2006 INSEAD MBA Admissions Chat with Leila Murat

Please feel free to let us know if you would like to be informed of future chats by sending e-mail to chat@accepted.com. We would also be interested in knowing if you would prefer a different format or different topics.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 9:59:36 AM)
First I want to welcome you all to Accepted.com's INSEAD MBA Admissions Chat.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 9:59:46 AM)
My name is Rachel Cavalier, Accepted.com's Business Development Manager, and will be hosting the chat this evening.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:00:25 AM)
I also want to welcome Leila Murat, MBA Admissions Officer; Christina Vincensini, MBA Admissions Manager; Caroline Diarte Edwards, Director of Admissions, Marketing and External Relations; and Irina Schneider-Maunoury, MBA Financial Aid Manager. A special welcome to Jennifer Bloom, Accepted.com senior editor.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:01:49 AM)
Christina, what's new at INSEAD?

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:01:55 AM)
I understand that some students are still on the waitlist even for the Jan 2006 class? When is the latest they can be taken off the waitlist? What can they do to help themselves get accepted?

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:02:10 AM)
Irina, how many students receive scholarships from INSEAD? Do they have to apply for the scholarship?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:03:06 AM)
There are 20% of the class receiving an award. You need to be admitted to apply for scholarships.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:03:13 AM)
Christina, your Round 2 application deadline for Fall 2007 just past. Was the application volume up?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:03:39 AM)
Hetal - yes, there are applicants still on our waitlist. Unfortunately we cannot give advance notice of when they may be cleared. There is no specific cut off date for the waitlist - it can run up to just before the start of the programme.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:03:58 AM)
Once admitted, do you fill out a special application for scholarships?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:04:35 AM)
Rachel, you need to apply for scholarships on-line after admission.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:04:35 AM)
Is the waitlist purely a demand-supply game?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:04:38 AM)
Rachel - New graduating class Dec. 05, new incoming class of Dec. 06, new buildings on both campuses.

renata (Dec 14, 2005 10:04:50 AM)
Chrisina: What kind of skills and profile is appealing to INSEAD in a candidate that does not have a business background and is hoping for a career shift? How do you recommend these types of applicants respond to targeted questions in the application that deal with supervision and business specific backgrounds?

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:04:50 AM)
While INSEAD is my top choice school, I was unable to apply for the first round of the program because of a family emergency and missed the second round as well for the same reason. Is there still hope of admission/scholarship if one gets the application in by the third round deadline for September 2006?

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:05:00 AM)
How are the scholarships given out? Are they need or merit based?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:05:51 AM)
Samir, Round 3 applicants are eligible, they have to apply on-line if invited for the interviews.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:06:17 AM)
Hetal - competition for our programme is very stiff. We sometimes have to put excellent candidates on our waitlist and depending on the percentage of acceptances from other candidates, we may be able to accept the waitlist candidates or not.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:06:40 AM)
Rachel, scholarships are both merit and need based, in many cases both are taken into consideration.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:07:06 AM)
Are their any specific scholarships for women?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:07:14 AM)
renata - we are looking for dynamic individuals with great IP skills, cultural sensitivity, academic capacity & int'l motivation from all backgrounds. Be yourself in your application and put as much of your personality and potential. We like unique & different profiles.

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:07:15 AM)
Irina, I am assuming you meant applying on-line for scholarships, right? Also, is there any advantage in applying sooner in the third round cycle than Feb 1st?

skip (Dec 14, 2005 10:07:35 AM)
Could you please give an idea about how much tougher Rounds 3 and 4 are compared to Rounds 1 and 2?

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:07:54 AM)
Caroline, why would these exceptional candidates be put on the waitlist list? Would this be because of a low GMAT score, for example?

