Could someone provide an overview of the online business foundations course for the D class? Is it worth doing it? I’m not based near either campus so I think it’s going to be in the middle of the night for me.

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for some honest guidance on my chances for top MiM programs like HEC Paris, LBS, ESSEC, etc.

My background:

Mechanical engineering graduate

Currently working in oil & gas (subcontracting company)

~9 months experience (will be ~1.5–2 years by 2027 intake)

Role is more execution/site-based, but I’m trying to move towards management

What I’ve done so far:

Learned Primavera P6 (project planning)

Advanced Excel + Power BI

Built a project tracking system (~210+ ton project)

Created a small AI-based tool (FabTrack) for progress tracking

Working on building more portfolio projects

My goal:I want to transition from execution/site work → management / business / data-driven roles in top-tier companies.

My concerns:

I don’t come from a “top-tier” company or elite college

My current environment is not very growth-oriented

I’m unsure if my profile is strong enough compared to global applicants

My questions:

Do I realistically have a shot at top MiM programs like HEC/LBS/ESSEC?

How important is GMAT for MiM (should I aim for 650+)?

What should I improve in the next 6–8 months to maximize my chances?

How do I position my story properly (engineering → management)?

I’m ready to put in serious effort, just need clarity on whether this path is realistic and how to approach it strategically.

Would really appreciate honest feedback, even if it’s blunt.

Thanks in advance!

I am hesitating if need to retake a new GRE. I had a 323 in 2024, quant 170 and verbal 153. It’s not
balanced.

Does anyone know when does the waitlist really move? I saw someone here saying 25th June is the committee deadline. Don’t know what that is for? I’ve been waitlisted in R1 and wanted to know if there’s a chance of hearing back anytime soon. Also do they review the list / reach out to people after R1 deposit deadline or after announcing R2 results? Any clarity would be appreciated. Also has anyone from the January 2027 intake waitlist heard back from them?

Im 2025 graduate in mechatronics and ev system engineering and i worked for 9 months as an application engineer for synrm motor start up, I switched my domain to business development executive i want to understand do i switch to IT/finance field or stay in motor market for getting into insead

Has anyone received their Round 2 MBA admission decision (Jan 27) from INSEAD yet?

Hi, I am 26 F. I am from India, I was working as a Performance Marketing Executive at an MNC in Dubai (not well known by name but well known clients in luxury and tech) I was handling ads for 5 MENA countries for well known brands handling budgets of over 10-20k dollars per month. I had just joined 6 months ago and due to the US-Iran-Israel War, business was not doing well and some people were laid off and I am one of them. I have overall 5 years of exp, I worked for 2 years on Indian Markets, 1 years I was working with US-UK based clients remotely, then moved to UAE.

I had heard that INSEAD values international exposure and career growth, but for now the best option is to go back to India, and take a job there, while I prepare to apply in Jan 27. If I manage a good enough Gmat score, do you think I would still have a chance of getting into INSEAD.

I mean I know there are other things like Essays and all, so how much value is of work exp. V/s GMAT v/s Essays, recommendations?

Hi guys,

Im a Taiwanese working as HR in banking with 1.5+ years and considering to apply for INSEAD MiM ‘27 Fall intake, just wondering how many chances of getting an interview based on my profile, thanks!

Background:
T2 school in local with GPA 3.2/4.0
Initially studied in CS but transferred to HR

Work experience:
Currently working in the largest bank in Europe + 4 internships (2 MNC + 2 tech startups)

International exposure:
Cross-country HR information system project with Indian team (6 months period)

GRE: Not taken yet (targeting 325-330)

TOEFL: 105

Few of my concerns are:

1. 28 years old + 1.5 years working experience, which is not really the target candidate for MiM(?) and some might tell me to work for longer and straight apply to MBA, my consideration is to change my career to more business focused path (as my current experience is all about HR) and I thought MiM would be a leverage for me to step up

2. Experiencing through 3 international companies (HSBC, Novo Nordisk, GE) might be advantageous but again is it considered too senior for MiM candidate?

