At IMD, Experiential Learning Starts Before Admission

The unique learning experiences begin before applicants are even admitted to IMD’s top-ranked MBA program in Lausanne.

Candidates submit the usual application form, transcripts, test scores, and a recommendation letter. Top applicants are then invited to take part in an assessment day, held either online or in person.

It’s more or less a full day that simulates MBA program activities. In addition to a brief individual interview, groups of six to 10 applicants analyze and present a case, present a position on a challenging issue, and take part in other sessions modeled on-course experiences. “It’s fast-paced, with lots of things happening. “We want to see applicants in action, how they behave in a group setting, how they behave under pressure, how they lead, how they listen to others,” explains Anna Farrus, IMD’s Director of MBA Recruitment and Admissions.

At the same time, applicants get “a very good indication of what will experience., in the first six months of the program.” Farrus said. “You cannot hide in our MBA program. If you are not comfortable in articulating your ideas, you are going to be cold-called,” she said.
Participants also get to know and connect with potential classmates and receive individualized feedback from the staff who observe and assess them during activities. Assessment days are “such a learning experience. I often receive emails and messages on LinkedIn from applicants who are grateful for the experience even if they are not admitted.”

IMD also offers a second admissions pathway, with a simplified application process and a similar Challenge Assessment Day, where invited participants team up to analyze a business problem and present a solution. Some are then invited to interview, and participants are filtered down until ultimately, the top candidate wins a place in the class and a scholarship.

This process allows students of different professional academic backgrounds to compete their way into the class. There are Challenge Assessment Days for women, for younger applicants with less career experience, and one specifically for Danes that provides a full 97,500-franc scholarship.

This unique experiential assessment is possible only because of another feature that sets IMD apart: a small class size that allows for personalized attention. With just 100 to 120 students, the faculty-to-student ratio is high. The staff gets to know each student and helps them through their MBA journey, producing a program that is highly individualized to their interests and needs. “We don’t produce a program that is the same for everyone. It’s very personalized,” Farrus says.

Getting In

To score an invitation to the assessment days, you first have to submit a winning application. Leadership development is a major component of the IMD program, so it’s not surprising that the required essay in the application focuses on leadership and asks about a difficult decision you’ve made as a leader.

IMD also asks several career development questions, including queries about your network, your existing skills, and your Plan B if you don’t get a job after graduation.

I’ve posted some tips for how to handle all these questions. My Fortuna colleagues and I can also coach you so you’re well-prepared for the rigors of the assessment day.

To learn more about how we can help get you into IMD or other schools of your dream, sign up for a free consultation.

Karen Ponte is a Fortuna Admissions expert coach and a former senior program manager at London Business School. For a candid assessment of your chances of admission success at a top MBA program, sign up for a free consultation.