INSEAD in the Social Media. Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/insead Twitter : https://twitter.com/insead INSEAD MBA Admissions Insights - By Pejay Belland, Director of Marketing and Admissions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jngcu8fdnWo Inside the INSEAD MBA - By INSEAD current studetns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8qV6OhrtUA The Insider’s Guide to INSEAD - By Admissionado Employment Stats (extracts and full report) https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=22041 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=22042 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=22043 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=22044 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=22045 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=22046 https://gmatclub.com/forum/download/file.php?mode=view&id=22047 Insead_Employment_Report_Page_1_of_7.png Insead_Employment_Report_Page_2_of_7.png Insead_Employment_Report_Page_3_of_7.png Insead_Employment_Report_Page_4_of_7.png Insead_Employment_Report_Page_5_of_7.png Insead_Employment_Report_Page_6_of_7.png Insead_Employment_Report_Page_7_of_7.png Admissionado Chat Transcript - Tips for R3 and European School Applications.pdf INSEAD,429694318173892609,600 Dealing with a Ding - Webinar Recording https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=echqdCOW7cM Dealing with a Ding.pdf

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Insead September 2014 Intake- Calling all applicants

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sanggmat

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28 Jan 2014, 06:29

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Does anyone have any insights on the scholarship essays. I'm confused on how much detail and what exactly they are looking for?

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docks

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28 Jan 2014, 08:22

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I'm done with the second interview, she definitely was a bad cop !
It was interactive yet formal. She asked basic questions right in the beginning (3why) along with my story. Then she went into the specific details of pretty much everything that I mentioned. Some questions as below..
- 3 adjectives that define you the best.
- what is one thing that people might not like about you.
- what role would you take in study group, why so.
- career plan, long term and short term, short term more specifically - which company which program what geography why only this, what's the plan B etc.
- why not to carry on with employer to address skill gaps.
- current trends and challenges in intended industry, how do you plan to address them.
- how are you different from others coming from same industry (energy in my case)
- what is leadership etc..

I asked couple of qs by end and then she concluded the interview saying she's got answers of most of her questions. I can only hope so...

Sometimes I wonder if they get specific instructions from school to get into details.

Good luck to everyone else, 21st seems a decade from now !

justwhisper

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28 Jan 2014, 11:36

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Thanks for sharing. Your second interview definitely was one of the more detailed ones that I've read lately. Both of mine won't happen until a couple days before the interview deadline.. will share my experience afterward.

I am in operations (energy/utilities) as well. Just out of curiosity, is the industry facing similar challenges in where you are vs where I am (california).. meaning large industrial customers are leaving to go somehwere cheaper, customers want to self-gen and leave the grid (yet still have the grid be the backup option), outdated infrastructure that need to be updated to allow bi-directional distribution, etc.?

Good luck!

docks

shakirahatta

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28 Jan 2014, 19:15

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Hi all,

This thread has been so useful (and in some cases, reassuring!) to me so I thought I'd put my two cents in. I've completed both my interviews.

First interview:

The woman who interviewed me was a director at a leading local investment bank who graduated in 2006. Part of her job scope involved private equity, which is my chosen field after obtaining an MBA. She was relatively young (early thirties) and friendly but quite sharp. Apart from the holy trinity of MBA interview questions (why MBA, why now, why INSEAD), she asked me the following:
- my international background (third culture kid here)
- what I would bring to the table, what makes me different/valuable
- what role would I play in a group/team
- what would I do if it's 2am, we have an assignment due at 9am and no one can agree on anything
- how would I balance my time at INSEAD between class, groupwork, clubs, parties and career search? which takes priority?
- what do I want to get out of the MBA?
- where else did I apply and which school would I prioritize?

It was tough going and my nerves made me ramble on quite a bit but we connected on other levels (international background, reverse culture shock, scuba diving, dating) so hopefully it'll be a good recommendation!

Second interview:

I think my second interview went better, with an Accenture MD who graduated in 1997. He had some interesting insights on the Fontainebleau campus and what he himself got out of the MBA. His questions:
- why MBA, why INSEAD, why now
- I won some regional awards by FT for my stock picks (I was an equity analyst) so he asked me about them. Basically, which stocks did I pick, why, how come I won instead of other analysts with the same calls, what set me apart
- He asked about my private equity aspirations - why get an MBA and not one year of experience instead? Wouldn't that be more useful? Practical experience? Essentially, the opportunity cost of doing an MBA.
- Am I intent on working in Asia? Geographically, do I want to work in Malaysia or would I be open to working in other regions?
- What do I want out of the MBA? What difference will it make to my career?
- Where else did I apply?
- Why did I leave the equity research industry when I was doing well and winning awards? (I moved to corporate strategy)

He really grilled me on the reasons for doing the MBA but I felt more confident in answering the questions in this interview. It helped that when I asked him what he got out of the MBA, it aligned well with what I had said earlier and when I pointed that out, he agreed.

Of course, when it comes down to it, it's just a feeling. I could think it went well but in reality, bombed it. All I can do now is cross my fingers and pray! \

Good luck to everyone else :-)

gmunat

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29 Jan 2014, 05:43

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Domrep

knightofdelta

Just saw the new INSEAD essays. All I can say is I'm glad I applied earlier.

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I would agree. The new set of questions seem to be a bit more general and less focused which in the case of so many essays may be difficult to come up with a suitable topic

Where are the new set of essays put?

