Calling all Applicants: INSEAD Jan 2020 Intake (Class of Dec 2020)

Hi Adrianmuger1 my heart goes out to you....yes...very annoying. En francais on dirait que c'est chiant! This is going to be a whole new world for me, for real.
This is a change that was JUST implemented. When I heard about this I panicked but my clients assured me the R3 Sept batch essays were still the same.

I am wondering, though, why you are unable to see the word limits in the application portal? I actually cannot advise you unless I sign up for a Jan application.

Where did you get the info about the first job essay and are you unable to see the other word limits?

Encourage you to refer to my post on January 2 with regards to this particular essay.

Let me know and thanks,
Farrell

I haven't signed up for the JAN2020 intake yet, thus Im still unable to see the word limits for the required essays (and whether they have changed in topic or not).
I just read on a previous post that there was going to be a 100 words limit on one of the job essay that previously only had a "short answer" indication, and was wondering whether other "word limit" changes were applied to other INSEAD essays as well for the JAN2020 intake.

I'm having my assistant take a look at the application and will report back but my instinct is that all of the job essays will now have work limits, it seems strange that there would be any inconsistencies with that. I'm not sure if you know this yet but all the motivation essays you have to be right on the money with the words you can't go over 10% as you could in the past.

https://mbaprepcoach.com

Yep, I know about the new strict word limit and that you can't exceed it (unfortunately).

Thank you! Yes, please let me know when you have some updates on the essays/word limit of the JAN2020 intake!

Hi everyone,

these are the new word count limits for the Job Description essays.

1. Briefly summarise your current (or most recent) job, including the nature of work, major responsibilities, and where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, clients/products and results achieved. (200 words maximum)

2. What would be your next step in terms of position if you were to remain in the same company? (200 words maximum)

3. Please give a full description of your career since graduating from university. Describe your career path with the rationale behind your choices. (300 words maximum)

4. Discuss your short and long term career aspirations with an MBA from INSEAD. (100 words maximum)

All limits are strict. There are no changes in the Motivation Essays.

I hope this helps.

Thank you very much.

Warm regards
Alex

Thank you for letting us know! All these words limit are way too short in my opinion. My average word count was approx 400/500 words for almost all job essays. Got now a lot of work to do if I want to shorten them considerably.

Hi Adrianmuger1,

you're more than welcome.

Yeah, I know those limits might look rather short. I have seen some of those Job Description essays going as long as 700-800 words, and I guess this has finally made INSEAD require applicants to be more straight to the point.

In any case, in my opinion, 200 words for Job Description Essay #1 and #2, and 300 words for Job Essay #3 still allow for detailed essays.

The most challenging essay could be now Job Description Essay #4 (i.e. Career Goals) with only 100 words. But I still think it is possible to articulate your career goals in a compelling way.

Good luck to everyone!

Thank you very much.

Warm regards
Alex

Hi
Just want to have a feedback of the applicants and the consultants on the group. I was a pretty lost as to which question I can include 'how INSEAD will help me to achieve my goals or why INSEAD ' . There is no explicit question like that and with goals essay being 100 words no place left there for sure.

Hi chirkut1488

Yes it's a new world order for sure with word limits on the job essays. That is where I used to include that information, and then I would also use the motivational optional to illustrate how the candidate would contribute at Insead. Like what special things they would do and partake in.

But I think given the change that we've just experienced we will need to do all of that in that motivational optional essay. Really putting all of the Insead related shiz in that last essay to fulfill the contribution aspect of the admissions criteria.

Now that space will need to be shared with how Insead will serve the client and their goals.

Make sense?

https://mbaprepcoach.com

Thanks a million for posting these Alex. Based of the examples that I posted above, from HBS applications I'm pretty accustomed to doing career goals in 100 words, and I actually think it's a great opportunity for the candidate get really clear as to the 1) role 2) industry and 3) company they are pursuing post grad and long term. Things are so accelerated at INSEAD that it's important to have this clarity before setting foot on campus

However I will say that I have sweaty palms about job essay 3 trying to cram and jam the work trajectory from college into 300 words. Just including the basic information requires that amount of room, much less the rationale and situations determining those choices.

https://mbaprepcoach.com

Well, I was hoping someone else would go first but here we go

My name is Julia, I am a Brazilian living in Argentina since I was 12 years old. BS in economics, working in finance, aiming to go into banking or mid senior management position in corporate finance in a fortune500 company. I've been crazy about INSEAD since my first years in college. I choose it because of huge diversity, fast paced, intense one year program, global alumni network!

looking forward to hear about everybody else

ShantanuINSEAD MBAPrepCoach ARLeeConsulting

Request your help if I need to retake GMAT as I am from an over-represented group (India). I have a GMAT score of 720 and if have to choose between reworking on essays/practice for video essays and improving my GMAT to 740/750 and apply in R2, what should I go for?

