Chelsea Donfack

Navigating the HEC Paris admissions process: the experience of Chelsea

What motivated you to pursue your Master’s at HEC Paris?

I originally come from a legal background. I chose to join HEC’s Specialized Master’s program in Law and International Management to gain a broader perspective on the corporate world. When pursuing a career in business law, I believe it is essential to understand your client’s challenges and to develop your own business-oriented outlook. This can be particularly difficult without prior exposure to economics, strategy, or finance courses, which is precisely why I chose this specific program.

Is there anything you wish you had known before applying or during the application?

The information in the brochure was not misleading. However, if you live in the Paris region, consider applying for housing on campus—don’t assume you won’t be given priority. The least that can be said is that commuting from campus to Paris every day is no easy task, especially if you don’t have a driver’s license. Don’t hold back from applying because you think the year is too expensive; there are always ways to secure funding, whether through a bank loan or the HEC Foundation.

What was your biggest challenge during your application journey, and how did you overcome it?

The challenge was determining whether I was truly committing to a program with added value or simply paying for something that wasn’t worth much. I reached out to alumni, formed my own opinion, and decided to enroll. The result? No regrets whatsoever!

How did you prepare for your HEC Paris interview, and what would you recommend others focus on?

As part of my Master’s program, we had to deliver a 10-minute presentation on a topic of our choice related to the business world or taxation. It was a challenging exercise because it required thorough knowledge of the subject—there’s nothing worse than picking a topic yourself and not mastering it! It demanded preparation and research, but since the topic is self-chosen, it’s supposed to be something that interests you, making the exercise manageable overall.

If you had one piece of advice for applicants, what would it be?

I once heard someone say, ‘Dreams are expensive!’ So my only advice would be to hold on tightly to your dreams! 

Find out more about the MS/LLM Droit et Management International