Calling all HEC Paris MBA applicants: Sept 2018 intake - Class of 2019

I just applied for the 15 Oct deadline. I could use some tips too!

Got an email from the marketing manager, will receive official admit tomorrow.

Admitted on: 2017/10/12
Heard back via: Email
Location: India
GMAT: 750, Q50, V41
WE: 72 months
Industry: Energy
Invited on: 2017/09/22
Decision Received on: 2017/10/12

Hello everyone,

Congratulations to people who have made it.
My profile:
Background - B.Tech (Chemical Technology) from UDCT, Mumbai
Current Industry - Business Consulting (Chemical Domain).
WE - 105 months
GMAT - 730
Location - India

Great to connect with you all here.

Cheers,
Deepak

Hello and thank you for creating the topic!
I will also be part of the September 2018 intake, very happy to chat with some of my future classmates

My profile:
Background: Engineering studies, working as a Business Engineer (Sales)
Current Industry: Electronic Safety & Security Industry (i.e. specific computer software and electronics hardware)
WE: 108 months (9 years) when matriculating
GMAT: 650
Location: France
Target Industry: Technology (Security, Cybersecurity) but also open to explore new opportunities
Heard back via: Phone
Timeline: Submitted application on 15th September. Pre-selection outcome decision - 19th September. Admitted on 12th October.
Interviews: Two HEC Paris MBA (PT) Alumnis, one in Lyon (France), one in Zürich (Switzerland), I made the move in person for both interviews. Very interesting interviews I think for both parts, not stressful moments once they had begun. Classic questions but with a deep will to be certain of my motivation. Be prepared One of my interviewers seemed also sincerely interested in my presentation, so he asked me a few very specific questions about it. I did not prepare a work-related presentation but a "passion" one, so it was also easy for me to deal with it, however once again be prepared

Nice to meet you guys

Paul-Emeric

Congratulations to everyone who got an admit.
I think once the security deposit is done, you can join the facebook group that HEC has for Sept 2018 intake. I've to check if the FB link is there on external website link they mailed.

Also, for those applying in the coming rounds, all the best!
I think they are looking for good international exposure (If you haven't worked abroad, I think professional interactions with other nationals should count) too in addition to good scores and essays.

Also, they are really quick, I got the acceptance in less than 30 days from submitting, so they're much more efficient than their American counterparts

Hi everyone, and thanks for creating this thread. I have been accepted into the September 2018 intake, and look forward to connect with all of you!

My profile:
Background: Engineering, Prior MBA in India, Worked for 4 years across Technology & Telecom industries in Business Development, Marketing, Account Management, Product Management and Analytics functions
Current Industry: Marketing Analytics (SaaS company) working as a Client Success Manager
WE: 54 months (while matriculating)
GMAT: 770
Location: India
Target Industry: Technology Industry, Marketing/Growth/Product/Brand Management Roles
Heard back via: Email
Timeline: Submitted application on 15th September. Pre-selection outcome decision on 19th September. Admitted on 12th October.
Interviews: Two HEC Paris MBA Alumni. One in-person interview in Delhi, India. The other one via Skype with an alumnus in France. Both informal interviews in a relaxed setting. Extremely nice people I would love to keep in touch with.

Great to meet all of you!

Thanks,
Karthik

Hi everybody,

I just applied on 15th Oct. My BG is as follows:

Nationality: Indian
GMAT: 720
12th standard: 93%
Qualification: B. Tech Electrical Engineering
Sector: Manufacturing of Heavy Electricals
Work-Exp: 74 months in Oct-17

Can somebody gimme some tips on the interviews. How does all the dreaded "grilling" process go? And what's about this presentation?

Also, has any Indian received any scholarship or loan? If yes, from where?

Thanks in advance

Thanks very much for creating the thread for Sept 2018 applicants. I've updated the first post with data tables and deadlines.

Many congrats on getting admit from HEC. I also wish good luck to all other applicants.

I just started a HEC application yesterday and the marketing manager has already contacted me about scheduling a call to discuss the application and the program. I've never seen any school able to offer personalized service like this. Does everyone get this offer when they make their profile? Or is it an indicator of interest?

I've only just started my HEC application and I'm not sure if I'll be able to put up a strong application of for Nov 15 due to a shortage of time.

Will submitting in the January deadline be late? Should I push through the app in Nov itslef?

Any help would be appreciated!

Hi AA2014,
I have a profile almost identical to yours. Submitted my app on 15th Oct. Awaiting a reply.

TechSA, must have a really strong profile to command such immediate attention. Would be nice if you share a brief bio.

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Going by previous cycle info, will it be fair to assume that pre selection results will be declared today?

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I think it may be more of a case of they don't receive as many applications from Africa. Or they just really like my international experience.

