Four Things INSEAD Looks For In Applicants

The year of COVID at INSEAD

Four Things INSEAD Looks For In Applicants

For years, INSEAD has ranked first in P&Q’s Top International MBA Programs ranking for years.

And for good reason too. Nearly 51% of INSEAD’s Class of 2020 had GMAT scores between 710 and 750. Additionally, 92% of INSEAD graduates are employed within 3 months of graduation with an average salary of $105,900.

Getting into the B-school isn’t easy. But what kind of applicant does INSEAD look for? Cindy Tokumitsu of Accepted recently broke down INSEAD’s four admission criteria and what it takes to get accepted into the B-school.

ABILITY TO CONTRIBUTE

The first admission standard that INSEAD admissions officers look for in applicants is an “ability to contribute to the INSEAD experience during and after the program.”

This criterion, according to Tokumitsu, is specifically based on the school’s culture of interaction.

“INSEAD seeks students who bring something distinctive and meaningful to the program – it’s not just what you’ve done and plan to do – but what you have to say about it, what you’ve learned from it, how it informs your perspective, and how you may grow in the future – and your willingness to put that learning and growth at the service of your classmates and others,” Tokumitsu writes.

INTERNATIONAL MOTIVATION

The second criterion is international motivation, which INSEAD describes as “adaptability and flexibility in multicultural environments.”

Tokumitsu says international motivation boils down to having: “perceptive insights” about international business, adaptability across cultures, and global goals.

“Your insights should show that you are thoughtful, synthesize your experience and distill meaning from it, and are open to learning as you grow professionally,” Tokumitsu writes.

Tokumitsu recommends that applicants with international work experience “present anecdotes and examples from it in your essays, make sure to portray your cultural adaptability and flexibility, and include insight you gained from this experience.”

Lastly, you’ll want to clearly elaborate on your global goals.

“In the goals discussion, of course mention the global aspect, but go one step further, e.g., not just ‘become CIO of global pharma company’ but add details about what that global aspect really entails for pharma, what are the specific global-related challenges and/or opportunities in the future, etc. Show awareness of global trends for your target industry, function, etc.,” Tokumitsu writes.

ACADEMIC CAPACITY

The third criterion, academic capacity, relates your GMAT/GRE score and university degree.

To evaluate your academic capacity, Tokumitsu shares a simple process: break down your exam score and undergraduate record. Then take a step back and see what both say about your academic capacity.

“This evaluation process may simply clarify that everything is fine on the academic front and you can focus your application efforts into other topics and considerations. Or, it may reveal that, while you are qualified for INSEAD academically, there is room to strengthen the impression of academic capacity,” Tokumitsu writes. “In that case, look for opportunities in the essays, resume, and (fingers-crossed) interview to fill in that gap through the examples, anecdotes, and details you include.”

LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL

The last criterion is leadership potential, which related to your work experience and the quality of your achievements.

To convey leadership potential, Tokumitsu recommends presenting your experiences, discussing elements of leadership and mentioning a leader who you look up.

When presenting experiences, you’ll want to highlight your leadership roles.

“In presenting these experiences, keep ‘quality’ on the radar screen and strive to weave in aspects of the experience that include this dimension,” Tokumitsu writes.

Whether it’s through your essay, resume, or interview, be sure to also discuss why certain experiences highlight your leadership potential.

“For example, you might have maturely handled an ethical challenge that didn’t necessarily involve leadership, but still showed qualities, such as courage, moral compass, willingness to prioritize values, etc., that one wants in a leader,” Tukumitsu writes.

Lastly, it can be helpful to mention, in your essay or interview, a leader who you admire.

“It may be someone you know at work, or a figure out in ‘the world,’” Tokumitsu writes. “No need to go on at length about such exemplars – but devoting a couple of lines in an essay or a sentence or two in an interview to such a mention is a great way to show leadership potential: you are thinking about leadership, you resourcefully gain insight from prevailing circumstances and apply it to your own situation, and you have the grace to elevate another.”

Sources: Accepted, P&Q, P&Q, INSEAD, INSEAD

Next: Harvard Business School 2+2 Program Advice

Harvard Business School. Courtesy photo

How To Get Into Harvard’s 2+2 Program

Harvard Business School’s 2+2 program allows students to apply on a deferred basis.

