INSEAD Profile Evaluation - Tools for B-School Profile Evaluation

Hi Jasdeep,

I would recommend a GMAT retake not from the perspective of just getting your IR score up, but also improving your GMAT score another 20+ points. A 700 GMAT is going to be less competitive for an Indian applicant.
The question is, can you improve your score in another 10-15 days?

Thank you all! Appreciate and value your opinion.

As unanimously suggested, I should def give it another shot! Being not in touch with GMAT stuff since quite a bit of time and with all that added work responsibilities, I need a miracle to happen here to turn things around. But, yeah I am positive and hoping to achieve something north of what I already have.

Cheers!
jasd2804

Hello All,

I'm considering INSEAD for Fall '19 and hope to get a rough idea of what my chances are. I'm a 25 yo (26 next year) Asian American female applicant

Undergraduate Education: State School BSci in Finance with Economics Minor
Overall GPA: 3.47/4.0
Major GPA: 3.60/4.0

WE: 4 years at mat. (excluding the 2 1/2 years I worked during undergrad)
- Spent 2 1/2 years working part time (30hr/weekday) for a GSIB since my sophomore year in college. I was primarily in their operations side.
- Spent 1 year after graduation at a major investment bank in NY as part of their operations analyst class (was offered an informal promotion from Executive Director if I were to stay)
- Spent a little over 1 year with a MBB as part of their Risk Practice specializing in operational risk and compliance. Had strong ratings and on tracking for promotion in a year but left. Gain international exposure. Spent time in France and Germany for work and assisted with consultants and clients from all parts of the world. (left due to personal reasons. had to take care of parents)
- Currently working for a GSIB in a more senior role but no direct reports. I manage my business unit's budget and inventory tracking for IT Infrastructure.

EC: Minimal
- Was part of a diversity club and leadership club for a year during undergrad but left due to work commitments.
- Was a volunteer editor for an non-profit that aims to promote international experiences by publishing daily experiences of exchange students and English teachers abroad.
- Currently, volunteer for a financial education foundation that promotes teaching kids about the markets and the economy. I assist twice a year in their essay contests.
- Did 300+ hr in high school but that was years ago so I don't think I can put that in my application. I set up a tutoring partnership in high school with a local elementary school and volunteer at holiday festivals for my city.

GMAT: 700

My Goals:

- Hope to make a career switch into Marketing. I have strong reasons why it interests me.

Thank you all for helping!

Hi jasd2804,

We are a bit late in responding to you but we hope this finds you in time still.

Yes, a retake is strongly recommended not only for your IR but also in terms of your overall score. Of course, your profile is strong. However, considering you are part of an over-represented pool of applicants, you may want to look at raising your score as much as possible.

All the best!

Hi ravi1608,

While recommendations are neither deal makers or deal breakers, it requires a good deal of time and attention (particularly with a school such as INSEAD). Hence, should your recommender not have enough time to spare, we recommend that you identify and alternate recommender.

Thanks.

All the best!

Overall great profile. The transitions will stick out though, since there are a few of them. What you will really gain from is a storyline which highlights your achievements and the blemishes/ the concerns fade behind them.

Feel free to pm/ contact directly if you like to hear more.

Hi all,

Just wondering about your thoughts on reapplicants? I've been reading that INSEAD has changed its stance on reapplicants, but is still not 100% reapplicant friendly.

I applied in Nov 2017 for R2 of the September 2018 intake. Dinged with no interview. I have an acceptance elsewhere, but I can't get INSEAD out of my mind (I've spoken with reps and alumni, and it's been my target school for a while). Would anybody have an opinion on how a reapplication, less than a year later, would be viewed? Unfortunately, short of changing jobs, there won't be any major changes to my profile as it currently is.

Demographic: Male, 32, Chinese-Canadian

WE: ~10 years, currently a Big 4 Manager, recently promoted, some other accounting work in the past, CPA certification; honestly, some slow career progress

Academics: 730 GMAT, 3.6 GPA with Honors at a well known Canadian university

EC's: CPA instructor/mentor for a few years now; minor organizer for a language learning club

Other: dual citizenship; native English, ~B2 Chinese, ~B2 European language (truth be told, I'm an aspiring polyglot, but of limited talent)


Unfortunately, I had my essays reviewed after I submitted -- not before. I've been told that my essays sank me. I'm just wondering if, at this time, INSEAD would be open to a re-submission so soon, and whether I'd even have a shot.

