Crushed - IMD dings me :(

Question

Probably the most devastating news I have heard in half a decade.
IMD dinged me. The only school to which I applied because I really wanted to study there. I thought the interview day was great and I performed well. But it wasn't meant to be.

Makes me feel worthless.

I am wondering if it is worth applying to INSEAD R3.
or just give up...

helpslip · Answer

Hi,
As fellow photograher you have my sympathies. This is obviously the downside of the "sniper" approach... either euphoria or misery. Giving up doesn't seem the answer though. Two (probably) obvious things to consider are: performing a careful "ding analysis" (lots of help to be found on this board) and, using the results of that introspection to decide either that you need to change your profile to meet your goal of IMD or that there are other programs that you should consider. I certainly would not apply to any program that I was not excited about.

aaudetat · Answer

I am so sorry to hear about your ding. But give it a few days - you'll find some perspective and be in a better place to move forward.

gmatclb · Answer

I know how you feel.

It scuks, but hey, life moves on.

GMATT73 · Answer

This really is a bummer. IMD is a one year (or less) program so why not recalibrate your sniper scope and reapply next year (with one back up)? You would still end up graduating in 09, right?

apieterse · Answer

Hi Nileblitz.

I know the feeling, many of us have been there. I think the truth is that there is a lot more luck involved in these Bschool selection processes than anyone cares to admit.

Best of luck.

Andrew

johnnyx9 · Answer

I agree with the previous post about the role of luck. I had a pretty crushing ding from a school where I thought I had nailed the interview.

Regroup and get a new battle plan together, you'll be fine if you stay optimistic and don't dwell on this setback too much.

necromonger · Answer

Nile,

If IMD was in your sniperscope, the INSEAD definitely should be. Give INSEAD a shot if there's time - the advantage you have applying to INSEAD is that it's a much larger class so there's a better chance. The problem with IMD selection is its a small class and therefore much harder considering they want to maintain diversity as well.

Don't give up so easily!

kwam · Answer

I totally agree with Necromonger, and also you would have the opportunity to start next January as Insead R3 goes until 11 of July: https://www.insead.edu/mba/admissions/dates.htm. Perhaps you should also consider Oxford, Cambridge, IE or any other 1y school if that's what counts. If you only want IMD, you should try once again next time, but the class size is a very big issue... Good Luck

nileblitz · Answer

helpslip, aaudetat, gmatclb, GMATT73, apieterse, johnnyx9, necromonger and kwam

Thanks guys. Your words definitely help.

When I think about it, I felt terrible not just because IMD dinged me, but mainly because I was buried under my own high expectations. Well, another lesson learnt.

I don't think I will apply for INSEAD R3. I will wait for a year as some of you suggested and re-form the game plan for next year. IMD has accepted to give me some feedback over a phone call. I am going to re-think after that.

Thanks to you all and congratulations if you have an admit already. Good luck to those who are still waiting for a response.

Cheers,
Nileblitz

nileblitz · Answer

Re-opening this thread (sort-of).

As suggested by all the great people on this thread, I changed jobs and actively tried to work on the problems in my profile as noted by the admissions officer.

I have applied again to IMD, this time for 2010.
Fingers crossed that I will get an interview invite like last time.

And further, that I will do better this time.

How is everyone on this list doing post-mba?

Cheers,
Nilesh

Nerdboy · Answer

Dude, you almost gave me a heart attack with this thread popping up on Feb 20th. I have applied also for Jan 2010 and hoping to get an interview invite. My profile is considerably weaker than the published stats of current students and I'm trying to brace myself for the possible ding w/o interview and not to let it push me into a depression.

Crushed - IMD dings me :(

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