After being admitted through 2+2, students spend a minimum of two years working before enrolling at HBS, according to HBS. But what kind of applicant is HBS looking for its 2+2 program? And how can one stand out?

Stacy Blackman, of Stacy Blackman Consulting, recently spoke to an HBS 2+2 admit about her experience applying to the program and how she went about putting together her application.

WHO IS HBS LOOKING FOR?

The 2+2 program at HBS is specifically geared towards applicants whose paths aren’t as directly aligned to the traditional MBA program. According to HBS, some preference for the 2+2 program is given to applicants who work in an operating company, come from a lower socio-economic background, going into a technically demanding role, or pursuing entrepreneurship.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to be set on your career goals when applying.

“It is okay if you don’t know EXACTLY what you want to do in the future, post-MBA,” the HBS 2+2 admit tells Stacy Blackman Consulting. “I was hung up on this for a while in the beginning because I felt like I should only apply if I knew the answer to this question. You will probably have a couple of hypotheses for what you want to do. As you self-reflect, you will gain more clarity.”

HOW TO STAND OUT

While you don’t need to have your post-MBA goals set in stone, it can be helpful to self-reflect and start forming potential paths.

“One thing that helped me was sitting down to reflect on my path and taking time to connect the dots,” the HBS 2+2 admit tells Stacy Blackman Consulting. “Why did I pursue the internships and opportunities that I did in college? How did they relate to who I was and what things mattered to me personally? It ended up being an insightful and revealing exercise that helped me convey my story throughout my essays and interviews.”

Additionally, HBS states on its 2+2 application page that it seeks out “innovative thinkers who have demonstrated leadership and analytical skills and want to develop their knowledge and passion to make a difference in the world.”

“Make sure that you’ve demonstrated each of these in some way or another across the entire application—from your resume to the essay to the short answers within the application itself,” the HBS 2+2 admit tells Stacy Blackman Consulting.

Sources: Stacy Blackman Consulting, Harvard Business School

Next Page: MBA Interview Advice

Tips For The MBA Interview

MBA interview invites are often sent out four to six weeks after written applications are submitted.

And while interviews come after the written application, they still hold certain weight in the admissions process.

“From a logistics point of view, coordinating any volume of interviews and orchestrating schedules under a short, specific time frame is a challenge most MBA admissions offices would give up if they didn’t add value to the evaluation process,” Melissa Rapp, associate dean of MBA admissions at Emory’s Goizueta Business School, writes for P&Q. “So, the short answer is yes, your MBA interview matters. How much it is weighted is a question each admissions team could answer differently. Be sure to ask if you are curious. No matter the weight, it is important to do well.”

Karen Hamou, an expert coach at Fortuna Admissions, recently offered a few tips to acing the MBA interview process.

BUILD THE RELATIONSHIP

It can be easy to simply connect with your interviewer via LinkedIn, answer the interview questions, and forget about the whole thing.

However, Hamou says, it’s important to not only make the connection with your interviewer, but also build the relationship.

“As much as you want to impress your interviewers, make an effort to also cultivate relationships with former and current students,” she writes. “Having been in your shoes, they can serve as a helpful advocate. If someone is particularly impressed through their interaction with you, they can send a note to admissions – which been done before.”

TAILOR YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH

Authenticity is key to the interview process. Thus, it’s critical to take the time to prepare your introductions for each interview.

“In a couple minutes, you should be able to succinctly explain who you are, the things you are passionate about and the key drivers inspiring you toward pursuing your MBA at that specific school,” Hamou writes.

ASK THOUGHTFUL QUESTIONS

The interview not only allows the interviewer to learn more about you as an applicant but also for you to learn more about the program and B-school.

Experts recommend preparing a few thoughtful questions that are specific to the program.

“It’s prudent to arrive armed with a few considered questions to highlight your interest in the program, whether you pose them at the formal admissions interview or a more casual networking event where current students are sharing their candid insights,” Hamou writes.

Sources: Fortuna Admissions, Poets & Quants

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