One of the top European business schools has this year joined the MIM market. Enter stage right INSEAD with its new Master in Management. Currently accepting applications for its 2020 intake, INSEAD’s entry into the pre-experience market is a signal that there’s not only a demand for this early career degree, but there’s much traditionally MBA and EMBA focused schools can gain from having the recent graduate student segment on their campuses.
Although the INSEAD MIM offers a different course offering and structure than its more established MBA, as one would expect, they are looking to recruit students who value their values and who have ambitious goals. INSEAD is known as ‘The Business School for the World’, and in their MIMs they’re hoping to find business students who have an interest in the world around them, and a desire to contribute to it. As one might expect, they’ve put an emphasis on the internationalism of the programme, which offers “…a truly global experience…with international classmates…[and the chance to] travel across continents…”. They are looking to build a “dynamic and diverse student body” and want to see students who thrive in such an environment. Unsurprisingly, international motivation is one of the key admissions criteria, along with academic performance and ability to contribute.
The application requires three ‘getting to know you’ essays, all of which have a word limit. Do take careful note of the guidance provided about this:
“Respecting this word limit is an important exercise to see how you express your ideas in a concise way…”
Don’t let the limited word count give you a false sense of ease – it’s much trickier to give an overview of your career ambitions in 100 words than it is in 500, so clarity and brevity are key.
INSEAD Master’s in Management application essays
INSEAD MIM essay #1
How would you introduce yourself? (Maximum 200 words)
This has the potential to be a fun question as it’s your chance to tell the admissions committee what’s unique and interesting about you and to display your personality. This question gives you the opportunity to introduce who you are outside of what’s on your CV, so make sure not to repeat what they already know about you from the application form. Think about approaching this as you might do a speed dating event where you have only a few minutes to convince the person sitting across from you that you’re interesting, well-rounded, and with a lot to contribute to the conversation (no pressure!).
INSEAD MIM essay #2
Tell us what you have been doing since graduating from secondary education and what motivated your choices? (Maximum 200 words)
This is a tricky question as it requires you to reflect on what you’ve been doing since starting your university studies. The admissions committee will want to understand the thought process behind the decisions you’ve made during this time, and the drivers that have propelled you to pursue your path. Make sure not to use this question as a space to rehash your entire CV, but rather an opportunity to explain the reasoning behind pivotal choices. Have your decisions been strategic and part of a bigger plan? Have you been good at taking up opportunities as they come? Your answer will help the admission committee be able to connect the dots and understand you better.
INSEAD MIM essay #3
Share your short and long-term career aspirations with a MIM from INSEAD. (Maximum 100 words)
INSEAD is clear about the type of leader they’re looking for. They want “…leaders who transform business and society” and consider MIMs “the next generation of well-rounded, agile-thinking and innovative individuals who are ready to make a positive impact in today’s society.” When presenting your career goals, think about whether you are or want to be this person, and if so, how you will go about doing that. With only 100 words to use this answer needs to be succinct. Use the space to indicate your target companies/industries and roles, the motivation behind these ambitions, and the impact you hope to have. Make sure to provide thoughts on how specifically the INSEAD MIM will support your goals – this could include specific courses, extracurricular activities, or something around the community/network. But remember, be specific.
INSEAD MIM essay #4 (optional)
Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee?
Use this question only if you have vital information about your candidacy that you haven’t been able to include elsewhere in your application. Examples of acceptable material include providing context for low grades/test score or a gap in your education history. Steer clear of using this space to reiterate how passionate you are about the INSEAD MIM or how you’re the perfect fit. If you’ve done your job well through the rest of the application, they’ll already know this.
Programme Director Thibault Seguret and Global Director of Admissions & Financial Aid Virginie Fougea make it clear they want you, the applicant, to “be yourself”. So they’re looking for genuine, personal, unmanufactured insights into who you are as a person and what you’ll bring to your MIM class and the INSEAD community. Don’t write what you think the admissions committee wants to hear, write what is truthful – your truth – and give them a taster to who you are, and who you want to be with the help of the INSEAD MIM degree.
Unsure of how to illustrate your narrative or make sure it has the impact you want it to have? Get in touch with one of our admissions consultants to discuss how they can help you tell your story.
For professional guidance with your INSEAD MIM application, check out Accepted’s MIM Application Packages, which include advising, editing, interview coaching, and a resume edit for the INSEAD MIM application.
INSEAD MIM 2019 – 20 application deadlines for September 2020 intake
| Round 1 | October 9, 2019 |
| Round 2 | December 11, 2019 |
| Round 3 | February 12, 2020 |
| Round 4 | April 15, 2020 |
| Round 5 | June 3, 2020 |
***Disclaimer: Information is subject to change. Please check with individual programs to verify the essay questions, instructions and deadlines.***
Jamie Wright has more than eight years of recruitment and admissions experience at London Business School, and is the former Admissions Director for Early Career Programmes at LBS. Originally from the U.S., Jamie is now based in London. Want Jamie to help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch with Jamie Wright.
Related Resources:
• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Application Essays, a free guide
• Early Career Management and European MBA Programs with Jamie Wright, a podcast episode
• INSEAD Announces New 10-Month Master’s in Management (MIM) Program