We work with many people every year who apply to and get into IE.
The application process is pretty standard to all business school and their candidacy evaluation system is pretty much the same - however, with a slightly higher emphasis placed on international experience or international aspirations. This is a critical aspect of your candidacy as the school has a definite international flavor.
There are a few quirks to the application. First, the essays tend to be very short and this makes it somewhat difficult to get your point across. Thus every word counts. Next, the school really wants to know that you want to go to IE -- so getting this point across in your essays, interview, interactions with administration, etc. is critical. Lastly (as you point out) is the standardized test. Most students take the GMAT and submit this score. However, IE still has their own admissions test (this was a trend that started about a decade ago and did not last very long at most schools -- as the amount of work that goes into a business school application is immense and this added just another thing that applicants had to go through -- so students were bypassing schools with this test). People who take the exam say that it is lengthy (and not many people finish it) and it focuses on reading comprehension and analysis of information (one section) and data interpretation on another. Again, reports from those who have taken it say that it is difficult to prepare for.
As the school is located in Spain, most of the candidates we worked with say that it is a very interesting time to live in the country now. As enterprising business students -- many see this as a unique opportunity to pursue an entrepreneurial adventure during times of immense economic and political uncertainty. They almost all agree that this had made their experience much more interesting.,
Good luck in this process. If you would like to speak more, please call us for a complementary candidacy assessment.
Kimberly Plaga
Senior Admissions Consultant
Manhattan Review
Call for a free candidacy assessment.