Kellogg Applicants Encounter Video Technology Snags

by Stacy Blackman Consulting, Oct 25, 2013

The video essay, which Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management introduced as a mandatory component of the 2013-2014 MBA application, has hit a few technical snags for some candidates this season.

For the video essay, applicants use a Skype-like platform where they are asked a short personal question. Users have a minute or two to mull it over, and another one or two minutes to record an answer. They can review their answer and submit it if satisfied, or if not, they have two more chances, with two new questions.

Applicants have shared their experiences with the new format in various MBA forums. Many report losing connection with the first attempt, though one commenter wonders whether the current problem might have been due to system overload near the deadline, as he had no issues submitting a few weeks ago.

In case you're curious, a few applicants revealed the following as questions posed during the exercise: What is one piece of technology you cannot live without?If you could teach a class on any subject, what would it be and why? and, What is one interesting thing about you that you would want your future Kellogg classmates to know about you?

According to a piece published in Poets & Quants, Kellogg is reporting that 8% of applicants have run into "connectivity issues" that have prevented them from completing the exercise.

Kellogg spokesperson Jeffrey Brennan tells Poets & Quants, Our admissions team is evaluating reports on a case-by-case basis and waiving the video essay component as needed.This waiver will not adversely affect the review of applications.

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