Any and all opinions are appreciated!

noktrnl,
There are things you can change, and things you cannot change...

You can neither change the fact that you are a ReApplicant, nor that your essays sank you (IF they did).

What would I suggest?
Get good help with all your application material (Resume, Essays, LORs and even the answers here and there). If your stats let you place your foot in the door (GMAT, GPA, UG, Languages,WE etc look great) a fresh perspective and a fresh presentation on you would definitely help a lot, especially if you can't sleep in peace without having made your best attempt.

Thanks for the reply, TheIvyLeagueEdge.

If I were to distill my concern into one thought, it's whether or not INSEAD will throw out my reapplication next month, as it hasn't been 12 months yet. I originally applied in Nov 2017, and apparently they suggest to wait a minimum year to reapply. I'd hate to waste my recommender's time like that if I submit next month, May 2018, and INSEAD were to just throw out the application.

I guess what I'm looking for is to see if anybody has had positive experiences in reapplying so soon, i.e. within less than a year.

Thanks again.

Hi noktrnl,

to directly answer your question, yes, there have been positive experiences in reapplying in less than a year.

INSEAD recommends to wait at least a year to allow some time for you to have significant changes in your profile.

That being said though, INSEAD won't throw your application away just because it has not been a year yet.

If INSEAD is so important for you, I would encourage you to apply in the next round. However, this time make sure you get the professional help of an admissions consultant. You need a detailed "Ding Analysis" of your first application to find out how your essays affected your candidacy, and whether other pieces (e.g. resume and LoRs) had some negative impact as well. After this, you need to do some damage control and re-position yourself in the new application in such a way that (1) makes sense for the AdCom that you're re-applying and (2) highlights positive aspects of your profile that you were not able to highlight in the first application.

Feel free to reach out to me directly for a more detailed discussion.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!
Alex

Hi Experts,
Can you please evaluate my profile? I would like to apply for INSEAD Jan2019 intake.

Back ground:30 year old Indian male
Education: B.Tech in Mechanical from one of the reputed colleges in India- MNNIT Allahabad ( GPA: 9.1/10) - Director Merit List Scholar
PGDM in Management at one of the top management institutes in the country - IIM Indore (GPA- 2.9/4.0)
GMAT Score:720
Domain: Strategy consulting
Experience:6 years

Job description:

Current role:
I am currently working as a senior strategy consulting professional at Monitor Deloitte with around 5 years of work experience primarily in Telecom and Consumer Goods space in growth strategy, market entry, new product development, and analytics across multiple geographies (US, India and Mexico). Rated ‘Outstanding’ for exceptional strategic advisory and client service


Previous role:
Worked as a business manager- after sales for a Indian-based two wheel manufacturer looking after 22 channel partners in West India for 2 years

Professional Achievements:
1) Part of lateral recruitment team for two years at Monitor Deloitte
2) Part of telecom industry workshop building committee

Extracurricular:
Part of career placement committee at IIM Indore
Business event head for the technical festival, MNNIT Allahabd
Multiple business event winner during engineering graduate. Some significant achievements during school and college days.

International Exposure:
Professional: Have worked for almost 6 years across US, Mexico and India
Personal: An avid traveller. Have visited more than 25 countries and have spent more than a month in 2 countries.


Thanks,
Mayank Jain

Your profile is strong, but goal clarity is missing. That may hurt your chances, esp given you already have a PGDM from IIM
All others can go well within your favor, PROVIDED you can link your accomplishments with a future role progression.
Feel free to PM your resume and connect directly for answers.

Hi,

I am planning to apply to INSEAD. PFB the profile from another tough demo.

