{"id":33890,"date":"2016-07-25T03:06:54","date_gmt":"2016-07-25T10:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=33890"},"modified":"2016-07-27T15:33:18","modified_gmt":"2016-07-27T22:33:18","slug":"insead-september-2017-intake-mba-essay-tips-deadlines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/insead-september-2017-intake-mba-essay-tips-deadlines\/","title":{"rendered":"INSEAD September 2017 Intake MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Check<\/a>Communication is key for INSEAD \u2013 in no small part because it is a key factor that their recruiters look for. Hence the INSEAD application elicits your communication effectiveness holistically. First, INSEAD asks you to write reflective essays \u2013 and to do so succinctly. Balancing this emphasis on written communication is a new VIDEO COMPONENT \u2013 the adcom wants to see you communicate in a spoken, interpersonal setup as well. Ultimately, verbal acuity really matters in the INSEAD program because the ability to comprehend, synthesize, communicate, and act on complex ideas across cultures is central to global leadership. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Motivation is the second driving interest of the INSEAD adcom. The application form terms its three essays \u201cMotivation Essays.\u201d Keep that word \u201cmotivation\u201d in clear focus as you draft those essays<\/a>; it indicates that you should express not just what you\u2019ve done but <\/span>why \u2013 <\/span><\/i>what drives you; what propels your choices, decisions, and actions. These written essays are the first \u201cgetting to know you\u201d element. Later, upon submitting, you\u2019ll address further questions sent to you by the adcom, likely addressing more professional aspects of your candidacy and your interest in the program \u2013 and, again, your motivation for applying. Taken together in both form and content, the written and video components should portray both sophisticated communication abilities and self-awareness of who you are and what inspires you, moves you, propels you forward.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Motivation Essays<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Essay 1.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (Approximately 500 words<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n

This question essentially gets to a key point: how well do you know yourself, and are you able to openly acknowledge your motivations and shortcomings? (Perhaps one could interpret it as \u201cAre you mature?\u201d) Note that \u201cstrengths\u201d and \u201cweaknesses\u201d are plural \u2013 and they should be personal, not professional, characteristics. A personal weakness such as \u201cimpatience with detail\u201d could certainly have professional impact, but don\u2019t cite a weakness that is purely work-related.<\/span><\/p>\n

I suggest 2-3 strengths and 1-2 weaknesses<\/a>. Provide examples for all of them \u2013 these examples can vary in length \u2013 sometimes a sentence will suffice. If you can choose one anecdote that reveals both a strengths and a weakness, it\u2019s efficient with space and can strengthen the essay. Also, try to bring in anecdotes\/examples from outside work and from work \u2013 not all work, and not all<\/span> non-work. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The main formative factors you choose to cite may be related to and integrated with the strengths\/weaknesses; in addition, you can discuss key elements of your background that differentiate or distinguish you and are truly key to your personal development.<\/span><\/p>\n

(NOTE: There is potential for some overlap in this essay with Essay 2, so look at both questions together and organize content before writing them.)<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay 2:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. (Approximately 400 words<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n

With only 400 words to describe 2 significant experiences<\/a>, and the specified discussion points, you need to use stories that can be told without a lot of background information. And keep in mind Essay 1 \u2013 don\u2019t use stories that reflect exactly the same messages. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Achievement of which you are <\/span>most proud<\/b>\"\u00a0is a high bar, and it can be from either work or outside of work. It also should be something that reveals qualities or attributes about you that are positive and relevant. I suggest using something from the last two to three years. Luckily you don\u2019t have to write about the failure about which you are most ashamed\u2026 <\/span>?<\/span> \u00a0\u00a0Discuss a failure that is specific, fairly recent, and meaty enough to have rattled you a bit. Again, work or non-work topic is fine.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In discussing what you learned from the experiences and how they impacted your relationships, identify one specific thing for each point for each story \u2013 there isn\u2019t room for more. And there isn\u2019t need for more, because one will be very powerful if it\u2019s insightful.<\/span><\/p>\n

Essay 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time (clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc.). How are you enriched by these activities? (Approximately 300 words<\/em>)<\/span><\/p>\n

