{"id":46830,"date":"2019-09-01T06:00:34","date_gmt":"2019-09-01T13:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/?p=46830"},"modified":"2019-08-28T09:11:45","modified_gmt":"2019-08-28T16:11:45","slug":"insead-mba-essay-tips-deadlines-2019-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/insead-mba-essay-tips-deadlines-2019-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"INSEAD MBA Essay Tips & Deadlines [2019 \u2013 2020]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"INSEAD<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Communication is key for\u00a0<\/em>INSEAD<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\u2013 in part because it is a key factor that their recruiters look for. Hence\u00a0the INSEAD application elicits your communication effectiveness. First, INSEAD asks you to write reflective essays \u2013 and to do so succinctly. Balancing this emphasis on written communication is a video component \u2013 the adcom wants to see you articulate your thoughts 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\u00a0<\/em>global leadership<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\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; it indicates that you should express not just what you\u2019ve done but\u00a0why \u2013\u00a0what drives you; what propels your choices, decisions, and actions. These written essays are the first \u201cgetting to know you\u201d element. 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INSEAD MBA 2019-2020 motivation essays<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

INSEAD MBA essay #1<\/h3>\n\n\n\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. (Maximum 500 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This question gets to a key point<\/em><\/a>: 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I suggest 2-3 strengths and 1-2 weaknesses. Provide examples for all of them \u2013 these examples can vary in length \u2013 sometimes a sentence will suffice. Also, try to bring in anecdotes\/examples from outside work and from work. Sometimes, one anecdote can cover both a strength and a weakness, and, also, sometimes, a strength, taken to excess, can turn into a weakness \u2013 just possibilities to keep in mind when deciding on content for the essay.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\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.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INSEAD MBA essay #2<\/h3>\n\n\n\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. (Maximum\u00a0400 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With only 400 words to describe 2 significant experiences, and the specified discussion points, 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<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAchievement of which you are\u00a0<\/em>most proud<\/em><\/strong>\u201c\u00a0is a high bar, and it can be from either work or outside of work. It also should be something that\u00a0<\/em>reveals qualities or attributes about you that are positive and relevant<\/em><\/a>. 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\u00a0?\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em>Discuss a failure<\/em><\/a>\u00a0that is specific, fairly recent, and meaty enough to have rattled you a bit. Again, work or non-work topic is fine.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In discussing what you learned from the experiences and how they impacted your relationships, either identify one specific thing each for each story, or integrate \u201cimpact relationship\u201d and \u201cwhat you learned\u201d into one point \u2013 avoid broad learnings, as targeted, specific insights will be more thoughtful and illuminating.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INSEAD MBA essay #3<\/h3>\n\n\n\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? (Maximum\u00a0300 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simply discuss the range of\u00a0<\/em>activities you participate (or have participated) in<\/em><\/a>\u00a0\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\u00a0insight\u00a0is what\u2019s important. 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 connecting on a person-to-person level.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INSEAD MBA essay #4 (optional)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the admissions committee?\u00a0(Maximum 300 words)<\/p>\n\n\n\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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INSEAD MBA video component<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After you hit the \u201csubmit\u201d button on the application, you will receive on your dashboard 4 questions (a link will also be emailed to you). Your application will be deemed completed only after you submit\u00a0<\/em>your video interviews<\/em><\/a>. The questions will likely further explore your motivations and perspective. Finally, presentation matters. If they only wanted the content, presumably they would have had written questions. 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,\u00a0if you haven\u2019t had 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.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

For expert guidance with your INSEAD MBA application, check out Accepted\u2019s\u00a0MBA Application Packages<\/a>, which include comprehensive guidance from an experienced admissions consultant. We\u2019ve helped hundreds of applicants get accepted to INSEAD\u2019s MBA program and look forward to helping you too!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

INSEAD MBA application deadlines for September 2020 intake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Round 1<\/strong>September 18, 2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Round 2: <\/strong>November 6, 2019 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Round 3:<\/strong>January 15, 2020 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Round 4: <\/strong>February 26, 2020 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Watch<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Cindy<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Cindy Tokumitsu has advised hundreds of successful applicants, helping them gain acceptance to top MBA and EMBA programs in her 20 years with Accepted. She would love to help you too.\u00a0Want Cindy to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Resources:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2022\u00a0What\u2019s New at INSEAD<\/a>, a podcast episode
\u2022\u00a0What INSEAD is Looking For<\/a>
\u2022\u00a0INSEAD MBA Class Profile [Class of 2020]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article<\/a>\u00a0originally appeared on\u00a0blog.accepted.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\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 to apply, writing your application essays, or prepping for your interviews, we are just a call (or click) away.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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

Communication is key for\u00a0INSEAD\u00a0\u2013 in part because it is a key factor that their recruiters look for. Hence\u00a0the INSEAD application elicits your communication effectiveness. First, INSEAD asks you to write…<\/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":[227,69,887],"class_list":["post-46830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mba","category-accepted","category-admission-consultants","category-applications","category-blog","tag-application-tips","tag-insead","tag-mba-application-deadlines","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46830","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=46830"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46830\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46832,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46830\/revisions\/46832"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}