Got home from Evanston a little while ago...a few things that I gathered from this weekend that is probably an interest to some of you. First the numbers they told us were rather shocking, the average GMAT was
721. Also I believe it was the dean of admissions who made a passing mention that we were "about the top 15%" not sure if this was a hint at the admission rate or not. They didnt give numbers on application increases but did say that they were way up this year. 40% of the admits were female, which is a pretty impressive number and I definitely noticed it was more balanced than on most campuses I visited.
I was pleasantly surprised about the facilities...everyone seems to say they are bad but I found them far better than MIT's which was my basis for horrible facilities. Yes they cant compete with someplace like GSB but the interior of the building isnt so bad...it is a big ugly concrete structure though. While they arent amazing they definitely are more than sufficient for me. Evanston is a great location though, everything I heard was true.
I must say that if you are married or bringing a significant other there probably isnt a better school for you. Beyond the obvious things they provide that are very different than most schools (only one I know that compares is Tuck) significant others can audit all classes that have room, they can use career services, join all the clubs...heck they can go on the class trips you take (consulting trips and stuff like that). My wife loved the JV group and the people she met, I think she is now more excited than I am since she gets to do all the fun parts of grad school without the real work. She was very impressed with how involved they all are with each other...moving across the country they immediately have their own network and it seems like everyone lives within a relatively small area of Evanston (probably a 5 block by 5 block area). I think the wives/gfs were pushing their significant others to go to Kellogg so they could be a part of it. I know my wife had even more fun than I did and is now even very excited about school verse being nervous about how it would fit in to her life. If you dont want to go to Kellogg dont let your wife go, one guys wife was actually saying she hopes he gets dinged by HBS because she doesnt picture it being as much fun for her.
I met very few people who were not sold on Kellogg by the end of the weekend, and those that werent definitely were leaning that way...more than a few said they were going to be turning down scholarships for it. (Kry one guy's wife told him he had to go to K over Haas because she wanted to go there despite the crappy weather). My only complaint about the weekend was we were too busy, I am seriously drained by all the stuff they threw at us. I went to EVERYTHING, if you go to DAK II dont be afraid to skip out on a few things...it might be less overwhelming.
Another great thing about the weekend was that I finally got to put faces and real names to a bunch of people from here too, CFAmiami, faceman, MBA2010, mgoblue2, apolloluna, and nervousgmat...as well as the future Mrs. Faceman, mgoblue2's girlfriend, and mba2010's boyfriend. Unfortunately with 200+ people and only two days I never figured out who jenjen and steel were, but I am sure if they end up there I will meet them.
Overall it was a great time and it completely reinforced that Kellogg is the perfect place for me and now its clear that its perfect for my wife too. Judging by my conversations this weekend we may have to add a few names to the matriculating list here too.
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Kellogg Class of 2010...still active and willing to help. However, I do not do profile reviews, don't offer predictions on chances and am far to busy to review essays, so save the energy of writing me a PM seeking help for these. If I don't respond to a PM that is not one of the previously mentioned trash can destined messages, please don't take it personally I get so many messages I have a hard to responding to most. The more interesting, compelling, or humorous you message the more likely I am to respond.