INSEAD The European Institute of Business Administration

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Students Say - Academics
INSEAD brands itself as "the business school for the world," and it can provide hard facts to support its claim. Students tell us the program is "is incredibly international, unrivaled by any other school," with a broad international student population and campuses in both France and Singapore. One student observes: "My fellow students come from 70 countries. My study group is an epitome of globalization: a Mexican investment banker, a Taiwanese accountant, a French Navy officer, an American diplomat, and a Bulgarian marketer, all exchanging knowledge in INSEAD. How much better could it be?" Further driving the point home is the fact that INSEAD is "the only prestigious MBA program that requires three languages upon exit." Students, grateful for a program that "is not only US-centric," love the international focus at INSEAD. They also appreciate the fact that it's a 10-month program that "gives quicker return on investment" than longer, more expensive MBA programs. INSEAD has "a strong reputation in consulting and general management" that translates into "placement success with top-tier consulting firms." The school also offers "exceptional private equity and investment courses (private equity, realizing entrepreneurial potential, leveraged buyouts, etc.)." Perhaps the school's greatest strength, though, is the quality of its student body; one MBA tells us, "The work experience of all candidates is extremely high, which creates indepth, dynamic discussions and learning in the classroom." Another adds: "At this point, any question I have about any country or industry can be solved by simply asking the right classmate." As in most accelerated programs, "academics are extremely challenging" at INSEAD, especially "for someone completely new to business or on topics for which you have no knowledge. " However, "At the same time there is a stress toward making sure that students understand the basics and all that is necessary for business. What's more, other students who have had experience or who studied business in undergrad are always open to help and encourage each other." The large size of the program, coupled with the speed at which it is completed, "sometimes makes it feel as though you are passing through an MBA factory, which has been doing things the same way for a long time." Even so, "The administration is generally prompt and receptive, especially with regards to clubs, network and career activities," and is also very efficient. For example, "Many people change their minds during the year about which campus they want to be in for the next period, and the school is very good at trying to understand every situation and to accommodate their desires."

Students Say - Admissions
INSEAD has two intake points, in September and January. Students may apply to begin the program at either time; application is online only. All applicants must provide a personal profile, resume, five personal essays (with a sixth optional essay), two recommendations attesting to leadership potential and management capacity, a photograph, a statement of integrity, an official GMAT score report (the school recommends a score in at least the 70th percentile in both the verbal and quantitative sections), and official transcripts for all post-secondary academic work. In addition, all students must enter the program with proficiency in English and a second language. Non-native English speakers may submit results from the TOEFL, TOEIC, CPE, or IELTS; English speakers must provide certification of a second language. A third commercially useful language (sorry, no Latin!) is required to graduate; while language instruction is available through INSEAD, the intensity of the MBA program is such that the school recommends students get a start on their third language before the program begins. The applicant's choice of campus is not taken into account in the admission decision; however, placement at one's campus of choice is not fully guaranteed.

Students Say - Campus Life
"The INSEAD year is a very intense period," students tell us, noting, "As there are classes every day, we have to study just like in high school and more or less all the time. There is a lot of group work...But, we all understand the quality of the people around us and the need for social interaction," and most here find time for fun. INSEAD's Fontainebleau campus "is extremely dynamic. There's always something going on, but at the same time depends on the intake. At the end of the day, activities are driven by students. Sometimes, the one-year nature of the program makes keeping activities and clubs continuous a bit challenging." Weekends often feature "fantastic parties at chateaus in the French countryside. The school even provides shuttle buses. Can you beat that?" The Singapore campus "is superb" and "quite relaxed because of the setting."

Students Say - Careers
INSEAD maintains Career Management Services (CMS) offices on both its French and Singaporean campuses. The offices promote students to employers around the globe while providing MBAs with one-on-one counseling and coaching, job search strategies, and oncampus recruiting events. Some students complain that CMS counselors are "used to a specific way of working and don't think outside the box. The focus is all on consulting, finance, and maybe a little industry." Others say, "Career Services is doing a good job, but there is room for improvement, as the school has a lot to offer on the job market." Nearly all agree that the school's substantial alumni network is "very helpful and intent on seeing current graduates succeed." Employers most likely to hire INSEAD MBAs include McKinsey & Company; American Express; Booz Allen Hamilton; General Electric; Eli Lilly; Barclays Capital; Citigroup; Johnson & Johnson; Bain & Company; A.T. Kearney; Honeywell; Philip Morris; and Royal Dutch Shell. Nearly 40 percent of INSEAD MBAS wind up in consulting functions; one in five goes into finance and accounting.

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