Indian Male
Age at matriculation: 26

Undergrad Information:
top 5 engineering School in India (CGPA of 7.3 with an upward slope of improvement across the years)

GMAT:
710 (Q: 51, V: 34)

Work experience (at matriculation):
data analytics and strategy making: 3.5years, 2 organizations (in top 350 of 'Fortune Global 500'; both are international financial services, the latter employer also being in top 3 'India's best employer' according to 'great place to work')- 1 promotion

Community and others:
Part of women safety organization for last 3 years: grassroots political activist and awareness drive organizer
Mathematics tutor for ~50 students at the time of graduation

Post MBA goals
Short term goal: Management consulting (for wider industry strategy making experience; MBB preferably)
Long term goal: Leadership role in consulting/establish education consultancy in India
Why MBA: Develop leadership/management skills, become international citizen, learn more about problem solving, develop industry network

Anything else?
At time of graduation: Part of various college level organizations to manage funds and depict leadership experience. Photography & music enthusiast with awards in both (at the college level)
Published author of fictional novel with 1k+ sales
Founder of a registered startup that was closed after 2+ years
50% owner of the family business (helped increase profit by 40% and expand to 2 nations)
Won various awards in present organization and helped it gain $1MM+ in revenue

Feedback tips: Kindly help me identify my chances at INSEAD, considering my tough demo. I am not planning to take my GMAT again. I am working on college research, and your help will be appreciated. Please let me know if any additional information is required.

Thanks,
Tvaexp

Hi Experts,
Can you please evaluate my profile? I would like to apply for INSEAD Jan2019 intake.

Back ground:29 year old Indian female
Education: B.Tech in Civil from one of the reputed colleges in India- DCE India (73.5%, Top 5 in my department)
Post graduate diploma in management at one of the top management institutes in the country - IIM Lucknow (GPA- 8/10)
GMAT Score:710 expected
Domain: Corporate Strategy
Experience:7 years


Job description:

Current role:
I am currently working as Global Director, Strategy and Operations for a billion dollar flexible packaging company since the last 3 years. I work closely with the Chairman of the group and the C-suite of the member firms. I am responsible for setting the strategic direction and roadmap for the group which includes potential acquisitions, creating investment fund, etc. and improving profitability of existing businesses. My scope of work involves extensive travel to Middle East, Europe and US (50-60% of my time). Rose through multiple ranks from Founder's staff, Strategy team to Global Director in just 2 years (fast track).

Previous role:
Worked for 2 years with Accenture Strategy as a Management Consultant specializing in profitability improvement for Oil & Gas and Power clients, based out of India and US.
Worked for 2 years with power equipment manufacturing Company as a Project Manager for multi-million dollar infrastructure projects.

Professional Achievements:
1) Authored Research paper in International Symposium, Hong Kong
2) Was one of 264 GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) trainers in India
3) Topper in Finance subjects in MBA (out of 450 students)

Extracurricular:
Event Manager in power equipment manufacturing Company
President, Choreography Society at DCE and IIML
Head, Corporate Affairs, Technical Festival, DCE


Thanks,
SG

Hi,

Kindly review my profile for INSEAD. PFB another profile from a tough demo.

Indian Male
Age at matriculation: 26

Undergrad Information:
top 5 engineering School in India (CGPA of 7.3 with an upward slope of improvement across the years)

GMAT:
710 (Q: 51, V: 34)

Work experience (at matriculation):
data analytics and strategy making: 3.5years, 2 organizations (in top 350 of 'Fortune Global 500'; both are international financial services, the latter employer also being in top 3 'India's best employer' according to 'great place to work')- 1 promotion

Community and others:
Part of women safety organization for last 3 years: grassroots political activist and awareness drive organizer
Mathematics tutor for ~50 students at the time of graduation

Post MBA goals
Short term goal: Management consulting (for wider industry strategy making experience; MBB preferably)
Long term goal: Leadership role in consulting/establish education consultancy in India
Why MBA: Develop leadership/management skills, become international citizen, learn more about problem solving, develop industry network

Anything else?
At time of graduation: Part of various college level organizations to manage funds and depict leadership experience. Photography & music enthusiast with awards in both (at the college level)
Published author of fictional novel with 1k+ sales
Founder of a registered startup that was closed after 2+ years
50% owner of the family business (helped increase profit by 40% and expand to 2 nations)
Won various awards in present organization and helped it gain $1MM+ in revenue

Feedback tips: Kindly help me identify my chances at INSEAD, considering my tough demo. I am not planning to take my GMAT again. I am working on college research, and your help will be appreciated. Please let me know if any additional information is required.

Thanks,
Tvaexp