Admitted student profiles of INSEAD

Age : 27
Country/Location : Hong Kong
Under-Graduate School : The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Under-Graduate GPA: 3.21/4
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 690
Total Work Experience : 4.5
Pre-MBA Industry : Financial Services
Target industry post-MBA: Consulting
Brief about Work Experience : Technology / Talent Management
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): Manager, Mentor
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: Scuba Diving, Youtube channel, Photography
International Experience : 8 years in Hong Kong
Scholarship Given? : No
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief? : Industry shift
Short-Term Goal : Digital Transformation Consulting
Long-Term Goal : Lead Digital Transformation Efforts for midcap firms
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? : No

Age: 28
Country/Location: Malaysia
Under-Graduate School: UCLA
Under-Graduate GPA: 3.54/4.00
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 720 GMAT
Total Work Experience: 6 years (by start MBA date)
Pre-MBA Industry: Tech consulting
Target industry post-MBA: Strat consulting / Product management / VC
Brief about Work Experience: Worked for global projects in a prominent tech consultancy firm. Moved to product management for a short time before attending MBA.
What is your relation to the Recommenders?: Senior Partner & Manager
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: Volunteering for education-based causes / projects
International Experience : Studied (US) and worked overseas (Europe, APAC incl AU & NZ)
Scholarship Given?: 15k Euros
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief?: Network, industry shift, and changing geography
Short-Term Goal: Fluid: Consulting, product management, VC
Long-Term Goal: Entrepreneur
Link to your interview debrief: No link because my interview was standard & pretty much the same as everyone else's debrief
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant?: Kind of.. I subscribed to ApplicantLab for essay guides, but most of the tips came from alumni
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?: Start early, speak to alumni, and don't give up!

Age : 27
Country/Location : New York, USA
Under-Graduate School : University of Richmond (USA)
Under-Graduate GPA: 3.42 (out of 4)
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 690 GMAT
Total Work Experience : 4 years experience at time of application
Pre-MBA Industry : Pharmaceutical advertising
Target industry post-MBA: consumer packaging/goods
Brief about Work Experience : I've worked with 3 difference top agencies over 5 years for 5 of the largest pharmaceutical corporations. I've spent 2 years doing the global advertising for a drug, 1 year launching two new drugs, and 1 year focusing on marketing a rare disease treatment
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): Managers
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: Volunteer with The Trevor Project, Volunteered with a mass COVID-19 vaccination clinic,
International Experience : worked on a global pharmaceutical product for 2 years. Led the creation and roll out of two global advertising campaigns that were used in over 50 countries, born/lived in France for 4 years, worked in Ireland, studied abroad in Scotlan
Scholarship Given? : Finalist two scholarships (decisions aren't out yet)
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief? : I want to pivot from advertising into brand management. I have a strong understanding of marketing and marketing strategy but I feel unchallenged the longer I stay in advertising. I also want to have the power to make change, which I see lies with the clients (the brand manager)
Short-Term Goal : global brand manager
Long-Term Goal : global portfolio manager

Age : 31
Country/Location : Saudi Arabia (Residence), India (Nationality)
Under-Graduate School : VIT University
Under-Graduate GPA: 7.28/10
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 710 GMAT
Total Work Experience : 8 Years
Pre-MBA Industry : Energy Sustainability
Target industry post-MBA: Management Consulting
Brief about Work Experience : Worked 2 years in IT Public Health sector and 6 years in the energy-efficiency sector across companies in the US and Saudi Arabia on projects with multinational corporations and government ministries
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc):Managers
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: Founded student clubs, sports (Archer and Athlete), travelling
International Experience : Saudi Arabia (Work), USA (Study and Work), UK (projects), China (business)
Scholarship Given? : No
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief? : Network and career pivot
Short-Term Goal : Management Consultant
Long-Term Goal : Management Consultant
Link to your interview debrief: Didn't write a debrief as the interview was pretty standard as other INSEAD interview debriefs mainly focusing on Why INSEAD
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? : Yes, had an alumni as a mentor as well