Had a cursory look at the INSEAD website, couldn't find them, hence checking

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Domrep

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29 Jan 2014, 05:50

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Domrep

knightofdelta

Just saw the new INSEAD essays. All I can say is I'm glad I applied earlier.

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I would agree. The new set of questions seem to be a bit more general and less focused which in the case of so many essays may be difficult to come up with a suitable topic

Where are the new set of essays put?

Had a cursory look at the INSEAD website, couldn't find them, hence checking

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here are the new set: https://www.adammarkus.com/insead-mba-es ... mber-2014/

May even be helpful for R3 applicants who had started the old essays previously as it gives tips on how to convert your essays

Domrep

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29 Jan 2014, 05:56

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shakirahatta

Thanks for the post! Do you mind sharing some of the insights he had for the fontainbleu campus and what he got out of the INSEAD MBA?

docks

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29 Jan 2014, 06:16

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docks

Mine is O&G and hence the questions were focused around it. Renewable - mostly offshore wind farms, govt policies and tax rebates, investments in Africa, Fracking in UK and environmental concerns etc.

I'd suggest to go prepared on your current and intended industry. I've been doing background reading and that was definitely helpful. But then again, I think I didn't drive the conversation the way I wanted to.

shakirahatta

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29 Jan 2014, 06:18

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Domrep

shakirahatta

Thanks for the post! Do you mind sharing some of the insights he had for the fontainbleu campus and what he got out of the INSEAD MBA?

What he got out of the INSEAD MBA was a more holistic way of looking at a project or a business. Not only did it sharpen his existing skills and give him additional ones (finance, strategy, etc), but it also taught him to how objectively recognize what areas or things he DIDN'T know. Being able to identify these areas meant that he would know when to call in people who WERE experts in order to successfully complete a project.

As for the campuses, when he was in INSEAD, there was no Singapore campus but he said that even if he had the chance to switch, he would have stayed at Fontainebleau. The total immersion (no major city, no external distractions) meant that you were always with your classmates and your teams, inevitably becoming very close to them and really extracting the full value of the INSEAD MBA - through classes, groupwork and just as importantly, social interactions.

justwhisper

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29 Jan 2014, 13:23

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Thanks for sharing. Glad to see what he got out of his INSEAD experience aligns with my goal :-D

shakirahatta

Domrep

shakirahatta

Thanks for the post! Do you mind sharing some of the insights he had for the fontainbleu campus and what he got out of the INSEAD MBA?

justwhisper

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29 Jan 2014, 13:28

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Got it. Not sure if you already mentioned this but was the interviewer in the same industry as your current/intended? Both of my interviewers are tech-focused so I wonder if they will have very energy-specific questions to ask. But will definitely do more reading as you suggested. Thanks!

docks

justwhisper

docks

LuckyMT

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30 Jan 2014, 08:11

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Just had my first interview. Think it went well. Was very casual and pretty much a discussion with very few behavioural questions.

Does anyone know what the conversion from interview to admission is? Also, will we generally hear on the 21st or that week?

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gmps1984

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31 Jan 2014, 05:55

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sanggmat

Does anyone have any insights on the scholarship essays. I'm confused on how much detail and what exactly they are looking for?

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I guess you should try to demonstrate how the scholarship will be better spent on you, instead of on any other candidate. Why would a scholarship fund want to invest in you, and not the rest, is always the question behind the question. As for detail, account for all distinguishing factors that set you apart from other candidates with possibly similar background and geographical origin.
How am I sure about what I just wrote above? I am not, but it makes sense in my head :-D

Good luck to everyone applying for scholarships.

unileeds

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31 Jan 2014, 07:35

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So just finished my second interview. I had them on consecutive days, and they were real good fun.
I have to admit, using alumni for interviews and using 2 of them is fantastic, again something that strengthens the INSEAD network.

My first one was at a coffee shop and with someone in my field.
It was supposed to be an hour long but we really had a good session and it lasted an hour and a half.
I would say the only thing to prepare is the Why INSEAD?Why MBA? Why now? What other schools and why? And something that always came up why not a 2yr MBA?
Other than that just be yourself. I had lots of questions I asked, and it was a very free flowing conversational interview. I have to admit, the insights from alumni are priceless.

My Second interview was with someone who was not in field and or my profile. She was pleasant and maybe not overly friendly to begin with. The session lasted for about 30 mins and same questions were asked. When I was asked if I had any questions right at the end, I asked mine and she became a lot more relaxed and friendly. Overall a fantastic experience irrespective of the outcome.

Both gave me their personal details and asked me to stay in touch irrespective of the outcome, which is a win situation already! Now to wait for the outcome!!

powerlunch2

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31 Jan 2014, 08:34

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Does anyone know the time for today's scholarships deadline? The website only says Jan 31. I am in the US (Eastern time) and want to know how much time I have to submit the applications, as I'm currently working in my office today, too.

Domrep

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31 Jan 2014, 08:35

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powerlunch2

My guess would be end of day, similar to the application deadlines. So 11:59pm CET.

knightofdelta

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31 Jan 2014, 08:38

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I just finished my first interview. It went on for 2 hours until the interviewer suddenly remembered that he had a plane to catch. The interview debrief will be up on my blog over the weekend.

powerlunch2

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31 Jan 2014, 08:45

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Thanks, Domrep! I'll try to have mine submitted before 6 PM EST to match that deadline.

unileeds

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31 Jan 2014, 09:35

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powerlunch2

Applications must be complete and submitted by midnight Central European Time (GMT +1) on 31 January 2014. All scholarship applications will be reviewed right after the deadline.