Profile Evaluation, Insead Jan 2017 intake - Moonshot

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Hello,

Curious to have some feedbacks on my application for the last round of the Jan17 Intake. I was originally planning for the Jan18 Intake, but some substantial events in my private life (family / health related) motivated me to give it a shot earlier.

Admission deadline on the 27th.

Currently 27 and will be 28 at the time of matriculation.

GMAT
To be passed on the 22th, I expect to have around 670-710.
Won't send my score and complete my application if below because then it would not be a moonshot but a sunshot.
If I understood well, only the Verbal and Quantitate part are used for the score, and I can provide my unofficial transcript to Insead (until they receive within 2 weeks the official transcript)

Education background
Quite complete curriculum in French "Grandes Ecoles"
* MSc in Engineering, Computer Science (got no official GPA on a scale of 4 with my transcripts and some of the grades were quite low for all students because of very complex exams, but when I requested one I had a 3.9/4.0 signed by the dean)
* Advanced Master in Marketing (1 year after my MSc - HEC Paris, official GPA 3.63)

Professional experience
* (geneva) 2 years in a boutique technology consulting company that got acquired by a McKinsey partner through LBO.
I made one year of consulting assignments (retail, banking - mostly on innovation) and then moved to product/engineering management for a fully owned spin-off developing a ticketing platform.
Got promoted twice from BA to Senior Consultant in two years.
The company sponsored my HEC tuition (20k) at the end of a successful 6-months internship (then followed by the 2-years of full time commitment)

* (geneva) 1 year as Lead PM / Head of Product Management in one of the most famed NPO (Davos..)
Leading 15-20 people mix of internal resources or external consultants (designer, software engineers, project managers, etc)
Numerous in-house achievements that got high-visibility.

* (paris/remote) investment of my free time in various start-ups and ventures at their early stage through a personally owned consulting structure, some of them having massive VC funding (25Mo+)

Essays
Ongoing, I will have some support for the proof reading.
I am more focused on who I am than business achievements for the essay.

Recommendations
* CIIO, Managing Director / Member of executive committee of my current employer (direct work relationship with him)
* Associate Dean, Technology and Strategy Impact from a prestigious american university (teamed up with her on a IA/Robotics projects)
* VP of Product from my former employer (for the optional reco letter)

Hoping to cover recommendations from non-profit, private and academic world this way

Language
French - Native
English - Fluent (I have a TOEIC with 975/990 from 5 years ago before I started working into an international context. Will not have time to pass the TOEFL even if I know results will be good... how to defend that?)
German - basic

Career plan
Long term, run my own technology/web company.
Short term, develop the necessary skills to work in corporate strategy / investment / product portfolio mgmt of a GAFA company or VC fund. A step at a Technology Practice at McKinsey or Bain is something I would consider as well. The idea is to pursue in product driven environment, but with more financial and strategy responsibilities.
I have a pretty clear idea of how I would take advantage of the INSEAD Programme structure (campus moves, electives, summer break, etc)


Thanks a lot !
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by Jon@Admissionado » Wed Jul 20, 2016 8:21 am
Hey there good sir!
Your profile is quite excellent. You have the great school (Grande ecole) the great grades, the excellent employers and top-notch job, as well as a few sweet extras in your profile. The last remaining two pieces of the puzzle are your GMAT and your application. Get that GMAT to the higher end of your range, and send in some awesome essays and good recommendations and you should be golden.

I don't see any weaknesses, unless you score too low on your GMAT, and even though I would urge you to apply anyway, constructing the best story you can.

The one thing to watch out for is that for INSEAD I believe you will be required to provide them an English test score. You can always write them and ask either for a waiver, or an extension to send them in a TOEFL and take the exam after the application is due.

Alternatively, if you wish to apply to other schools, you could rush things less, and apply to a series of schools in R1 this year. But that depends on your personal and professional situation, I presume.

I hope these notes help, and if there is anything else I can assist with, just drop a line,
Best,
JF
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by Hello_ » Mon Jul 25, 2016 7:18 am
Hello!

Thanks for your support ! Scored a 680, middle satisfied with 5 days of prep but still ok for non native guy:)
Don't remember the exact figures but quite balanced between verbal and quant score

Two quick questions :

- I have duly completed my recommendation letters.
On the side, I have constituted a list of people I have professional relationships with and that would be ok support my candidacy. This includes a mix of interesting profile, such as executives from The Silicon Valley (showing I am not siloed in my job and linking with my future ambitions), and people that relates to INSEAD (alumni or visiting professor, to showcase my interest for the school)

- I will have to mention that I don't have a recent TOEIC/TOEF due to short notice on my application.
Should I explain that I had INSEAD in mind for a long time but changed the intake choice for professional and personal reasons ? Should I leverage this argument for the GMAT score slightly below average ?

Thanks a lot for your time and consideration

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by Jon@Admissionado » Tue Jul 26, 2016 1:59 am
Well I would say if now the time is right just go for it. Don't make any excuses r.e. GMAT. Your GMAT is your GMAT. And INSEAD can be quite flexible with GMATs if they like your profile. Other than that, I think the only real decision is: What would happen if I had studies 4 months for the GMAT and got a 740? And is that interesting? :)

Best of luck!!!
Jon
"Hands down the best MBA admissions consulting firm of all-time, and boy, what an incredible founder!" -- Raj Patil, Founder of Admissionado

Something for everyone:
https://admissionado.lpages.co/admissio ... nter-2018/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/50-essay ... ked-vol-4/
https://admissionado.lpages.co/case-studies-lp/
https://admissionado.com/mba/reviews/
https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Admis ... 700945.htm

Reach out, and let's gab. Our only requirement is that you don't prefer warm milk over cold milk. Everyone else, 100% welcome.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 866-409-4753
Hit us up on WhatsApp.
Ping our satellite: 0884#&@-2#101101
Contact us via web form you lazy git: https://admissionado.com/contact/
Mostly, email Claudia.