Why Strong Applicants Struggle With INSEAD MBA Admissions?
INSEAD attracts some of the strongest MBA applicants in the world. With good pedigree, international exposure, fast career progression, strong academics & test scores, many INSEAD applicants are highly competitive. Yet, a significant number of strong profiles get rejected every cycle.
This is because INSEAD is not a school where general MBA competence is enough. It evaluates applicants based on more than just credentials – clarity, motivation, direction, and fit. And many strong applicants falter not because of lack of credentials, but because of incorrect positioning.
In this post, I am going to discuss the most common reasons strong applicants struggle with INSEAD MBA admissions, and suggest ways to position your application the right way.
1. Treating INSEAD As Interchangeable With Other European MBAs
This is the first and the most basic mistake strong applicants make. They treat INSEAD as the European alternative to US M7 programs, and position it as an option interchangeable with other top European MBAs.
In their essays, they often highlight the obvious program strengths like:
- Shorter duration
- Strong consulting outcomes
- International cohort
- Globally recognised brand
While all of this is true, this is also generic and written by almost every applicant. It also positions INSEAD as the default, not a deliberate choice.
Focus on rankings, consulting pipelines, or general international exposure signal convenience rather than intent. INSEAD looks for applicants who can articulate why these specific aspects of the program make sense for them.
2. Emphasizing International Exposure Without Reflection
One of the most distinguishing factors of the INSEAD MBA is its emphasis on diversity and international exposure. In classrooms composed of students from nearly 90 nationalities, and various industries, & cultural backgrounds, INSEAD is not just looking for people who have had international exposure, but people who have the emotional and cultural intelligence to function, contribute, and lead effectively in a diverse setting.
When highlighting international exposure, many strong applicants list:
- Traveling to/working across multiple geographies
- Cross-border roles
- Working with multicultural teams
However, INSEAD is not looking for just exposure, but learning. Applicants often fail to explain:
- How working across cultures changed their thinking and leadership style
- How they navigated differences in communication, values, or expectations
- What tensions, failures, or adjustments these environments forced them to make
- How these experiences shaped the way they work with others today
International experience should not be presented as a checklist, but rather as evidence of potential to contribute meaningfully in a diverse classroom.
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3. Generic/Safe Career Goals
Many strong applicants write goals that are either generic (consulting, strategy, general management), safe or just loosely connected to past experience.
But given the intensity of the INSEAD MBA, the adcom expects applicants to clearly articulate their goals, and how they will use the program to achieve those goals.
It is important to note that INSEAD’s goals essay is relatively short, and this is intentional. Applicants are expected to have a clear career vision, and explain why these goals make sense in the context of their journey.
Strong applicants struggle when their goals are under-researched, or interchangeable with those of other candidates.
4. Undervaluing Personal Attributes And Self-Awareness
A defining feature of INSEAD’s application is its emphasis on personal journey.
Many of INSEAD’s essay prompts focus not on career ambition, but on personal experiences like formative experiences, values, setbacks, and motivations. INSEAD uses these essays to understand what kind of classmate and leader you are likely to be.
Many strong applicants overlook the significance of their personal story. They treat personal essays as secondary, while emphasizing career vision and achievements.
INSEAD wants to see:
- How you reflect on your experiences
- How you respond to failure and ambiguity
- What values guide your leadership style
- How you make decisions under pressure
When essays describe events without reflection, learning, or personal insight, even impressive profiles can feel shallow and generic.
5. Confusing Diversity With Differentiation
INSEAD’s diversity is one of its defining features. But most often, applicants assume that nationality, gender, or industry background alone makes them unique. In reality, INSEAD evaluates applicants within context, not in isolation.
What matters is not what you are, but how your background has shaped your thinking, leadership style, and decision-making.
Strong applications can fail when they rely on surface-level diversity rather than articulating a clear personal perspective shaped by their experiences.
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6. Underestimating The Importance Of A Cohesive Narrative
INSEAD’s essays are deceptively simple. Each prompt may appear straightforward, but together they test:
- Self-awareness
- Decision-making logic
- Leadership maturity
- Clarity of motivation
Many strong applicants answer each essay well in isolation, but fail to ensure that a cohesive narrative ties all the essays together.
When motivations, leadership stories, and career goals don’t reinforce each other, the application feels fragmented, even if individual essays are strong.
7. Over-Polished Applications
Well-prepared applicants often submit technically strong applications with clear writing, structure, and tone. However, such applications can come across as cautious, neutral, and generic. Strong applicants struggle when they prioritise saying the right thing instead of being authentic and vulnerable, allowing the adcom to see the person behind the application.
How To Position Your Application For INSEAD
When working on your INSEAD essays:
- Be explicit about why INSEAD, not just why an MBA
- Demonstrate learning from international experiences, not just exposure
- Articulate career goals with direction and intent
- Ensure all essays present a single, coherent narrative
- Be authentic and vulnerable
The key is not to make your profile look more impressive, but to be intentional about your career choices, why MBA, and why INSEAD.
Final Thoughts
INSEAD is not looking for perfect profiles. It is looking for applicants who can thrive in an intense, diverse, fast-paced environment and make the most of the MBA experience.
Strong applicants struggle when they assume their credentials are enough to get them in. But they succeed when they clearly articulate why INSEAD makes sense for them.
If you are working on your INSEAD application and finding it hard to translate a strong profile into a compelling narrative, focus on your positioning, and not your credentials.
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