IMD Admissions

Lisa Piguet, Associate Director of MBA Marketing and Admissions at IMD, recently took time to answer a few questions about the IMD admissions process. If you are getting ready to apply to IMD, you don’t want to miss out on this insider advice.

Can you provide a general overview of the IMD MBA admissions process?
Applicants need to complete our online application which includes 10 short essays, and three letters of recommendation. We then get back to them within six weeks to let them know if we would like to meet them for our on-campus assessment day. We typically invite about 8 applicants for each assessment day, which includes an interview with a member of our Admissions Committee, an impromptu presentation and a case study led by one of our faculty. It also offers the applicants the chance to have lunch with our current participants and where possible to observe a class so that they have a chance to assess us as well. We then get back to them within two weeks to let them know if we would like to offer them a seat in the class.

Is it better to apply early in the process?
Yes and no. We are looking for a diverse group of 90 people, so the longer you wait in the process, the fewer places we have. At the same time, we do take people from every deadline.

Who conducts IMD admissions interviews?
Members of the admissions committee conduct the actual interview, the Admissions Associate Director observes the presentations and a member of Faculty runs the Case Study.

Do you have any interview tips for IMD MBA applicants?
Be yourself, prepare for the case study, be on time and dress accordingly. People can also go to our MBA website and look under the YouTube section. There they will find our Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing giving a short overview of how to get into IMD.

How important is an IMD applicant's GMAT score?
While the GMAT can give an indication of academic ability, because of the enormous diversity in the class in terms of internationalism, age and academic background, we never view the GMAT score in isolation. Our average GMAT range is 620 - 750, and generally once someone is in that range, we are more interested in the other aspects of their application. So please don't let the GMAT deter you from applying. We also have something a prospect applicant can do to determine if IMD is right for them. This is called Assess Your Chances. This is found online under the admissions section of our website.

In regards to undergraduate study, does IMD consider other factors besides performance? For example, does it matter where an applicant completed their undergraduate schooling?
We require that the Bachelor's degree comes from an accredited institution. With only 90 seats, competition is tough, so a good school can help, but as the average age of our participants is 30 years old, we are actually more interested in their work achievements and career progress.

What is IMD's position on people who apply to your MBA program directly out of college?
Our program targets people who have already attained at least 3 years work experience and the majority of our participants have between 4 to 9 years. This allows us to create a truly diverse group of people who can challenge and learn from each other.

Does race, ethnicity, sex, and cultural background play much of a role in the IMD admission decisions?
Yes, we look at all aspects of diversity, so once we are sure that an applicant meets our admissions criteria, we then look at the other ways in which they can contribute to the learning experience of the class.

What qualifies as a good letter of recommendation?
A key factor is that the recommender knows the applicant well and can represent diverse facets of their professional life. Direct managers are usually good, or alternatively, someone who has shared an experience either in the applicant's professional career or an extracurricular activity.

What is the most common mistake that IMD applicants make?
We need to be able to see the real person behind the application, those who try to hide certain characteristics usually send an inconsistent application which can be more damaging.

How can an IMD applicant stand out among their peers?
By highlighting things that are unique about them - whether it be from their upbringing, extra-curricular activities, strong work achievements and leadership activities (personal or professional).

Why does IMD stand out among other business schools?
Through our rigorous admissions process, we put together a class of 90 truly diverse and experienced young professionals who are ready to be challenged to tackle difficult business situations responsibly. The limited class size also allows us to offer the kind of personal leadership development that becomes a life-changing experience and results in highly successful recruiting results.