CFA Charter Holder
Post Graduation: MBA from one of the IIMs (Indian Institute of Management)
UG: Computer Science Engineering, 75%/100
GMAT: 720
Work Experience: 5 years at Investment Banking spread across a Bulge Bracket IB and a Domestic Boutique Investment Bank
International Work Experience: ~ 1 year spread across London, Hong Kong and Singapore
Post MBA aspirations: To move to Corp Strategy/M&A arm of a tech major

Decent Extra curriculars and strong global recommendations (previous supervisors, both are in very senior positions in top firms)

Well the fact is you're not going to get in on your test score alone it just won't happen...also, if you focus on the GMAT it's a bit of a risky proposition, unless you feel as though you are sure there's a lot of area for increase. There are a lot of people who Gamble and lose with the GMAT increase solution.

I do think that you need the bump up that score but if you fail to differentiate yourself through the actual application, no dice.

not just essays but even more importantly your CV and your recommendations (would you pay more attention to what others said about an applicant or what they said about themselves? Case closed)

So what I'm saying is there's no way to answer this question because app must be solid... is that is not in place nothing will happen, nobody pounds the table for a test score but they do for people who have reached them on an emotional level...become real to them... through their application.

however 720 is a bit cheeky for an Indian.. you're betting on the fact that there will be no other Indians with a similar or better profile who also have a higher test score. Tough odds.

If you need to wait until round two in order to achieve this then so be it, and then also take that time to bump up your score.

Yes overrepresented should apply Round 1 but if your application isn't ready you're just going to speed up the rejection process.

What I would honestly advise is that you wake up an hour earlier spend one hour per day on the GMAT, and then work on the essays in the evening. It's difficult to achieve the level of concentration needed for GMAT stuff after you have had a long day at work.

Hope this helps, your profile is really strong I'm interested and if it's articulated compellingly I think you have a good shot. Would like to see you have at least a 730 because the average at insead is now 711.. it's pretty high up there these days because app volumes, 45 vitriol is sending applicants to Europe essentially.

Also would like to mention that you need at least 75 percentile for each verbal and Quant , so not sure what your raw scores are or your percentile for each but keep that in mind.

https://mbaprepcoach.com

Hi Julia, thank you so much for introducing yourself. I hope everyone follows suit. Brazilian living in Argentina it sounds like you have the language part of this completely sorted yay! Is there a specific reason that you want to do a 1-year program? Are you applying to any other schools? We wont tell them shhh

https://mbaprepcoach.com

Hey Deepak,

My score was 720 and my work experience was 4.5 years when I applied for INSEAD. I decided to work on my application rather than giving GMAT again. 740/750 will not guarantee a shortlist and 720 is a good enough score to focus on other important factors.

Still I would love to speak with you and understand your concerns. Feel free to book a Session here.

Best,
Shantanu Sharma
MBA and Beyond Consulting

Hi deepak150,

thank you very much for asking for our opinion.

Each year, I work with and see Indian candidates being accepted with 720 GMAT scores (and even lower). Since INSEAD takes a holistic approach when it comes to admissions, what matters the most is the quality of your application (i.e. essays, resume, LoRs...). Your current GMAT score alone will not automatically disqualify you, nor a higher score will automatically get you accepted.

The above also applies for R1 vs. R2. It is well known that for Indian applicants (or any other over-represented background), it is recommended to apply as early as possible. However, Indian applicants do get accepted in R2 and R3 (and even some exceptional cases could be accepted in R4 as well).

If you feel positive you can get a GMAT score of 740/750, then you could apply in R2. However, if you don't feel that confident about your chances, you might want to just focus on your application and apply in R1 with your current score. In any case, regardless of your GMAT score, you must put together an outstanding application.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
Alex

Hello!

Thank you for starting this forum- it's extremely insightful.

I'm an Indian, with 3.5 years of work-ex (management consulting and healthcare). I have a 710 in GMAT (V40, Q48). My Quant percentile is unfortunately only 67%.
I'm planning to apply in Round 2. Do you think my GMAT score will be a deal breaker? My current job is extremely intense, and I doubt I would have time to take the test again. Also, math isn't my strongest suit so I'm actually terrified that my score will go down.

Any suggestions?

Thanks a ton!