Background: South African but born in China
University: Duke (US) with an exchange in the UK
WE: 2 years at one of the Big 4 Tech Companies (Both in US and South Africa)
GMAT: 710
Major: Electrical Engineering
Lastly, I have volunteered in a francophone Africa country so I have a basic level of French. Probably a plus for looking for employment afterwards.

Question for those that are accepted and applied, how are you planning to finance the HEC MBA? They do not offer many scholarships.

Any update on interview calls? I submitted on 30th sept. Still no news.

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Awesome.... what other b-schools have you applied for?

Hi All,

I also got an admit from HEC for Sept 2018 on 13th October. Glad to meet my future classmates here
My brief profile -
GMAT - 720
Industry - IT Consulting
Experience - 4 years
Country - India

I received the admit in less than a month after submitting my application for the 15th Sept deadline.

Here is a briefing of my interviews for all future applicants -

2 weeks after getting pre-selected in HEC, I got my interviewers’ details and was able to set up my interview appointments within a week. I had sent the interviewer my PPT, resume and as I am a writer, a soft copy of my book to both my interviewers.
Interview 1 :
My first interview was on skype. He was a very jovial person who had passed out from HEC in 2009. After the usual greetings, he asked me to introduce myself for the next 10 minutes. I started on the introduction and he kept cross questioning me w.r.t. to my resume intermittently. I was happy to know that he had flipped through my book and was really appreciative of my work.
Next we moved on to my PPT. He liked the presentation and asked a few questions in the end. Then we moved onto the real questions 
1. Why MBA?
2. Why product management after 4 years in consulting? Why don’t u think of becoming a full time author? A few cross questions here and there.
3. Which other schools have u applied to and why?
4. Which one will you chose if admitted and why? A few cross questions.
5. Why HEC?
6. Why not INSEAD, LBS and IMD Switzerland?
Then we had a long friendly conversation in which he advised about what scholarships I should look out for, all kinds of activities that I can do while on campus, clubs that I can join and how to network around. He shared with me a lot of fun stories from his time as well. We again had a small question-answer round.
7. What are your post-MBA short-term and long-term goals?
8. Which type of companies would you like to work for after your MBA?(This was based on my reply to long-term goals)
9. Have you thought how you will search for jobs after MBA given that here you have to rely on your network and it’s not like placements in India? (After my answer, we again drifted towards a casual conversation on what all options I can leverage to get a good placement – networking dinners, on-campus ppts, converting internships to ppos)
10. What is the starting salary that you are expecting? (He also advised me on the amount of time it would take to repay my loans)
11. A few situational and behavioral questions such as my idea on leadership, a good leadership example that I have ever set, my greatest achievement personal and professional both.
12. What can you bring to the class and community that no one else can?
13. 2 cross-questions on my CSR activities.
14. He told me to start learning French immediately if this works out.
After that we had a long conversation where he actually explained to me every bit about HEC and Paris and how he spent his time there and also how his placements and internships worked out and his overall experience. In the end, I asked him a few questions on how was the transition from Europe to India, now that he was working here? The difference in work culture and challenges he faced. Overall, he made me feel extremely comfortable and we had some light moments as well. It lasted for about 2 hours but for the majority part it was a casual light-hearted discussion and he also offered to get in touch with him in case I needed anything in future.

Interview 2:
This interview happened on the exact day of the jury decision date for my cycle i.e. 12th October. This interviewer was a 2010 pass out and we had a face to face interview in her office. I reached her office 30 mins before our scheduled time. I was seated in a meeting room and she came right on time.
After the usual greetings she asked me to speak about myself for some time. As I did so, she kept asking questions w.r.t. my resume. We had a small discussion w.r.t. the work that I do in my organization and I could see that she was really interested in my work. Then a few more questions like
1. Where do you see yourself 10-20 years from now?
2. Why MBA?
3. Why Product Management?
4. Why not an MS?
5. Why not trying in US schools?
6. Which schools applying to? Which one would you choose? Why? (She explained to me her own preferences with reasons)
7. Asked me a few questions around ethical dilemma and tried to cross check with my story in the application.
8. Then she asked me an example on ethical dilemma other than the one I had mentioned in the application.
After that it was mostly a discussion on her overall experience after her MBA and what options I should look out for w.r.t. the schools. She took the ppt in the end and timed it. I had handouts ready as well but she was more comfortable with the laptop so I gave it on my laptop. She kept asking questions and we completed the ppt exactly at 10 mins . She was very impressed with the ppt and then asked me if I wanted to ask any questions. I asked her a few questions that I had prepared based on her profile. We had a long discussion regarding the positives and negatives of HEC. She also advised me to learn French if this works out. She was a warm lady but a little more reserved than the first interviewer. So, this one lasted good 1.5 hours and frankly speaking I had a very neutral feeling regarding this interview. I could not comment if it went good or bad.

However, my excitement knew no bounds when I received the admission confirmation email the next day at midnight!
Wishing future applicants all the very best!

Congrats on your admission. Do tell about the scholarships you receive. Its a very imp factor.

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