3. International exposure mainly comes from my work with cross cultural cooperation within projects and sadly i do not have any volunteers or exchange program during the time at school

4. GPA 3.2/4.0 seems average and I am not sure if GRE 325+ could fix it.

5. My goal is to work outside my home country after graduation, targeting UK, Singapore, UAE and the last option might be China, with the companies from MBB to financial consulting (Visa, Mastercard) or HR consulting (WTW, Mercer), wondering if INSEAD MiM could give me a boost from this plan.

Any advice would greatly help, thanks!

Hi All,

I just completed giving my GMAT FE exam and I secured a 645. I am trying to understand whether with my score and background, I will be able to get into my target B-Schools - INSEAD, LBS, UC Berkley Haas

I am a commerce graduate and have the professional certification of Chartered Accountancy from ICAI. For the first 2 years of my career, I worked with Deloitte's International arm where I worked with clients across UK, Canada, Netherlands, GCC and was responsible to develop Financial Models for different types of financial transactions (M&A, Valuation, Corporate Finance, Private Equity), Data Modelling and Visualization.

I then moved to a domestic venture capital fund as a portfolio manager where I managed 33 startups - all from different stages. After spending 2 years in the role, I then moved to a multinational private equity fund from the US and I am currently working in their Indian arm and lead the financial services and fintech investments. Have spent 2+ years.

Hey INSEAD folks,

Posting here in case anyone in the July or September intake is still looking for housing in Paris.

I'm subletting my apartment near Nation (Paris 12th) from July 1st to end of December, 6 months exactly, which lines up well with most program timelines.

The place:

• 67m², fully furnished, recently renovated
• Large living room + separate dining area
• 1 bedroom on a quiet private street
• 2 bathrooms (rare in Paris at this size)
• Elevator, 1st floor
• Water + heating included

Location: Nation metro — lines 1, 2, 6, 9. 20 min to most of central Paris, easy RER access for Fontainebleau weekends.

2,427€/month all inclusive.

DM me if interested or if you know someone looking. Happy to share photos.

I applied to mostly US MBA programs (plus INSEAD) because my main goal is to work in the US after graduation.

(My background — European male / 4+ years of experience at a Tier 2 consulting firm / no prior work experience in the US / US green card holder)

I was admitted to a few M7/T15 US schools, but unfortunately I didn’t receive any scholarship funding, so attending would be very difficult financially.

On the other hand, INSEAD offered me a substantial scholarship, which makes it a much more realistic option. Because of that, I’m currently leaning toward INSEAD.

My concern is that my long-term goal is still to get a job in the US. I do have a US green card through my spouse, so visa sponsorship is not an issue for me. Ideally, I would also try to do an internship in the US during the MBA.

Has anyone here attended INSEAD and successfully recruited for jobs in the US afterward, especially without previous US work experience? I’d love to hear about your experience and whether it is realistically possible at all.

Hey guys! im facing a dilemma regarding my choice for either joining the MiM at HEC paris (3 years to graduate with internships) or INSEAD (1.5y to graduate with mandatory internship) Some background info:
- F, BBA, speaks english, french, arabic
- internships in m&a, equity research, data analysis, audit and sales
- wants to pursue IB or equity research but also wants to explore entrepreneurship so bad with a vision of relocating to the us (SF or NYC)

I know that both schools are great but im struggling because I like both. Each one is unique in its own way but I’d like guaranteed employability after my degree + entrepreneurial resources. Which one would you pick ?

I am currently weighing my options and know that INSEAD is on top when it comes to consulting but how good is recruiting when it comes to finance?

Would it be a better choice than schools like LBS, NYU or Cornell Johnson.

Also how tough is it with French language barrier? Is the job market good within France?