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:07:56 AM)
A one-year MBA sounded ideal to me. Then I spoke with students at other similarly-ranked programs, who expressed how challenging the course work was in their two-year programs. So I'm wondering - how do INSEAD students handle it all? Do you ever wish you had an extra year to learn the material?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:08:09 AM)
Rachel, we do have the Alumni Fund scholarship for women and the Forte Foundation scholarship.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:08:12 AM)
Skip - the competition for our rounds is often quite even, although there is no guarantee that competition will not heat up towards the end. I would encourage you to apply at the right time for you - i.e. when you are well prepared.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:08:24 AM)
If I may ask, what is the final waitlist for Jan. '06 class in terms of its size?

renata (Dec 14, 2005 10:08:53 AM)
Christina: This is great. I was a little worried with questions like: How many people have you supervised and the like, given that I am a lawyer. So it is not detrimental to reply something in the lines of "not applicable"?

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:08:54 AM)
I am a HR guy and want to setup my own consultancy after MBA. How would an INSEAD MBA help?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:09:14 AM)
Hetal - The figures for the waitlist are confidential.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:09:49 AM)
RM, INSEAD is a global MBA in general management, you will be well equipped to run your own business after graduation.

MDarwish (Dec 14, 2005 10:09:59 AM)
What is the lowest score you have accepted knowing your average is 680?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:10:17 AM)
Linksa - the programme is intensive - it has to be when you do an MBA in 1 year. I did the programme myself and can vouch that it is hard work! But it is manageable and the intensity has many benefits. The hardest part is getting into the programme. If you can do that, then you will be quite capable of managing the 1 year experience.

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:11:29 AM)
I have a GMAT of 710 but am 40 years of age! Would I be out of sync?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:11:34 AM)
renata: It is best to answer the questions the best you can. It's better to reflect on your experience, team experience in personal achievements outside of work rather than putting NA. We want to get to know you better.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:11:45 AM)
MDarwish, the lowest is 600.

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:12:38 AM)
Are there any recruitment related benefits in being on the Fontaineblue campus as opposed to the Singapore campus during recruitment cycles?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:12:44 AM)
RM - You may want to consider looking into the EMBA which is an elite programme designed for individuals with several years of work experience.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:12:45 AM)
As a follow up question to Skip's, do most American students at INSEAD return to the US for their first post-MBA job or do they usually initially work outside the US?

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:12:46 AM)
Thanks, Caroline. How do non-French speaking students manage life in Fontainebleu and France in general?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:12:55 AM)
Rachel - someone could be put on the waitlist because their application is not as outstanding as others in their round. It could be a somewhat weaker GMAT, but also other criteria could also come into play.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:13:02 AM)
Can you please explain how the decision-making happen for waitlisted students? For example, if only a single seat is available, how will the committee decide its choice since there is no ranking on the waitlist?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:13:23 AM)
Samir, companies recruit on both campuses and video-links are used extensively as well.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:14:07 AM)
Irina, so basically the recruiting experience is very similar at both campuses?

renata (Dec 14, 2005 10:14:20 AM)
Christina: How is the recruiting post-MBA for professionals targeted at a shifting into a private equity career?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:14:32 AM)
Rachel - re: follow up to Skip - most of our grads work outside of their native country following graduation. It really depends on personal goals.

Bally (Dec 14, 2005 10:14:55 AM)
I understand that an MBA is an investment; both long term and short term, but ROI is major concern for many people. Hence I would like to know what is the average payback/break even tenure for INSEAD students to clear loans?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:15:12 AM)
Rachel, recruiting is similar at both campuses, yes.

Gus (Dec 14, 2005 10:15:14 AM)
INSEAD states that..."You should hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a recognized college or university (although in exceptional circumstances, we may waive this requirement for otherwise outstanding candidates with substantial professional experience)." How many applicants really get into INSEAD with this?

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:15:23 AM)
Hi Christina: Is there a difference in the career outcomes of a) September and January intakes and b) Asia and Europe campus?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:15:33 AM)
Linksa - INSEAD is an entirely English speaking community. You don't need to speak French. Obviously basic French will help with everyday life, but it is not essential.

JenniferBloom (Dec 14, 2005 10:15:48 AM)
I had a question for the Admissions Committee about reapplying. Is it better to apply in a later round and, if rejected, reapply next year? Does that perseverance earn any extra consideration from the Admissions Committee?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:15:57 AM)
renata - very detailed question. You would find stats on this on the Career Services Grad Career Decisions. You will have a better overview on all sectors and percentages of participants who switch careers.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:16:01 AM)
Bally, according to FORBES magazine, payback time on investment for the INSEAD MBA is less than two years.

