Calling all ISB Applicants - (2014 Intake) Class of 2015

A little late but here goes

I had an interview on the 11th of January in Delhi. Overall the panel gives you opportunities to dig yourself into a hole but also gives you opportunities to get out. The panel initially started with a precis of my career before moving onto the meatier stuff. I have very specific long term entrepreneurial goals and the interview mostly dealt with it. In fact it could even be called an advisory session (one that I would have gladly paid for). The panel moved towards asking great you have these grand ambitions and they seem to be realistic why don't you start now. Of course I headed in the direction that ISB would help me develop key skills that I require to be an entrepreneur. Completely blanked out on the Wadhwani center (big flub) but my focus even during my research had been towards CEMS. I kind of went into a lot of side-alleys with funding and approach and wasn't very sure if the panel was convinced with it. Overall a good experience I think I was able to end on a positive note but there were quite a few goof-ups in the middle. My understanding was the panel comprised of two alumni and one admission officer. The alumni were reactive and highly involved throughout the interview whereas it was very difficult to read the admission officer (very measured and neutral with his questions and my responses).

Learnings - Don't try to be too diplomatic or roundabout in you answers. At least with my panel they were much more receptive if I went to the straight truth as opposed to a consultant's monologue dancing around a relatively unpalatable fact.

Precisely articulating what exactly you bring to ISB is much more valuable than what you gain from ISB.

That's my 0.02 best of luck to everyone. Just have to wait till the 15th of Feb I guess.