Simply discuss the range of activities you participate (or have participated) in<\/a> \u2013 those that are major passions, and those that are \u201cjust fun\u201d \u2013 clarifying their relative role and importance in your life. Be straightforward in how they enriched you \u2013 <\/span>insight<\/span><\/i> is what\u2019s important, not something seemingly \u201cdifferent\u201d that no one has ever felt or experienced before\u2026. Imagine you are meeting with clients or superiors \u2013 between the business dealings (and perhaps over a drink), you and they chat about non-work interests \u2013 approach this essay like such a conversation. Not quite as casual as with a peer, but still conversational, straightforward, and intended to connect on a person-to-person level.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Optional Essay:<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n

Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the admissions committee? (Approximately 300 words)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Use the optional essay to explain anything that needs explaining and\/or to give them one more reason to accept you. DON\u2019T use it for a superficial summary, a restatement of your other essays, or anything similarly boring and trite. If you choose to write it, produce a tight, focused essay revealing something you haven\u2019t yet discussed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Video component:<\/strong><\/p>\n

After you hit the \u201csubmit\u201d button on the application, you will receive on your dashboard 4 randomly selected, recorded questions within one hour (a link will also be emailed to you). These questions will <\/span>not <\/span><\/i><\/span>be the same for all applicants. You\u2019ll have a week to complete this component, and after you do so your application will be deemed complete. This component<\/a> will likely be a place to discuss your familiarity and fit with INSEAD and your motivation for applying \u00a0\u2013 though don\u2019t necessarily expect a \u201cwhy INSEAD\u201d question \u2013 it may not be that direct. In addition, it will be a place to portray your international perspective \u2013 another key interest of the adcom. Finally, presentation matters. If they only wanted the content, presumably they would have had written questions. Plan and find that perfect balance \u2013 be yourself, but be professional. Polished, but not slick or contrived. This \u201cperfect balance\u201d will be different for different people, depending on their culture, their personality, their profession. To prepare,<\/span> if you haven\u2019t had any formal training in presentations or communication, it would be a good idea to try some self-videos with random questions and analyze them, looking as well as listening. \u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

INSEAD Application Deadlines for September\u00a02017 Intake<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\"Check<\/a><\/p>\n

INSEAD Application Deadlines for January 2017 Intake<\/a><\/strong>:<\/p>\n

\"Check<\/a><\/p>\n

If you would like professional guidance with your INSEAD\u00a0application, check out\u00a0Accepted\u2019s MBA\u00a0essay editing<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0MBA admissions consulting<\/a>\u00a0or our\u00a0MBA Application Packages<\/a>, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the INSEAD\u00a0application.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

\"PF<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Cindy<\/a> By Cindy Tokumitsu<\/a>,\u00a0author and co-author of numerous ebooks, articles, and special reports, including\u00a0<\/em><\/em>Why MBA<\/a> and\u00a0<\/em><\/em>Best MBA Programs: A Guide to Selecting the Right One<\/a>. Cindy has advised hundreds of successful applicants in her fifteen years with Accepted.<\/em><\/em><\/div>\n
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Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0MBA Admissions A-Z: 26 Great Tips<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Tips For Video MBA Essay Questions<\/a>
\n\u2022\u00a0Life After INSEAD: Catching Up with Hasmita<\/a><\/p>\n

This article<\/a> originally appeared on\u00a0<\/em>blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Applying to a top b-school? The talented folks at Accepted have helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to their dream programs. Whether you are figuring out where apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/p>\n

Contact us, and get matched up with the consultant who will help\u00a0you\u00a0<\/em>get accepted<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Communication is key for INSEAD \u2013 in no small part because it is a key factor that their recruiters look for. Hence the INSEAD application elicits your communication effectiveness holistically.…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,939,775,113,243],"tags":[69,1758,1434],"class_list":["post-33890","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-insead","tag-insead-full-time-mba","tag-insead-mba","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33890","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33890"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33890\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33894,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33890\/revisions\/33894"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33890"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33890"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33890"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}