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:16:08 AM)
I am with a Public Sector Co., and can't afford the EMBA. Would 40+ be out of range for a regular MBA? I find the full-time immersion very attractive.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:16:28 AM)
Hetal - we take 450 students per class. We would not go above this.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:16:41 AM)
What is the average age of the students in the regular MBA program?

renata (Dec 14, 2005 10:16:56 AM)
Does age play an important role in the selection process? I am afraid I might be too young.

JenniferBloom (Dec 14, 2005 10:16:58 AM)
What warning signs does the Admissions Committee sense from older applicants that decreases their chances of acceptance?

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:17:03 AM)
How has INSEAD been perceived in India (in terms of Indian recruiters for jobs both outside of India and in India) and how does it stack up in the US, perception-wise, compared to other famous 2 year programs out there?

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:17:11 AM)
Wouldn't students who are offered admissions just before beginning of the course have difficulties in arranging finance, visa, accommodations, etc.? Does INSEAD offer some help especially in these cases? What's your advise for them?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:17:12 AM)
Rachel, the average age is 29.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:17:16 AM)
Gus, about 1% of participants do not hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:17:31 AM)
Piyush - No significant impact on job offers for Sept/Jan or between Asia/Europe. It is a global recruitment process.

Gus (Dec 14, 2005 10:17:32 AM)
Thank you Leila.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:18:05 AM)
Leila, does INSEAD offer an exchange program with any B-schools in the US?

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:18:17 AM)
Between the Singapore and Fontainebleu campuses, which would you say is more difficult to get accepted into?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:18:20 AM)
renata - we are looking for a least 2 years of full-time work experience.

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:18:31 AM)
How can a student benefit the most out of the exchange program with Wharton?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:18:31 AM)
Hetal, we have the Welfare Manager who works with the participants and guiding in regards to Visas, accommodation and every day life.

renata (Dec 14, 2005 10:18:34 AM)
Christina: What does the admission committee view as a helpful and good recommendation letter?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:18:43 AM)
Jennifer - we do not encourage reapplications.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:19:18 AM)
renata - we prefer professional letters as this helps us determine your Managerial Potential.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:19:24 AM)
Jennifer - an older applicant would need to demonstrate very strong career progression.

Deb (Dec 14, 2005 10:19:25 AM)
Because of the lower class size in Singapore campus, do students staying there for a longer time loose out a lot on peer learning? If so, how significant is this?

INSEAD_APPLICANT (Dec 14, 2005 10:19:34 AM)
I would like to find out whether my college transcript has to be mailed directly from the university or can the transcript be in a sealed envelope mailed to the applicant by the university and the applicant mails it along with the application?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:19:39 AM)
Samir, recruitment at INSEAD is global. MNCs, consulting firms and banks look for positions worldwide.

JenniferBloom (Dec 14, 2005 10:19:55 AM)
Caroline, what if you see an applicant who has potential but there simply isn't room for him this year - perhaps he even made it to the waitlist. Even those applicants are discouraged from reapplying?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:20:11 AM)
Hetal - yes, we do provide all the support we can in such cases.

Gus (Dec 14, 2005 10:20:16 AM)
When would the online application form for the Sept 2007 intake be available for early processing of applications?

Bally (Dec 14, 2005 10:20:17 AM)
Regarding the GMAT; is there any biasing towards Verbal or Quant scores? If someone has a highly unbalanced score is that considered a negative?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:20:36 AM)
piyush, one has an option of experiencing the program in Europe, Asia and the US- the three continents; since they can take electives at Wharton.

renata (Dec 14, 2005 10:20:37 AM)
Christina - Is it a "negative signal" to take the GMAT more than once?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:20:55 AM)
Linska, the admissions process is campus blind. So equal chances to get into either campus.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:21:04 AM)
Deb - You don't lose out. On the contrary, the close nit group allows for greater bonding opportunities.

