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AnthonyIB
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MBAandBeyond
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AnthonyIB
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Thank you for providing your opinion. I am targeting 640/805 on the gmat focus which is equivalent to 700/800 on the classic. Just to be clear.
himomaki
Your strong GPA and relevant finance skills (Excel, Bloomberg) make you a competitive MiM applicant. While work experience isn’t required, your freelancing in social media management shows initiative—highlight your impact and international exposure in your essays. Lack of traditional internships can be mitigated by emphasizing transferable skills from your work and extracurriculars.

A 640-650 GMAT(Classic scale) is on the lower side for HEC, so aim as high as possible. Round 1 isn’t necessarily harder—admissions committees maintain standards across rounds, but applying earlier can show enthusiasm. If ready, apply R1; otherwise, a well-prepared R2 app is fine.
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Hello AnthonyIB,

To have a fair chance, you need to aim for a higher GMAT score. Additionally, work towards building a profile; if you cannot manage a proper internship, look at other avenues where you can contribute and that will help you showcase skills that strengthen your application.

Round 1 is always a good idea if you are ready with all the application material; however, if you are not, you may apply in Round 2.

All the best!
AnthonyIB
I'm 19 years old. I will be graduating from my BBA, Finance program in june 2026 from a 700th QS Ranking university in Lebanon, it is considered one of the top unis in lebanon. I'll be aiming to apply round 2 next year MiM, after I apply for my GMAT and IELTS exams. I'll provide my profile and would love to know your opinion on what are my chances of getting accepted at HEC Paris MiM program.
GPA: 91.3/100, Converts to approx. 3.7/4.0
Yet to take GMAT Focus, Aiming for 640-650. (achievable)
IELTS: aiming for 7.5 (achievable)
Freelancer: Social media management and ideation for quite some time, I make a living out of this aside of my studies. I am not sure if that counts as work experience though. I work with multiple international clients.
Was a Committee member in high school, managed fundraising events and the allocation of funds afterwards.
No internships whatsoever as internships in lebanon (in finance specifically) are not open because of the banking crisis.
Expert at some essential stuff in investment banking like excel and bloomberg terminal. I mentioned these in my CV.
No work experience in companies.
I really feel like I deserve to get in but I also feel like I lack work experience (despite the fact they require no experience for the MiM application, from my experience most people who get admitted do have some kind of work experience) and Lebanon is not getting any better regarding finance internships any time soon, plus I don't want to waste my time in unpaid internships or internships that are irrelevant to my expertise.
Another question: do you all think that applying round 2 gives me better a chance of acceptance compared to round 1? I assume that round 1 must be more competitive because naturally the best applicants apply in round 1, please correct my assumption if I'm wrong.
Thanks in advance.
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AnthonyIB
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Hello, does 640/805 on focus (or 700/800 on classic) not suffice? as I know it is the average GMAT grade for HEC Paris MiM class.

ExpertsGlobal
Hello AnthonyIB,

To have a fair chance, you need to aim for a higher GMAT score. Additionally, work towards building a profile; if you cannot manage a proper internship, look at other avenues where you can contribute and that will help you showcase skills that strengthen your application.

Round 1 is always a good idea if you are ready with all the application material; however, if you are not, you may apply in Round 2.

