Calling all HEC Paris MBA Applicants Sep 2025 Intake

­Thanks Arvind, they actually reached out a few days later. Basically, for anyone else interested to know, you can provide dummy values in the application form and use the Supporting Documents section to upload a copy of the EA score report.

Hello admitStreet,

I am requesting for a profile evaluation and my chances of landing into HEC Paris with my current GMAT score of 635/690.
College : I am an Indian Male Engineer, have completed my engineering from NIT with 9.07 GPA. During my college I was actively involved in multiple clubs and headed multiple positions including President of a tech club and was Placement Coordinator for my batch(I persuaded all my college mates to sit for the placements and recorded the highest salary package for my engineering branch compared to previous years). I also founded a new Innovation club through which we participated in multiple tech competitions across India.

Work : I started my first job with a big French MNCs and has recently been promoted to the position of Technical Lead. During my journey in the organisation, I have always proposed innovation solutions to the critical problems of my team and one of the solution is now being selected by the organisation as Internal Innovation Project and we are pitching in for the funding. Secondly, in my new role of Technical Leader, I have built a new domain/team within my team from scratch, that includes ideation to execution to train the fellow colleagues.

Extras I am still actively involved as an advisor to my college clubs. Providing them guidance, support and relevant materials for managing the club activities. Along with that I am a part of non-profit which helps providing guidance and assistance to educate underprivileged.

That is all about myself, I would like to know what are my chances in HEC Paris(planning to apply in R2 round). I understand being from an over-represented section 635 is not something great. So I have a plan to retake GMAT. But with this score, do I have a chance to get into HEC or should i wait and devote my full time to other GMAT attempt and apply in R3 round of HEC with a better score. I am planning to apply to some US universities, but with this score it is next to impossible to crack any of T20 school, so I plan to apply in R2 for all US schools after improving the score.

1616 - your profile does present some strong angles: NIT pedigree, GPA, French MNC brand (you didn't mention the # of years work-ex), promotion and ECA's.

The GMAT isn't ideal though. While a 635 GFE isn't a particularly low score, the Indian Male Engineer pool is quite competitive and hence this score would present a risk.

I would suggest retaking GMAT (as per your plan) and applying in R3 with a potentially higher score, rather than rushing it up in R2. Remember that HEC has an application deadline (almost) every month, thus the difference in chances between R2 and R3 isn't as big/ worrisome as it is for the US schools, which have 3 or 4 application rounds in total. Moreover, you should always put your best foot forward.

Also aim to have strong essays highlighting your profile, motivation for an MBA and particularly HEC.

All the best!
­
Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | Request a free chat
W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn ­

Thanks admitStreet,

I have a total work experience of 3.8yrs. I was worrying that my chances will go down from R2 to R3 but as you told I will retake my GMAT and will put my best foot forward.
Also, unlike American schools HEC provides results very soon and the deposit is also huge and deadline is even before US B-School R1 result, In this case what is the best way to manage both R2 applications in US B schools and HEC(R3 and R4 rounds).

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Hi AdmitStreet
What kind of story should I mention in the optional essay. "if there is anything else you would like to share with us that has already not been shared elsewhere"

Personally I used this part to tackle any flaws in my application. I felt at the time that my grades would not be sufficient to get into the schools I wanted. After explaining the reasons for a drop in grades that "that should not have happened in normal circumstances" and the lessons I learnt that would allow me to cope with a similar situation if it were to arise. Hope that helps

Maybe @admitStreet has a different approach?

Hmm. That’s a nice suggestion. I’ll think about it

Thanks

Nullbyte - ­It really depends on your context/ profile and what you've covered in the other essays.

Broadly I suggest to use the "Optional Essay" to talk about:

(A) something exceptional which hasn't been covered elsewhere in the application. This could include achievements, anecdotes, personal journey etc.
(B) any potential concerns e.g. low GMAT/ GPA, gaps in work-ex, that you feel AdCom might flag on your profile, and a strong narrative to offset such concerns

If you feel the rest of the application essays cover your profile holistically, you can choose to not answer the optional essay. But if you answer it, be sure to make every word count!

Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | Request a free chat
W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn ­

All right. That makes sense. Thanks for the reply

­I am keen on applying in Round 1 for HEC, and the deadline is 19 August. I am done with my application, but there seems to be some technical issue with the site. Since yesterday, I am not even able to open the application. It keeps giving error messages- Contact administrator etc !!!!
Anybody else facing the same issue ?
Dont want to miss out on the deadline.
What should I do here ?

Hi everyone , I’d really appreciate it if anybody could advise me on this : in July this year I resigned from my job to establish my own business and to devote more time for volunteering in my target industry as my post mba target industry is healthcare consultancy. Im confused about what to write on hec essays which mention that we have to write our roles and responsibilities in current job. In essay 1 shall i write about my previous job role from which I resigned and give a brief description of what I’m doing now or do i write only about my previous job description or any other way I can write this essay? I’d be really grateful for any kind of advise regarding this.

Hi. It is not uncommon to be in this situation. The reason for this essay is not to inform the Adcom a doubt your details but to get a sense of how senior position was and what did you like and what you didn’t like and what your passion is.

You could very well write an essay by starting about your previous job and highlighting what you didn’t like and you departed and what you love about your role at the startup and how you love it or Even things you struggle with because you did not anticipate them and most importantly how you react what adjustments you’re making.

they want to get to know you more, and this is your opportunity to sort of show off and make a résumé more meaningful so use it to the best ability you can. Keep in mind that they have senior résumé so you don’t need to repeat too much from there

Thanks bb, you’re a godsend!!! I have been told it won’t suit well with adcom as to why I’m establishing my own venture and will pursue my mba next year even though it’s a small scale and is actually to increase my experience toward healthcare challenges which would indirectly help my short term goal. Your answer assured me a lot more for applying this year.

In the application, it asks if I’m applying to other MBA programs and the motivation for applying to those programs.
If I’m applying to 3 other programs, should I write about the motivation for each program individually or a summary which covers all 3 schools?

Hi, do the scholarship chances reduce significantly from R1 to R2. One of my recommenders may not be able to submit the LoR by 19th August. I am slightly worried, if my application will be pushed to R2 and affect scholarship chances. I am an Indian female from non-STEM background, have a GRE of 328 and have 5 years of work experience in social impact / policy consulting. I am wondering if I could write to the adcom requesting them of LoR deadline extension
Any guidance will be appreciated.

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From our experience with French Business Schools (including HEC, INSEAD & ESSEC), the chances do not reduce significantly. The admission process for Scholarships works mostly after R3, unless there are specific scholarships (such as the Eiffel or Charpak) that you are targetting which are required to be decided by December.

So, in case you are looking at School Scholarships of HEC, you don't have anything to worry.

But as a rule of thumb, chances of selection (and not scholarships) are 20% higher in R1 than R2.

Hope this helps and Good Luck!

Best Regards,
Ribak Derulo­

Thank you for your advice. Will they consider my application in R1 or R2 if both the LoRs are not submitted by the due date?
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