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ps_dahiya
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 01:09
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Essay2: Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date, explaining why you view them as such. (400 words approx.)

I wonder how could anybody describe two most substantial accomplishment TO DATE in just 400 words that too with "explaining why you view them as such"?

After much word smiting, I am able to bring that down to 550.

Any thoughts?
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timothycosulich
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 01:53
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Hi! I have submitted my application 3 weeks ago and my essay n.2 was 557 words long... I'm not suggesting that you should follow my example, it's actually good practice to stay within the word limit but - as you are saying - it is quite difficult to do so in this kind of essay...

When are you going to apply?
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ps_dahiya
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 08:21
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timothycosulich
Hi! I have submitted my application 3 weeks ago and my essay n.2 was 557 words long... I'm not suggesting that you should follow my example, it's actually good practice to stay within the word limit but - as you are saying - it is quite difficult to do so in this kind of essay...

When are you going to apply?
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hmmm... you want to kill the competition by suggesting to stay within the limits .... :) :) :)

I am applying before R2 deadline i.e before Dec 6th 2006.
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 09:16
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Part of the exercise is to show that you can be concise. HBS aks for 3 accomplishments in 600 words and they are strict about their word limits. I was able to cut my Insead essay to 420.
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rhyme
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 09:20
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dukes
Part of the exercise is to show that you can be concise. HBS aks for 3 accomplishments in 600 words and they are strict about their word limits. I was able to cut my Insead essay to 420.
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They aren't actually. Up to 10% more is fine for HBS. I know several students at HBS, all of them exceeded on at least one essay.
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 09:31
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rhyme
dukes
Part of the exercise is to show that you can be concise. HBS aks for 3 accomplishments in 600 words and they are strict about their word limits. I was able to cut my Insead essay to 420.

They aren't actually. Up to 10% more is fine for HBS. I know several students at HBS, all of them exceeded on at least one essay.
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Thats what I thought. Except for sons of senators or olympic gold medalists (i.e super achievers) everybody has atleast one story that can't be described fully in the stated word limits. So I believe exceeding on one essay is fine if you remain within limits in all other essays.
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 10:05
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Quote:
Up to 10% more is fine for HBS.
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Thats pretty tight compared to how much over some folks are trying to go.
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 17:05
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Call me fanatic - but every single of my essays for INSEAD matches *exactly* to the word limit ;) I really mean EXACT. And I think I managed to say what I wanted, even though I was tempted to tell a lot more.

dahiya!! man why are you applying to INSEAD?!! please retract your app and take your score some where else...like chintoobhai college of management or something >:/ leave me one seat in INSEAD! :)
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INSEAD - Essay2 07 Nov 2006, 20:24
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necromonger you do realize that INSEAD only evaluates candidates from the same round and NOT from the aggregate pool. Therefore, if you applied in R1 you will only be be competing against other R1 applicants. This was clearly stated by an adcom at an INSEAD info session.
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INSEAD - Essay2 08 Nov 2006, 09:22
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Lich,

I noticed that he was in R2 after I posted - in any case I was just kiddin'. Anyway, are you referring to any INSEAD info session in the US? I never managed to get one..

Lich
necromonger you do realize that INSEAD only evaluates candidates from the same round and NOT from the aggregate pool. Therefore, if you applied in R1 you will only be be competing against other R1 applicants. This was clearly stated by an adcom at an INSEAD info session.
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