All the best!
AnthonyIB
I'm 19 years old. I will be graduating from my BBA, Finance program in june 2026 from a 700th QS Ranking university in Lebanon, it is considered one of the top unis in lebanon. I'll be aiming to apply round 2 next year MiM, after I apply for my GMAT and IELTS exams. I'll provide my profile and would love to know your opinion on what are my chances of getting accepted at HEC Paris MiM program.
GPA: 91.3/100, Converts to approx. 3.7/4.0
Yet to take GMAT Focus, Aiming for 640-650. (achievable)
IELTS: aiming for 7.5 (achievable)
Freelancer: Social media management and ideation for quite some time, I make a living out of this aside of my studies. I am not sure if that counts as work experience though. I work with multiple international clients.
Was a Committee member in high school, managed fundraising events and the allocation of funds afterwards.
No internships whatsoever as internships in lebanon (in finance specifically) are not open because of the banking crisis.
Expert at some essential stuff in investment banking like excel and bloomberg terminal. I mentioned these in my CV.
No work experience in companies.
I really feel like I deserve to get in but I also feel like I lack work experience (despite the fact they require no experience for the MiM application, from my experience most people who get admitted do have some kind of work experience) and Lebanon is not getting any better regarding finance internships any time soon, plus I don't want to waste my time in unpaid internships or internships that are irrelevant to my expertise.
Another question: do you all think that applying round 2 gives me better a chance of acceptance compared to round 1? I assume that round 1 must be more competitive because naturally the best applicants apply in round 1, please correct my assumption if I'm wrong.
Thanks in advance.
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NickTheGreek14
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Hey, I believe a 645-655 is good as it right on their average. There is still some confussion around FE and Classic GMAT.
AnthonyIB
Hello, does 640/805 on focus (or 700/800 on classic) not suffice? as I know it is the average GMAT grade for HEC Paris MiM class.

ExpertsGlobal
Hello AnthonyIB,

To have a fair chance, you need to aim for a higher GMAT score. Additionally, work towards building a profile; if you cannot manage a proper internship, look at other avenues where you can contribute and that will help you showcase skills that strengthen your application.

Round 1 is always a good idea if you are ready with all the application material; however, if you are not, you may apply in Round 2.

All the best!
AnthonyIB
I'm 19 years old. I will be graduating from my BBA, Finance program in june 2026 from a 700th QS Ranking university in Lebanon, it is considered one of the top unis in lebanon. I'll be aiming to apply round 2 next year MiM, after I apply for my GMAT and IELTS exams. I'll provide my profile and would love to know your opinion on what are my chances of getting accepted at HEC Paris MiM program.
GPA: 91.3/100, Converts to approx. 3.7/4.0
Yet to take GMAT Focus, Aiming for 640-650. (achievable)
IELTS: aiming for 7.5 (achievable)
Freelancer: Social media management and ideation for quite some time, I make a living out of this aside of my studies. I am not sure if that counts as work experience though. I work with multiple international clients.
Was a Committee member in high school, managed fundraising events and the allocation of funds afterwards.
No internships whatsoever as internships in lebanon (in finance specifically) are not open because of the banking crisis.
Expert at some essential stuff in investment banking like excel and bloomberg terminal. I mentioned these in my CV.
No work experience in companies.
I really feel like I deserve to get in but I also feel like I lack work experience (despite the fact they require no experience for the MiM application, from my experience most people who get admitted do have some kind of work experience) and Lebanon is not getting any better regarding finance internships any time soon, plus I don't want to waste my time in unpaid internships or internships that are irrelevant to my expertise.
Another question: do you all think that applying round 2 gives me better a chance of acceptance compared to round 1? I assume that round 1 must be more competitive because naturally the best applicants apply in round 1, please correct my assumption if I'm wrong.
Thanks in advance.
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Your profile is strong academically, with a solid GPA, relevant finance skills, and international freelance experience, which can count as professional exposure. While formal work experience is not required for HEC Paris MiM, most admitted candidates have some, so highlighting your freelance work’s impact and leadership is crucial. Since Lebanon's banking crisis limits internships, you can frame this as overcoming adversity. A GMAT Focus score of 640-650 is on the lower end for HEC, so aiming slightly higher could strengthen your chances. As for Round 1 vs. Round 2, while Round 1 often attracts top applicants, Round 2 remains highly competitive with fewer available spots, so apply when your application is strongest rather than focusing solely on timing.
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Your profile looks strong, especially with your high GPA and international freelancing experience. While MiM programs don’t require work experience, showcasing leadership, problem-solving, and impact from your freelancing and extracurriculars will help. A 640-650 GMAT is on the lower side for HEC Paris, so aiming higher could improve your chances. Round 1 is generally more competitive, but applying in Round 2 is still a solid choice if it allows you to strengthen your application. Best of luck!"
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Your profile is good, all the best