INSEAD MBA Essay Advice 2025–2026: Expert Guidance from the Leading INSEAD Admissions Specialist

As the foremost INSEAD admissions specialist globally, I've guided countless applicants through the intricate process of crafting compelling essays that resonate with the admissions committee. Drawing from the top-performing resources and my extensive experience, this guide offers strategic insights to help you navigate the INSEAD MBA essays for the 2025–2026 intake.

Understanding INSEAD's Essay Requirements

INSEAD's application process is comprehensive, requiring candidates to submit multiple essays that delve into personal and professional experiences. These essays are designed to assess your fit with INSEAD's diverse and dynamic community. The key components include:

• Job Description Essays: These essays provide context about your professional background, responsibilities, and achievements.

• Motivation Essays: These essays explore your career goals, reasons for pursuing an MBA at INSEAD, and how the program aligns with your aspirations.

• Optional Essay: An opportunity to address any aspects of your application that require further explanation.

Crafting Compelling Job Description Essays

Essay 1: Career Progression and Achievements (500 words)

Prompt: Provide a summary of your career since graduating from university, explaining the rationale behind your key decisions and career progression. Include a description of your current (or most recent) role, covering the scope of your work, major responsibilities, employees under your supervision, budget size, clients/products, and any notable results achieved.

Do's:

• Present your career as a coherent narrative, highlighting upward progression and key decision points.

• Include quantifiable achievements and specific responsibilities to provide context.

• Demonstrate how each role has prepared you for the next, leading up to your current position.

Don'ts:

• Avoid listing job descriptions without analysis or reflection.

• Don't omit explanations for career changes or gaps; provide context where necessary.

• Refrain from using industry jargon without explanation; ensure clarity for a broad audience.

Essay 2: Career Aspirations and INSEAD's Role (300 words)

Prompt: Describe your short and long term career aspirations, including your target geography, industry, and function. How do you plan to bridge the gap between your current position and these goals, and how will INSEAD help you achieve them?

Do's:

• Clearly articulate specific short-term and long-term goals, including desired roles, industries, and locations.

• Explain the skills and experiences you need to acquire and how INSEAD's program will facilitate this development.

• Demonstrate alignment between your goals and INSEAD's offerings, such as courses, clubs, and global network.

Don'ts:

• Avoid vague or generic goals; specificity is key.

• Don't neglect to explain how INSEAD uniquely positions you to achieve your aspirations.

• Refrain from presenting goals that are disconnected from your past experiences or interests.

Crafting Compelling Motivation Essays

Essay 1: Self-Description and Leadership (500 words)

Prompt: Give a candid description of yourself as a person and a leader, emphasizing the strengths and weaknesses you recognize in yourself. Explain how you are actively working on your development, sharing key experiences that have shaped you, providing specific examples where relevant.

Do's:

• Be authentic and introspective, sharing personal anecdotes that illustrate your character.

• Highlight both strengths and weaknesses, demonstrating self-awareness and a commitment to growth.

• Provide specific examples of leadership experiences and the lessons learned from them.

Don'ts:

• Avoid generic statements; specificity adds credibility.

• Don't shy away from discussing weaknesses; honesty is valued, ensure you mention how you are already working towards overcoming them.

• Refrain from presenting a resume in prose form; focus on personal insights.

Essay 2: Handling Stressful Situations (400 words)

Prompt: Describe a highly stressful situation you faced and how you managed it. What did this experience teach you about yourself and your interactions with others?

Do's:

• Choose a situation that had significant impact and required resilience.

• Detail your actions, thought processes, and the outcomes.

• Reflect on the lessons learned and how the experience influenced your behavior and relationships.

Don'ts:

• Avoid selecting a scenario that lacks depth or personal involvement.

• Don't focus solely on the stressor; emphasize your response and growth.

• Refrain from blaming others; take ownership of your actions.

Optional INSEAD MBA Essay: Additional Information (300 words)

Prompt: Is there anything else that was not covered in your application that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee?

Do's:

• Use this space to address gaps, anomalies, or unique circumstances in your application.

• Provide context and explain how you've addressed or learned from these situations.

• Keep the tone positive and forward-looking.

Don'ts:

• Avoid repeating information already covered in other essays.

• Don't use this space to add another achievement; focus on clarifying aspects of your profile.

• Refrain from making excuses; instead, demonstrate resilience and growth.

Insights from Leadearly's Success Stories

At Leadearly, we've helped numerous candidates secure admission to INSEAD by crafting compelling narratives that highlight their unique strengths. Elif, shares the distinct advantages of working with Leadearly on her trustpilot review.

Leadearly and Sadaf set you up for success!

"Sadaf is an extremely experienced councillor who allows you to find the confidence within the application processes which can be daunting and overwhelming at times. She helped me receive offers my top two choices and was available for guidance when needed in everything from getting me into the right mindset, to interview training, to how to approach the universities once I received my first offer about an early decision on the second. With her many years in the business and knowledge on the ins and outs of the application process, she should be your top choice when applying to universities. I applied to Master's courses at top business schools in the UK and Europe and thanks to her guidance was able to choose between my top two choices. I will be starting this August at the top business school in Europe and Sadaf's alma matter."

Final Tips for INSEAD MBA Essays

• Start Early: Give yourself ample time to reflect, write, and revise your essays.

• Seek Feedback: Engage mentors or admissions consultants to review your essays and provide constructive feedback.

• Practice for Video Essays: Prepare for the video component by practicing responses to common questions, focusing on clarity and authenticity.

For more information on INSEAD's interview process, read our article on INSEAD's Interview Questions and Tips and watch the video below where Sadaf was featured in an Expert Interviewer on the INSEAD MBA.

Candidates who work with Sadaf directly increase their chances of getting in to INSEAD by up to 5 times. For personalized guidance on your INSEAD MBA application, feel free to reach out to us for a complimentary call. Our expertise can help you navigate the admissions process with confidence.