Kindly review my profile for INSEAD

Hi,

Bit perplexed as to why being an Indian male does not help with INSEAD admissions .........kindly elaborate !!

Regards,
Somya

Hi Jarinsea,

Let me try to answer your question. I got admitted in R2 for the 17D intake and my lessons learned are as follows:

- Your GMAT is within the range (650 - 750), I wouldn't worry to much about it. The GMAT IS NOT THE MAJOR REQUIREMENT! My score was very similar to yours. After my 4th attempt I said, f*** it - Work on the essays.

- Your GPA looks fine, I wouldn't bother so much.

- You have a total WE of 5-6 years, including some entrepreneurial spirit (the school values this very much!). This is a solid track record. The average WE is arround 5-6 years (as per latest employment report) so you do fit in.

IMO, the most important thing is to have well written essays. The essays are the tool to show your true fit for INSEAD. You need to come across as an achiever, as a traveler, as someone who knows his strenghts but also where the areas of improvement are. All of the ~7-8 essays need to give ONE consistent picture of who you are (and it needs to be convincing).

I would definitely recommend you to focus on the essays now. Furthermore, it may make sense to work with an admission consultant who has experience with the INSEAD essay topics. Why am I stressing the essays so much? I had mine written early and the native speakers who reviewed them were saying that they're pretty good. Afterwards, I decided to let an admission consultant to evaluate them and based on his recommendations, I rewrote almost all of them! This took me ~1 month, but the difference in quality was immense. The language was not the problem, the lack of concise punch-lines was! After rewritting the essays, every sentence was a hit. Bottom line here is: Don't underestimate the power of essays!

Also important and not to be fortgotten: Recommendation letters. Make sure, that they are of paramount quality!

Cheers!

Thanks for the kind reply and insights on your experience.

I will start working on my essays ASAP, can you please recommend an Admission Consultant to work with?

Hi Somya,
Indian IT male is the most competitive pool of applicants, so it is harder to stand out

Thanx Jarinsea.....I am also looking into INSEAD as one of my options.....I am a Chartered Accountant (CA) working as an I-banker....is there some country-specific admission seats limitation for INSEAD ??

I reckon that there is no definite number that is being allowed for an intake. Nevertheless, the school is trying to have a healthy balance between the minor and major nationalities.

Thanks for sharing this. Makes me feel less bad about getting waitlisted at INSEAD.

I think you have a solid profile, and will second what krutki said.

Your essays and recommendations will make or break your chances to get in. Regarding admissions consultants, do not be enticed by only the 'top of mind' brands. In my case, I sought help from someone who had insights because of INSEAD MBAs he knew and worked with.

Because of your interest in PM roles at facebook/google, why are you not considering GSB? Will require a higher GMAT though, but your interaction with folks in the valley will be unparalleled. INSEAD does have a trek, but I dont think it substitutes being in the valley itself.

Hope I am of help and good luck

Thanks for your comments.

I am only looking at 1 year MBA options, so no plan for GSB et al.

I agree completely with krutki. While a better GMAT score will surely not hurt, you have enough good things in your profile as it is in order to have a good chance even now, with the right essays, and I cannot emphasize that enough! And like krutki mentioned, there is no shame in getting professional assistance if you find it challenging, as your essays often make all the difference. (At ARINGO, we will surely be happy to help, so feel free to sign up for a free consultation on our site if you are at all interested in that AND we have plenty of experience with INSEAD!)

Good luck!
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FYI - A few 17D admits with sub 720 scores are retaking the GMAT to improve their CVs but you can apply to INSEAD with a "decent" score and just retake once you get in if you want

Very interested, please PM your contact details.

Yup, thats my plan.

Hi Jarinsea,

You, though your GMAT score have me a little low but you have a good profile and you will be competitive for an INSEAD admit. If you are planning on hiring admissions consultants I recommend checking out the consultants at our site who consult for INSEAD . Check out the profiles and find a consultant who fits your budget and need. Schedule a free consulting session to understand how to approach your application. Good luck !