|
|
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.
Customized
for You
Track
Your Progress
Practice
Pays
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
cico09
Joined: 29 Jun 2015
Last visit: 12 Jan 2016
Posts: 14
Given Kudos: 1
Concentration: Strategy, Finance
Schools: IMD '16 (WD) INSEAD Jan '16 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
GPA: 3.87
30 Jun 2015, 13:22
Kudos
Bookmarks
outofstyle
lol! sure -- it was a great experience from start to finish. paola, the new admissions manager, is such a wonderful and personable person it's hard to imagine an experience that's anything but enjoyable. even ralf who has something of a cult of personality -- once you realize that he's just trying to provoke discussion, is really quite funny and you can see that he genuinely cares about his students. this is my impression anyway based on the few hours we spent together.
i attended the assessment day in singapore so my experience is going to be slightly different from yours. there were 6 people in my group; everyone was in their early to mid 30s (except me), everyone worked at large MNCs / fortune 500 companies and someone worked at mckinsey. IMD was the top / only choice for everyone. you'll receive a schedule two weeks before the date, along with the case study, and they're all different, but mine went something like this:
9am - personal interview with paola for 45 minutes; there was structure to the line of questioning but it was also conversational and we laughed a lot. typical questions - what have you done and where do you see yourself going from here, how will IMD help you, et al, as well as some that were specific to my profile. absolutely nothing that made me sweat in the least -- i can't tell you what a relief this was considering i was expecting the worst based on everything i had read on gmatclub.
after the interview, sat around and conversed with the other candidates. i brought snacks and my laptop but didn't bother with either since there was a fully stocked snack bar in IMD's singapore office and it was way more interesting getting to know my fellow candidates. i should also say here that the facilities at the new singapore office are really top-notch.
11ish - assigned a conference room with 2 other candidates to work on the impromptu presentation. the prompt was short (one page) detailing the company, the industry, and the problem (e.g. declining profitability). the solution doesn't require any knowledge beyond P=R-C for analysis and STAR for presentation.
lunch with alumni - more friendly chit chat.
after lunch - actual presentation for 5 minutes each followed by a group discussion to reach a consensus. for some reason, in my mind, i had been expecting to present to a classroom of people but since it was just the 6 of us + paola + ralf it felt way more intimate and less intimidating. also, by this time, our group had already bonded so there were absolutely no qualms and everyone was able to get their word in.
another break, more chit chat, more snacking. i might even have taken a nap.
case discussion - i definitely overprepared. i read 5 years worth of equity research reports, created a working financial model of the company, read everything from the popular press, tried to find several angles and researched frameworks to support these based on theory and data. in the end, we were divided into small teams -- two in support, two against, and two to mediate -- and really, it would have just been enough to read the case a few times.
sorry this was long, but in sum, i had a great time! the sense i got was that they're not trying to eliminate people at this stage but rather confirm initial impressions and the case study / presentation is just material to carry the conversation.
i attended the assessment day in singapore so my experience is going to be slightly different from yours. there were 6 people in my group; everyone was in their early to mid 30s (except me), everyone worked at large MNCs / fortune 500 companies and someone worked at mckinsey. IMD was the top / only choice for everyone. you'll receive a schedule two weeks before the date, along with the case study, and they're all different, but mine went something like this:
9am - personal interview with paola for 45 minutes; there was structure to the line of questioning but it was also conversational and we laughed a lot. typical questions - what have you done and where do you see yourself going from here, how will IMD help you, et al, as well as some that were specific to my profile. absolutely nothing that made me sweat in the least -- i can't tell you what a relief this was considering i was expecting the worst based on everything i had read on gmatclub.
after the interview, sat around and conversed with the other candidates. i brought snacks and my laptop but didn't bother with either since there was a fully stocked snack bar in IMD's singapore office and it was way more interesting getting to know my fellow candidates. i should also say here that the facilities at the new singapore office are really top-notch.
