INSEAD Calling all Applicants(SEPT 2015 Intake)Class of 2016

Thanks

I am still contemplating whether to apply to INSEAD or not in the Jan 16 intake, deadline is on the 4th of March.
My doubt is that I have 0 international work experience. Although I have worked with clients from Australia and USA and team members from US, China and Australia, but still I am very skeptical seeing their requirement for the international exposure and one essay dedicated to this.

Can anyone help me arrive at a conclusion whether to apply or not apply?

Thanks,
Ankur

Hi Ankur,
I am an admit for the 16J class. Looking at the introductions on our facebook group, 99% of the profiles have some sort of international work experience. There is also a video available on How to get into INSEAD. The admission consultant says that they have helped clients without international experience apply but all of them have received a rejection. A few were asked to reapply with international exposure. Adding salt to injury, the Indian applicant pool is significantly large. I would definitely recommend some international exposure before you apply.

Having said that I have seen one guy with no international experience. Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Hi Ankur,

International exposure doesnt necessarily mean that you need to have worked abroad. If you decide to apply, you need to sell the idea that you are constantly exposed to different cultures in a professional environment, explain what sort of problems (culturally related) you have had and how you dealt with it. It would also be good to talk about what you have learned from this exposure.

I do agree with saurabhpshah that having lived and worked in different countries tremendously strengthen your profile, but I dont think it would be the only decisive factor if you can elaborate on your international exposure at work.

I also agree with the "adding salt to the injury" part.

cheers!

Ankur,
If I were to give you an honest advise, don't apply to INSEAD if you have no international work experience. This is one of their 'things', it's absolutely ridiculous about how strict they are about this... One possible exception to this though is if you have traveled to several international locations for prior schooling or business trainings and atleast 1-2 of them have been for a significant period of time... this way you can demonstrate your ability to fit in a multi-cultural environment...

Any Africans?

Appply! Worst case you will lose $299 and spend some time drafting essays.
Will you really drop Tepper if admitted to INSEAD? If not - dont apply.

saurabhpshah lfbcunha devilbart PTK Thanks a lot for the advice. I talked to some people and did a bit of research and then decided not to apply.

PTK. If I would have applied and if I would have gotten through, then I would have dropped Tepper for it.
Too many "ifs" :D

Its great to hear all the success stories! Good job and congratulations.
Did you guys employ the help of admission experts to help with your essays and prepare for interviews? Does this make a significant difference, and would you attribute your success to the same?

I didn't use an admission consultant. I knew what I wanted to write about as soon as I saw the essay topics. I think the essay questions are set up such that if you are a good fit for the school, then you would know what to write. The hard part was only condensing them down to stay within the word limits.

I don't know how much you can prepare for the interviews. It really depends on your interviewers.


Speaking of interviews, thought I would share my experience:

My first one was a piece of cake. It was done over Skype and lasted about 15 minutes. She basically just asked "why INSEAD" and maybe a couple more questions along the same line. At the end she told me to get plenty of rest before school starts.

My second interview was an entirely different story. I had to answer the first few round of questions in gale-force wind and freezing rain while speed-walking in 3-inch stilettos (Dutch weather blows). The rest of the interview was done at a cafe, and there were questions like:

"What drives you?"
Idk. I'm not a car.

"What would you do if you had $100 million?"
... I don't even know what to do with the money in my bank.

"What do leaders do?"
"They lead?"
"Wrong."
"They inspire?"
"Wrong."
"They bring people together?"
"Wrong."
"Ok, I give up."
"They create leaders in others."
... okay. I believe you.

So with interviews... I think you kind of just have to wing it.

Whoa! Really? Especially with the question about leaders? Im sorry to doubt your reply! But really? hahaha...so is it safe to assume that the interview is more of a casual, get to know you better kind of discussion or were they trying to gauge your level?
Also back to a question that was already discussed, was "international exposure" part of your interview? Because as per the replies on this thread, international exposure holds quite a bit of sway in your admissions. For someone who doesn't have any, does that mean admissions are a NO GO?

Yeah, no kidding! I think the adcom can more or less decide from your application package whether you've got the goods. The alumni interviews are less about your accomplishments but more about... well, essentially, are you someone they'd want to hang with.

The others may have a different take, but I think if you prepare and treat the alumni interviews like real interviews, you're more likely to do worse. There are certain standard questions that the interviewers will ask (i.e. Why INSEAD? Why now? What do you wanna do when you grow up? etc. etc.), but mostly I think they're just looking to see if you're capable of carrying on an intelligent yet interesting conversation.

INSEAD does make it easy by pairing you up with someone with a similar professional background, so you should have plenty to talk about.

About international experience, I can see how you can possibly spin it in your essays. Instead of focusing on physically being overseas, focus on your "aspiration" to go overseas and be global. Perhaps describe how you'd always been fascinated by other cultures as a kid. You'd need to give a darn good excuse on how you've been unable to go abroad (Not even travel? Surely you have traveled overseas?). Then to wrap it up, stress how INSEAD can help you achieve your goal and realize your dreams to become truly international, etc. etc.

Or you can quit your job right now and go backpacking in South America for 6 months, then apply for the January 2016 intake. I think you'll have a better chance in this case.

Hope this helps (please do take my comments with a teaspoon of salt), and good luck!

Tea Spoon of Salt? More like a freaking drum full while you're bleeding precious $s and accumulating an ugly unemployment gap only to *Show* you have international experience so you can have a better *Shot* at being selected...

Pheww... I'd rather not apply to INSEAD, but then thats just me!

Employment is overrated -- said someone who is quitting her job 6 months before school starts. Woohoo! :D

But yeah, don't do it just because you wanna get accepted. Do it because you truly believe that it's more fun and life-enriching than your job.

Quitting after being accepted and quitting before you apply are two completely different stories ma'm!

Anyway, I wish you much luck!

What is the earliest time after deadline before interview invites start going out?

I received my invite after two weeks