Students and Culture
Kellogg was the first business school in the world to insist that all applicants be interviewed to assess their leadership potential and suitability for the Kellogg School's cooperative environment. As a result, in addition to grades, GMAT scores, professional achievement, and demonstrated leadership, 'fit' is an important part of the admissions equation at Kellogg. Students tend to be very active in impacting the local Evanston and Chicago communities, and frequently collaborate on philanthropic causes. One example combining the campus culture and passion for giving is the annual Charity Auction Ball, held each Winter quarter. A better example of the student's impact on the community took place on February 25, 2012. On this date, 100 Kellogg students plunged into a frigid Lake Michigan for the annual Polar Plunge. The Kellogg participants raised over $21,000 for Special Olympics, the highest amount raised that year in Illinois.
Kellogg students are part of a culture that emphasizes teamwork and leadership skills. Many aspects of the school, from admissions decisions, to admitted students weekend, to orientation week, to the annual conferences and events that the school hosts, are organized and led by students. Kellogg's student body come from a diverse background and provides a unique experience for networking and collaboration.
Many applicants attend Day At Kellogg (DAK) after being informed that they have been admitted. The event, which is led by current students, welcomes admits to Kellogg and helps them gain a deeper understanding of Kellogg's academic offerings, professors, clubs, facilities, and culture. Throughout DAK, admits are organized into sections, which mirror those of students after they matriculate. Sections then take mini-courses with Kellogg professors, compete in various challenges, such as obstacle courses, and are provided with dinners, housing tours, and similar events. Ultimately, DAK is designed not only to be an exciting introduction to the school, but also to provide admits with the information they need to make a decision about whether to attend Kellogg.
Prior to on-campus orientation many new incoming students go on a Kellogg Worldwide Experiences and Service Trips (KWEST) to destinations all over the world for a week with 25 of their future classmates. Full-time Kellogg students are grouped into 8 sections (commonly referred to as cohorts at other top business schools): the Poets, Cash Cows, Highlanders, Bucketheads, Bullfrogs, Big Dogs, Jive Turkeys and Moose. Sections socialize and engage in competition during the first few weeks of Kellogg's orientation, called its Complete Immersion in Management (CIM). Most students also take first year core courses with their respective sections. Students completing their graduate studies in an extended 1-year program are designated as a ninth section, the Roadrunners.
All students enrolled in a course offered by the Kellogg School of Management agree to abide by the Kellogg Honor Code. The purpose of the Kellogg Honor Code is to promote these qualities so that each student can fully develop his or her individual potential. Students who violate the Kellogg Honor Code violate this agreement and must accept the sanction(s) imposed by the Kellogg community.
Kellogg is also known for its amazing entirely student-led performing arts groups. "Special K!" is a student-created musical comedy sketch show performed annually, consisting of live skits and digital shorts, to poke fun as well as celebrate life at business school. Every year, the alumni of the previous year's "Special K!" come back to perform in front of the incoming students. Kellogg is also home to two cover bands, "The Rocket Pockets" and "Captains of Industry", who perform at Kellogg events.
As part of its student led culture, Kellogg offers a wide array of clubs for students to take significant involvement in. These include professional clubs where the student body strengthens and builds relationships with world-leading external companies (examples include the consulting, investment banking and marketing clubs), athletic clubs where students have the opportunity to compete against both other Kellogg teams and students from other leading business schools (examples include basketball, flag football, hockey, rugby and soccer), cultural clubs where students can connect with other students with similar backgrounds (examples include the India Business Club, Asian Business Association, Hispanic Management Association, Black Management Association, Women's Business Association and the Gay & Lesbian Management Association) and social/community service clubs where students have the opportunity to enjoy similar passions in a setting conducive to forming strong bonds with their peers (examples include Brew n' Q, Kellogg Cares, Cork & Screw and Kellogg Volunteers).
On Friday, during the academic quarter, students meet at 5pm in the Jacobs center for an event called TG. People from the Kellogg community come together to unwind and catch up. Refreshments are served and the event is typically sponsored by student clubs, companies or other on campus organizations. There is also a weekly TG for the families of students, where children eat pizza, watch movies, and have costume parties while students and significant others chat. Each December, Kellogg students embark on a week long ski trip to celebrate the end of the fall term. In December 2011, the ski trip was held in Telluride, CO. The trip is planned and led by the Kellogg Ski and Snowboard Club and is the largest MBA ski trip in the nation with 800 participants.
Kellogg offers plenty of opportunities to its students to get involved. A wide array of student run clubs and organizations are available for all Kellogg students to participate in. These groups sponsor industry-specific networking events (Healthcare Club and Hi-Tech Club) to help students learn about the latest industry trends or to find like-minded peers. They also provide a terrific opportunity for students to develop their leadership skills. Go here for more information: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/PTMBA_Intranet/organizations_events.aspx
Since 1982, spouses and significant others of Kellogg students have been able to participate in the Joint Venture (JV) program, which enables spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, partners, and families to fully participate in Kellogg life, including clubs and organizations, and Kellogg events. Approximately 35 to 40 percent of Kellogg students have significant others, and the current JV membership includes approximately 250 couples, representing over 20 countries. In addition to the JV Program, “Kellogg Kids” connects spouses and partners of Kellogg students with children through field trips, music classes, birthday parties, and many more family-friendly events. Kellogg Kids averages three to four hours of activity per week, making it one of the most active clubs on campus.
Kellogg is known for its collaborative culture as opposed to a more competitive environment in most of the other top business schools. Most of the classes require several group works during classes or outside which require acute interpersonal skills from the students.
Read more about this topic: Kellogg School Of Management
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