Anybody completed INSEAD Interview?

Question

Hey everyone,

Has anyone completed their INSEAD interview yet? If so, could you please share your experiences ? What were some of the typical questions? What was the most difficult part of the interview? What did you think of the interviewer (INSEAD alumni)?

Thanks..

timothycosulich · Answer

Hi, As mentioned in another discussion, I had my first interview a couple of days ago. It was with an industry guy, ex-McKinsey. We had a very nice conversation; he was particularly interested in my experiences abroad and in the reason leading me to apply to INSEAD. The usual questions.. why an MBA, why INSEAD, etc... he didn't ask me "why now".. he probably forgot to! :-D

I was pretty optimistic myself about how it went and I got confirmation of my feeling directly from him when he said that he thought my profile was a perfect fit for INSEAD and that he's going to recommend me to the AdCom for admission. :shock:

I'm very happy indeed and looking forward to the second interview next wednesday. Fingers crossed!

Popeye · Answer

Timothy,

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I think that is great. Hope your second interview goes off very well too. One of my interviewers was busy until 2nd week of Jan. So that got cancelled. INSEAD admisions is looking for an alternative. My first interview does not happen until 27th Dec. My interviewer is also an Ex-Mckinsey person. I am quite nervous since it's almost towards the end.
I'm sure you might have shared your profile many times on this club. But would you mind sharing it again? Are you in the US?

Popeye · Answer

ok. I just noticed that you're in Madrid. :)

necromonger · Answer

As mentioned in another thread - mine got over as well (the 1st one) and it was pretty good. The interviewer was friendly and very +ve about INSEAD.

Next one is next wednesday (timothy and I are running almost parallel on our INSEAD applications process!)

Popeye · Answer

Well done there! Do you think admissions would start reviewing applications as and when they are complete? My first one itself is on Dec 27th and the second one is still in a state of limbo. :( I hope they simply don't discard my application because seats have been filled up by then.

necromonger · Answer

popeye, I think you're getting needlessly worried. I think they will look at all applications results finally and make the call.

I could be completely wrong - but my feeling is that by the time they send our their interviews, they probably have alreay classified their "buckets", i.e. people that they really would like to have, people they like to have - but with some doubt, people they aren't sure so need some more information based on interviews. Once they get all the interview results, they probably confirm their assumptions and toss out the borderlines. I doubt a poor interview comment will completely trash a solid app. But one never knows.

Anyway, in your situation, I think as long as you get your interview done couple of days before the deadlines, you should be OK. But get it done!!

Popeye · Answer

I think what you're saying is very true. But sometimes the whole process can be so nerveracking one will start to imagine the worst. 
You said you were in Northeast right? What was the location? Did you have to travel out?

timothycosulich · Answer

Hi Popeye,

Here you have my profile

https://www.gmatclub.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=37054

Don't worry for your interview happening late compared to others: if INSEAD invited to to an interview it means you may be a good fit for the school and they are surely interested in you as a candidate.

Good luck to you and necromonger!

Popeye · Answer

Thank you folks. Your assurance gives me confidence. Keep us updated on how your second interview goes.

timothycosulich · Answer

Hey guys,
I've just completed my second INSEAD interview. It went even better than the first one. Usual questions (why MBA, why INSEAD), plus some objectives related questions (the interviewer and I had the same long-term goals and spent at least half an hour going through our ideas). He said I'm one of the best candidates he has interviewed so far and that he'll recommend me to the AdCom. I'm glad about how both interviews went... now it's just a matter of sitting back and wait!
19th Jan, please, come quickly!

Necromonger, Popeye, how did your interviews go?

necromonger · Answer

tim,

that's great to hear! My interview is in the next 2 hours :) It looks pretty certain now that you will probably go to INSEAD!

timothycosulich · Answer

GOOD LUCK NECROMONGER! Let us know how it went!

Popeye · Answer

Well done Timothy and Good luck Necromanager. Mine is on 27th guys and the wait is just seeming impossible. Admissions hasn't got back to me with a second alternative interviewer yet. I'm now suspecting that I'll have just one interview. 
Timothy do tell us about how casual/formal the interview was? Did you meet at a Cafe or a Coffee place? Mine would be in a coffee shop. I have the same doubts as was posted in an earlier posting. Do I offer the interviewer a cup of coffee or do I wait for her to offer or do I let each of us pay for ourselves?

necromonger · Answer

Guys,
My second interview got over just an hour ago. It lasted for about 1 hr 50 minutes and we went off very well. The interviewer was friendly, very experienced and he was positive in his interview with me. Hopefully he'll make a good recommendation!

Once again, I was pleasantly surprised by his friendly manner, his diligence (checked some of my web references, had read my profile, and he took all my essays to read them as well) and the detailed nature of the interview. No tricky questions - just probing all angles of my work and interests. He also spoke at length about what INSEAD did to him and his experiences and he was very +ve about INSEAD. 

So - at this point, I've done everything I could and now it's waiting time!

Fig · Answer

Very good

.... Both interviews sound nice for u :D

... Crossed fingers touching some wood

necromonger · Answer

popeye - has she offered to buy the coffee/snacks? my interviewer offered to buy lunch so there was no confusion. If the interviewer has not indicated anything - you might want to simply state that the coffee is on you and then there won't be any confusion later on.

timothycosulich · Answer

Popeye - the first interview took place at the interviewer's office. 1/2 an hour in a nice meeting room. He was very friendly and didn't do any tricky question. The second interview took place in a coffee shop: he was also very friendly and asked me very typical questions. He paid the coffee (I offered to pay for it but he didn't even listen...).
Good luck to everyone... I'm going on holiday... 10 days without GMAT club... it's going to be tough! :-D

Lich · Answer

wow, necro your second interview lasted an hour and 50 minutes. That's crazy!!! Is that normal for alumni interviews?

Popeye · Answer

Happy Holidays, Timothy. 
I guess I'll deal with the 'who buys coffee' situation on the day of the interview itself. Thanks for your suggestions guys...

Anybody completed INSEAD Interview?

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