INSEAD, with campuses in Asia and Europe, has a 10-month MBA program, and their first round deadline is coming up soon, on September 28th!
Please give a detailed description of your job, including nature of work, major responsibilities; and, where relevant, employees under your supervision, size of budget, number of clients/products and results achieved. (250 words)
- Questions 1 & 2 go together; between the two, they should cover the breadth of your professional experiences, as well as be an articulate point-in-time snapshot of your career as it stands today
- Regardless of whether you are an individual contributor, or the manager of a small or large team, be candid about your day-to-day; the AdCom really wants to understand what you do
- Re-read your answer to confirm that it would make sense to someone who knows little about your industry or function; start at the top and provide some context if necessary
- Very similar to question 1, even more important to (a) provide context about your industry, function, role and (b) avoid technical jargon, especially if it comes across forced.
Give a candid description of yourself, stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary. (400 words approx.)
- Try to limit to two strengths and two weaknesses
- The best essays will have a coherent description of your personality - supported by some examples - where the strengths and weaknesses will jump out to the reader without being called out explicitly.
- It's important that all of these attributes come together to describe you! Avoid sounding bipolar or schizo as you describe it
Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date, explaining why you view them as such. (400 words approx.)
- Covered in our HBS Essay Question Review
Describe a situation taken from school, business, civil or military life, where you did not meet your personal objectives, and discuss briefly the effect. (250 words approx.)
- Also similar to the HBS question on setbacks - don't try to disguise behind a strength or accomplishment - remember, it's not as important that you failed in the major leagues than that you played in them!
Discuss your career goals. What skills do you expect to gain from studying at INSEAD and how will they contribute to your professional career. (500 words approx.)
- Three parts - describe the path that you're on, what skills you need to add to your repertoire, and tie it in to INSEAD's offerings
- Especially if your career goals include high-buzz areas like "micro-finance", "renewable energy", or a high-tech entrepreneurial project, a word of caution: please make sure it's clear how your path so far, and future goals are tied together - a LOT of people have similar goals, so it's important to distinguish yourself!
Please choose one of the following two essay topics:
a) Have you ever experienced culture shock? What did it mean to you? (250 words approx.), or
- Why do schools ask this culture shock question? They do it to understand what you've adapted to you in your past - so it doesn't have to be moving to a new country - it could be a new job in a very different industry, a new culture, etc.
b) What would you say to a foreigner moving to your home country? (250 words approx.)
- Great question - regardless of what country you're from! Strongly recommend that you answer this - your opportunity to make your country sound welcoming, exciting and warmly embracing. Think of how you'd project it to a classmate - and you'll get great results!