Name/username: Pauline
Age : 30
Country/Location : France (was in Japan when I applied)
Under-Graduate School : SOAS
Under-Graduate GPA: 4.0 (First class)
Postgrad 1: LSE, merit
Postgrad 2: BPP law school
GMAT/GRE Test scores: GRE (328: 167 V / 161 Q)
Total Work Experience : 5 years
Pre-MBA Industry : law
Target industry post-MBA: consulting
Brief about Work Experience : worked for two international law firms across Japan, Singapore and London
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): my boss and ex-boss
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: kitten fostering
International Experience : loads.
Scholarship Given? : yes
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief? : move to consulting
Short-Term Goal :move to consulting
Long-Term Goal : do meaningful government policy related work
Link to your interview debrief: none
(You can add your interview experience HERE and paste the link above )
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? : no
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?: be yourself.

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Name/username: Prasanth
Age : 28
Country/Location : Indian (based in Switzerland)
Under-Graduate School : IIT, Varanasi
Under-Graduate GPA: 8.5/10
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 720
Total Work Experience : 5.5 years
Pre-MBA Industry : Construction Management
Target industry post-MBA: Infrastructure Consulting
Brief about Work Experience : Managing construction projects
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): One Manager and One Collegue
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: Mentoring undergrads, Endurance races
International Experience : 5.5 years (3 countries)
Scholarship Given? : No
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief? : To Switch my career to more strategic role in Infrastructure sector
Short-Term Goal : Shift to consulting
Long-Term Goal :
Link to your interview debrief:
(You can add your interview experience HERE and paste the link above )
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? : yes
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?: Talk to alumni and current students to understand the school well.

Age : 32
Country/Location : Singapore
Under-Graduate School : NITK Surathkal
Under-Graduate GPA: 7.1/10
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 710
Total Work Experience : around 10
Pre-MBA Industry : Data science in Banking
Target industry post-MBA: Fintech
Brief about Work Experience : leading data science for the singapore wealth management business for an international bank
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): Manager
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: NFT artist / collector , Mentorship programs in Singapore , travel photographer
International Experience : 7 years in Singapore, China , Indonesia
Scholarship Given? : N/A
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief? :
Want to move towards a strategy / growth role in a fintech firm
Short-Term Goal : Strategy consulting / strategy role in a fintech firm
Long-Term Goal : work on a start up to solve for financial inclusion across segments in society in emerging markets
Link to your interview debrief:
(You can add your interview experience HERE and paste the link above )
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? :
Yes vatsal.sriv@gmail.com
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?:

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Age : 29
Country/Location : French living in the UK
Under-Graduate School : Pennsylvania State University (exchanged at the University of Hong Kong)
Under-Graduate GPA: 3.70/4.0
GMAT Test scores: 710
Total Work Experience : around 7 years
Pre-MBA Industry : Financial Technology (bank payments and money transfer)
Target industry post-MBA: Fintech
Brief about Work Experience : Business Analyst and Product Analyst at a large US Fintech firm providing financial services to US and European banks - working with IT teams on the design of a payments platform. Specialized in SEPA/Swift compliance, UI, US regulations, low-value US payments, Billing, Charging etc...
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): Senior colleagues from Product Management team at current company
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: co-founder of Penn State UK Alumni chapter, president of French club, Artist, retail trading, languages, travelling
International Experience : 11 years in Canada, the US (East/West coast), Taiwan, Hong Kong, UK. Significant travelling (70+ countries). Work with colleagues, clients from around the world
Scholarship Given? : N/A
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief? : gain management experience, enhance leadership skills, grow network to move to a manager role at a Fintech startup
Short-Term Goal : Manager at an innovative Fintech startup (e.g: Peer to peer lending, card payments etc..)
Long-Term Goal :
Link to your interview debrief:
(You can add your interview experience HERE and paste the link above )
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? : No
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?:

Name/username: Raman
Age: 33
Country/Location: Indian national in Belgium
Under-Graduate School: Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani (India)
Under-Graduate GPA: 7.2/10 but probably irrelevant as it was 10 years ago
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 740
Total Work Experience: 6-10y depending on what you count
Pre-MBA Industry: Sports/Research
Target industry post-MBA: Consulting (Sports)
Brief about Work Experience: engineer, athlete, sports scientist, business developer
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): reported directly to both - one boss at the company and one PhD supervisor
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: several. Chose to mention 4 diverse ones
International Experience: lived in 3 countries/8 cities, travelled to several more for various reasons, 5 languages
Scholarship Given?: not known yet
The motivation for MBA and why Now brief?:
Short-Term Goal: Consulting (Sports)
Long-Term Goal: Leadership (Sports)
Link to your interview debrief: I stressed out way more than required for something that was just an open conversation with very interesting and humble people who actually root for you. It felt like a sanity check where they want to see if person matches the application, and if candidate appears to be someone who is aware of, can handle, and make the most of what INSEAD has to offer
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant?: Yes! Names below
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?: I highly recommend John Couke and Steven H Green for their application and interview prep services respectively. Efficient, no-nonsense independent professionals based in Japan

Age : 34
Country/Location : India
Under-Graduate School : Anna University, India
Under-Graduate GPA : 9.25/10
Post-Graduate School : Loughborough University, UK
Post-Graduate GPA : 4.00
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 720
Total Work Experience : 9 Years
Pre-MBA Industry : Automotive
Target industry post-MBA: Mobility Services
Brief about Work Experience : 7 years of concept design for two global automakers & 2 years in corporate mobility services.
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): Senior managers.
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: Patent holder (7), club level cricketer, badminton local circuit player, fitness enthusiast.
International Experience : Studied & worked abroad, fluent speaker of 5 languages.
Scholarship Given? : N/A
Short-Term Goal : Strategy/Innovation Consulting
Long-Term Goal : Entrepreneurship in mobility services.
Link to your interview debrief:
(You can add your interview experience HERE and paste the link above )
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? : Yes (Vatsal Srivastava, INSEAD Class of 16D) vatsal.sriv@gmail.com
Here's my review for Vatsal:
https://gmatclub.com/reviews/comments/the-red-pen-admissions-consulting-345361740
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?: INSEAD's essays are intense & elaborate, so seeking professional help in crafting them is highly recommended. Good luck!

From Singapore, GRE 311, 5 YoE at matriculation and from retail

Age : 32
Country/Location : Moscow
Under-Graduate School : Novosibirsk State University
Under-Graduate GPA: 4.9/ 5.0
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 680
Total Work Experience : 10 years
Pre-MBA Industry : Oil and gas
Target industry post-MBA: consulting
Brief about Work Experience : Geologist in exploration and production drilling
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): Project manager
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: Photography, sports..
International Experience : Trainings
Scholarship Given? : not yet
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? : yes
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?: don't obsess over GMAT

Age : 30
Country/Location : Colombia
Under-Graduate School Universidad de los Andes
Under-Graduate GPA: 4.52/ 5.0
GMAT/GRE Test scores: 720
Total Work Experience : 5 years
Pre-MBA Industry : Tech and Non Profit
Target industry post-MBA: Impact Investment
Brief about Work Experience : Agtech Manager for a Non Profit
What is your relation to the Recommenders?(Manager. client etc): Manager
Volunteering/Extra-curriculars: Wildlife Volunteer
International Experience : Studied abroad
Scholarship Given? : Yes
Did you use the help of an MBA Consultant? : No
Any comments, feelings, advice to share?: Enjoy the process

I got admitted today 🎉🎉🎉 I took the GRE and got 324. Fonty.

I founded a failed startup. My essays mostly focused in what I learned from the experience. I wasn’t shy about delving into big mistakes, while reflecting on what I learned from them but also highlighted the accomplishments. I pitched the MBA as a way to expand my network, business acumen, and get a job at a big company before trying the entrepreneurship thing again. I chose Fonty because I’d like to work in Europe post MBA. I didn’t apply to any scholarships.