INSEAD September 2013 - Calling All Applicants

I finished my second interview yesterday. It was in a coffee shop and lasted just under an hour. It was a laid back conversation and she covered why INSEAD, why an MBA and some details about the type of consulting that I do. Quite a contrast to the first experience - so I would agree that my experience was also "good cop" "bad cop". Both interviewers said they would submit their 'report' to INSEAD within 48 hours.

Hello,

I had my final interview yesterday at the interviewer's office.
I do confirm that it seems there is a good and bad cop.
Yesterday the interviewer was nice but questionned me a lot, and made sure I totally answer to his questions.
He just asked me, why an mba, which other schools did you apply to? and I presented my past experiences, my volunteerng projects....
it lasted 1h30 (again !) but I am a kind of person who speaks a lot, and I also spent some time asking questions to my interviewer.

I did not have any feedback, but he told me that his company is a great one and if I would like to do management, I should apply.

So I will see, no idea if the interviewers will recommend me, but I think that the hardest part is starting: waiting.... and May 31 seems to be soooo far away...
Good luck to all of you...

Hey guys,

Have you considered HEC Paris as an alternative? I mean if you have been accepted already then of course INSEAD is an amazing option but I think HEC Paris offers an interesting proposition and I would definitely recommend it as a European option if INSEAD or LBS seem hard to crack. Fees are 12K less (48000€) and a scholarship of up to 24K, for good candidates that would have realistic hopes of admission to INSEAD, would not be hard to get, lowering the total cost of fees down to 24K! HEC is considered to be the best business school ever in France (due to its Masters program and not the MBA in particular but the brand is strong nonetheless throughout Europe as can also be seen in FT European business school rankings). Furthermore, the HEC MBA has been revamped in 2012 with the help of Bain & Company and also is housed in a brand new building and should be going up in the rankings in the next few years as it is actively aiming to stand in the top 3 MBA programs in Europe and top 10 in the world. Finally, there are some interesting double degree options, for example you can do 10 months at HEC (for reduced 36K tuition) and 9 months at MIT Sloan and get two degrees (an MBA from HEC and an MSMS from MIT). So, if you have not looked into it seriously, I suggest you do. I am a big INSEAD fan but I think HEC should at least be your #1 backup choice.

Good luck with your results and studies!

P.S. their admissions process is the fastest there is (many admission deadlines throughout the year, couple of weeks for preselection decision and couple of weeks for final decision after the interviews), about 5-6 weeks all together I think.

Lucky Duck!! Whats up.

Maybe the "good cop bad cop" is a poor way to label the approach -- it's clear that the two interviews are designed to filter, 1) poor fits for the class (socially - hense the laid back coffees/dinners) 2) weak candidates for future jobs (and the more intense, pressure-oriented interview process that accompanies them).

and quite frankly, I think it's pretty smart -- especially given that they only have 1 year to "mold" a student

Thanks Ducksworth. That's a fairly comprehensive answer!

I read that you were DING forgot the Y !!

i have been in touch with admissions (had to change contact data) and in their answer they said that they'll be in touch with me next week for the final decision. so i don't think you should expect anything today.

Posted from my mobile device

I dunno about FIFO, but I got my interview invite pretty early. March 26th actually. So I guess we'll see. From previous threads it seems as though only good news is delivered by phone. Hence the reason I am having a heart attack every time a new email comes in.

I got denied for a need based scholarship pretty quickly, i think it was a few days or so.

embrace people! Start of D-week!

I'm just going crazy waiting for decision

got a waitlist email.
R3, Applicant from India.
(I had asked asked for earlier decision as I had to confirm to other school by paying fees. So I dont think they will reply to other waitlisted and dinged candidates so early..)

All the best guys!!

Sorry!! What other school did you get accepted to?

Going to HEC Paris now.. Will consider INSEAD only if they tell me by early July and offers me a Scholarship (honestly, I can not afford INSEAD after paying HEC.)

I got an Email from INSEAD last Monday.. Deliberately didn't share on this forum as I though it would create a panic,(1st result of the round 3 and that too a waitlist!! nooooo)..

Good choice ..............HEC is a great school. Who did the email come from your AC?

Good choice ..............HEC is a great school. Who did the email come from your AC?[/quote]

I am sorry m not a frequent visitor to this forum and dont know all the acronyms. If you mean who emailed me the sad news , then it was Associate Director, Admissions.

I am sorry m not a frequent visitor to this forum and dont know all the acronyms. If you mean who emailed me the sad news , then it was Associate Director, Admissions.[/quote]

You are right...your admission coordinator.

Good Luck.