11ish - assigned a conference room with 2 other candidates to work on the impromptu presentation. the prompt was short (one page) detailing the company, the industry, and the problem (e.g. declining profitability). the solution doesn't require any knowledge beyond P=R-C for analysis and STAR for presentation.
lunch with alumni - more friendly chit chat.
after lunch - actual presentation for 5 minutes each followed by a group discussion to reach a consensus. for some reason, in my mind, i had been expecting to present to a classroom of people but since it was just the 6 of us + paola + ralf it felt way more intimate and less intimidating. also, by this time, our group had already bonded so there were absolutely no qualms and everyone was able to get their word in.
another break, more chit chat, more snacking. i might even have taken a nap.
case discussion - i definitely overprepared. i read 5 years worth of equity research reports, created a working financial model of the company, read everything from the popular press, tried to find several angles and researched frameworks to support these based on theory and data. in the end, we were divided into small teams -- two in support, two against, and two to mediate -- and really, it would have just been enough to read the case a few times.
sorry this was long, but in sum, i had a great time! the sense i got was that they're not trying to eliminate people at this stage but rather confirm initial impressions and the case study / presentation is just material to carry the conversation.
Thanks for the detail on the assessment process. Really appreciate the breakdown on each segment and your perception.
I noticed you also only apply to 2 schools. So what's your take on INSEAD V.S. IMD?
I understand the selection of school depends on each individual's profile and post-MBA goal.
But it's still a good idea to hear other's analytical process if you don't mind sharing.
outofstyle
Joined: 02 Mar 2015
Last visit: 09 Oct 2015
Posts: 16
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Location: United States
Schools: INSEAD Jan '17 (A) IMD '16 (A)
30 Jun 2015, 19:03
Kudos
Bookmarks
the insead vs imd question has been on my mind over the past three weeks. i've done a lot of research and i'm still 50/50.
academics / learning - IMD wins, hands down. the INSEAD alumni i've met have said as much. the way the IMD program is structured, the emphasis on leadership, having core courses in the first half and learning to apply them in the second through industrial partnerships, the space for reflection, the innovative use of teaching methods, the intensity, etc -- i think i would learn a lot more or feel more compelled to work at IMD. i still think you get an education par excellence at INSEAD but if you're looking to be fully immersed in business education with no distractions, then IMD is your place.
community - continuous and consistent for IMD, in flux for INSEAD. at IMD, the city of lausanne becomes your home for the year: even if you travel for school trips, you'll always have a place (and people) to return to. INSEAD could be the same, but for the most part, people take advantage of campus exchanges and you have to say goodbye just as you're starting to get to know each other. it's great because you'll always kind of know someone in a different country, and this could be good for someone who gets bored easily (me), but also, kind of irritating for someone looking for stability. also, since you're in class with the same 90 people for the year at IMD, you really get to know your classmates -- every single one of them.
social life - INSEAD seems a bit like college 2.0 with drunken dance parties and private social clubs. if you're a social butterfly, your days will be filled with invitations to chateau dinners and private soirees. if not, you'll end up feeling a little left out. IMD doesn't seem to have a social scene, and i doubt anyone going to IMD would say that they chose the school for the nightlife options. if you have a partner or family, go to IMD for sure; they really make sure your family is well taken care of (e.g. on campus daycare, laundry, etc.).
careers - as you said, depends. both place well into consulting. INSEAD places into investment banking while it's almost a rarity at IMD. in general, i think because of the demographic differences between the two schools, more people join graduate training programs after INSEAD because these programs are looking for 20-something year olds with only a few years of work experience that they can mold into the cultural fit of their company. i think the sort of jobs IMD is looking to secure for its graduates, and indeed, the sort of jobs sought after by its graduates, are mid-level managerial ones in industry. IMD is good for maybe a procurement manager at a fortune global 50 company looking to switch into a different function within the same company / industry at a higher level of responsibility. the key things i've been thinking about here are 1) will i get more attention from recruiters by virtue of the smaller class size at IMD, 2) will my resume be buried under all the ex-mckinsey people at INSEAD, and 3) what are recruiters looking for when they hire from IMD vs INSEAD, and is that who i am? what i mean is that if i'm not a 20-something ex consultant, will there be jobs for me at INSEAD and are these even the kind of jobs i want? for me, both schools have alumni in the job and company i want so i am still completely 50/50.
EDIT: edited the above since it seemed as if i was quite negative on INSEAD. i think i would be happy and successful at either of the schools, and if i end up going to IMD, i'm sure i'll have the experience of a lifetime.
academics / learning - IMD wins, hands down. the INSEAD alumni i've met have said as much. the way the IMD program is structured, the emphasis on leadership, having core courses in the first half and learning to apply them in the second through industrial partnerships, the space for reflection, the innovative use of teaching methods, the intensity, etc -- i think i would learn a lot more or feel more compelled to work at IMD. i still think you get an education par excellence at INSEAD but if you're looking to be fully immersed in business education with no distractions, then IMD is your place.
