[I promise you that a final tell-all post is still taking its form inside my head. But in the meantime, I’m letting better writers sum up their experiences at INSEAD. Enjoy.]
Questions of value must arise at the end of an energy sapping year that features, among other things, an extraordinary financial strain. Simply, was it worth it?
What is undoubtedly true is that INSEAD offers among the best education money can buy, and not only in a pedagogical sense. However, in my case, as in surely that of many of my classmates, I must wonder whether the theory (and associated interactions) absorbed, and the three letters earned, will effect (or inspire?) the expected impact on my career. Was I no longer in the mood for a decent swathe of serious learning? Did I not feel enough sacrifice of the investment made in order to seek a full return? Perhaps this is the kind of risk classifiable as a perennial pitfall of privilege?
I guess only time will clarify the extent of any delusion here. In the interim there are more job applications and interviews, and the mental anguish of a come down that is relatively simple to explain, but harder to cure.
However it is not the underpassioned (for whatever reason) that tend to miss out on the most INSEAD has to offer, but the shy, in my humble opinion. And I don’t mean those that could not get themselves away from their laptops for yet another Tavers gropefest. I mean those who had ample opportunity to pick the brains of immensely interesting people but for some reason could not muster the confidence or energy to do so.
I regret falling in this category far too often. And according to many I have discussed this with, it would appear to represent a common regret. Over 15 years ago I was about to commence my first year of undergrad, and the best advice I received, from my most respected advisor, was: “Talk to as many people as you can”. My formal institutional learning is over, and the advice could well have not been given.
It is not so much an issue of the more culturally quiet versus those with the perceived level of ‘cool’ to gain access to ears and mouths of the masses – too many who had such access seemed to waste it on shallow and banal association, again in my humble opinion.
To me, this is where INSEAD earns its damage to your balance sheet – the sheer attraction of the people. Maybe this is a common trait of concentrated graduate schools, but I have no benchmark of experience. Of course, a component of that attraction was the sexual tension (which was as fun as it should be, and tragically, almost always underexploited), but for most this was just a side-dish.
Examples of associations that characterise the attraction are diverse and often subtle in form. The humbling wisdom of a team member. The discovery of how unexpected leaders refuse to be led. A unique and powerful perspective that blows the hair back due to its sheer simplicity. The almost delirious feeling of a packed Shaker dance floor and its collective euphoria, fired by booze and the welcome surprise of the talent on show at the Cabaret.
And the treasured exchanges are not always of the more uplifting variety. I remember being suitably sideways in a Barcelona club at 4am, and one of my most fascinating classmates was recalling his work in some West African hellhole – and how the psychological trauma from his exposure to the bloodshed (and associated moral vacuum) had erased most of his childhood memories.
There is little time to explore people like this at much greater depth, as a key strength of the INSEAD course structure is to keep you moving your exposure around the student body. The grand opportunity, therefore, is to exchange genuine experiences and opinions with as many students as possible. As many as you can.
Returning to the aforementioned come down, I self-medicate myself with the knowledge that I will see my friends again. Then it will be different.
Hmm, you’re one of those people who I want to fall in love with, but just can’t. Thanks for the post.
I just ran across your blog today. I’m planning on applying to business school in the near future. And so reading about the experiences and perspectives at INSEAD has inspired me.
I’ve been reading lots of MBA blogs recently and have a suggestion for how this blog can reach to many other needful B-school applicants. Beat The GMAT, which is a very active GMAT/MBA site, recently launched a blog directory (http://www.beatthegmat.com/blogs/all) to promote MBA blogs. If you add your blog to their blog directory, a lot more people like me will find your blog!
Please keep posting great stuff!
This is quite possibly the most interesting blog I’ve read about INSEAD yet. I had an inkling of what INSEAD really was (a 10-month glorified Erasmus experience) and quite frankly, I was right.
May I ask how you fared in the job market? How your classmates did? I’m thinking of applying in the next few years, but debating between 1 or 2 year programs both in US and abroad. I want something solid when I graduate, will INSEAD support that initiative or it is like a speed dating experience with more booze and less talk?
Pls email me with the response if you could. It’d be greatly appreciated!
please write more! please!
this is the best insead blog ever!
i was there in 2008 and like what you say and want to hear more, as there is life after insead and pls share it with us.
not sure if i’d repeat my insead experience especially for this money…. i guess classes from D08 to now are caught up with the crisis and lots of us are unemployed or doing their ‘exciting’ projects in cleantech or something for no or meagre money. this sucks. sucks a lot. it surely affected my view of insead, although i was socially active and was ‘popular’ (excuse me for this word) enough to enjoy back to high school experience.
i have buddies from insead but no friends and this sucks. and i am a very typical D08er, i am afraid.
pls continue yr blog!
Am starting at sgp in 6 months and have been reading blogs/talking to alum for a while now and i must say that reading your blog has been wonderful. its a great insight into life at insead and am excited to be heading there soon.
maybe i am not searching in the right places but cant seem to find blogs by chaps in the sgp campus. would be really grateful if you could send across any links you might have.
thanks again and wish you all the best for the post mba life.
ps – if you have restarted blogging under a different nom de plume i would love to continue reading…
Hi there – thanks for commenting! No, I don’t know of anyone blogging from Singapore but I’m sure there are plenty. Or perhaps they’re having way too much fun traveling and karaoke-ing!
I’m not blogging these days, but considering picking up again.
good luck in Singapore! if you do come to Fonty, just be ready for a really rough adjustment – esp if you come in winter. =\
Brilliant! I g-ed “INSEAD girls” – for old times sakes! – and found this. Apart from a good caustic read, I felt a frisson of excitement at drink driving, the porn parties, et al. And since it’s been 10 years since Singy and Fonty, and I’m now rather more decrepit, I felt even happier for the memories. Say hi, if you’re ever in Delhi!