How INSEAD reviews MBA applications: Admissions Director explains

 

How INSEAD MBA admission officers take decisions

by Virginie Fougea
Global Director of Admissions, Financial Aid and Scholarships at INSEAD

 

Receiving applications

Once an application is submitted, it is automatically uploaded in our admissions system. An Admissions Officer will take the applicant in charge from there onwards. This Officer is available via email, phone or on WhatsApp, to answer the questions the applicant could have throughout the selection process and until the start of the programme should this applicant be admitted.

The Admissions Officer will make sure the application material is up-to-date, accurate and the application is complete including the letters of recommendation. If there is a component missing, the candidate will be notified and will be given an opportunity to submit the missing document(s).

• Letters of Recommendation are often the slowest parts of an application to complete, because referees are very busy people! Forward the link to the recommendation letters to your referees as early as possible to give them more time to help you.

Video Interviews

Upon submitting their online applications, applicants will be invited to complete a series of video interviews. These interviews feature pre-recorded questions which are randomly selected from a databank. Applicants are then asked to make real-time responses to these questions, which will be recorded and separately reviewed as a part of their overall evaluation.

• These interviews are the only opportunity for the reviewers to “see” you. Make the most of this by being 100% authentic and avoid scripted or generative text that may not fully represent your true self.

Application Evaluation

Complete applications are then reviewed by admissions managers and evaluators. These reviewers assess various aspects of the application, including academic records, test scores, essays, letters of recommendation, videos, and any additional materials provided.

The reviewer will make a thorough evaluation of all the elements in the application. They will take a holistic approach to each application which means that they are interested in every single aspect of the applicant’s profile.

Evaluation Criteria

Every single applicant is objectively assessed against our 4 criteria: academic capacity, leadership potential, ability to contribute, and international motivation. Within the academic part, we consider the undergrad GPA, test scores as well as degree achieved, and the reputation of the university attended.

Admissions reviewers aim to evaluate not only what an applicant has achieved but also their personal traits, motivations, and other unique qualities for future contributions. Admissions reviewers take into account the context in which an applicant’s achievements were attained.

Alumni Interviews

After an initial evaluation of the application, interview invitations are sent to those with the most compelling profiles. The interviews are conducted by INSEAD MBA alumni in the country where the applicant is based to allow for in-person meetings.

Alumni interviews allow us to get a sense of how the candidate will contribute to the classroom environment as well as other activities like student clubs. The interviewers will also provide answers to questions about the programme and present the strength of the alumni network worldwide.

• Our alumni interviewers are passionate and approachable! Taking the interview with the mindset that you are meeting a potential future member of your community instead of an assessor might help you overcome nerves and present a more authentic self.

Final Decision

Final decisions about each candidate are made by Admissions Committee comprising of alumni and faculty teaching on the MBA. The Committee deliberates on each applicant to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation process and a holistic approach to the entire applicant pool.

Once decisions are made, admitted candidates are notified of their admission status through a phone call from our Admissions Officers. Admitted students will then receive access to an INSEAD app and website to start making connections, gather information regarding enrollment procedures, financial aid, visa, housing and other useful information.

• Your Admissions Officer remains accessible to you throughout the process. Check back with them regularly if you are eagerly awaiting updates!

Waitlist Management

Some applicants may be placed on the waitlist if the Admissions Committee has any doubt or if there are space limitations on our Singapore or Fontainebleau campus.

Applications on the waitlist are not ranked. A decision to take people off the waitlist
and offer them a seat on our MBA Programme could happen any time between the beginning of the admissions cycle up to the start of class. If this were to happen, it could be for either campus.

The Admissions committee selects people from the waitlist based on a set of criteria such as cultural diversity, educational or professional background. It is impossible to estimate how many offers will be made to applicants on the waitlist as it varies year on year. The Admissions Committee regularly reviews the waitlist up to the start date of the programme.

• While waitlisted, it can be helpful to keep INSEAD updated on various relevant changes in your life, such as new job responsibilities, new test scores, and so on. Such information allows us to make more accurate decisions when managing our waitlist.