community - continuous and consistent for IMD, in flux for INSEAD. at IMD, the city of lausanne becomes your home for the year: even if you travel for school trips, you'll always have a place (and people) to return to. INSEAD could be the same, but for the most part, people take advantage of campus exchanges and you have to say goodbye just as you're starting to get to know each other. it's great because you'll always kind of know someone in a different country, and this could be good for someone who gets bored easily (me), but also, kind of irritating for someone looking for stability. also, since you're in class with the same 90 people for the year at IMD, you really get to know your classmates -- every single one of them.
social life - INSEAD seems a bit like college 2.0 with drunken dance parties and private social clubs. if you're a social butterfly, your days will be filled with invitations to chateau dinners and private soirees. if not, you'll end up feeling a little left out. IMD doesn't seem to have a social scene, and i doubt anyone going to IMD would say that they chose the school for the nightlife options. if you have a partner or family, go to IMD for sure; they really make sure your family is well taken care of (e.g. on campus daycare, laundry, etc.).
careers - as you said, depends. both place well into consulting. INSEAD places into investment banking while it's almost a rarity at IMD. in general, i think because of the demographic differences between the two schools, more people join graduate training programs after INSEAD because these programs are looking for 20-something year olds with only a few years of work experience that they can mold into the cultural fit of their company. i think the sort of jobs IMD is looking to secure for its graduates, and indeed, the sort of jobs sought after by its graduates, are mid-level managerial ones in industry. IMD is good for maybe a procurement manager at a fortune global 50 company looking to switch into a different function within the same company / industry at a higher level of responsibility. the key things i've been thinking about here are 1) will i get more attention from recruiters by virtue of the smaller class size at IMD, 2) will my resume be buried under all the ex-mckinsey people at INSEAD, and 3) what are recruiters looking for when they hire from IMD vs INSEAD, and is that who i am? what i mean is that if i'm not a 20-something ex consultant, will there be jobs for me at INSEAD and are these even the kind of jobs i want? for me, both schools have alumni in the job and company i want so i am still completely 50/50.
EDIT: edited the above since it seemed as if i was quite negative on INSEAD. i think i would be happy and successful at either of the schools, and if i end up going to IMD, i'm sure i'll have the experience of a lifetime.
cico09
Joined: 29 Jun 2015
Last visit: 12 Jan 2016
Posts: 14
Own Kudos:
Given Kudos: 1
Concentration: Strategy, Finance
Schools: IMD '16 (WD) INSEAD Jan '16 (M)
GMAT 1: 710 Q49 V38
GPA: 3.87
02 Jul 2015, 09:39
Kudos
Bookmarks
outofstyle
the insead vs imd question has been on my mind over the past three weeks. i've done a lot of research and i'm still 50/50.
academics / learning - IMD wins, hands down. the INSEAD alumni i've met have said as much. the way the IMD program is structured, the emphasis on leadership, having core courses in the first half and learning to apply them in the second through industrial partnerships, the space for reflection, the innovative use of teaching methods, the intensity, etc -- i think i would learn a lot more or feel more compelled to work at IMD. i still think you get an education par excellence at INSEAD but if you're looking to be fully immersed in business education with no distractions, then IMD is your place.
community - continuous and consistent for IMD, in flux for INSEAD. at IMD, the city of lausanne becomes your home for the year: even if you travel for school trips, you'll always have a place (and people) to return to. INSEAD could be the same, but for the most part, people take advantage of campus exchanges and you have to say goodbye just as you're starting to get to know each other. it's great because you'll always kind of know someone in a different country, and this could be good for someone who gets bored easily (me), but also, kind of irritating for someone looking for stability. also, since you're in class with the same 90 people for the year at IMD, you really get to know your classmates -- every single one of them.
social life - INSEAD seems a bit like college 2.0 with drunken dance parties and private social clubs. if you're a social butterfly, your days will be filled with invitations to chateau dinners and private soirees. if not, you'll end up feeling a little left out. IMD doesn't seem to have a social scene, and i doubt anyone going to IMD would say that they chose the school for the nightlife options. if you have a partner or family, go to IMD for sure; they really make sure your family is well taken care of (e.g. on campus daycare, laundry, etc.).
careers - as you said, depends. both place well into consulting. INSEAD places into investment banking while it's almost a rarity at IMD. in general, i think because of the demographic differences between the two schools, more people join graduate training programs after INSEAD because these programs are looking for 20-something year olds with only a few years of work experience that they can mold into the cultural fit of their company. i think the sort of jobs IMD is looking to secure for its graduates, and indeed, the sort of jobs sought after by its graduates, are mid-level managerial ones in industry. IMD is good for maybe a procurement manager at a fortune global 50 company looking to switch into a different function within the same company / industry at a higher level of responsibility. the key things i've been thinking about here are 1) will i get more attention from recruiters by virtue of the smaller class size at IMD, 2) will my resume be buried under all the ex-mckinsey people at INSEAD, and 3) what are recruiters looking for when they hire from IMD vs INSEAD, and is that who i am? what i mean is that if i'm not a 20-something ex consultant, will there be jobs for me at INSEAD and are these even the kind of jobs i want? for me, both schools have alumni in the job and company i want so i am still completely 50/50.
EDIT: edited the above since it seemed as if i was quite negative on INSEAD. i think i would be happy and successful at either of the schools, and if i end up going to IMD, i'm sure i'll have the experience of a lifetime.
academics / learning - IMD wins, hands down. the INSEAD alumni i've met have said as much. the way the IMD program is structured, the emphasis on leadership, having core courses in the first half and learning to apply them in the second through industrial partnerships, the space for reflection, the innovative use of teaching methods, the intensity, etc -- i think i would learn a lot more or feel more compelled to work at IMD. i still think you get an education par excellence at INSEAD but if you're looking to be fully immersed in business education with no distractions, then IMD is your place.
community - continuous and consistent for IMD, in flux for INSEAD. at IMD, the city of lausanne becomes your home for the year: even if you travel for school trips, you'll always have a place (and people) to return to. INSEAD could be the same, but for the most part, people take advantage of campus exchanges and you have to say goodbye just as you're starting to get to know each other. it's great because you'll always kind of know someone in a different country, and this could be good for someone who gets bored easily (me), but also, kind of irritating for someone looking for stability. also, since you're in class with the same 90 people for the year at IMD, you really get to know your classmates -- every single one of them.
social life - INSEAD seems a bit like college 2.0 with drunken dance parties and private social clubs. if you're a social butterfly, your days will be filled with invitations to chateau dinners and private soirees. if not, you'll end up feeling a little left out. IMD doesn't seem to have a social scene, and i doubt anyone going to IMD would say that they chose the school for the nightlife options. if you have a partner or family, go to IMD for sure; they really make sure your family is well taken care of (e.g. on campus daycare, laundry, etc.).
careers - as you said, depends. both place well into consulting. INSEAD places into investment banking while it's almost a rarity at IMD. in general, i think because of the demographic differences between the two schools, more people join graduate training programs after INSEAD because these programs are looking for 20-something year olds with only a few years of work experience that they can mold into the cultural fit of their company. i think the sort of jobs IMD is looking to secure for its graduates, and indeed, the sort of jobs sought after by its graduates, are mid-level managerial ones in industry. IMD is good for maybe a procurement manager at a fortune global 50 company looking to switch into a different function within the same company / industry at a higher level of responsibility. the key things i've been thinking about here are 1) will i get more attention from recruiters by virtue of the smaller class size at IMD, 2) will my resume be buried under all the ex-mckinsey people at INSEAD, and 3) what are recruiters looking for when they hire from IMD vs INSEAD, and is that who i am? what i mean is that if i'm not a 20-something ex consultant, will there be jobs for me at INSEAD and are these even the kind of jobs i want? for me, both schools have alumni in the job and company i want so i am still completely 50/50.
EDIT: edited the above since it seemed as if i was quite negative on INSEAD. i think i would be happy and successful at either of the schools, and if i end up going to IMD, i'm sure i'll have the experience of a lifetime.
That's a pretty in-depth analysis. However, I will be coming with wife & 2 kids. IMD seems to have a good support wit on-site day care.
I agree with you that smaller class size gives you better exposure to recruiter though.
On the other hand, INSEAD allow me to study in Singapore (which my wife loves) and looking into recruitment option in Asia after graduation.
I am also looking to transition to Management Consulting after MBA. INSEAD seems to have a slightly higher % of of classmates who are ex-consultants.
So it may be easier to get the inside scoop of the consulting industry. whether the consulting firm hires 30 something for associate is another story though......
Man, I always thought 30's is the prime time of your career. But changing industry seems tougher at this stage of my career.
Anyway, I will have to pass IMD assessment day first before I have the tough choice.
I assume you are fairly torn right now with two offers in hand. Maybe scholarship will be a tie breaker?
