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INSEAD application Q&A
Our guest on Nov. 20, 2000, was Myriam Perignon, director of admissions at INSEAD's France and Singapore campuses [No. 1 on BW's ranking of non-U.S. B-schools ]. Perignon arrived at INSEAD in 1987 but started leading admissions in 1998. She was interviewed by Business Week Online's Mica Schneider . Here's an edited transcript of their discussion:
Q: Myriam, INSEAD has seen a surge in applications, but not because more students are applying to the Fontainbleau campus. You also handle applications to the school's year-old campus in Singapore
A: That's correct. I'm heading the marketing and admissions teams and am also responsible for program operations.
Q: Applicants determine where they want to study -- Fontainbleau or Singapore. Are there any times when an applicant appears better-suited for one campus over another?
A: Not at all. I believe it is important to note that candidates apply to one program only -- for example, the INSEAD MBA program, which happens to be delivered in two different locations. At the time of admissions, the admissions committee is not aware of the candidate's choice of campus, because the two campuses are exactly the same.
Q: When does the school begin accepting applications and when is the last deadline?
A: We accept applications as early as one year in advance of the program. So we currently receive applications for January, 2002, though just a few. We strongly encourage our prospects to apply as early as one year in advance, and some applicants take our advice. We actually like it when people are able to plan ahead.
The final application deadline is the Feb. 1, for the September, 2001, intake, and July 2, for the January, 2002, intake.
Q: Why is it better to apply early at INSEAD?
A: I really want to insist that "the earlier the better." INSEAD is quite specific in its language requirements, and you need to prove ability in two languages before you can start the program.
Many candidates get admitted to the program on condition that they get their second language up to speed by the time the program starts. If they apply late in the application process, they may not have enough time to improve their language skills before the start of the program. For someone who stopped learning language at high school, and are in his/her early 30s or late 20s, it takes some time to brush up.
Q: So, in addition to English, candidates need to speak one other language?
A: To start the program, [MBAs] need an additional language on top of English, at a working knowledge level. We're not looking for proficiency, but for people who can conduct a business negotiation in a second language other than English. For 70% of the students, it's not an issue, since they speak their native language, which is not English.
2000 INSEAD Admission Profile
Total Enrollment 679 Full-Time Students 679 Tuition/Board $25,300; N/A
Female 24% Non-U.S. Citzens N/A Underrepresented Minorities N/A
Applicants Accepted [Selectivity] N/A Applicants Admitted [Yield] N/A Number of Applicants N/A
GMAT Avg.
Range 688
N/A GPA Avg.
Range N/A
N/A Work Exp. Avg. (Months)
Range 60
N/A
Domestic Deadline(s) Feb. 1, 2001
Jul. 2, 2001
Int'l Deadline(s) Feb. 1, 2001
Jul. 2, 2001
Fin. Aid Deadline(s) N/A
Q: What does INSEAD's application process entail?
A: The application process is exactly the same for the two campuses and includes two main stages. First, we make a selection of candidates to be interviewed from all the applications filed. The second stage is for those who make it to the interview. Out of the 3,000-plus applications we get per year, we send about half of that pool to interviews.
Q: What do applicants need to show in the first part of the application?
A: It's basically what any other good business school would ask for: the GMAT, a resume, essays, letters of recommendation, and in addition INSEAD needs proof of English since 70% of our applicants have English as their second language. That's mainly attested by the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a university degree taught in English.
Q: What aspects of an application take precedence over others?
A: No single element takes precedence. We have a "rule of two." We're looking at two letters of recommendation. Whenever we can, [we conduct] two interviews. And we also have two independent readings on application files. We're dealing with a very diverse population of over 60 different nationalities, and getting different perspectives on the applications help us deal with this diversity.
It also depends if an application comes from an American or from a Chinese -- aspects that I wouldn't like to see in one profile, I may [like to see] in another.
Q: You talk about looking at the complete package, but certainly there are indicators that stand out above others. If you were to consider the GMAT, the essays, the resume, and the recommendations, which would be the most important piece?
A: If I have any indications that the person might not [be able to handle the work], I would react. If [the candidate has] average grades, a [degree from a] not-so-well-reputed institution, plus a very average math score, it might not be a very positive find. That said, it's very important to stress that some elements compensate for that.
Take the example of a candidate with very average grades, a decent GMAT, and a very interesting professional career. This would lead me to think that this person is actually able to perform academically but maybe something happened during his/her studies. Maybe that person was too involved in extracurricular activities, [but] a true entrepreneur. Others may have had some personal difficulties or have had to get themselves through college while working. We need to find out and weigh all these elements.
[Editor's note: INSEAD applicants complete five essays:
1. Give a candid description of yourself and the personal characteristics you feel to be your strengths and weaknesses. Write about the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when necessary.
2. Describe what you believe to be your two most substantial accomplishments to date -- at least one must be professional. Explain why you view them as such.
3. Describe a situation taken from school, business, or civil or military life where you did not meet your personal objectives, and discuss the effects.
4. Discuss your career goals. What are your alternatives?
5. Please choose one of the following two essay topics: A. Have you ever experienced culture shock? What did it mean to you? B. What would you say to a foreigner moving to your home country?]
Q: What kind of questions can an applicant expect to be asked during an interview?
A: It's a free format. Interviewers are graduates from the school, from 3 to 10 years ago. Using alumni provides examples to the applicants as to what INSEAD can do for their career. The types of questions are somewhat linked to the questions that you would see in the essays. We want to find out people's motivations for an international career. We want to see the fit with the program.
Q: You mentioned before that applications are read twice. Who reads them?
A: We have an admissions committee composed of faculty, alumni, and professional staff. Managing the candidate pool, processing and evaluating the files is done by the committee, and it also takes the final decision on a candidate.
Q: How long does it take from the day that someone files an application to the day that they're accepted?
A: Unfortunately, too long. We say six to eight weeks. You have to take into consideration that it will depend on where in the world the interview will take place. It can get very tricky since there are some countries where we do not have that many interviewers. If I take the example of Kenya, where we have two alumni, it's sometimes difficult to get the interviews carried out on time if they are on a business trip or not available for other reasons. We put a lot of weight on the interviews, so it is important they take place.
At the same time, it delays the process, and it's actually hurting us a little with the competition, because we are not able to turn decisions out as quickly as other schools.
Q: Which nationality is most prevalent in the application pool?
A: Five or six years ago, our key markets would have been the U.K. and France. Those markets are going down slightly, not because we have fewer applicants, but because we are after other nationalities. Asia, for example, which represented about 5% a couple of years ago, is now has close to 20%. We also get students from Eastern Europe and Latin America. INSEAD wants to extend its global reach even further, and we therefore advertise worldwide and now get applicants from everywhere in the world.
Q: From what area of the world would you like to see more applications?
A: At the moment, we're happy with what we're seeing. I would like to maintain the level in France and in the U.K. which represent 10% each of the overall class. But for me, it's not so much the numbers coming from the countries that count, it's more the quality of the applicants. At the end of the day, if I had to end up with more French because this is where the quality happens to be, as defined by INSEAD, then so be it.
Again, we don't apply quotas. So if we want candidates coming from a certain region of the world, we tend to increase our promotional activities in that part of the world.
Q: What do you anticipate for the coming year? Do you think there will be more applications?
A: Yes. We can already see the impact of the Business Week ranking. Of course, the opening of the campus in Asia also creates a growing awareness of INSEAD, and not just in Asia. A lot of potential applicants actually see Asia as the region where they'll want to work in the future.
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发表于 2003-8-16 18:44:00
