Northwestern Kellogg School of Management
2 required essays, 1 optional for the 2026-27 cycle.
Deadlines
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 9, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 6, 2027 |
| Round 3 | March 31, 2027 |
Essays
Goals essay · 550 words max · required
Part I: An MBA is a significant investment of time, energy and resources, and the decision to pursue one deserves serious reflection. Tell us about the pivotal experiences and decisions that have brought you to this moment in your career, how they have shaped your ambitions, and why now is the right time to take this next step. Part II: Now turn the lens outward: beyond what you hope to gain, what do you hope to contribute to the students who will learn alongside you?
Program supplement · 250 words · optional
Reapplicant: How have you grown or changed personally and professionally since you previously applied and what steps have you taken to become the strongest candidate you can be?
Program supplement · five questions, up to one minute each · required
Video essays: The video will be comprised of five questions, each designed to help you showcase your personality and share some of the experiences that brought you here today. You will have a brief moment to think about the question and up to one minute to give your response.
2026-27 cycle confirmed by the school's 2026-06-10 blog post. Changed from the prior cycle: two 450-word essays and three video questions are replaced by one 550-word two-part essay and five 60-second video questions. The five video question texts are not published; video essays are due 96 hours after the application deadline.
Checked against www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/admissions/ft-admissions/ft-how-to-apply on September 9, 2026. Programs change their prompts between cycles; confirm on the program’s own page before you submit.
Paste your essay
Pick which of Kellogg’s prompts it answers. The first look is free.
Applying to college instead?
Prompt
Your essay
Common questions
- How many essays does Northwestern Kellogg School of Management require for 2026-27?
- 2 required and 1 optional, 3 in total. Every prompt is listed on this page word for word, with the length each one states.
- How long should the Kellogg essays be?
- 550 words max. That is the length the program states on its own page, which this record was read from on September 9, 2026.
- When is the Kellogg 2026-27 deadline?
- Round 1: September 9, 2026. 2 other rounds are listed on this page.