Best International General Management MBA

Experience during the program

As a career changer, I successfully made the rare triple jump, changing industry, function, and geography thanks to INSEAD and the close-knit alumni network.

Choosing to change my career and attend INSEAD was the best professional choice I have made to date, and this is primarily due to the diversity and open culture of your classmates and the support of the alumni network unlocking doors. You will be in classes with 70+ different nationalities from every industry imaginable, and unlike most B-schools, cases are not US-centric and are geographically just as diverse as the student body.

The costs per year are on par with US programs (likely more expensive when you factor in frequently travel), but as a one-year MBA, you're back in the workforce sooner and paying off loans rather than taking on more.

I highly recommend this program, but it is not a fit for everyone. I do not recommend this program for someone who wants to deeply specialize in a specific area, e.g. finance. Certain professors are fabulous, but you will not have the depth of a two-year program. I also caution applicants that this is an intense year - you will be in classes 8am - 3pm daily with group case work from 3pm until after midnight. You will be tempted by peer pressure (FOMO) to travel every weekend around Southeast Asia and Europe and go to house parties until 5am every weekend, while somehow managing your coursework in late night weeknight hours. Sleep and time with loved ones not in the program is sacrificed.

About professors, classes and curriculum

The first four months are spent in mandatory classes; the latter six months are electives, the equivalent of year two for other MBAs. Many choose electives based on professors and schedules and thus it is a very general approach - specialization is only easily feasible if you have a strong background in that topic prior to attending.

About job placement process

Many companies will recruit on campus, but the alumni network is the most valuable tool. As an alum myself, I still use this for networking and future job searches.

Overall BSchool experience (5.0)
Schools contribution (4.0)
Classmates rating (5.0)

Strengths of the program:

Student body, diversity
Alumni Network
Culture & Student Support

Best fit at this program:

Consulting
Marketing
Tech
Entrepreneurship
Management

Can be improved:

Specialization in a particular area (e.g. Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc)