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NPalaka
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I have a friend who last year both interviewers said look if you want to go to INSEAD its not me who is going to make you a hard time. This year I know ate least of another guy who had the bad cop/good cop. Maybe the competition in my country increased and they are gave new instructions. I know that for other schools the instructions are that the interview is to confirm selection rather than for rejection.
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TopDogMBA
Please also check out my first interview report a few pages back.

My second interviewer was around my age. We met on a Saturday and it was very relaxed (he came in jeans and a sweat top, compared to my suit and tie!) and instantly put me at ease.

We had a friendly discussion with - of course - my well thought out responses interspersed with a lot of questions about the school and his experiences there.

We weaved about a bit with the questions as it was a more natural conversation than my first interview. When I sat down my interviewer told me he was in training for [a major local sporting event] so we started off talking about sports.

We soon steered back on to more familiar ground:

- What are my short- and long-term goals?
- Why am I applying now (noted that I will be in the older category)?
- Which campus was I planning to study on?
- How do my family feel about it?
- What's the alternative plan if I don't get in?

There was no problem to get my greatest hits into the discussion. My interviewer also commented on my drive, creative mindset (didn't think I was a finance guy) and that I was a good fit for the school culture. He pretty much told me that he would give me a strong endorsement for admission.

All in all, the interview was very relaxed and there were no "Tell me about a time..." type questions. He seemed to genuinely want to see if I was the sort of guy who would fit the INSEAD culture.

We joked a bit about the type of people applying to other business schools, and he seemed pleased I was not applying anywhere else (in Europe at least - I did not reveal the U.S. applications and he didn't press it!).

Read more at: https://topdogmba.com/2014/11/26/what-go ... -report-2/


Thanks alot for the sharing. Having read a number of interview reports in both the GMAT club and Chinese forums (Based in China) I am beginning to see a pattern. Most INSEAD
interview experience seems to be (though not strictly):

1. Two types of interviews:
A: One 'good cop' who is pretty relaxed AND a so called 'bad cop' who tend to grill you abit more.
B: Two good interviews
2. Most offers seem to have gone to people who have had two 'good interviews'
3. Most who didn't get offers seem to have been 'badly grilled' by at least one interviewer.

My initial assumption is that a 'good' interview is not necessary a 'successful' interview. The more challenges you have, the more opportunities
for you to perform. It is much better for you to 'explain away a weakness' than to leave 'doubts' in the interviewers' head.

However, at least based on what I have seen from the forms, it seems that my view is wrong as most 'offerees' seem to have had
interviewers who didnt challenge them much. I cant help to feel this makes the entire process overly luck dependent. Everyone
can potentially be challenged in numerous ones that makes him/her look really bad.

Of course all these are based on limited samples and not everyone's 'sharing' are that detailed anyway.

Feel free to post your experience/views

I think a lot of this is cultural. I was interviewed in the Bay Area, US, where the culture is extremely casual and self-effacing, and both of my interviewers were neither glowing nor tough. It was just a couple of very straightforward conversations (less like interviews) where I really got the sense that they're trying to assess fit. My interviewers did tell me that given the 10% cap on students from a single country, the interviews matter more for India, the US, and France, which are bumping up to that 10% the most.

Thanks for the sharing. Just wondering if u had received a call yet?
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wonhok
Any love from CT?

Admitted!! :) :) :)

I got my call from CT on Tuesday, Nov 25 at 8:10 am. Based in San Francisco
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Thanks Strawhat and Serza, your sharings are very valuable.

I am actually surprised that your interviewer told you abt the 10% cap thing.

Anyway, so you basically think, INSEAD uses a HBS/MIT style interview
policy whereby the interview is used to 'reject' rather than 'admit'?
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Are we expecting some more good news to come out today, before they start with the waiting list notifications?
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Reniro
Are we expecting some more good news to come out today, before they start with the waiting list notifications?

Well, as far as I can tell, the calls haven't started in Asia Pacific. So yeah, hopefully some more good news today :-D
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Just thought I'd briefly share my interview experience:

Both interviewers had a similar profile to me in that they had done their MBA a little later than typical.

Interview #1 was with someone who used to work at my company. I would describe this as quite a strange interview as he spend much of the conversation suggesting other options I could explore to achieve my goals (instead of pursuing a MBA). I didn’t feel like this was his tactic to try to see if I had a strong case for doing my MBA, instead, it really did seem like he had not gotten what he expected out of the MBA experience and was cautioning me against it. I tried to demonstrate I had strong reasons for wanting to do my MBA at INSEAD, without coming across as being completely dismissive of his point of view. Also, since he didn’t ask me directly about my motivations, I had to find ways to weave in “why MBA, why INSEAD, why now”into my responses even though the questions were not asked. Interview lasted an hour and I wasn’t sure what to make of it at the end.

Interview #2 was much better. The interviewer was friendly but very focused and prepared, he knew exactly what he wanted to get out of the interview. Spend half of the interview with the standard questions (why MBA, why INSEAD, why now); the tone was very conversational. Then he shared some of his INSEAD experiences with me and left some time for questions. Interview lasted just over 1.5 hours and I walked away feeling good.
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Hi! I am based in Mumbai, India. I received an email at 10.38PM (IST) on November 26 from SH saying that I have been waitlisted. Anybody else from Asia Pacific has heard anything yet?
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mehakc
Hi! I am based in Mumbai, India. I received an email at 10.38PM (IST) on November 26 from SH saying that I have been waitlisted. Anybody else from Asia Pacific has heard anything yet?

No news yet. Would you mind sharing your interview experience as well, i think the public will benefit hugely from it. thanks!!
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mrsinghsingh
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mehakc
Hi! I am based in Mumbai, India. I received an email at 10.38PM (IST) on November 26 from SH saying that I have been waitlisted. Anybody else from Asia Pacific has heard anything yet?

Based in Mumbai. No communication as yet. I don't know whether that is a good thing or bad.
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NPalaka
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mehakc
Hi! I am based in Mumbai, India. I received an email at 10.38PM (IST) on November 26 from SH saying that I have been waitlisted. Anybody else from Asia Pacific has heard anything yet?

Based in Mumbai. No communication as yet. I don't know whether that is a good thing or bad.

Based in Bangalore. Nothing here as well.
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OK, guys it has begun in Asia! Just got a call from JS, I'm based in Singapore :)

Admitted, starting in France in August! Woo-hoo so happy! :)
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Got the call as well from VM.

Starting in Fonty!
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I got call from JS - admitted and will start in Singy. Good luck to the rest who are waiting.
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Any calls from SH?

Congrats to all who are in!
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cff
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Just got the call in China from VM! Starting in France! Super excited! RAHHHHHHHHHHHH

She said she had tried calling earlier but something was wrong with the network in China...so if anyone is out there on pins and needles like I was all afternoon, hopefully you'll get your call soon.

Congrats to all the others who have been accepted and the very best of luck for those who have yet to hear news! My guess is they'll be working their way West due to time-zones so India should be coming up shortly!
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Reniro
Any calls from SH?

Congrats to all who are in!
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