-achieving young professionals with less than three years of work experience. This fully integrated MBA experience lets motivated, rising stars earn an MBA earlier in their careers while they continue to build upon their work experience.
A Commuter’s Perspective on the Kellogg Weekend MBA Experience
Santosh Subramaniam (E&W 2020) provides a glimpse into his weekend commute from Florida to Chicago via planes, “L” trains and automobiles.
These components of the application are core to evaluating your experience and aptitude, giving us a better idea of your ability to tackle the challenging MBA curriculum.
The resume or CV you submit as part of your application should be slightly different than the one you would typically use for a job interview. You’ll want it to translate your professional background and accomplishments to a broader audience, since it will be reviewed by an admissions committee of people with different backgrounds. There is no specific format or length required.
Along with your resume or CV, we ask that you fill out the employment section of the application. Although it may seem repetitive, this gives you the opportunity to go into greater detail about your career achievements and history, including key transitions between jobs and any promotions you’ve been awarded. Make sure to double check the accuracy of information in this section.
We also ask you to include your short-term and long-term career goals in your application. It’s possible for your goals to change as your career journey unfolds, but we want to see that your goals have been thought through and make sense for an MBA.
My #1 Tip for Completing the Kellogg MBA Application
Check out tips from current Full-Time and Evening & Weekend MBA students on completing the application.
Part of your history includes your educational background. You must have completed an undergraduate degree at an accredited U.S. college or university, or its equivalent in another country, before you can apply to Kellogg.
On your application, you will list all colleges, universities and programs you have attended or are currently attending. You do not need to list study abroad programs or transfer institutions as long as all transfer courses and grades are reflected on your transcript.
For the initial application process, our admissions committee can review the uploaded copy of transcripts from institutions in the United States. Once admitted, we require that official transcripts from each institution attended be sent directly to our office from the institution.
International Transcripts: If you have transcripts from an institution outside the United States, you must have it evaluated on a course-by-course basis by a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) in order to submit your application. The course-by-course evaluation will serve as the official transcripts for studies completed outside the United States. Visit naces.org/members for a list of all university approved agencies.
Official electronic transcripts can be requested from the Institution and emailed to: eveningweekendmba@kellogg.northwestern.edu
Mail official sealed transcripts to:
Kellogg School of Management
Evening & Weekend MBA Program
340 E. Superior St., 2M
Chicago, IL 60611
All records must show your name, the name of the institution, enrollment dates, courses taken, units of credit, marks or ratings in each subject and rank in the total class or group (if available).
Kellogg accepts GMAT, GRE, EA, MCAT and LSAT test scores for the Evening and Weekend part-time program.
If you graduated with an undergraduate GPA of 3.4 or greater with a degree in business, economics or STEM from an accredited institution, you are eligible to apply without a test score. Graduates from Northwestern University’s undergraduate programs are eligible to apply without a test score, regardless of degree.
Instructions on how to apply with or without a test score can be found in the application for admission. Meeting test score requirements for optional submission does not guarantee admission to Kellogg.
For additional guidance on testing requirements, please connect with an admissions officer directly at eveningweekendmba@kellogg.northwestern.edu.
You can request official GMAT and EA score reports to be sent to Kellogg through www.mba.com by using code 6WZ-3J-66.
To submit official GRE score reports, please use the code 7921.
GMAT, EA and GRE scores expire after five years, so it’s important to submit your completed application before the expiration date. If you’ve taken either test more than once, we strongly encourage you to submit all scores. (We will only record the highest score, however.) Retesting demonstrates your commitment, work ethic and ability to advance.
Kellogg asks for two letters of recommendation. We’ve found that this gives us greater insight into who you are as an employee and a leader. One letter should come from your current supervisor or manager. The second letter should come from someone who can evaluate your professional performance and your managerial/leadership potential (e.g., former supervisor, previous employer, client). Additional letters of support are neither required nor encouraged.
All letters should be submitted via the online application. They must address the following questions:
*Please note: as long as your online application is submitted by the posted deadline, recommenders may submit their letters up to two weeks after the application deadline. Keep in mind that formal application review cannot begin until all required materials have been received.
The application fee is $185. Submit your payment via credit card with your application. Do not send payments directly to Kellogg.
Fee waivers are granted to:
Active duty U.S. military or U.S. military veterans, Teach For America, Peace Corps applicants:
If you qualify for a fee waiver, send a formal request to eveningweekendmba@kellogg.northwestern.edu before you submit your application. Provide supporting evidence of your current employment or military status. Military applicants should submit either a pay stub or letter from a commanding officer to verify active duty status. For military veterans who have completed service within the last three years, please submit a copy of Form DD-214.
Applicants participating in MLT, Forte Launch, Posse Foundation, JumpStart and Riordan Program Alumni:
Candidates should inform their partner organization that they are applying to Kellogg’s Evening & Weekend MBA degree program. The partner organizations will provide Kellogg a list, and Kellogg will waive the application fee within our application system.
Candidates may not be considered for more than one program at a time. Please note that all application fees are non-refundable.
The interview provides an opportunity for you to learn more about our community. It also allows the admissions committee to further evaluate your interpersonal and communication skills, career focus and motivations for the Kellogg MBA. We strive to interview as many candidates as possible.
Virtual interviews
All interviews are currently virtual; in the application, you will provide your location so we are aware of your time zone. You will receive an email regarding the status of your interview and scheduling instructions within six weeks of the application deadline.
Interview waiver
Due to the high demand for interviews and limited availability of interviewers, you may receive an interview waiver. If your interview is waived, the admissions committee may contact you if further information is needed to make a decision on your candidacy.
Interview Tips: Kellogg Evening & Weekend MBA Program
Alyssa Jackson, director of admissions for Kellogg’s Evening & Weekend MBA Program, helps you prepare for your admissions interview.
We encourage you to reapply if you have made significant changes to your previous application.
If you reapply to Kellogg, you must:
To ease into the reapplication process, your test scores and transcripts will automatically be transferred into your new application. All other materials will need to be resubmitted. New materials (e.g., resume, essays, test scores, letters of recommendation) that strengthen your application may be submitted at your discretion. If you previously applied with a GMAT/GRE waiver, we encourage you to consider taking the GMAT/GRE to demonstrate academic readiness.
If your application materials are more than a year old, you must submit a new application in its entirety.
TERM | APPLICATION DEADLINE | CLASS START |
---|---|---|
Spring 2023
|
January 4, 2023
|
Week of March 27, 2023
|
Summer 2023
|
March 29, 2023
|
Week of June 20, 2023
|
Fall 2023
|
June 7, 2023
|
Week of September 18, 2023
|
Winter 2024
|
September 27, 2023
|
Week of January 3, 2024
|
Application deadlines
Applications are due by 5 p.m. Central Time on the deadline date. We encourage you to submit your application early. Once we receive your application, we will invite you to schedule an interview.
Admissions notifications
The admissions team will notify you of an admissions decision within six to eight weeks of your interview. We will contact you via email and provide a link to your application status page, where you will find our final admissions decision.
Accepting your offer
To accept your offer of admission, please submit a deposit within three weeks of receiving your admissions notification.
Summer 2023: March 29, 2023
Fall 2023: June 7, 2023
Winter 2024: September 27, 2023
Spring 2024: January 3, 2024