INSEAD is the BEST INTERNATIONAL MBA; Period.

Experience during the program

With a GMAT of 660, I was able to secure admits from INSEAD, Michigan Ross, Bocconi, and IMD.

My journey started in 2021, when I applied only to top US schools with a 650 GMAT. That cycle was humbling: I was waitlisted at NYU Stern, rejected by Harvard, Stanford, and Wharton, and ultimately realized that ambition alone isn’t enough without the right strategy.

Determined to improve my odds, I studied hard and managed to increase my GMAT to 660. In the next Round 1 cycle, I reapplied to the same schools and added Michigan Ross. This time, I converted Ross, though Stern once again placed me on the waitlist. Unfortunately, my Prodigy loan approval didn’t work out, which forced me to reconsider my US options and broaden my perspective.

While applying to a few additional US schools in Round 2, I simultaneously began researching European programs—and that’s when INSEAD truly stood out. Its uniquely international cohort, intense 1-year format, and strong placement across geographies immediately resonated with my goals.

What differentiates INSEAD most is its application process. Unlike many US schools that claim to evaluate candidates holistically but provide limited space to explain one’s journey, INSEAD gives you the room to tell your story in depth. Through multiple essays and reflections, I was able to present my background, motivations, and career narrative from diverse angles. That freedom made a real difference—I ultimately received an INSEAD admit with a 20% scholarship.

Beyond admissions, INSEAD also proved its strength during recruiting. Despite my non-traditional background and experience largely in developing markets, I was shortlisted for interviews across 6+ sectors and 9+ geographies, including consulting, private equity, venture capital, investment banking, tech, CPG, retail, manufacturing, and startups. This reinforced a key lesson: while a strong school brand helps, outcomes are driven by how well you craft and position your story, particularly through your resume and narrative.

My experience at INSEAD further reinforced why it is truly a one-of-a-kind program. With 77 nationalities across two campuses, the classroom experience is intensely global and professionally mature. Even in a challenging year for consulting, 35%+ of the class entered consulting, reaffirming INSEAD’s position as a global consulting powerhouse. At the same time, INSEAD founders are highly sought after in the VC ecosystem, and several of my classmates are pursuing search funds, successfully closing their search rounds. What truly sets INSEAD apart is its cultural fabric—people from politically conflicted regions such as Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, UAE, Russia, Ukraine, Pakistan, and India learning, traveling, and building lifelong friendships together under a shared INSEAD DNA. The program’s “work hard, enjoy hard, travel-savvy” culture builds resilience, cultural intelligence, and confidence, preparing you for a truly global career.

In parallel, I also received 50% scholarships from both Bocconi and IMD.
All in, I applied to 14 schools in that year and spent close to $10k on admissions consultants. Through this process, I gained first-hand insight into what actually works when it comes to storytelling, positioning, and admissions strategy, especially for candidates with non-perfect GMAT scores.

If you’re looking to discuss your profile, get honest feedback, or learn how to craft a compelling MBA narrative, feel free to reach out:
LinkedIn: M Mobeen Ayub - Linkedin/mobeen711

About job placement process

INSEAD Brand is very strong across all industries and geographies, however, there is tailwind in consulting that helps you crack interviews. in IB, PE, its harder compared to LBS/ Harvard/ Wharton but INSEAD name is still quite strong in these too. It's just that the CDC is not well connected into the sector.
I was still able to make a rare switch into Buy-Side M&A in Saudi Arabia and I am very happy with my post-MBA career upgrade.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Brand/Ranking
Admissions Team
Consulting

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Career opportunities provided by school