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04 Mar 2019, 14:39
Kudos
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Hi samsant,
thank you for sharing your profile.
I see a lot of potential in it, and your fit with INSEAD is really good. I particularly like the international aspect of your background, which will definitely be of the interest of INSEAD.
I just have a few questions/comments, if I may:
a. You have explained your job responsibilities and the languages you use on a daily basis at first and second jobs. What can you tell us about your accomplishments?
b. I guess you just recently took the GMAT test and you're waiting for your AWA score, right? As you know, INSEAD's average score is ~710. Since you'll be applying in a few months, what's the possibility of a retake? It's not a must though, since with your profile and a strong application, you could perfectly get accepted with your 690 score.
c. I wouldn't worry much about your freshman and sophomore year GPAs. However, you might want to address this in the Optional Essay.
d. Regarding extra-curriculars, I am sure you have more interests/hobbies than music. In any case, it's never too late to start engaging in activities you have always been interested in or curious about.
e. Would it be possible for you to get a recommendation from a supervisor from your new or second jobs?
By the way, congratulations on your new job.
Thank you very much.
Warm regards
Alex
thank you for sharing your profile.
I see a lot of potential in it, and your fit with INSEAD is really good. I particularly like the international aspect of your background, which will definitely be of the interest of INSEAD.
I just have a few questions/comments, if I may:
a. You have explained your job responsibilities and the languages you use on a daily basis at first and second jobs. What can you tell us about your accomplishments?
b. I guess you just recently took the GMAT test and you're waiting for your AWA score, right? As you know, INSEAD's average score is ~710. Since you'll be applying in a few months, what's the possibility of a retake? It's not a must though, since with your profile and a strong application, you could perfectly get accepted with your 690 score.
c. I wouldn't worry much about your freshman and sophomore year GPAs. However, you might want to address this in the Optional Essay.
d. Regarding extra-curriculars, I am sure you have more interests/hobbies than music. In any case, it's never too late to start engaging in activities you have always been interested in or curious about.
e. Would it be possible for you to get a recommendation from a supervisor from your new or second jobs?
By the way, congratulations on your new job.
Thank you very much.
Warm regards
Alex
samsant
Joined: 22 Nov 2017
Last visit: 29 Nov 2021
Posts: 4
Given Kudos: 2
Location: Taiwan
Schools: INSEAD Jan 22 intake (D)
GMAT 1: 690 Q48 V36
GPA: 3.16
Hi Alex, glad to hear from you!
a. You have explained your job responsibilities and the languages you use on a daily basis at first and second jobs. What can you tell us about your accomplishments?
As for my accomplishments,
securities company
Created reporting template for overseas subsidiaries to fill in, which was eventually adopted as a company standard.
Led execution to set up seed funds for overseas subsidiary (USD40mm)
Communicated accurate info in cross-border IPO sales (USD12mm) and subsequent regulator audit
Assisted in drafting risk policies, liaising for bank facilities (~USD30mm), goodwill impairment tests for subsidiaries
bank
Did financial modelling, wrote credit proposal and organized bank operations to disburse USD40mm syndicated loan to a global company
Prepared summary of transaction structure, technical&legal DD for a potential USD25mm participation in LBO buyout of a REIT
Onboarded a public company, wrote credit proposal and maintain client daily needs
b. I guess you just recently took the GMAT test and you're waiting for your AWA score, right? As you know, INSEAD's average score is ~710. Since you'll be applying in a few months, what's the possibility of a retake? It's not a must though, since with your profile and a strong application, you could perfectly get accepted with your 690 score.
I was worried about the score as well since it's below average, but this was one of the things I wanted help on. Right now I'm leaning towards retaking, but a bit afraid that I've hit my peak. Would a score of just around average (710) be ok?
d. Regarding extra-curriculars, I am sure you have more interests/hobbies than music. In any case, it's never too late to start engaging in activities you have always been interested in or curious about.
I constantly follow economy and geopolitical news but not sure if those are translatable to extracurriculars. Would this factor be a dealbreaker when applying with my profile?
e. Would it be possible for you to get a recommendation from a supervisor from your new or second jobs?
I understand that this would be a quite glaring omission, but I feel that I haven't been in this job long enough nor have I worked closely enough with people who can give me recommendation letters as good as the ones previously mentioned. Also if I leave to my next job in the next month, I'd probably have less of a chance of asking recommendations. Will having everything be from the first job be a big issue? I can maybe as an alternative procure a letter from an external client from my 1st job that I've interacted quite a lot with.
Thank you so much, again, for the important feedback.
a. You have explained your job responsibilities and the languages you use on a daily basis at first and second jobs. What can you tell us about your accomplishments?
