IE Business School is a hub of creativity and innovation, with a reputation as one of Europe's top business schools. The school was founded in the early 1970s by a group of entrepreneurs and has since fostered an entrepreneurial environment. 

IE has a constantly evolving approach to education and offers students the opportunity to customize more than half of the MBA curriculum. In 2021, the school also pioneered a new 'liquid learning' teaching method using the latest cutting-edge technologies. 

In 2024, IE has introduced eight different concentrations in their International MBA program, allowing students to customize their studies to their career aspirations and objectives. To keep up with digital transformation and evolving pressures in the business world, the school has also launched several new courses related to technology, data analysis, and sustainability. 

Landing a place at IE isn't easy. The school considers the entire application when evaluating applicants, from essays and academic performance to personality and fit. Even still the average GMAT score among successful candidates is 680. Above all else, IE looks for a diverse range of candidates for its cohort, so successful applicants have to show their individuality.

So how can you have the best chance of successfully applying to the IE MBA? BusinessBecause caught up with Andrea Longaretti (pictured), global head of recruitment and admissions at IE, to find out how to ace your IE MBA application. 

What do you look for in your MBA applicants?

At IE, we are driven by the values of diversity, innovation, humanities, and entrepreneurship. 

We seek MBA candidates who have a unique profile and a high potential to make a positive impact in our society. We evaluate candidates in a holistic manner, according to their unique profile. However, some of the common factors we look for in an MBA candidate are the following: having at least three years of relevant full-time experience post-graduation of bachelor’s degree, solid numerical, verbal, and logical reasoning skills, strong soft skills such as communication, problem solving, and critical thinking, and a vision of their post MBA career goals. 

We also appreciate candidates who are very motivated, creative, and diverse in terms of professions and academic backgrounds. Our aim is to create a very diverse and international network for students and alumni, where they can learn from each other and grow together.

What’s the biggest mistake you can make in an MBA application?

By taking a holistic approach in our admission process, we value both the academic/professional achievements and the personal strengths. 

We want to get to know our candidates as a person, not just as a number. The main mistake would be not being themselves and show us their interests, their strengths, and the aspects that they can contribute to the class. During the interview (but even before across the application form), candidates have the opportunity to shine and demonstrate that they are more than what they submitted in their application. They need to show us their personal side and what makes them unique. 

This is what often distinguishes one candidate from another. The academic and professional part is important, but not enough. We look for a balance between the two.

What are the strangest things you’ve seen in an application? 

Many interesting and incredible personal stories emerge from the admissions process. The holistic approach encourages both parties, the candidate, and the IE Admissions person, to have a 360-degree conversation about the past, the present and the future. 

For example, one of my colleagues had an interview with a candidate and while discussing their academic and professional backgrounds, they realized they were in the same kindergarten! It was a long conversation, and they did not recognize each other at first. They were both from the US, so it was a huge coincidence.

What questions should candidates expect in their admissions interview?

You shouldn’t expect too many technical questions, but rather questions that reflect your professional career, academic background, achievements, challenges, motivations, and goals. We also want to know how you think, how you handle pressure, and how you deal with different cultures. The interview is a chance for you to show us your personal side and what you can bring to the diverse class at IE.

What's one thing about the IE MBA application process that most people wouldn’t know?

We have a rolling admissions process, so we don’t have admissions deadlines. However, we recommend applying at least six months before the start of the program.

We also offer the possibility to take our internal admissions test, the IE Global Admissions Test. This test is another way for us to assess, in a holistic way, the skills of candidates. It is available for those who are unable to provide a GMAT test or who do not wish to do so.

Why should students consider applying to IE Business School?

Your education should be a journey to what's next and what's best for you. We'll help you learn more about the current you—your aspirations, strengths, skill gaps and your purpose. And then we'll be your trusted guide to help you define and pursue the next best you.

We will do all this always with our pillars well in mind:

Diversity: IE students come from many different backgrounds and cultures, which allows our student to build a valuable international network and is an important part of the learning experience. We have students from more than 160 nationalities on campus.

Innovation: at IE you will learn to drive change through innovation. Curiosity is key to stimulating new and sustainable patterns of thinking. We innovate education through sector-leading professors, personalized learning and cutting-edge technology in a way that humanizes learning. We constantly update and improve our programs, incorporating new trends and technologies.

Entrepreneurship: IE’s International MBA has been ranked among the best MBAs in the world for entrepreneurs. Having an entrepreneurial mindset is an important asset, whether you want to have your own business or innovate within an existing company. The Startup Lab and Venture Lab are great opportunities to build this mindset and / or launch your business.

Humanities: the secret to grasping the complexities of our world is by understanding the people that live in it. That’s why we infuse the humanities into everything we do, from incorporating modules into our curriculum, to coordinating arts and cultural initiatives for our whole community. By exploring the human experience, our graduates emerge as well-rounded individuals with an enhanced and more inclusive mindset. 

What’s your top tip for IE MBA applicants?

Apply with due time and with a clear idea about your objectives after the MBA. Having a customizable MBA, this will be very helpful to know what you want to focus on during the labs, concentrations, and electives period.