Chat Transcript: Kellogg Admissions

Beth Flye, admissions director at Northwestern B-school, fields questions on getting in—and landing a job when you get out

If you're among the many people planning to wait out the economic crisis at business school, then you might be considering Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. Kellogg reports that it accepted 19% of the 5,051 applicants it had for the Class of 2010.

Applications are up slightly in 2009, says Beth Flye (BethFlyeKellogg), assistant dean and director of admissions at Kellogg, who recently answered questions from the audience and BusinessWeek reporter Francesca Di Meglio (FrancescaBW) during a live chat event. Flye talked about everything from getting off the waiting list to post-graduation job prospects. Here are edited excerpts of the chat:

ToddLA: I've heard that Kellogg is known for its focus on marketing. Does it lean toward [applicants] with marketing backgrounds in a person's career experience?

BethFlyeKellogg: From an admissions standpoint, we are not necessarily giving an edge to any candidate with marketing experience who wants to pursue marketing post-MBA. Our approach is that we are looking at candidates with a very holistic lens including diversity of professional experiences.

emanon: What are application numbers like compared with [2008]?

BethFlyeKellogg: Applications are up slightly this year, and the pool continues to be exceptional.

ADMBA09: As a wait-listed applicant, what can one do to show continued interest with Kellogg aside from letters of update? Also, does Kellogg offer feedback on individual applications for applicants placed on the wait list?

BethFlyeKellogg: Continued interest from a wait-listed applicant is noted. Beyond expressing continued interest, please let us know if there is any pertinent additional information that would be helpful to us in making a final decision. Examples of such information would include a promotion, a new GMAT score, a grade from a course, etc. As for giving feedback to wait-listed applicants, we share information as we think is appropriate.

ToddLA: What distinguishes Kellogg from other top-tier MBA schools in the country? [Think of this question as] an elevator pitch for the school, if you will.

BethFlyeKellogg: There are many elements that make Kellogg unique. I would highlight that teamwork and collaboration are core to who we are as a school. Second, we have a holistic approach to management education. We combine rigor with relevance, and we have an emphasis on developing global leaders who make contributions of lasting significance.

ahembeea: Have some of those on the Round 1 wait list already begun to receive their decisions?

BethFlyeKellogg: Yes, some wait-listed applicants from the first round have received admission.

ToddLA: What sector feeds most into Kellogg, and where do graduates go after graduation?

BethFlyeKellogg: We have students who represent a broad range of interests, with the three most represented sectors being finance, consulting, and marketing. One of our biggest strengths is the diversity of recruiters. As a matter of fact, over 260 recruiters hired the Class of 2008.

Tifoso: How is the Round 2 pool currently looking in terms of capacity, with only two weeks left to go until the decision deadline? Is it fair to say that over 50% of the typical Round 2 pool has already been selected or admitted?

BethFlyeKellogg: We have evaluated most of the Round 2 pool, and we will continue to admit candidates all the way up to the Mar. 30 deadline.

Atsushi: Could you speak briefly about any curriculum or other changes at Kellogg that are in response to the current economic situation?

BethFlyeKellogg: Issues raised by the economic crisis have been integrated quickly and organically into the Kellogg curriculum.