Calling all HEC Paris MBA Applicants Sep 2025 Intake

Hi everyone,
I applied in the April round for Sep’25 intake and got an interview invite. Do people who were admitted or invited to interview in earlier rounds have any insights on what topic we should pick for the interview presentation?

Congratulations

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Hey,

There are absolutely candidates who choose HEC Paris as a first-choice school—and for good reasons: its strong reputation in luxury, consulting, and finance; deep alumni network in Europe; close ties with firms in France; and strong brand within the EU business landscape. It consistently ranks among the top global MiM and MBA programs for ROI, especially if your goal is to work in Europe post-graduation.

However, it’s also true that in today’s economic and visa climate, some candidates have shifted their choices. There are people who:

• Initially aimed for U.S. MBAs but opted for HEC or other European schools due to lower costs, shorter program duration, and easier post-study work options in the EU.
• Got admits from schools ranked higher globally (like LBS, INSEAD, or top U.S. MBAs) but chose HEC because it better aligned with industry focus (e.g., luxury or impact investing) or due to location and visa priorities.

So no, it’s not just a “settle-for” option. But yes, the current macro situation—like tough U.S. visa policies, funding challenges, and limited ROI from some U.S. MBAs—has led more people to actively choose HEC or similar European programs. In some cases, it’s a strategic pivot, not a downgrade.

Every MBA has a different story, and we always say—don’t go by rankings alone. What matters more is whether a school aligns with your personal and professional goals. If you need help choosing the right schools for your profile and aspirations, book a free consultation call with us at Admit Scholar. We’ll help you make a decision that’s not just smart—but also right for you.

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Hello Sr1997,

You must pick something that you are interested in or passionate about as that will help make your presentation a lot more meaningful.

Good luck!

Congrats on the interview invite Sr1997 ! As part of the HEC Paris MBA interview process, candidates are asked to deliver a 10-minute presentation at any point during the interview. This component is a distinctive feature of the HEC application and offers applicants a unique opportunity to showcase their personality, critical thinking, and communication skills. While the topic is entirely up to the applicant, it’s important to choose something that adds depth and value to your candidacy. (One of your strengths)

Your chosen topic doesn’t necessarily need to be directly related to your job or industry. However, it should highlight your values, interests, or perspective, and ideally support the broader narrative you've built in your application. For example, you could explore a subject you're passionate about, discuss a global issue that resonates with you, or analyze a challenge from your personal or professional life. The goal is to present a well-structured and insightful argument that reveals who you are beyond your resume.

With only 10 minutes, aim for 5-6 slides. Focus on delivering a clear introduction, 2-3 core points, and a persuasive conclusion. Avoid cluttered slides and use visuals or data where relevant to support your points. Remember, it is more about how you present it, your thought process, confidence, and communication are key.

Practice is essential to ensure you stay within the time limit and maintain a steady pace. Be prepared for follow-up questions; interviewers may want to dig deeper into your topic or understand your reasoning. This is your chance to demonstrate that you can think on your feet and engage in thoughtful discussion.

Make your presentation memorable, meaningful, and well-delivered, you’ll leave a strong impression. Good luck!

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HEC application requires uploading of score report - is this the official score report or can we upload the scan of the print that we will get after the test at the test center?

Hi. There’s no official school report that you can upload so you’ll be just taking a screenshot from your mba.com account.

How much time does it take for the scores to reflect on mba.com. My exam is scheduled on 15-may and HEC application deadline is 18-may

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Sorry about the ding.
This is not very common, though I have seen similar things for other programs.... I think the prudent thing would be to check with them. Of course you can also ignore the rejection and just go ahead and schedule the interview 😇

HEC website screenshot

It takes about 2 to 3 days. If you’re taking it at the test center, I think they should also give you a printout though that was what they used to do before the gmat focus. But I wouldn’t worry too much about it even if you don’t have a score by the time you need to submit the application, you still would know it and you can just send them a screenshot of Aandb.a.com that’s a score pending and then updated later. You’re not late because your score is not available online. As long as you took the test before the deadline, you’re OK.