Looking to apply R1 to INSEAD

Question

Looking to apply R1 to INSEAD in March 2026. 
 Would love to have your thoughts on my profile - especially about my GMAT score.

Background : 
 - French male, 27 
 - Civil Engineer, graduated 2021 (top 5 % of class) from a top-tier French engineering school 
 - Started career at the international department of a leading French engineering consultancy - involved in technical projects and international bids with travels to the Middle East (~2 years) 
 - Currently manager (same company) on a major infrastructure project in Greece serving as the sole company representative on-site for ~2.5 years (3rd consecutive year on expatriation contract) - overseeing both technical/operational performance and strategic reporting to HQ

Extras: 
 - Ran a 6-month training program and completed the Athens Marathon - as a personal goal, having successfully brought my company on board as a sponsor for a charitable project 
 - Represented France and my company at official events in Greece (diplomatic and institutional events, networking) 
 - Multilingual: French (native), English (fluent), Greek (intermediate - targeting certification by 2026)

GMAT: 
 - 645 GMAT Focus (Q80 / V82 / D84) (~700 equivalent Classic) - which I completed online recently 
 - 8 months of prep starting from 455 on first mock 
 - Considering keeping this score to focus on essays and application strategy rather than retaking, what do you think ?

MBA Goal: 
 - Target: INSEAD (January 2027 intake) 
 - Post-MBA: Strategy/Management in Infrastructure or Infrastructure Investment

Thanks in advance for any thoughts on whether my current score is competitive enough for INSEAD R1 (and a scholarship ?) and how to best position my application.

MBAPrepCoach · Answer

Hi, provided my feedback in Decision Tracker

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hi  quengnst , we've shared the evaluation on the decision tracker. Happy to discuss further! Please feel free to  book a profile evaluation session.

You can also register for our next Coffee Session: “MASTER YOUR MBA APPLICATION ESSAYS FOR INSEAD, HEC, LBS AND IESE!” on August 22, 2025 | 9:00 PM IST | 11:30 AM ET.   Register for the session now!

vikg007 · Answer

Looks good. May want to consider how that GMAT score is fitting. All the best!

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hello   quengnst,

Your profile for INSEAD’s R1 (March 2026) is strong—top 5% academically, rapid career growth managing international projects, rich cross-cultural experience, strong extracurriculars, and multilingual skills. Your GMAT Focus 645 (~700 Classic) is slightly below INSEAD’s average, but can be balanced by your achievements if your essays are strong; a higher score might help for scholarships. We've helped applicants with similar profiles get into M7 and top European schools.  
 DM us to book a consultation with an INSEAD alum who can help position your story for a winning application.

TheIvyLeagueEdge · Answer

Hey  quengnst ,
Excellent profile, 
Also, as you are already aware, while your GMAT FE is just about on the threshold/ average, a higher score would certainly improve your likelihood for admits and scholarships.

The key here is to craft a compelling application, that shows not only your profile in an impressive manner, but also is able to articulate and communicate your professional clarity that can win you better scholarrships.

Looking to apply R1 to INSEAD

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