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:21:30 AM)
If one was rejected because of lack of seats while applying in the third round for say Sept 2006, will that person be denied the opportunity to apply for the the first round of January 2007?

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:21:40 AM)
Irina: Thanks. Which part of the year do the students normally go out to Wharton?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:22:18 AM)
INSEAD applicant, the transcripts have to be sent to INSEAD directly.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:22:26 AM)
Rachel, INSEAD has an alliance with Wharton and the only exchange program which covers a period of two months is with Wharton.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:22:32 AM)
Jennifer - we normally discourage rejected candidates from reapplying, but we are happy to receive reapplications from waitlisted applicants.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:23:03 AM)
renata - No not necessarily. We look at all scores and focus on the progression in each. Just don't take it too many times.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:23:15 AM)
Leila, are those two months during the recruitment period? If so, with this hurt the students job options?

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:23:20 AM)
Irina: Some schools in India (for example) will not send the transcripts directly. What should we do?

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:23:21 AM)
Would a 3 year bachelor degree from India be OK? i.e. only 15 years of schooling.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:24:10 AM)
Bally, the balanced GMAT score is preferred.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:24:11 AM)
Gus - we are not yet taking applications for Sept 07. We would not take a decision on a candidate before the first round for that class.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:24:21 AM)
INSEAD APPLICANT, original transcripts can be sent to INSEAD directly by the university or by the applicant.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:25:00 AM)
Piyush, official certified sealed copies are fine.

Gus (Dec 14, 2005 10:25:11 AM)
Thanks Caroline!

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:25:26 AM)
Thanks, Leila. How much extra weight does international work experience bring to an applicant's eligibility? I have not had any work experience where I have been located outside of my home country, but in my career I have regularly worked with R&D engineers around the world. That is what has sparked my interest in international business. How would INSEAD's adcom view such experience?

renata (Dec 14, 2005 10:25:46 AM)
christina - How clear does ones future career plans need specified in the application?

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:26:09 AM)
How would INSEAD view experience in a Non Profit Organization?

JenniferBloom (Dec 14, 2005 10:26:16 AM)
One of the essay questions aska about the applicant's failure to meet his personal objectives. What does the admissions committee hope to discover about an applicant in this question?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:26:16 AM)
Samir - not if one was waitlisted. In any case we never "refuse" reapplications, but we don't "encourage" them from rejected candidates.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:26:22 AM)
How are the applicants from India? Is it encouraging in terms of its volumes?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:26:36 AM)
Piyush, the exchange with Wharton is for a period of two months and usually takes place during the last two months.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:26:51 AM)
renata - Future career plans need to be logical and thought-through. We understand they may change during the programme.

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:26:53 AM)
Thanks Caroline.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:27:04 AM)
Piyus, we look for diversity in the class room, experience in non profit is fine.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:27:24 AM)
JenniferBloom - We want to know about you and how you handle failure.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:27:43 AM)
Hetal - each file is reviewed and we take a decision on whether to invite to interview. Then those who are selected will get 2 interviews with alumni. After that, the full application plus interview reports are reviewed again and the admissions committee takes a final decision.

renata (Dec 14, 2005 10:28:20 AM)
Christina - makes sense. Thank you so much for taking the time to come and talk to us. This session was very informative.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:28:36 AM)
RM - A bachelor is sufficient.

Deb (Dec 14, 2005 10:28:38 AM)
Can you tell us something new related to the course work at INSEAD that has happened in the last year? Did you introduce a new elective or something?

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:28:45 AM)
Is it possible to place out of core courses e.g. financial accounting, if you have taken previous coursework in that area, and substitute electives you really want to work on instead?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:28:47 AM)
Rachel, it is during the recruitment period which allows access to Wharton's career services; however the exchange student still benefits from the INSEAD recruitment as interviews are conducted via video-link.

JenniferBloom (Dec 14, 2005 10:29:29 AM)
Is there a smaller applicant pool for one of the programs - either January or Fall intake? Or do both programs have equal demand for the same number of spots?

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:29:41 AM)
Leila, so you really benefit from both schools career services?

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:29:55 AM)
Leila, can you share, what percentage of the class takes advantage of Wharton Program?

