Meet Northwestern Kellogg’s MBA Class Of 2024 (2024)

A CLASS PROFILE

By the numbers, the Class of 2024’s profile is eerily similar to the previous class – and that’s a good thing. The 503-member again achieved near gender parity, with a class that is made up of 48% women. International students represent another 38% share, while underrepresented minorities account for 23% of the class – both consistent with numbers posted by the Class of 2023. Another 8% of the class identifies at LGBTQ.

That said, average GMATs rose from 727 to 729 during the 2021-2022 application cycle, as GMAT scores ranged from 620-780. The median quant GRE hit 163, just a point above the class’s median verbal score. As undergrads, the class averaged a 3.7 GPA. The largest segment of the class – 45% — majored in Business and Economics. Another 38% hold STEM-related degrees, followed by Humanities at 24%.

In terms of professional backgrounds, three industries account for over 60% of the Class of 2024’s most recent experience: Consulting (24%), Financial Services (19%), and Technology (17%). Government and Non-Profits, Healthcare and Consumer Goods each hold 7% of the class seats.

A BANNER YEAR

In January, P&Q named the Kellogg School Business School To Watch in 2023. Long known for creating innovative admissions programs – such as waiving GMAT or GRE test requirements during COVID – Kellogg responded to mass layoffs in the tech sector by making it easier to apply to business school. It was a move quickly adopted by peer programs. At the same time, the Class of 2022 posted record $191,100 median pay and a 99% placement rate. Not surprisingly, a Kellogg investment accrues greater value over time. According to a 2022 study by the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, Kellogg MBAs enjoyed a $2.9 million dollar return on investment, second only to the Wharton School.

The rankings were equally kind to the Kellogg School over the past year. A perennial Top 5 program, Kellogg’s full-time rank rose in U.S. News and Bloomberg Businessweek, along with hitting #1 in P&Q’s latest Executive MBA ranking. In the 2023 Financial Times ranking, the Kellogg School also produced Top 10 scores for Career Services and Research. True to form, Kellogg continued to rank 1st and 3rd in Marketing and Management respectively by U.S. News, which is based on a survey conducted with business school deans and MBA directors. Indeed, Kellogg has long been associated with marketing excellence and alumni placement in top consumer brands (along with receiving nationwide attention for its annual Super Bowl Review analyzing television spot effectiveness). Just don’t pigeonhole Kellogg as a “Marketing School”, says Ryan Blackwell, a ’22 alum.

Yes, our marketing department is amazing, but the statement somewhat minimizes a lot of Kellogg’s other core competencies. Nearly a third of the last class entered Consulting, roughly a fifth went into Finance or Financial Services, and another third was split between General Management, Tech, and Marketing. Further, with eight majors, eleven pathways, and now the addition of our latest program (MBAi), it’s hard to refute Kellogg’s effectiveness in producing leaders in a variety of industries.”

MBAi AND MMM ARE POPULAR OPTIONS

Another hallmark of the Kellogg is flexibility: there is an MBA for almost every need. For full-time students, Kellogg offers a rigorous one-year MBA that enables graduates to quickly return to their working careers. Another popular option is its new MBAi program. A partnership between Kellogg and the McCormick School of Engineering, this STEM-designated, five quarter offering takes a deep dive into the most significant concepts in business technology and innovation: artificial intelligence, data science, machine learning, and robotics. Sebastian Salomon, who has already earned a Master’s in Applied Statistics, is one class member who has been admitted to the MBAi program.

“I chose this program since I am very interested in the way we can use Artificial Intelligence to change the business landscape. Several classes in the MBAi cohort are tailored this way, such as in Marketing where we learned how to design an AI marketing strategy.”

Similarly, Tyler Hamilton is looking forward to Kellogg’s MMM program, a dual MBA and MS in Design Innovation in partnership with the Segal Design Institute. “I saw the program as a great way to pivot into the tech industry, having very little industry knowledge, yet a passion for understanding human behavior,” he tells P&Q. “The MMM program is a human-centered design framework and was exactly the experience I was looking for, the intersection of business, technology, and design. “I think one of the best parts of MMM is the small cohort that you grow really close to during the summer. In reality, you are part of a larger cohort of the 2Y program with equally amazing people – so really this is just the start of our Kellogg experience as we build lasting bonds between all of the programs that Kellogg has to offer.”

A ENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEM

Entrepreneurship is another popular option for Kellogg MBAs. The school estimates that its alumni have founded over 600 companies and generated over $19 billion dollars in funding. Notably, the school operates the Zell Fellows program, an accelerator that provides one-on-one coaching, coursework, funding, and access to necessities ranging from legal expertise to alumni networking. The larger university houses The Garage, an 11,000 square foot incubator that supports nearly 1,000 Northwestern student-founded enterprises. In addition, Kellogg offers an Entrepreneurship pathway that includes two dozen startup-focused courses,

“I am really excited about Kellogg’s entrepreneurship-focused classes, specifically the ‘Launch-Pad’ series: New Venture Discovery, New Venture Development and New Venture Launch,” adds Joel Francia. “These courses are meant to accelerate your business plans/ideas, each course building upon each other…Second is the San Francisco Immersion Winter Quarter Program. This allows students to work with VCs and startups in the Bay Area. This hands-on approach is one of the things I really like about Kellogg, because we not only get the exposure to VCs and startups, but we also get a chance to apply what we learn in class.”

Another benefit of the Kellogg experience? Think Chicago. Home to 19,000 Kellogg alum, the city features all the industries – making it easy to access experts, opportunities, and even in-semester internships. That doesn’t count all the sports, museums, restaurants, shopping, and architecture. And O’Hare Airport has the capacity to take you anywhere you want to go too.

BEST OF TWO WORLDS

“Chicago is an amazing city with a lot to offer,” Joel Francia observes. “Whether you’re a foodie, sports fan, art enthusiast, or music aficionado, there’s something for everyone. I love that I can ride my bike on the beautiful lakefront during the day, enjoy a hearty lunch at Au Cheval on the West Loop, and then cap my evening by going to see the Chicago Symphony, which is one of the best orchestras in the world. I feel spoiled to have all these opportunities that enrich my experience.”

Of course, Evanston brings some additional benefits. A half hour from Chicago, Evanston is slower and quieter, a place where you take bike rides along Lake Michigan. Everything is within walking distance and it is easier to stop and meet people. This college town feel – coupled with access to all the amenities found in America’s third-largest city – made Kellogg all the more appealing to April Chung.

“The fact that Kellogg is located in Evanston, a northern suburb of Chicago, means that you have the option to immerse yourself in the vibrant energy that only a college town can provide, or at a moment’s notice and take the train down to the hustle-and-bustle of a remarkable city with access to rich culture. It’s the best of both worlds! One of my favorite parts about Evanston is Lake Michigan. Whether it’s taking a jog along the river as the sun breaks over the water, or studying at the Global Hub with a view of the lake, sailboats, and Chicago skyline, the serenity of Lake Michigan has captured my heart.”

AN INTERVIEW WITH THE ASSISTANT DEAN OF ADMISSIONS

What can you expect from Kellogg? This fall, P&Q caught up with Emily Haydon, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid. From signature experiences to favorite hangouts, here are the latest developments at the Kellogg School of Management.

P&Q:What are the two most exciting developments at your program in the past year and how will they enrich the MBA experience for current and future MBAs?

EH: “There are a number of exciting things happening at Kellogg, a few that stand out are below:

We’ve introduced new enhancements to Kellogg’s entrepreneurship programming, including a new funding opportunity through the Levy Inspiration Grant Program, which provides financing for students with entrepreneurial ambitions to immerse themselves directly in the market they wish to address. And we’ve launched a new course, Entrepreneurship and Market Creation in Emerging Markets, which is designed to equip students with the relevant tools and frameworks to tackle challenges unique to entrepreneurship in emerging economies.

We have also launched a new Private Equity Advisory Council (PEAC), which is comprised of senior private equity industry alumni committed to advancing the strategic vision of private equity at Kellogg. This council has direct involvement with students and gives mentorship to our new Advanced Private Equity Experience program (APEX), an innovative, global, and fast-paced academic and student experience for advanced private equity students. The program is designed for students who have a background in private equity, or have transferable and relevant experience, and a strong commitment to return to the industry after Kellogg.

We’ve introduced an exciting and unique learning opportunity with students across our Full-Time, Evening & Weekend and Executive MBA programs called The Healthcare Deep Dive. Held over three weekends in Miami, Chicago and San Francisco, students gain deep understanding of challenges healthcare leaders face, while uncovering new avenues for the evolving industry. Students collaborate to learn and strategize next to healthcare professionals, faculty and alumni working in the field to get an up-close-and-personal look at how players, trends and movements shape the industry.

P&Q: What is the most innovative thing you have introduced into the MBA program in recent years? How has it been a game changer for your program?

EH: “Kellogg is increasingly focused on preparing leaders to operate at the intersection of business and science. We launched our MBAi program in 2020 and welcomed our inaugural cohort of students in 2021, with the goal of preparing them to spearhead business innovation through an in-depth understanding of the AI-driven technologies that enable it.

Our inaugural cohort had great success in their summer internships, holding positions like Senior Technical Product Manager, Data Strategy Consultant and Business Intelligence-Subscriptions Analytics Manager at a variety of firms.One student, Olivia Jurkowitz, was previously a Solutions Engineer and interned with Blockchain.com over the summer.

