Road to INSEAD

It was a year ago when I first bought my GMAT book and it is hard to believe now that school is starting in less than a week.  Time sure flies!

I know that there are many incredible MBA programs out there, but probably only one that is the right fit for your personality and goals, and for me, it was INSEAD! I had visited the Singapore campus on one of the MBA in-house events and it reinforced my decision that it is going to be an MBA from INSEAD or none at all. I don’t have a stellar GMAT score or that much international working experience (though I did grow up across 3 different countries), and with that, I chose to focus on the application essays. It was a long process but nonetheless a rewarding one for me – it was a process of self-enlightenment as I reflected on my professional and personal experiences thus far.

Below are the application tips that I wish to share with prospective applicants:

1. Visit the school and talk to the students. Spend time understanding the culture and decide if you like the people and the vibes you receive. Try to figure out whether you can see yourself there.
2. Connect to INSEAD's extensive network of alumni. Ask about what they think makes INSEAD so special.
3. Recognize what makes INSEAD different and how those differences will impact your career. Try to weave that information and understanding in your application essays and interviews.
4. There is no ‘perfect’ INSEAD candidate. So, don’t doubt yourself. Everybody has their own strengths and weaknesses, acknowledging them is the only way you will truly learn.

To future INSEADers, don’t let the application process daunt you. Regardless of the outcome, the application itself is an invaluable investment of self-reflection, as rarely in our hectic lives do we sit down and take the time to make this humbling but enlightening assessment of our professional and personal lives. Lastly, I would like to end this post with a quote by Warrant Buffet, “The most important investment you can make is in yourself. Nobody can tax it or take it away from you.”

See you on campus during one of our MBA in-house events!