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IE MBA, Spain
Rankings | Class Profile | Employment Report | Sample Essays | Interview Questions
IE Spain Business School – Introduction
A lot of business schools talk about being entrepreneurial, but entrepreneurship is in Madrid-based IE’s DNA. The school was set up in 1973 by three entrepreneurs, rather than academics, and it retains a creative spirit that other schools can only aspire to — as well as the flagship International MBA (IMBA), a highly regarded executive MBA, an online Global MBA (the world’s first), and an Asian-focused program run with Singapore Management University.
The 12-month IMBA starts with a six-month Core Period that includes the usual business fundamentals, such as accounting and managerial decision-making. But it gives equal weight to two other areas: Developing an Entrepreneurial Mindset and Thinking Beyond Business, which includes courses on Innovation in a Digital World, Critical Management Thinking, and Business, Government, and Society.
This is followed by a two-month Lab Period. Depending on how they see their futures, students can choose between Business Lab, Start-Up Lab, or Social Impact Lab. Alternatively, those focused on a career change can do a four- to seven-week internship.
The final, four-month Elective Period is where students choose from a long menu of electives and/or take on consulting projects, exchanges, or treks. There is also Venture Lab, which helps take a business idea to investment-readiness. All of this runs parallel with courses in Career and Behavioral Fitness, which promise to develop students’ soft skills to make them more competitive. For more details Click Here…
| Class Profile Summary | |
| Class Size | 733 |
| Average GMAT Score | 670(520-780) |
| Average Work Experience (yrs.) | 5 years |
| Average Age (yrs.) | 29 years (24-35) |
| Employment Summary | |
| Average Salary | $97,578 |
| Average Bonus | |
| % placed within 3 months | 95% |
| Tuition Fees Summary | |
| Total Tuition | $72,200 |
| Living Cost | |
| Total Cost |
IE Spain MBA Application Deadlines
| Deadlines | Applications |
| Round 1 | 07 Sept 2021 |
| Round 2 | 12 Oct 2021 |
| Round 3 | 16 Nov 2021 |
| Round 4 | 29 Dec 2021 |
| Round 5 | 01 Feb 2022 |
| Round 6 | 23 Mar 2022 |
IE Spain MBA Application Essay Tips
Essay 1: This section is important in understanding who you are, not just as a student but also as a person in order to grasp the value that you could add to our program. Take this as an opportunity to showcase your unique attributes and personality. There are three formats you can choose to express yourself: a video (max. 3 minutes), a PowerPoint presentation (max. 10 slides), or a written essay (between 250-650 words). Please pay special attention to punctuation, structure and content.
What is the most important thing that you would like us to know that is not in your résumé or application?
All your compositions must be absolutely original and specifically intended for this admission application. The compositions must be composed, executed and completed by you alone. Before submitting the links, check that they work correctly. The links must be active and available for consultation for a minimum of 18 months after the date the application is submitted.
What story do I tell?
It is strongly advised to stay away from professional experiences. It may be easier to bucket and think across three areas – social activities, extracurriculars and personal. Your first championship medal in sports, founding an NGO, breaking family convention value for love marriage, entrepreneurship, experience of surviving a terminal disease, leading a team towards a great vision, achievements in either sporting arena even if it is yoga and meditation – it could be anything you consider is a big part of YOUR life and you think it changed you or left you with a lifelong impact for the good. You can pick a story that resonates with one of the themes
Demonstrates leadership qualities
- Adds diversity or uniqueness to your profile
- Shows your strength and values with results
- Compelling personal story
- Life changing experiences etc
Once you have identified your story, illustrate it using STAR methodology. Situation → Task → Action → Result.
Explain the situation to give a background or context to the reader. Explain how it was a different perspective or identity or community than yours. How did you react to the situation? What actions did you take to address the situation? The talk about the results – In the process, what value did you create, what lessons did you learn, how it has changed you as a person, what impact such experience has had on you, how it has shifted your perspective about life and the world.
Which format to use?
The major emphasis lies on the story you want to tell to the admissions committee. Having said that, making a presentation gives a visual effect to the whole story and gives an added experience to the reviewer. Also, it shows the admissions committee that you took the extra effort to make a presentation
You can also make a video if you have the time and also someone to help you shoot the videos. This may not be the best option to experiment if it’s your first time before the camera or if you are particularly camera shy. The effort may be spent on these aspects, instead of focusing on the story which you ultimately don’t want to do.
The last option is of course the essay, which you can fall back on. As long as you are able to weave a compelling story within the word limit and communicate to the reader, this is a valid option you can consider, if both PPT and video is not your preference.