MBA Interview Details

E-mail Address:	Anonymous
Age:	25-29
Gender:	Male
Ethnic Background:	Other
Intended Area of Study:	General Management
Name of School:	INSEAD
Interview Date:	3/2009
Type of Program:	MBA
Part Time Program Type:	Full Time
Were you given options as to the date of the interview?:	No - Admission officer asked me to schedule 2 separate interviews at mutually convenient times. I tried to be as flexible as possible since they are extremely busy people.
Could you choose the interview's location?:	No - I let my interviewers choose the location that are convenient to them.
How many interviews were scheduled?:	2 - I wrote to both of my interviewers. My first interviewer replied a few days later and interview took place 1 week later while the other took 1 week to reply and almost 3 weeks to finally interviewed me.
How many interviewed you?:	1 - One alumnus/alumna per interview.
How long were the interviews?:	1 hour and 1.5 hour.
Who were the interviewers?:	Alumni
What was the most difficult question?:	What are the 3 things that describe "Citizenship of the world?"
What was the most interesting question?:	- Do you think you are an assertive person? why or why not?
Any other questions you remember?:	Standard questions like the ones you would find in essay questions of various B-Schools. - Why do you want to do MBA at this stage of your career? Why INSEAD? - What is your career objectives after graduation? How will INSEAD MBA help you achieve your goals? - What do you think you can contribute to the MBA experience of other students? - What are your strengths and weaknesses and why do you view them as such?
Did you feel prepared?:	Yes - The first interview was quite sudden but the other interview was 3 weeks after so I felt very well-prepared.
How did you prepare?:	I reviewed my application and essays at least 3 times before the interview. I also read responses from accepted.com and role played an interview with a MBA graduate friend of mine so that I could communicate those well-prepared answers effectively at the time of interview.
Did you receive any feedback at the end?:	Yes - One interviewer congratulated me that I have reached the interview stage after heavy screening and obviously the admission committee liked what they read. He told me upfront that the interview was to confirm that the application essays were actually written by me. The first interviewer commented that my profile suits the school very well and that he believes that I can contribute to the class well. The other interviewer commented that I have interesting career path but her only reservation was concern over my ability to cope with the academic rigour since my GPA was only 3.02.
What was your opinion of the Faculty?:	I have not met any of the faculty yet.
What was your opinion of the Alumni?:	Both are very impressive and very international careers. One interviewer is fluent in 5 languages.
What was your opinion of the Students?:	I have previously met a few INSEAD students in Singapore. They are as impressive as the alumni.
What was your opinion of the Office Personnel?:	I met a couple of admission assistants during MBA Fairs in London. They are very friendly and very helpful, especially the admission coordinator. The invitation for interviews are actually sent a week before the published deadline.
Did you receive a tour?:	No - I have not been to either of their campuses.
What was most impressive?:	The calibre of the school. It seemed that INSEAD and London Business School were the most prominent ones at both MBA Fairs I attended.
What was least impressive?:	The deadline for scholarship applications was actually BEFORE the final decision. Though this is very awkward to me, I completed the applications (including essays) even though I had no idea whether I would be accepted. I raised this point with the admission officer at the MBA Fair. They were also surprised about this.
Did anything change your opinion of the school? :	Yes - I am even more impressed with the school having met their alumni and admission officers.
Was there something you wish you had known ahead of time?:	Yes - There is no need to worry about being grilled at the interviews.
Suggestions for travel to the school?:	N/A
What other advice can you offer future interviewees?:	Be yourself and be confident. You have made it this far now just let your true self shine. I am accepted in the 2nd round with 5 years work experience and GMAT score of only 620 !!!!! Believe in yourself, you can do it!