UPDATE: This article was originally posted on June 8, 2020. It has been updated with new information and tips below.
With a strong focus on leadership and an idyllic location on the shores of Lake Geneva, the IMD MBA is one of the most popular MBA programs in Europe.
However, with impressive recruiting statistics and the close-knit network built among members of IMD’s small class, competition to join this elite MBA is more difficult than ever.
That’s why we’ve prepared this guide to help you use your IMD admissions essays to stand out. We’ve rounded up our best tips to ensure you give your IMD application your best shot.
1. Who is IMD looking for?
(Photo courtesy of @IMDbusinessschoolmba on Instagram)
“We want to see candidates who understand the magnitude of change and opportunity the business world is facing. You will need to convince us that you have a vision of what lies ahead and of your desire and capacity to play a part in shaping the future of our world.” IMD Admissions
Every year, IMD scours the globe (40 countries are represented in the current class) for the outstanding professionals given the honor of joining its annual class of around 100 students. With a strong emphasis on diversity, there is no “typical” IMD student, yet the average admitted student for the Class of 2022 (the last year for which official data is available) had an average GMAT score of around 680, 3-8 years of work experience, and the ability to speak at least 2 languages.
Beyond the impressive statistics, though, IMD is looking for candidates who want to make a positive impact on the world through their careers. That’s why, in addition to strong academic performance (demonstrated through the GMAT/GRE and university grades), IMD seeks candidates who possess the following qualities:
If this sounds like a community in which you’d be right at home, you’ll first have to prove you’ve got what it takes by successfully answering IMD’s admissions essay questions.
2. How should I answer the IMD essay questions?
As one of the most direct and to-the-point applications in the MBA world, you might be tempted to just jump right into writing your essays. However, since the essays ask about how you have connected with the community, we suggest you make sure to research the IMD program and its advantages for your career in-depth before getting started.
2.1. Short answer Tips
What other programs are you applying to? (Word limit 100)
The purpose of this essay is to understand how serious you are about applying to IMD. If you are applying to other programs, it’s important to mention them, but use the majority of this space to answer the “what can IMD bring to you as a differentiator” portion of the question.
Finally, prove you really want to attend IMD by devoting a part of your answer to showing how you plan to navigate the school and its many offerings. I always encourage candidates to start answering these types of Why XYZ School questions by considering, “If you do X MBA at this school how will the person you become be different than if you attended Y MBA?”
In general, research into the program’s specifics is essential to support your answer. Thus make sure you prove to your reader that you understand how IMD is uniquely positioned to help you reach your goals and show your passion for their program. If you’ve visited the school, have interacted with any students or alumni, or have otherwise meaningfully interacted with the school, you may also want to include that information in this essay.
Do you already have a network in place? (Text box word limit 50)
You will answer this question after choosing your goals from a dropdown list. Make sure you have a list of 2-3 companies prepared and indicate what you see yourself achieving in this role.
Thinking about the fact that you want to demonstrate your likelihood of success in achieving your goals, in as much detail as possible, mention how you have already worked to build your network in this area. This could include speaking with current employees at your target companies, speaking with relevant headhunters, or even connecting with IMD alumni who have targeted these sorts of industries.
Essentially, you want to use this essay to show IMD that you’re aware of what your target role entails and have already taken steps to ensure you’re successful when you later recruit for these positions.
What skills and experience do you think you already possess that will help you with your post MBA career plans and will make you stand out in front of potential employers? (Text Box word limit 100)
This question is a continuation of the previous question, in a sense, since it asks you to justify the relevant experience you have that will set you up for success when recruiting for your target role.
What is your plan B if you are not able to secure your ideal job post MBA? (Text box word limit 50)
When answering this question, make sure to show that the backup job role(s) you present are realistic, well-defined, and are aligned with your career passions.
For example, if you’re hoping to become a C-level executive in a renewable energy company and planned to join an MBB consulting firm to prepare you for these challenges, an appropriate backup may be working at a smaller consulting firm that specializes in energy. This demonstrates consistency in your goals and your dedication to the passion that’s driving your career.
