| Interview Date / Submission Date: |
2.1.2011 / 3.29.2011 |
Applicant Data
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Email: |
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Anonymous |
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Age / Gender: |
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30-34
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Male |
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Ethnic Background: |
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Area of Study: |
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Entrepreneurship |
Interview Data
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School Name: |
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INSEAD |
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Date of Interview: |
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2/1/2011
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Type of Program: |
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MBA |
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Part Time Program Type: |
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How long were the interviews?: |
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Each interview lasted 45 minutes to an hour. |
Interview Logistics
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Were you given options for the date of the
interview?: |
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Yes - I requested for both interviews to be conducted after the Chinese New Year holiday period because of my workload. |
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Could you choose the interview's location?: |
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No - Both interviewers promptly proposed meeting locations. Accessibility is not an issue in Singapore because of its size. For this reason, I did not really attempt to chose an interview location. Both interviewers changed the interview locations at the last hour before the interview.
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How many interviews were scheduled?: |
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2 - I called the 1st interviewer after I did not receive any response to my introductory email for over a week. The 2nd interviewer promptly acknowledged the possible interview dates. Although there were a few re-scheduling, both interviewers sought my views on possible meeting dates. |
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Who were the interviewers?: |
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Did you receive a tour?: |
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Yes - Great facilities. |
Interview Content
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What was the most difficult question?: |
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The difficulty was in the persistence of the question. The question "You are already doing well in your career. So why do you need an MBA?" was asked in at least three different ways at three different stages of the interview. The first came at the introduction of the interview. The second came while I was explaining my career and progress after an MBA. The third came when I queried the interviewer on the reasons of his MBA. |
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What was the most interesting question?: |
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Why do you need an MBA when you are a director in a company that you co-founded?
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Did you receive any feedback at the end?: |
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Yes - Not during the interview. But I emailed each interviewer to sought feedback once I received news of my admission to INSEAD. Only one interviewer replied. He said I will do well in INSEAD and I deserved the admission. He further added he did not sense any shortcomings during my interview. |
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Any other questions you remember?: |
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What is special about you that has to make me recommend you? |
Applicant Reaction
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Did you feel prepared?: |
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How did you prepare?: |
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I had a mock interview. I wrote possible answers to possible questions. |
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What was your opinion of the Faculty?: |
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I met a faculty on a networking event on clean technology. We discussed for an hour about carbon management. Was an engaging talk. |
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What was your opinion of the Alumni?: |
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Great people. They all shared their progress and views of INSEAD. All were very positive and encouraging. |
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What was your opinion of the Students?: |
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I met a couple of the previous admitted batch in a pub. We befriended easily. |
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What was your opinion of the Office Personnel?: |
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Great. I received a call from an admission officer after she found my name on the admitted list. She remembered that I once contacted her at INSEAD 2 days before the deadline on an enquiry. Good experience. |
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What was most impressive?: |
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I love the calmness of the space.
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What was least impressive?: |
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The campus looks smaller than it is. |
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Did anything change your opinion of the school?: |
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Yes - It seems much better than I thought so far. |
Applicant Suggestions
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Was there something you wish you had known ahead of
time?: |
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No - |
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Suggestions for travel to the school?: |
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What other advice can you offer future intervewees?: |
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Visit the school. Speak to as many people as possible: current students, alumni, administrative staffs, admission personnel |
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