As for my accomplishments,
securities company
Created reporting template for overseas subsidiaries to fill in, which was eventually adopted as a company standard.
Led execution to set up seed funds for overseas subsidiary (USD40mm)
Communicated accurate info in cross-border IPO sales (USD12mm) and subsequent regulator audit
Assisted in drafting risk policies, liaising for bank facilities (~USD30mm), goodwill impairment tests for subsidiaries
bank
Did financial modelling, wrote credit proposal and organized bank operations to disburse USD40mm syndicated loan to a global company
Prepared summary of transaction structure, technical&legal DD for a potential USD25mm participation in LBO buyout of a REIT
Onboarded a public company, wrote credit proposal and maintain client daily needs
b. I guess you just recently took the GMAT test and you're waiting for your AWA score, right? As you know, INSEAD's average score is ~710. Since you'll be applying in a few months, what's the possibility of a retake? It's not a must though, since with your profile and a strong application, you could perfectly get accepted with your 690 score.
I was worried about the score as well since it's below average, but this was one of the things I wanted help on. Right now I'm leaning towards retaking, but a bit afraid that I've hit my peak. Would a score of just around average (710) be ok?
d. Regarding extra-curriculars, I am sure you have more interests/hobbies than music. In any case, it's never too late to start engaging in activities you have always been interested in or curious about.
I constantly follow economy and geopolitical news but not sure if those are translatable to extracurriculars. Would this factor be a dealbreaker when applying with my profile?
e. Would it be possible for you to get a recommendation from a supervisor from your new or second jobs?
I understand that this would be a quite glaring omission, but I feel that I haven't been in this job long enough nor have I worked closely enough with people who can give me recommendation letters as good as the ones previously mentioned. Also if I leave to my next job in the next month, I'd probably have less of a chance of asking recommendations. Will having everything be from the first job be a big issue? I can maybe as an alternative procure a letter from an external client from my 1st job that I've interacted quite a lot with.
Thank you so much, again, for the important feedback.
ARLeeConsulting
05 Mar 2019, 04:38
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi samsant,
thank you for the additional details. Let me address them below.
b. GMAT. When it comes to GMAT, obviously the higher the better. However, sometimes the effort to increase a few points is not worth it, especially if it comes at the expense of lowering the quality of your application. In your case, given that you still have a few months before applying and that you are a bit below INSEAD's average, if you have the bandwidth to retake it and if you think you can get a ~710 score, I would recommend you to go ahead and retake it. Like I said, it's not a must, as I have seen many candidates with good profiles getting accepted with 690 or lower scores.
d. Extra-Curriculars. I don't see this as a major issue. Your interest for economics and geopolitical news can be framed as an extra-professional activity. In terms of Motivation Essay #3, you could explain how long you have been following these news, how often and, most importantly, how you are enriched by this activity. If you can frame this properly, you should be fine. In this essay though, I recommend you talk about one or two more activities besides this one and music.
e. Recommendations. Having all recommendations from your first job is not necessarily an issue, but you'll need to justify your "unusual" choice of recommenders in the Optional Essay. INSEAD will understand why you haven't chosen a recommender from your current job, since by then, you'll have been at your job for only a few months. However, justifying why your direct supervisor (or any other senior member) at the bank didn't get to know you well enough in your 1+ years at the firm would be a bit more difficult and could raise some flags. But again, not a big deal so long your justification makes sense.
I hope this helps.
Good luck!
Alex
thank you for the additional details. Let me address them below.
b. GMAT. When it comes to GMAT, obviously the higher the better. However, sometimes the effort to increase a few points is not worth it, especially if it comes at the expense of lowering the quality of your application. In your case, given that you still have a few months before applying and that you are a bit below INSEAD's average, if you have the bandwidth to retake it and if you think you can get a ~710 score, I would recommend you to go ahead and retake it. Like I said, it's not a must, as I have seen many candidates with good profiles getting accepted with 690 or lower scores.
d. Extra-Curriculars. I don't see this as a major issue. Your interest for economics and geopolitical news can be framed as an extra-professional activity. In terms of Motivation Essay #3, you could explain how long you have been following these news, how often and, most importantly, how you are enriched by this activity. If you can frame this properly, you should be fine. In this essay though, I recommend you talk about one or two more activities besides this one and music.
e. Recommendations. Having all recommendations from your first job is not necessarily an issue, but you'll need to justify your "unusual" choice of recommenders in the Optional Essay. INSEAD will understand why you haven't chosen a recommender from your current job, since by then, you'll have been at your job for only a few months. However, justifying why your direct supervisor (or any other senior member) at the bank didn't get to know you well enough in your 1+ years at the firm would be a bit more difficult and could raise some flags. But again, not a big deal so long your justification makes sense.
I hope this helps.
Good luck!
Alex
).. 
