INSEAD Alumni - Q&A on INSEAD Experience and Admission Process

[paglakahinka]

Sorry but I have one more query -

INSEAD asks for ALL GMAT scores taken so far, so are they looking at all scores (like an average) ?

[sidchib]

Hi ,
Thanx for starting this informative thread.
Could you look into my profile and ans the queries mentioned below:
Profile
- Age -31 yrs
-10 years in the Army in varied capacities ranging from commanding a company fighting insurgents in the Kasmir valley, handling logistics, administration and welfare of appx 2000 troops employed in conventional and non- conventinal role to commanding a company- equivalent in an Armoured Div.
- Got selected to do an engineering course in an army institute and completed my degree in IT & Telecom with an aggregate CGPA of 8.33/9
- Have a pretty decent academic record in X(87%) and XII(87%)
- Have been selected for the Army Squash Team and been a keen sportsman , with participation in almost all games at the unit level.
- GMAT given twice: improved from 650(49,30) to 710(49,37)
- Was associated with an NGO in the Army.

Queries
- What are my chances of making, leaving the otehr imponderables aside?
- I am married with two kids having minimal savings. What are the chances of getting some financial assistance from the school? Also, any scope of my wife taking up the job in France or Singapore to minimise the financial burden?
- With no corporate background, where will i be placed post INSEAD in a consultancy firm? And what does it take to get into a top consultancy firtm?

[insead.alum07]

Originally Posted by ozmba20006

Whats the selection process for Wharton Alliance? ( I did check the insead website , but couldnt find the info )...apart from the work-permit requirement etc?.

Once you have started the course, you have to bid for the Wharton exchange. It is not difficult to get it. Wharton helps with the student pass. If you get a job in US, the company would have to sponsor your H1 visa.

[insead.alum07]

Originally Posted by paglakahinka

Thanks Alum.

Now it presents a bit of dilemma to me as the Sept. intake would have been in line with my planning on the personal front for two reasons - continuity from my present role to an MBA now, and the time of completion of the course by July 09; but since you suggest to go for the Jan 09 intake, it does make better sense to strengthen my chances with a good consulting internship.

As for the selection between France and Singapore campuses, does that also make a difference in anyway ? If I am open to both the locations, does one have more advantages than the other in any respect ?

One final query - say if I apply for R1 Jan 09, interview notification decision date is 18 April 2008. Does INSEAD conduct interviews on a rolling basis (in the sense that can they interview me any time after I submit my application) or will all interviews be held only after 18th april ?

Thanks a lot again !

Great to see that you found the info helpful in making some decision. In terms of location, Singapore tends to be bit more competitive due to lower number of places but then if your application is strong, location should not matter.
I am not too sure about the interview schedules but based on my experience the interviews are conducted mostly after the notification date.

Cheers

[insead.alum07]

Originally Posted by sidchib

Hi ,
Thanx for starting this informative thread.
Could you look into my profile and ans the queries mentioned below:
Profile
- Age -31 yrs
-10 years in the Army in varied capacities ranging from commanding a company fighting insurgents in the Kasmir valley, handling logistics, administration and welfare of appx 2000 troops employed in conventional and non- conventinal role to commanding a company- equivalent in an Armoured Div.
- Got selected to do an engineering course in an army institute and completed my degree in IT & Telecom with an aggregate CGPA of 8.33/9
- Have a pretty decent academic record in X(87%) and XII(87%)
- Have been selected for the Army Squash Team and been a keen sportsman , with participation in almost all games at the unit level.
- GMAT given twice: improved from 650(49,30) to 710(49,37)
- Was associated with an NGO in the Army.

Queries
- What are my chances of making, leaving the otehr imponderables aside?
- I am married with two kids having minimal savings. What are the chances of getting some financial assistance from the school? Also, any scope of my wife taking up the job in France or Singapore to minimise the financial burden?
- With no corporate background, where will i be placed post INSEAD in a consultancy firm? And what does it take to get into a top consultancy firtm?

Hi Sidchib,

- Army experience is highly regarded in b-schools. So from experience perspective, there should not be any disadvantage. so you definitely have good chances.
- INSEAD provides fFinancial assistance through need-based and merit-based schols. Merit-based are a bit tougher to get due to their limited number. Need-based cover abt 25% of tuition fee.
- I think its easy to find work in Singapore compared to France as Singapore economy is more open.
- I know a guy who was in an army and is now working for McK if that tells you anything.

Cheers

[insead.alum07]

Originally Posted by paglakahinka

Sorry but I have one more query -

INSEAD asks for ALL GMAT scores taken so far, so are they looking at all scores (like an average) ?

I would not know the answer to this as all the internal processes are kept confidential.

[sidchib]

Originally Posted by insead.alum07

Hi Sidchib,

- Army experience is highly regarded in b-schools. So from experience perspective, there should not be any disadvantage. so you definitely have good chances.
- INSEAD provides fFinancial assistance through need-based and merit-based schols. Merit-based are a bit tougher to get due to their limited number. Need-based cover abt 25% of tuition fee.
- I think its easy to find work in Singapore compared to France as Singapore economy is more open.
- I know a guy who was in an army and is now working for McK if that tells you anything.

Cheers

Thanks, Could i have that army offr's contact id or something and how expensive is the course generally , incl stay, transportation et al

[kunalpragati]

Hi alumni,

I have a career in shipping/ 10 yrs/ manager 3.5 yrs/international travelled leader/ led culturally different global teams (30-100 international members)/strong on extra curricular activities/distinction 81.35 % in undergraduate course

But my gmat is poor 640/Q50 V26 AWA 4.5

do you think that I should apply to insead now or try next year with an improved GMAT

kunal

[sumit94]

Hi buddy,
I will have around 5 years of experience till May 2008,,,and plan to take up GMAT around April '08.
I have 2 1/2 years of experience in e-learning industry and 2 yrs in ERP (J D Edwards - Technical) as a programmar. My performance in both the companies has been good and I have received certificates for the same. My academics during my engineering are not that impressive though. I have secured a second class.
Will I be able to make it to INSEAD. Also like you, I want to make a career change and shift to consulting post MBA. What GMAT score do I need to make it to INSEAD.

Regs,

[KetanK]

Hi Insead.alum,

Thanks for your reply. In that case, in the essays can I write that my short term goal is to get into the Senior Leadership Rotational Program of an International Bank, get a thorough knowledge of the various facets of International Banking and then in Long Term move to take up a Leadership role at the highest level?

Sincerely
KK

Originally Posted by insead.alum07

Hi KK,

INSEAD only publishes the list of companies that recruit on campus but do not indicate what positions these companies are recuiting for. However just a guessetimate, more than 50% of industry companies have leadership and rotational program. I am not aware of any comprehensive list though.

Cheers