INSEAD has a legitimate claim as the business school of the world. Founded in 1957 outside of Paris, INSEAD today serves students at its three campuses in Fontainebleau, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi, as well as through its alliances with various institutions around the globe.
One of INSEAD’s major selling points is its academic rigor. Currently ranked as the second-best MBA program in the world by the Financial Times, INSEAD’s 10-month elite program attracts some of the best students from around to globe and gives them practical experience in multiple business markets. The school has two intakes each year, one in January and one in September.
The class entering this month is called the Class of 2019 J, reflecting its July graduation date. And it is among the most competitive yet, with an average GMAT score of 709.
Students in the Class of 2019 J come to INSEAD from 94 different countries, 20 more than the prior intake. Forty-one percent come from European countries, 29 percent are from the Asia Pacific region, and 14 percent are North Americans count. The remaining 16 percent of the class is an even split of students from each South America, the Middle East, and Africa. As for gender diversity, women represent one third of the current class.
The students also come from varied educational backgrounds. The largest group (34 percent) come from business administration. The second-largest group is engineers, making up 29 percent of the class. Rounding out the top five educational backgrounds are economics (11 percent), sciences (8 percent), and law and political science (6 percent).
In addition to their academic accomplishments, INSEAD’s students arrive with a considerable amount of professional experience. The largest percentage of students (38 percent) enters with five to seven years of professional experience. The next largest group (35 percent) has worked for between three and five years. Another 22 percent of students bring more than seven years on the job.
This professional experience is drawn from a diverse array of industries. Former corporate professionals make up the largest group, 34 percent of the student body. The rest of the class is made up of students who have worked in consulting (31 percent), financial services (24 percent), and technology, media, and telecommunications (11 percent).
These 2019 class profile statistics tell us plenty about INSEAD, but the students themselves tell us even more. Clear Admit recently caught up with five current students to learn about where they came from, why they chose INSEAD, and what they hope to do after completing the program.
Without further ado, let’s hear their stories.