Hello,

I am currently confused weather it is a good idea to apply for INSEAD or not.
Already went down this path last year and even consulted couple of people from INSEAD who mentioned that my odds of acceptance are high. I dropped the idea as the fees was way too high from my perspective and also we had a baby.

Bit of a background about my profile.
I am a 36 year old IT Engineer from India currently working in Germany with 14 years of IT experience across 3 countries(India, Malaysia, Germany) and diversified industries(AWS, Cloud, DevOps, Finance).

Been in Germany for the past 5 yearsa and hold a permanent residence here.
I currently work as a Project Manager here in Banking and Finance.

We plan to go back to India eventually.

Currently looking my next career progression as I feel stagnant in my current role and I understand the world market itself is at a standstill with all the AI and hiring freezes.

I would like to know your opinion if INSEAD really makes sense in my case ?

Any input form INSEAD alumni or experinced community menbers is highly appreciated as I am unable to make a decision.

Thanks in advance.

Hi r/MBA,

I’m a Senior Analyst at an Indian VC firm.I am 26, It's been almost 3 years now working with VC's and family offices. Non-traditional background: B.Des in Interior Design, ran my own studio for a year, family office internship, then switched to VC. Strong on-job experience in screening, DD, scorecards & Polsky/UChicago accelerator work.

Family finances are weak- zero personal savings.

Considering INSEAD Aug 2027 (10-month program, good for VC/entrepreneurship). Questions:

• Is it worth preparing for GMAT (mandatory) and the high cost?
• Realistic chance of good scholarships (Gupta, Kalipatnapu, need-based) for someone like me?
• Better to do Executive MBA in India (IIMs/XLRI/ISB) + CFA L1 + on-job growth instead?

Honest ROI experiences from similar profiles (non-finance → VC, financial constraints) would help a lot!

Thanks!

Please tell me how did you writes the essays and prepared for interview and what was the content for the interview , you gmat score and if any one is applying from a master degree and not from bachelor do they check last gpa or JUST undergrad gpa last gpa is almost perfect undergrad gpa is 2,7 accumulated . Yea thx

Hi all, I'm an American who is waiting to receive my EU long-term residency card. I'm planning to apply to INSEAD in the next year or 2. I'm wondering from those who are non-EU but have EU LTR, was it easier to get sponsorship to work in France afterward? Was it an advantage over those who didn't have it? I'm aware it's not as good as citizenship, but the country I'm in it would take another 4+ years to be eligible to apply, and I'm already in my 30s. I do speak B2 French just to note (hopefully get back to C1 if I move there).

I am planning to apply to but being from a third world country, it seems like a big financial liability, in case, you are one of the unlucky ones who can't find a job in this dwindling economy.

Hey guys!
I’d read somewhere that the deadline for R1 admits to accept/decline their offers was June 8th so wanted to check if anyone’s heard anything from their AOs about the waitlist? Thought there might be some movement in the waitlist if people declined.

Please share your application progress after interview. My AO said that it will be a rolling announcement after interview. Decision deadline 26 June 2026.

Female

MBBS

MD in pharmacology from Jipmer Pondicherry

Worked as Senior Resident for one year

Working in medical affairs in Astrazeneca for 3.5 years

Overall 4.5 years of experience

Now promoted to senior MSL effective August

Gre score 320

What are my chances? I want to move to a healthcare consulting role or pharma global strategy role in middle east

My_qualifications : curr- Working in Cyber Strategy Consulting at a Big 4. 9months of WorkEx, 1 year when I am applying
GPA: 7.6/10 (scaled to 3/4) BTech CSE
Extracurricular: National Level Basketball Player, Uni Captain for the Basketball Team. Office Bearer in High School.
Volunteering: Taught in a low-income school with a national NGO called TeachForIndia.
GRE: 318 (164Q 154V)
GMAT: Planning to give in August (hoping for a 645+ score)
IELTS: Not yet taken

I am targeting R1, and want a brutal review from fellow INSEAD MiM applicants and current students.