MDarwish (Dec 14, 2005 10:30:25 AM)
What does a rejected applicant look like? Are they just silly applicants? Please can you give an example?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:30:39 AM)
JenniferBloom, the two intakes are similar, the only difference is the summer break for the January intake.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:30:47 AM)
Samir - you can exempt up to 2-3 core courses, but the process only begins as an admitted participant.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:30:53 AM)
Deb - yes, we often introduce or update courses. We just introduced an elective on sports management.

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:31:24 AM)
Could you elaborate on the family life on the campuses, especially in Singapore?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:31:42 AM)
Linska, we prefer to see applicants with some international experience, work/study/living abroad; however we also take into account international motivation and cross-cultural sensitivity.

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:31:44 AM)
Hi Christina: How many electives can a student take in a particular major?

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:32:10 AM)
As a follow-up to my earlier question, can one focus on two concentrations within a short period of time, e.g. entrepreneurship and strategy, if one places out of core courses, and can substitute with electives?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:32:32 AM)
Rachel, yes indeed.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:32:36 AM)
MDarwish - there is no typical accepted or rejected applicant. We are very transparent about our admissions criteria. If you meet them then you have a good chance of getting in.

JenniferBloom (Dec 14, 2005 10:32:50 AM)
Irina, are the number of applicants per actual spot equal for the Fall and January intakes as well?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:32:55 AM)
Piyush - There are no majors at INSEAD. You have core courses and you will take 10+ elective courses in order to graduate from our 1 year program.

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:33:05 AM)
Hi Leila. How would you rate a recommendation from a professor from a graduate business school, i.e. a recommendation from a non professional setting?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:34:00 AM)
Piyush, around 8% of the class goes to Wharton.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:34:04 AM)
RM, 30% of the class come with a partner/family. Partners participate in language courses, common dinners, sports, water sports in Singapore, outings; it is a very knit community.

Adrian (Dec 14, 2005 10:34:10 AM)
How well are the Eastern European countries represented at INSEAD? What positions are they moving into?

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:34:14 AM)
Christina: Can all the electives focus on a particular subject, say Marketing or Finance?

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:34:42 AM)
Does the exchange program with Wharton cost additional tuition?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:34:42 AM)
Samir - you would take a number of courses at any one time - usually about 5. The course starts with a focus on core courses and then it moves towards electives. you may be able to exempt core courses and substitute with electives.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:35:17 AM)
Piyush - Absolutely you can focus on one subject, this is how you can customize your MBA.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:35:21 AM)
JenniferBloom, the number of applications for both intakes is similar.

Deb (Dec 14, 2005 10:35:31 AM)
Are there any specific initiatives from INSEAD to put its students in touch with its alumni or, its more a student initiative ? Are there any alumni meets on campus before students graduate?

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:35:52 AM)
I've been mulling over and drafting my answer to the "culture shock"/"foreigner moving to your home country" question for some time now. Is the main point of this question to demonstrate "cross cultural sensitivity" as Leila mentioned above? What else are you looking for in the answer to these questions?

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:36:10 AM)
How are repeat GMATs looked at, if one has taken them both within a two month period?

Insead_Chat (Dec 14, 2005 10:36:25 AM)
How would you view an applicant who had been laid off and was without a job for 2 months?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:36:29 AM)
Adrian - we always have students from central and eastern Europe - exact percentages vary. There is no commonality in their choice of careers.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:37:26 AM)
Piyush, we prefer to get recommendations from a professional setting as we look into assessing the managerial potential of a candidate. However if you feel this recommender can give a different light to your profile, then go ahead!

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:38:22 AM)
Piyush, no additional tuition fees for the Wharton exchange.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:38:25 AM)
Deb - there are a number of opportunities for students to interactive with alumni, both formal and informal. You can also contact alumni directly once you join the programme, e.g. to help with your job search.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:38:26 AM)
Samir, we will consider both GMAT results.

INSEAD_APPLICANT (Dec 14, 2005 10:38:41 AM)
What has been the volume of applications this year compared to last year? Is it up/down/the same?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:38:59 AM)
Linska - We are looking for international motivation, ability to integrate, open-mindedness, and cultural awareness.

