INSEAD for Career Swtichers?

Question

Hi:
I will be applying for a FT MBA program for 2009 and INSEAD is one of my top choices. I am looking to leverage an MBA to make a career switch from consulting into finance (Ibanking/PE/Funds, etc.). My question is: how is INSEAD's 1-yr program for career switchers? I know that it makes much more sense for career switchers to start in Jan since that allows students to do the summer internship, which is crucial in making the career switch. But is the length of the program, the career office and the brand, good enough to make a successful career switch?

bsd_lover · Answer

Excellent question. I'd like to know the answer too. My aims are similar to yours, my focus is a career in Trading, and I am switching too. What can INSEAD do for me ?

lumone · Answer

Hi,

I visited Insead (Fontainebleau) in october and the Adcom actually answered that question.

Insead is just as good any any top mba for career switcher.

January intake is better for career switchers from anything to finance because banks mostly recruit via internships. 
There is no possibilty for internship with August intake.

BTW, if you want to work in London, Insead has excellent connections with the city.

GK_Gmat · Answer

That is fantastic to know. Thanks for sharing. Also, if one intends to work in London, which one is a better campus to study at, Fonty or Singapore?

lumone · Answer

The main destination of Insead MBAs is London. 1/4 of the 900 students per year go to work there and a lot of them in banking. So, you will definitly have connections in you want to work there.

There are 5 (or is it 4?) terms during the 10 month programme. You can choose where you want to spend each term (depending of the demand, but each insead student is entitled to study on both campus).
Well, if you want to work in London, it's obviously better to network in Europe.

BTW, as you're interested in finance, you might want to check the Insead-Wharton on their website. Basically, as an Insead student you can spend a term in Wharton (and vice-versa). There is selection (if you choose that, you may not be able to choose some classes at Insead), but an Insead student said that anybody who wanted to go to Wharton could. And that student said that with Adcom in the classroom, so that's true.

gmatmba · Answer

I would second what lumone said. If you are a career switcher, Jan intake is better as you can do an internship. Moreover, if you want to switch to Finance, Jan intake is a must as most of the IBs and financial houses hires from their summer intern program.

INSEAD says you can interview with potential recuriters irrespective of whether you are in fonty or singapore, but it just makes sense to be geographically closer to your preferred destination post mba. So, if you want to be in europe, join fonty campus. Alternately, you can also spend the first 2 periods (4 months) in singapore, then switch to fonty for the last 3 periods using the campus switch program (you can also go to Wharton for the last 2 months - 1 period).

Cheers!

Edit: Also check my response at 106-t60501

lumone · Answer

Just a question that I did not ask during my visit of Insead: do Insead students have access to the Wharton career service during and after their time in Philadelphia?

gmatmba · Answer

During your MBA program, you only have access to the Wharton Career service if you go to Wharton on exchange in one of the periods, and have access to it while you are at Wharton. After you graduate, you have access to Harvard, Stanford and Kellog alumni services as INSEAD has a reciprocal agreement with these 3 schools. There is a $60-75 annual fee for these.

aceman626 · Answer

Does anyone know that when recs are submitted online, do we get an email notification?

My recommender sent it in, but i didn't get anything.

Thanks.

ronron · Answer

1 year MBA programmes are best suited to advance your carreer.
There are 3 thing you can chan ge after graduating: Location, function, industry. I would not recommend to change all of them after finishing a 1 year MBA program since you will not be able to make best use out of your degree.

Insead will encourage you to apply but make sure you investigate other possibilities (2 year ?) that may serve you better in the end

just my 2 cents :lol:

INSEAD for Career Swtichers?

Prep Toolkit

Top 5 GMAT Debrief Videos

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

From 555 to 765: 210-point Improvement

Perfect 805 Score Debrief by Julia

My Rewards