INSEAD and London Business School are two of Europe’s best business programs. With their impressive ROI and opportunities to gain global leadership experience, these high-performing programs continue to attract many applications for the international MBA.
If you’re considering an international MBA and weighing up between INSAD and LBS, you may be wondering what’s best for you – and how to best position yourself to get accepted. Here, I offer an overview of what INSEAD and LBS look for in MBA candidates and how you can position your application to stand out.
In this seven-minute video conversation with John A. Byrne, Editor-in-Chief of Poets&Quants, I discuss the most important things applicants to INSEAD and LBS should know before applying. We discuss what each school is looking for, and then offer advice on how to navigate the idiosyncrasies of each school’s application.
Read on for additional tips on positioning your candidacy as well as the benefits and differences of each program.
INSEAD VS. LBS: ADVANTAGES AND DIFFERENCES
Both INSEAD and LBS seek out future and current leaders with high intellectual and academic capacity and proven international motivation. Both offer unparalleled global exposure, starting with their truly diverse student communities. INSEAD can boast at least 70 nationalities represented in each of its MBA cohorts, while LBS students represent 63 nationalities.
Still, there are some differences between the two programs, including length of study: INSEAD was the first to offer a one-year MBA program and offers a 10-month format that is both efficient and cost-effective for those who can handle the pace and intensity. There are also integrated campuses in three countries (Fontainebleau, Singapore and Abu Dhabi) and a new location in San Francisco. London’s dynamic culture and economy are at the heart of the LBS experience, and the highly flexible MBA offers exit options at 15, 18 and 21 months.
5 TOP TIPS FOR APPLYING TO LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL
1. Express your passion for LBS.
In this competitive environment, the admissions office is constantly looking for evidence of your commitment to the school. If possible, visit LBS before submitting your application.
2. Remember that “global” is not just a word, but a culture.
It is no longer enough to simply confidently say that you have backpacked around Europe. The admissions committee will closely examine your application to determine exactly what international credentials you will bring to the next LBS course.
3. Communicate your contribution to the program and alumni network.
Admissions wants to know how you contribute to the campus community and what role you want to play there. The more specific and authentic you can be, the better.
4. Convey a high level of confidence and ambition in your MBA essays.
The very best LBS essays give the admissions committee insight into what motivates your post-MBA career goals and how an LBS education will help you achieve them. Fortuna’s Emma Bond, former Senior Manager of MBA Admissions at LBS, offers detailed advice on How to tackle the LBS essays.
5. Apply in earlier rounds if possible.
It is highly recommended to apply in the first or second round. While European business schools have a more even distribution of places across the different rounds compared to the best US programs, later rounds are often used to ensure a diverse course of study. If your career path fits a common profile that tends to be overrepresented in applicant pools, it is even more important to apply in the earlier rounds to improve your chances.
5 TOP TIPS FOR APPLYING TO INSEAD
1. Show interest beyond your own boundaries.
Not everyone at INSEAD has extensive international experience, but you must be able to demonstrate your ability to fit well into an incredibly diverse environment, with qualities such as openness, flexibility, curiosity about other cultures, interpersonal skills and maturity. All of these qualities are helpful.
2. Distinguish a common profile.
If you have a general profile, you need to be strong in all elements of the application, including your academic profile, your professional history, your international experience, and your activities and achievements outside of work or study. Try to find one element in your profile that makes you stand out from the crowd. For tips, see INSEAD recommendations for six common profiles by Caroline Diarte Edwards of Fortuna, former Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at INSEAD.
3. Career changers need to get started right away.
Most INSEAD students make significant career changes, but the 10-month program doesn’t leave much time to think about endless options. Be prepared to make decisions quickly about your future direction. You must also be prepared to balance an intensive academic schedule with an ongoing and regular investment of time in your job search.
4. Be aware that you may be asked to start at your second choice campus.
The admissions committee makes its decisions without considering campus choice – i.e. it can’t see if you applied to Fontainebleau or Singapore – so the odds are equal. Usually, some students are asked to start at the campus that was not their desired university so that the school can achieve the right class size and a similarly diverse class across all campuses.
5. Familiarize yourself with INSEAD’s essays.
INSEAD groups its essays into two groups. The career essays help you to present the career choices you have made up to this point and your career vision after the MBA in relatively detailed terms. The motivational essays are designed to highlight the unique personal qualities and experiences that make you a valuable addition to the class. See my related article for detailed advice on How to master all seven INSEAD essays.
Cassandra Pittman is a coaching expert at MBA admissions consultancy Fortuna Admissions and a former member of the admissions teams at London Business School and INSEAD. She is also an MBA graduate from Columbia University. Find more free advice from Fortuna Admissions in collaboration with Poets&Quants here Videos And ArticleTo get an honest assessment of your chances of successful admission to a top MBA program, sign up for a free advice.
