MBA Programme

MOTIVATION ESSAYS

Dear candidate,

The essays section is a critical part of our evaluation process. As such, we advise you to spend
a significant amount of time on your application essays.

Your responses to the essay questions provide the best opportunity to be creative and tell us
about yourself. We would like to get to know you and to find out what motivates you. The
essays are not meant to be academic articles or business memos, but rather your personal
stories.

Please answer essay 1 to 4 as they are all compulsory. Essay 5 is optional.

We look forward to reading your essays,

The MBA INSEAD Admissions Team

Asia Campus Europe Campus Abu Dhabi Campus

1 Ayer Rajah Avenue Boulevard de Constance Muroor Road, Street no.4, P.O. Box 48049
Singapore 138676 77305 Fontainebleau Cedex, France Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +65 6799 5388 Fax: +65 6799 5399 Tel: +33 (0)1 60 72 40 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 60 74 55 00/01 Tel: +971 (2) 651 5200 Fax: +971 (2) 443 9461
 MBA Programme

MOTIVATION ESSAYS

Essay 1
Give a candid description of yourself (who are you as a person), stressing the personal characteristics you feel to be your
strengths and weaknesses and the main factors which have influenced your personal development, giving examples when
necessary. (600 words max.)

0 out of 600 words maximum

Essay 2
Describe the achievement of which you are most proud and explain why. In addition, describe a situation where you failed. How
did these experiences impact your relationships with others? Comment on what you learned. (400 words max.)

0 out of 400 words maximum

Asia Campus Europe Campus Abu Dhabi Campus

1 Ayer Rajah Avenue Boulevard de Constance Muroor Road, Street no.4, P.O. Box 48049
Singapore 138676 77305 Fontainebleau Cedex, France Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +65 6799 5388 Fax: +65 6799 5399 Tel: +33 (0)1 60 72 40 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 60 74 55 00/01 Tel: +971 (2) 651 5200 Fax: +971 (2) 443 9461
 MBA Programme

MOTIVATION ESSAYS

Essay 3
Tell us about an experience where you were significantly impacted by cultural diversity, in a positive or negative way. (300 words
max.)

0 out of 300 words maximum

Essay 4
Describe all types of extra-professional activities in which you have been or are still involved for a significant amount of time
(clubs, sports, music, arts, politics, etc). How are you enriched by these activities? (300 words max.)

0 out of 300 words maximum

Asia Campus Europe Campus Abu Dhabi Campus

1 Ayer Rajah Avenue Boulevard de Constance Muroor Road, Street no.4, P.O. Box 48049
Singapore 138676 77305 Fontainebleau Cedex, France Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +65 6799 5388 Fax: +65 6799 5399 Tel: +33 (0)1 60 72 40 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 60 74 55 00/01 Tel: +971 (2) 651 5200 Fax: +971 (2) 443 9461
 MBA Programme

MOTIVATION ESSAYS

Essay 5 (optional)
Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee? (300
words max.)

0 out of 300 words maximum

Asia Campus Europe Campus Abu Dhabi Campus

1 Ayer Rajah Avenue Boulevard de Constance Muroor Road, Street no.4, P.O. Box 48049
Singapore 138676 77305 Fontainebleau Cedex, France Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Tel: +65 6799 5388 Fax: +65 6799 5399 Tel: +33 (0)1 60 72 40 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 60 74 55 00/01 Tel: +971 (2) 651 5200 Fax: +971 (2) 443 9461