Need more guidance?
Our MBA Resource Center has dozens of essays that worked to get our clients admitted to help you plan out a winning IMD essay.
Our library also includes guides for all top global MBA programs, detailed essay brainstorms, interview tips and mocks, CV templates, and recommendation letter guides. Click to join!
2.2. Essay 1 Tips
What is the most difficult decision you have had to make as a leader? (Text box word limit 300)
First and foremost, you want to make sure to choose a story that can be told in STAR format, as this will be the most effective way to use the 300 words you’re given for this question to describe both what happened and what you learned from it.
As such, we suggest you prepare for this essay by brainstorming potential moments you faced a leadership challenge. First, you want to think of moments when you were truly the leader of a project or initiative. Though this example can be drawn from your professional experience or your extracurricular activities, you want to make sure you can clearly demonstrate your leading role in the example.
Second, we encourage you to think about a clear challenge.
However, if you use a personal example here, you might want to choose professional examples for other essays in the IMD application to ensure you present your profile in a balanced manner.
After selecting examples where you faced a challenge, choose a few to deep dive into. I would suggest that you think of examples that can fit the following format:
- Decision I had to make or action I had to take
- Why it was challenging or difficult
- The results of my decision
- What I learned from this experience
If your examples don’t fit this format, I would suggest that you discard them. They are not likely to fit the STAR format of telling stories adequately or are not likely to answer all the aspects of this question.
After placing your stories in this format, consider what each one tells us about you. For example, you might highlight the difficult decision you made to change careers that set you on the path you are on today. Perhaps you faced a situation where a manager or client was pushing you to act unethically and you made the right decision, reinforcing your commitment to being an ethical leader. Or maybe you decided to accept orders to join the military, despite the option to avoid the responsibility by moving abroad.
The options are endless here, so make sure you choose the example that best illustrates a key aspect of your profile and how you will add value to the IMD class.
Once you’ve chosen your example, we suggest that you follow a STAR form to tell your story and make sure to include content related to the four bullet points listed above.
TOP TIP: Including so much information in such a short essay can be highly challenging. That’s why we’ve prepared this post, designed to help you tell your story in a compelling way, even when word count is tight!
2.2. Optional Essay Tips
Is there any additional information that is critical for the Admissions Committee which has not been covered elsewhere in this application? (i.e. re-application, health, grades, etc.) (Word limit 100)
This is not a place for you to retell your life story or sum up your interest in IMD or need for an MBA. Make sure you focus only on weak spots and also discuss what steps you have taken or took to rectify the weaknesses.
Find additional tips and tricks to help you master the optional essay here.
3. Make Your Story Shine
One of the most common mistakes we see in MBA essays is that candidates fail to tell compelling stories. This is important because if your stories are not compelling, they will not be persuasive. At the same time, they must be backed by strong examples that establish a track record of success and prove to the admissions committees why you belong at their school.
Striking this balance between content and creativity can be tough, however, as succeeding means not only choosing the right stories but ensuring they are told in an optimal manner.
This is why our iterative developmental feedback process here at Ellin Lolis Consulting helps you mold your message through the application of our storytelling expertise until it reflects exactly what makes your profile stand out and show fit with your target program.
Not only can you take advantage of our iterative feedback process through multiple edits – you can also benefit from it after a single review! If your budget is tight, our editors will be happy to help polish your text as much as possible and leave “bonus comments” so you can keep working on it on your own!
No matter how long we work with you, we will always ensure your essays shine. Sign up to work with our team of storytelling experts and get accepted.
4. IMD Deadlines
Here are the deadlines for the 2023-2024 season (2024 intake). IMD has multiple deadlines and varying in-person assessment days associated with each, so we recommend you check their deadlines here.
You can access the online application here.
Real MBA Essays That Got People In
School-specific sample essays that got our clients accepted