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:39:14 AM)
Irina, are the living costs similar on both the campuses?

Bally (Dec 14, 2005 10:39:57 AM)
How does INSEAD look at job changes. I have four years of work experience, with three jobs, but in the same field with increased job responsibility & of course increased compensation?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:40:02 AM)
Samir - we are quite forgiving of repeat GMAT takers! We'll generally give the benefit of the doubt on a low score if subsequently you get a higher score.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:40:16 AM)
INSEAD Chat, the most important thing for us is to understand the whole job history and gaps should be explained.

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:40:27 AM)
Do you offer a specialization in HR?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:40:38 AM)
Insead applicant - our application numbers are going up right now.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:41:10 AM)
Is there a focused program in advertising at INSEAD?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:41:21 AM)
RM, the living costs are a bit cheaper in Singapore (food mainly). Expenses level out and it all depends on the style of living, the traveling you do, etc.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:41:38 AM)
Leila, if you are looking at an application and the numbers and basic profile is in the ballpark for an INSEAD student, what distinguishes an application that is accepted from one that is rejected?

Gus (Dec 14, 2005 10:41:46 AM)
If all certifications/qualifications are achieved in English as the first language, is an IELTS or TOEFL still required? What would be necessary to show that this is the case (apart from the actual certificates in English of course)?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:41:47 AM)
Hetal - No.

Insead_Chat (Dec 14, 2005 10:42:00 AM)
Is there an opportunity to earn a little money while studying?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:42:21 AM)
Bally - we do look hard at cases where a candidate switches job often, but if there is a clear rationale, e.g. as you describe, then it would not count against you.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:42:28 AM)
RM, there are no specializations at INSEAD; however you can choose electives on HR management.

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:42:29 AM)
Thanks Irina. How would the adcom view a long stint in the same company, with a steady career growth?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:42:39 AM)
INSEAD chat, participants don't work during the program as it is very intense.

JenniferBloom (Dec 14, 2005 10:43:26 AM)
What about an older applicant? Is his age a strike against him in the admissions process? Is anyone over 31 going to be steered toward the EMBA?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:43:37 AM)
Gus - Yes, English proficiency is required (TOEFL, IELTS, CPE, etc) unless the applicant has a university degree that was taught exclusively in English.

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:43:39 AM)
In the class profile I see that a large number of students have backgrounds in engineering. Why do you think this is? If the probability of acceptance for someone with an engineering background higher/lower? How should engineering-based applicants differentiate themselves from the other engineers?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:43:57 AM)
Jennifer - the age range we have on the MBA right now goes up to 35.

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:44:02 AM)
Do you have a quota for people from certain regions /country? Conversely, do you encourage certain regions/countries more in your incoming student body so as to spread the diversity quotient across the world?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:44:04 AM)
RM, you will need to demonstrate the career progression in the essay.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:44:25 AM)
Irina, do foreign applicants need co-signers on their loans?

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:45:03 AM)
What is the responsibility of an Admission Coordinator who manages each student file? No offense, but the way each file is handled, largely depends on the respective Admission Coordinator? Is there a way to minimize such gaps?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:45:06 AM)
Linska - an engineering background is traditionally quite typical for B-school but it is not favored in any way.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:45:09 AM)
Samir - We do not have quotas. We wish to maximize the diversity of our participants on both our campuses.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:45:35 AM)
Rachel, if a candidate's application meets INSEAD's criteria, the applicant is invited to meet with two alumni interviewers. Personality and fit with the school are then checked face to face.

MDarwish (Dec 14, 2005 10:46:07 AM)
What was the percentage of students who found jobs immediately when they graduated? How many of them received a signing bonus?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:46:16 AM)
Hetal - the individual coordinator does not make any decisions on your file.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:46:20 AM)
Rachel, banks in France will require French co-signors or an international bank guarantee. INSEAD is also registered with the US department of education and US participants can take out Stafford and private loans.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:46:49 AM)
What proportionate of students who are offered admissions opt not to join in?

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:47:11 AM)
Leila, does the adcom conduct interviews as well?