This fall marks the graduation of this inaugural cohort, and we are excited to see where their experience takes them post-graduation.

P&Q:What have MBAs told you is the most memorable, signature experience they’ve had in your program? Why did it resonate so much with them?

EH: “Kellogg’s community and culture are like no other. One of the most memorable experiences for our students is getting introduced to their sections on their first day. A “section” is a group of fellow classmates assigned at orientation who will be core to their Kellogg experience. It’s a community that will help them establish connections with classmates, expose them to different perspectives in and out of the classroom, and be their go-to support network as they adjust to Kellogg.

Sections tend to remain a tight-knit group throughout their entire Kellogg journey, participating in small group dinners, light-hearted section competitions and more. Many lifelong friendships are forged out of these groups.”

P&Q: Where are some of your students’ favorite hangouts? What do they do and why do they gravitate there?

EH: “Students typically gravitate towards the Spanish steps, located in the main atrium of the Global Hub. These steps were an intentional part of the building’s design, incorporated to create an open space for where students can gather to collaborate, catch-up or just relax between classes and meetings.

During Fall, Spring and Summer, students utilize the variety of outdoor spaces we have both at the Global Hub and on Northwestern’s main campus. The Global Hub is located right on the lakefront – with views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline.”

P&Q: How does the MBA program leverage the resources of both Northwestern University and the larger Chicago community? How does that create more opportunities for your students?

EH: “Our dual-degree programs allow our MBA students to learn from top faculty across varying subject areas at Northwestern’s McCormick School of Engineering (MMM and MBAi), Pritzker School of Law (JD-MBA) and Feinberg School of Medicine (MD-MBA).

Our cross-university curricular partnerships offer opportunities such as NUvention, an experiential opportunity that exposes students to the entire innovation and entrepreneurial life cycle of products in various industries such as energy, transportation and the arts.The NUvention Medical program, in particular, walks students through a number of product, intellectual property, regulatory, and business development steps as an entrepreneurial or intrapreneurial team.

Students in Kellogg’s full-time MBA program may also enroll in up to one credit per quarter of non-Kellogg Northwestern classes. For example, an increasing number of Kellogg students choose to take advantage of Northwestern’s Institute of Sustainability and Energy, which has developed a series of graduate courses on the topics of sustainability and energy, with an expected audience spanning the entire university, from physical sciences and engineering to social science, business, communication, and law.”

Finally, Kellogg and Northwestern are deeply integrated into the larger Chicago community, both through our robust local alumni network (over 19,000 Kellogg alumni are located in the Chicagoland area!) as well community partnerships. Our close connections with The Garage at Northwestern and 1871, Chicago’s largest startup incubator, are perfect examples. Engineers, innovators, and entrepreneurs building Chicago’s next tech ventures work within the large space located inside the Merchandise Mart. Through Northwestern and Kellogg’s partnership with 1871, students have access to 1871 mentors, events and workshops, as well as physical access to the incubator. Similarly, students have access to mHub, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing innovation center focused on physical development and manufacturing.

Though our relationships locally are strong, I’d be remiss to not mention the strength of our global ties and opportunities as well. Our exchange program, for example, is one of the largest with over 25 partner schools from Beijing to Buenos Aires.”

P&Q: Who is a standout in your faculty or administration – the kind of person who graduates talk about a decade after they leave? How does he or she personify your school culture and the best of your MBA program?

EH: “It’s incredibly hard to choose one standout faculty member! So many of our faculty leave strong impressions on our students and provide them with indelible experiences during their Kellogg journey, including Professor Suzanne Muchin who was just named one of Poets&Quants’ favorite professors this year. A few faculty members who students continuously applaud include:

Kellogg’s Glen Vasel Professor of Finance, Mitchell Petersen, teaches a variety of courses in the finance curriculum. Students often commend Professor Petersen not only for his challenging and rigorous coursework, but also for his colorful personality, open-door policy and willingness to give feedback and collaborate. Professor Peterson reflects what is so unique about Kellogg’s culture, students and alumni – that special combination of empathy, human-centric ability and profound intellectual rigor.

Professor Maryam Kouchaki, who teaches Leading and Managing teams, is often applauded for her class and her approach to the material. She is known for being engaging, challenging, and for bringing sometimes difficult conversations regarding conflict and inter-personal team dynamics to the forefront. This follows suit with Kellogg’s emphasis on “enlightened disagreement,” which is our belief that there is incredible value in bringing diverse and divergent perspectives together and exploring one another’s perspectives respectfully.”

Next Page: Benefits of Kellogg MBA

Page 4: Profiles of 12 Kellogg First-Year MBAs