INSEAD MBA vs. HEC MBA + experience

sxdcrow

I've just received the mail from my coordinator Jamine Sim. am still too excited and need to calm myself down... i think all the hard work has finally paid off. I was going to pay the HEC deposit tomorrow morning, but now i guess i might better think twice which one to choose.

My back ground: 28yrs old; bachelor in enginering from 211+985; master in engineering from the french engineering Ecole, full industry scholarship; one year internship in technical consulting in Paris; 2.5 yrs WE to now in a french automotive company working on R&D, 1/4 time in france and 3/4 time in china; other international experiences in several EU countries but only short period (industrial placement / exchange) ... ; GMAT 740 6.0; T waived ...

I studied on the GMAT test for around 2 or 3 months starting from Aug.2011. It was painstaking. Test was taken in Oct. Applied only 2 b schools: HEC and INSEAD, both in France. Got admitted by HEC in Dec. as I remember... and from last night I saw lots of ppl starting to receive the offer, and today I was refreshing my Gmail inbox like crazy during the whole day even if I knew it was not working hour yet in France.... and eventually I've received the offer. I decide to give Jamine a big hug when I go to Fontainbleau soon in the summer...

For the interviews, I do find that the HEC ones more challenging than the INSEAD interviews... For HEC, the 2 alumni didn't show great interest in my 10-min ppt presentation, and they were really tring hard to dig deep into my career ambitions and all the other details... I was almost sweatering after the 1-hour tough time ... By the way, one of them is an entrepreneur in red wine business and was previous vp of LV Asia, the other one was global purchasing director of a F500.

The INSEAD interviews were much more pleasant as I feel. The 2 alumni were very nice. One of them happen to be acquainted with my boss, however at that moment my boss did not know that I was applying for MBA yet (was afraid that it jepadize my current career in the company...) .. but everything else of the 2 interviews were really great and pleasant. I think I'm gonna write them an email to inform my admission result, and to see if there is any chance to buy them a coffee sometime One of the alumni was CEO of an industrial company, the other one working in top IB.

So, for the interviews or the application assessment, they want see that you are the kind of person that always among the best ones wherever you were in the past. Anyway, I'm in!!! And for now, Im really concerning which MBA should I take. Although I know that INSEAD is better. But ... a lot of my colleagues (mostly french) suggest me go to HEC. Even one of the INSEAD interviewers also told me that HEC might be a better choice if I want to stay in the french industry ... I guess I need to think twice. But tomorrow is the last day to pay the HEC deposit ... For me, compared to INSEAD, HEC has certain strengths in terms of: 1)strong link with the french industry, 2)rich resource of double degree programs and exchanges, 3)internship opportunities, 4)bilingal option 5)influential in the french world ... For INSEAD, everyone knows its strength in consulting, diversity and international scope... and it ranks much better than HEC. So i'm 60% for INSEAD and 40% for HEC, for the moment. But anyway, I will go to the bank tomorrow morning to pay the 6000E either to HEC or to INSEAD.

I think my background is quite modest compared to the other INSEAD admitted guys. and so i feel lucky, and am really happy to get into both HEC an INSEAD... OK now Im calmed down a little bit and wish you all good luck for your application

sxdcrow

「however at that moment my boss did not know that I was applying for MBA yet (was afraid that it jepadize my current career in the company...)」
Since I personally have the same concern, I would like to ask one question:
Who did you ask to write recommendation letters for you?  Anyone from your company?

-- by 会员 eddieji (2012/5/23 9:54:17)

1st referee: one of my previous professors from college:  french, female
2nd referee: a project manager (not direct boss) in my current company: chinese, male  
So I think it's a good combination, one Chinese one foreigner, one female one male, one professional one academic.
The 2nd referee agreed not to tell other people in the company till I secured at least one school.

eddieji

「however at that moment my boss did not know that I was applying for MBA yet (was afraid that it jepadize my current career in the company...)」
Since I personally have the same concern, I would like to ask one question:
Who did you ask to write recommendation letters for you?  Anyone from your company?

gmataccount

In case you are interested in it, you can find the class group on facebook:

Go to http://www.facebook.com/groups/262306420496482/ or search for Insead -Class of 2013. Frank

sxdcrow

INSEAD or HEC? it depends how you spend your time in the  comming years but not today's decision.
whatever, you inspired me a lot, role model!

-- by 会员 whyhamlet (2012/2/24 21:32:37)

Considering the diversity and international scope of INSEAD, I choose to spend the coming year of my life in Fontainebleau. A few months ago, I was still new to ChaseDream and was really encouraged by the book Be-Your-Better-Self. Then I started my MBA journey. INSEAD is my dream school, and now dream comes true. I sincerely wish the other people best luck in your application, and I believe hard work does pay off if you work hard enough.

sxdcrow

真的觉得INSEAD面试的校友人都很好很NICE，刚还收到之前的面试官发来祝贺的邮件哈哈，原来他们也被通知录取结果了哈。

sxdcrow

楼主是牛人啊！弱弱地问:hec有给奖学金么？

-- by 会员 ss27 (2012/2/24 22:01:15)

楼主其实背景并不是很牛啦，一直都是纯工科领域的，而且工作时间也不是很长。。开始还很担心呢，觉得运气还挺好的，可能面试面的还比较好吧。HEC给了6000欧，不是很多。

ss27

楼主是牛人啊！弱弱地问:hec有给奖学金么？

whyhamlet

INSEAD or HEC? it depends how you spend your time in the  comming years but not today's decision.
whatever, you inspired me a lot, role model!

古雨亭Isa

Lz V5!膜拜～