【NEED YOUR COMMENTS】Admitted by INSEAD, but...

Admitted by INSEAD, 4th round. But not too sure whether I should go to this course.

Tele background, nearly all departments & 3 countries‘ experience in this area. But I want to shift to Consulting. Is 10 months/no internship course difficult to lead me to my dream, although INSEAD is really famous for consulting? Should I wait and apply for some US schools this yr?

I need your comments, honestly, thank you.

By the way, anyone knows the criteria for 2 month exchanging to Wharton? 

Thank you, again!!

First, congratulations on your great offer!

I vote for INSEAD for the following reasons:

1. INSEAD has a good reputation in consulting industry. After checking the recruitment data, you may find that a great number of INSEAD graduates rush into the consulting industry every year (even after excluding the pre-consultants who are sponsored by their employee);

2. Time weighs much indeed. The compact 10-month course will save you a lot of time. Due to the harsh competition in the recruitment of top consulting firm, a 2-year programme will neither secure an offer from leading firms like Mckinsey.

Imagine the following two scenarios in June 2009:

a. you gradated from INSEAD in June 2007, and have worked for two years in a medium consulting firm;

b. you graduate from a 2-year b-school, and have no consulting experience.

Who has the more competency?

3. Consulting firms have less stringent requirements for internship than IBs have.  If your dream is to become an I-banker, the INSEAD Sep intake is not a good idea. Consulting firms choose candidates mainly based on the candidates' performance in the interview. You should work hard to improve your interview/case study skills immediately rather than devote yourself in piles of application essays again.

A better way that will help you make you decision is to talk with the current student at INSEAD. Seek their opinions, get data about the job replacement of Chinese students, especially those with IT backgrounds.

With all the best!

So far as I know, INSEAD adopts bidding method for both exchange programme and electives.

Each student has the same number of token. If you heavily desire the exchange, you can bid more. However, as a result, it will cost you the possiblity to join the most popular electives in the school.

Anyway, fair play.

Thank you sooooooooo much for your kind advice!

I feel that you really know INSEAD and consulting very well. Sent an message to you.

What do you mean by "bidding method"? bidding with money? or it's just like a lucky draw??

Thank you very much!

It's kind of points actually, not money.

Actually I am a little suspicious of the placement report...In 2004, 90 (37 were originally from this company) INSEAD graduates went to McKinsey. Even more than any of its US counterparts...how come....? Maybe most of the consulting positions are in Europe and Asia? 

I am no authority for explaining the data. But you are right in this point. The number must be correct, but you need to find out what lies behind the figures.

That's why I suggest you to communicate with alumni, they have the first-hand data. Ask them the number of Chinese that get offers from Mckinsey/BCG/Bain every year;  the respective location of the job; their background before MBA.

You will never be accepted by a consulting firm just because you gradate from INSEAD, or any other top B-school.

Consider what you lack for a consulting job and whether INSEAD can eliminate the gap.

Hi, FIR 2006,

With the same background as yours, the same post-MBA goalas yours, but the second round admitted, I have the same questions as yours. :-)