Deb (Dec 14, 2005 10:47:26 AM)
When are you planning to start sending out offers for Round 2 applicants?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:47:47 AM)
Rachel - no, just alumni.

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:47:54 AM)
Mdarwish, 70% of the class of 2004 had a job at graduation.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:48:09 AM)
Hetal - our yield of students accepting admission offers from INSEAD is extremely high, probably the second highest in the world.

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 10:48:34 AM)
Hi Irina. Is there a special loan arrangement for Singapore citizens? Permanent Residents?

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:48:42 AM)
What advice do you give to students who are not sure of what career they want post-graduation? How would you recommend they go about the recruiting that begins in October?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:48:44 AM)
Deb, the deadline for offers for Round 2 applicants is March 24th.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:48:53 AM)
Does INSEAD offer places to deserving students in the next class in case the seats for the application class are filled up?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:49:16 AM)
Piysh, you can apply for a loan through UOB in Singapore.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:49:42 AM)
Linska - we work closely with students who are trying to decide which career to pursue (the case for many of our students.)

Gus (Dec 14, 2005 10:49:46 AM)
I understand that Sept 2007 intake admissions have not yet commenced, however if someone wants to work on their essays in the meantime, would the basic topics remain the same or should they wait till the application forms are out.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:50:31 AM)
Are there any differences between starting your MBA in Jan. then starting in Sept., besides the opportunity to do an internship?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:50:37 AM)
Gus, the essay questions won't change.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:50:45 AM)
Hetal - we do not roll over applicants from one class to the next.

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:50:55 AM)
What would you say is/was your favorite thing about INSEAD?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:51:13 AM)
Rachel - not really, it is the same programme and experience.

Insead_Chat (Dec 14, 2005 10:51:17 AM)
I know this loan is available for Singapore Citizens. Any idea if it is available for Singapore Permanent Residents?

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:51:51 AM)
Do you think students miss out if they don't have the internship experience? Does it effect their job search later on.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:52:06 AM)
Linska - having done the programme myself, my favorite part of the MBA program was meeting and learning from such great people.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:52:21 AM)
InseadChat, Singapore permanent residents with a local co-signor are eligible.

Neil (Dec 14, 2005 10:52:38 AM)
What are the chances of being admitted to the Paris campus without fluency in French?

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:52:40 AM)
Could you elaborate on the financing options for the EMBA?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:52:54 AM)
Neil - there is no French language requirement at all.

MDarwish (Dec 14, 2005 10:53:24 AM)
What is the lowest age/experience admitted to the EMBA?

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:53:38 AM)
RM, participants are either fully or partially supported by their companies, in additions to loans and savings.

Bally (Dec 14, 2005 10:53:59 AM)
Can a high TOEFL compensate for a low verbal GMAT?

Adrian (Dec 14, 2005 10:54:03 AM)
As a Romanian national, I would have to find a loan in Romania preferably, correct?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:54:18 AM)
Rachel, the internship is a good way for a career switcher to explore a new sector. However it does not effect recruitment, except maybe for investment banking.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:54:20 AM)
MDarwish - length of experience minimum for EMBA is about 7.

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:54:31 AM)
Do you have a placement service for the EMBA too?

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 10:54:40 AM)
Caroline, doesn't INSEAD have an entry and an exit language policy? If my mother tongue is Hindi, then I believe I can use it since it has to be some other language. I am assuming Spanish (which I am fairly fluent in) will do.

linska (Dec 14, 2005 10:55:30 AM)
I have traveled a bit on my own outside my native country, but have been limited by work schedules from any extensive trips. What is the adcom's aim in asking about a candidate's outside travel? If my travel story is limited, how adversely can this impact my application?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:55:47 AM)
Bally - Unfortunately a high TOEFL score cannot compensate for a low GMAT Verbal. We are looking for a balanced GMAT score in both Verbal and Quant.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:55:51 AM)
Adrian, you would need to explore loans in Romania. If you could find a US co-signor you will be able to apply for a loan through IEFC in the USA. If you can obtain an int'l bank guarantee you can consider a couple of banks in France.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:55:52 AM)
Yes you need an entry and exit lang. You can use Hindi as your mother tongue, English as your entry language and Spanish as your exit language.

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:56:31 AM)
RM - yes, there are careers services for EMBA's.

MDarwish (Dec 14, 2005 10:56:41 AM)
How would US MBAs compare to European MBAs especially when coming to recruitment events? Who gets the job first?

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 10:56:49 AM)
What things can be done by a waitlisted student to increase the probability of getting a final offer of admission \?

Deb (Dec 14, 2005 10:57:06 AM)
Is the Ent. Certificate Program (ECP) in Singapore campus fully functional now? Are the projects through the program completely facilitated by INSEAD or students have to arrange for them?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:57:47 AM)
MDarwish - the biggest difference is that our grads are recruited all over the world. US schools will generally only be able to help with recruitment into their local market

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 10:57:52 AM)
Linska, international outlook is one of the admissions criteria. International exposure but also international motivation and cultural awareness are assessed and can balance each other.

MDarwish (Dec 14, 2005 10:57:54 AM)
How important is your references? Big business profiles or someone who knows me really well?

RM (Dec 14, 2005 10:58:09 AM)
Thanks to the accepted.com team for this wonderful initiative.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 10:58:16 AM)
Your very welcome, RM.

Bally (Dec 14, 2005 10:58:23 AM)
Thanks Christina. What is the lowest Verbal Score percentile you would accept?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:59:06 AM)
MDarwish - references are very important. It's better when someone who knows you really well writes it.

Gus (Dec 14, 2005 10:59:14 AM)
INSEAD likes a healthy mix of applicants from all over the globe. Is this percent based on the applicants current country of residence (Assuming they have been living there for a while, and intend to continue) or is it based on their race?

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:59:18 AM)
Bally - you should target for over 70-75 percentile.

Arief (Dec 14, 2005 10:59:41 AM)
Caroline - What is the rough percentage of participants from southeast Asian developing countries?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 10:59:57 AM)
Gus - we take both nationality and country of residence into account regarding the diversity of our class.

Neil (Dec 14, 2005 11:00:03 AM)
Do you have rolling admissions? That is for applications in 2006 leading to admission in 2007?

CarolineDiarteEdwardsINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 11:00:50 AM)
Arief - usually between 5 and 10%.

IrinaSchneider-MaunouryINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 11:00:59 AM)
Neil, we have rounds of admissions.

Piyush (Dec 14, 2005 11:01:40 AM)
Thank you Caroline, Christina, Leila and Irina for answering the questions and Rachel for moderating. It was very informative.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 11:01:55 AM)
How can one improve one's chances of success while one is on the waitlist?

Bally (Dec 14, 2005 11:02:02 AM)
Thanks Cristina, most schools specify mid 80% GMAT range. What about INSEAD?

LeilaMuratInsead (Dec 14, 2005 11:02:26 AM)
Deb, the ECP is no longer available under its original format to accommodate students' demand. The offer of entrepreneurship electives is being expanded as a result.

Gus (Dec 14, 2005 11:02:50 AM)
Thank you so much Christina, Caroline, Irina, Leila, Jennifer and Rachel. This chat was extremely informative and a BIG help!

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 11:03:07 AM)
Your welcome.

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 11:03:15 AM)
Bally - Again, we put more emphasis on the Verbal/Quant sections rather than the overall percentage.

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 11:04:05 AM)
Thank you again all for participating this evening. Special thanks to Leila, Christina, Caroline and Irina from INSEAD for participating.

Hetal (Dec 14, 2005 11:04:28 AM)
Thanks much to the INSEAD team for their time & involvement. Really grateful for this interaction.

Samir (Dec 14, 2005 11:04:34 AM)
Fantastic...excellent job, Christina, Leila, Irina, Caroline and Rachel and good luck to all fellow applicants!

ChristinaVincensiniINSEAD (Dec 14, 2005 11:04:35 AM)
Rachel - Thank you for organizing it!

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 11:04:59 AM)
My pleasure Christina!

RachelCavalier (Dec 14, 2005 11:06:37 AM)
Good luck with your applications!

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