INSEAD profile evaluation

Question

INSEAD brief profile review and advice

GRE:335 (V169, Q166, AWA 5.0)

I am a 29M Australian (Chinese background). 5 year working experience as a medical doctor in Australia, graduate of University of Melbourne (rank 14th in QS ranking), currently working as psychiatry resident in a major metropolitan hospital.

Leadership:
- night doctor in charge for an understaffed rural hospital emergency department during the latter stage of COVID
- church youth group leader

Extracurriculars
- started a small education enterprise that gives consultation to medical school application and admission tests preparation
- during uni volunteer English teacher in rural china and medical volunteering in India, 1 month placement at a respiratory unit in a hospital in Finland (although these were 5-6 years ago now)

Any advice and feedback ? Hoping to apply for August 2025 intake

Posted from my mobile device

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi, As a doctor, you bring some diversity to the B-school classroom, but it will be important to explain why you need an MBA and what you will do in your post MBA career (where the MBA skills are needed). As INSEAD asks for many job description essays, you should also mention some business aspects in your career to show that you indeed have business acumen and have thought beyond your clinical responsibilities (like running a practice for example). I wonder whether this will come from your current experience at the psychiatry department, but outside of that you have some experience such as working in the understaffed emergency ward and running your education enterprise that can teach you about people management during crisis, quick decision making and managing business. The ECAs where you worked abroad look very interesting and you should be able to get some impactful stories from them. What I also like here is the diversity in the countries you worked at. That can give you enough material to show your international motivation and ability to work with very different people. The GRE score is excellent. Overall, I feel quite upbeat. My feedback is, September is not too far- start working on your applications. Namita Garg, Founder, MBA Decoder Email: contact@mbadecoder.com Reach out to us for a Profile Evaluation Helping applicants achieve their MBA dreams since 2011

admitStreet · Answer

@raychan0318 - some thoughts on your profile: 1. Your undergrad pedigree and GRE score are strong. How were your grades in undergrad? 2. Your international (Chinese / Australian) background is interesting: INSEAD particularly values this angle. What are your motivations for an MBA and career goals post-MBA? It'd be crucial to have a strong narrative linking your experiences, achievements/ skillsets gained to your goals, and how an MBA (and particularly INSEAD) would help at this juncture. It'd also be important to showcase your professional arc in a holistic way i.e. beyond the technical/ medical angles. 3. ECA's present some good anecdotes for essays. Broadly, recency and consistency matter in extracurriculars, and quality trumps quantity. Make sure to research which clubs within INSEAD you'd be able to add value to. If you haven't already, I'd also suggest connecting with AdCom to discuss your profile/ plans and hear their thoughts. Hope this helps some. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Book a free 30-min consultation W: https://admitstreet.com | LinkedIn | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com

TheRedPen · Answer

Hi  raychan0318 ,

Interesting profile.

Your application essays will have to strongly depict your reasons for switching from medicine to MBA.

Your GRE scores are strong which can work in your favour. Your 5 years at the hospital will have to be a part of your narratives forming a strong storyline.

We recommend connecting with our MBA experts team via call to discuss your profile in detail. You can  schedule a free profile consultation call .

Also, you can connect with the team directly via call at +91 7780769732

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi  raychan0318 ,

As a doctor, you bring valuable diversity to the B-school classroom. However, explaining why you need an MBA and how you'll apply those skills in your post-MBA career is crucial. Your academic background is not just strong; it's exceptional, with a GRE score of 335 and a degree from the University of Melbourne, showcasing your academic excellence. Leading an understaffed emergency ward during COVID highlights your critical decision-making and leadership in high-pressure environments. Your role in psychiatry demonstrates strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. Your diverse experiences in Australia, volunteering in China and India, and working in Finland highlight your cultural awareness and adaptability, key traits valued by INSEAD.

Starting an education consultancy underscores your entrepreneurial spirit, business-oriented thinking, and business development and marketing skills. To strengthen your application, emphasize business aspects of your current role, such as budgeting, resource management, or strategic planning. Provide specific examples of your impact, like increased efficiency or improved patient outcomes. Clearly articulate your post-MBA career goals, such as healthcare management, consulting, or entrepreneurship, and explain how specific MBA skills are crucial for these goals.

Include recent activities demonstrating your continued interest in business, leadership, or your target industry, if possible. Use your international volunteer work to show your ability to adapt and work with diverse teams, highlighting specific impactful stories from your time in rural China, India, and Finland.

Familiarize yourself with INSEAD's application requirements, essays, and interview format. Emphasize the unique perspective you bring due to your medical background and diverse experiences, and highlight leadership qualities beyond your medical background. Start working on your applications immediately, as September is approaching quickly.

Overall, your profile is not just strong; it's impressive, and with focused preparation, you have an excellent chance of being admitted to INSEAD's MBA program. The diversity in the countries you worked in underscores your international motivation and ability to work with different people.

Use your essays to tell your unique story, focusing on your journey from medicine to business, your leadership experiences, and your entrepreneurial endeavors. Best of luck with your applications! Feel free to reach out if you need further assistance or specific advice on any part of your application.

If you have any further questions related to your profile or want to have a 1:1 discussion with our top profile experts,  feel free to schedule a complimentary profile evaluations session with our experts  . We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools.

AugustAcademy · Answer

Provided you do a good job on your essays, and interviews, and can argue persuasively as to why you need an MBA, you should be a good candidate for INSEAD.

Feel free to reach out if you want to chat more: https://bit.ly/GM_AugAcd_Profile_Evaluation

Best,
Karthik

MBAGuide · Answer

Hi raychan0318 I am so impressed by your GRE score! You know what, that is a fantastic way to begin the INSEAD application journey coming from such an underrepresented domain at INSEAD and not having the typical quantitative background. I think your admission test prep venture explains how you could do so well on the test. I am somewhat disappointed to see that you have not shared why you want an MBA at this stage and why from INSEAD in particular, but if you happen to see my post, feel free to share your motivations so I can advise you. Every year, INSEAD selects a handful of doctors to be part of the class. After INSEAD, I have seen medical professionals enter very diverse roles, from becoming entrepreneurs to consultants in the investment space. Should you have questions, I am happy to share more insights Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) Founder, MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn : https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

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