INSEAD JANUARY 2011 INTAKE

Hi, Rakham. Good for you for being able to focus at work. I find it super hard to concentrate on my work at this moment. I just found out that my boss has been demoted and replaced with an outside hire. This change has been really discouraging to my entire team.

I like HankScorpio's approach too. It's probably best to not get my hopes up. I've been contemplating about my backup plans. But I really hope that they wouldn't be necessary.

Anyhow, another 10 business days to go.

I'm planning on biking, but I have a wife and two kids who will need something more!

My interviewer told me that Renault has a super easy lease program that he and several students used to get cars for the time in Fonty.

The self-confidence/optimism seems to be at it's peak on this group! I hope this entire group is able to make it.....

I also understand that there are accommodation options quite close to campus (i.e. non-chateau) which are a walking distance. So one can save on the car expenses. My interviewer did the same and did not have to buy/rent a car for the 2 periods he stayed in Fonty.

Feels good to see the level of optimism in this group. I feel really distracted at work, it's gonna be a tough wait these next few days!

Talking about hiring a car, does anyone know if it's possible to convert an Indian Driving License to French without much hassles?

Based on a 5 minute google search, I actually don't think it is possible to convert an Indian Driving License to a French Driving license. If I'm not mistaking, most European countries don't recognize Indian Driving Licenses. (I have a few Indian friends who actually bought their driving license in India without taking much of a test, so I can see why )

For more info: https://www.lepermis.com/Pages/Informat/informat.htm ==> "Pas D'echange" means "No Exchange".
Not sure whether they have a page in English though.

As long as both managers worked with you intensively and can write you a solid recom letter, I don't see why they shouldn't be fine. If your second recommender was both your indirect manager and direct supervisor on certain projects, it's probably best to position him as direct supervisor. I wouldn't file two recommendation letters from indirect managers. Not sure what's INSEAD's position on that though, it's more a 'personal' comment from my side.

Just to add my 2 cents worth...

I dont think it really matters who your recommenders are, but at least one should know you in a business context. I guess they understand that not everyone can be open with their employers on their plans for pursuing an MBA as it means that you're going to leave

tihor - I think we've used relatively the same recommenders, mine were 1) my regional head (boss's boss) and 2) my ex-manager... so both of them technically arent my direct managers. INSEAD didnt make an issue of it though so I think its fine. I did tick the box that it was ok for them to contact my recommenders since my management knows and is supportive of me pursuing an MBA

Caveat; the teams were rather small, about 8 for SE Asia and 7 for N. Asia, so its rather tight knit... and we see our regional head loads... so he's kinda like a direct supervisor since I ultimately report to him.

Just to follow up from Suker's post, I think what is key is that both your recommenders have a very strong feel for your achievements during your career and know you well enough that they have both enough to say about you as well as examples to back them up. This will allow for them to write solid and believable recommendations for you.

I'll throw in my thoughts here too to help with the R2/R3's. My 1st recommender was my direct manager, but since the application has left the company I work for. My 2nd recommender was a client, but I provided leadership and direction to her team.

To help you out, I have attached the reference questions. You should expect your references to be able to answer these questions very specifically, from experience, and from a work or extremely work-relevant context. As you can see, almost all questions are focused on leadership progress and potential. If they can also anchor to international outlook and ability to contribute, they would be bonus points. But don't fool yourself when choosing your references. If you think you have to coach your reference from the bottom up so they can say that they understand your career progress and focus, then they probably aren't the best person as they can't speak from experience. And I echo the previous messages - at least one, if not both, should be work references. Pretend you're on the adcom - if the only references you have for a candidate are from a clergyman and from a boyscout lead, that would raise flags compared to the candidate who provided their direct boss at work and the earthquake relief coordinator at the red cross (who was the direct supervisor during the volunteer stint). You can see based on the questions below how different candidates will shine.

1. Comment on the candidate’s career progress to date and his/her career focus.

2. What do you consider to be the candidate’s major strengths? Comment on the factors that distinguish the candidate from other individuals at his/her level.

3. What do you consider to be the candidate’s major weaknesses?

4. Comment on the candidate’s potential for senior management. Do you see him/her as a future leader?

5. Describe the candidate as a person. Comment on his/her ability to establish and maintain relationships, sensitivity to others, self-confidence, attitude, etc. Specifically comment on the candidate's behaviour or skills in a group setting/team environment.

Hi HankScorpio,

I appreciate your voluntary effort to collect applicant profiles. You do a good deed for us folks.

My profile, Chinese, 6Yr w/e in IT development, 3 yr as mgr, G:750, GPA:3.7
I am in R2. Please add me to your list. Can i access your spreadsheet? I have +Kuodo to you

Forum seems very quiet.... Does INSEAD notify certain applicants few days ahead of the deadline date? or is it exactly on the deadline date?

Well I'm trying not to think ybout it... Alumni's told me it was on the exact date. However, it seems that many things have changed in this process since previous years.

INSEAD does notify sometimes before the exact deadline. I received the good news 3 days before the official notification date by phone. (Round 2 - Sept 2010 intake)

Hi artgirl, I have heard that INSEAD does start sending out their admit calls/mails atleast one week before the deadline.

Hi Suker, did you also receive an official email confirmation soon after the phone call?

Yes I did. Over the phone they said "You'll receive the official email confirmation in a few days", but I actually received it like an hour after the phonecall.

I may be wrong, but the trend I came across (i really needed to do something to keep busy) was as follows:

Interview notifications: start approx a week before the final date
Admit notifications: start approx 3 days before the final date

I can second that. I haven't heard about anyone receiving the interview and notification earlier than that.
I got my interview invitation exactly 1 week in advance.