Calling all ISB Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2017

FROM ISB Admissions Blog: Faculty at the Indian School of Business

Indian School of Business follows a unique portfolio faculty model that gives students exposure to the best of global faculty. The model enriches students learning by giving them the best of both worlds - 1) The Resident Faculty who are research focused and bring the expertise in business in India and other emerging markets 2) The Visiting Faculty from the top global B-schools, who bring insights specific to the global economies The PGP curriculum is designed by the Area Leaders and Programme Leaders from the associate schools – The Kellogg School of management, The Wharton, LBS, MIT Sloan and The Fletcher School – who collaborate with faculty on research and advise the administration on curriculum, programme delivery, etc. ISB faculty come with a strong pedigree of Ph.Ds. from a strong research-oriented programmes across the world. Apart from taking classes and mentoring students, the faculty also conducts independent research. The insights from the research are merged with the textual learnings which gives students a realistic and real-time perspective on businesses. Infact, ISB was the first B-School in India to introduce this system of encouraging and rewarding high-quality research. ISB faculty have published in over 70 top-tier journals in different management areas. Some of the areas of research include: Strategy, Organizational Behaviour, Finance and Economics, Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations Management. Here is the list of the research published our faculty. For which they have received numerous coveted research grants awarded by premier academic institutions, research centers, corporate houses and reputed foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, WWF, McCombs School of Business, UT-Austin and others. These awards attest to the scope, depth and impact of the research conducted at the ISB. Students are also allowed to work on real-time research, by assisting them in the Faculty Initiated Research Initiatives. Check the list of research projects the faculty is currently working on here

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: Faculty at the Indian School of Business

Indian School of Business follows a unique portfolio faculty model that gives students exposure to the best of global faculty. The model enriches students learning by giving them the best of both worlds - 1) The Resident Faculty who are research focused and bring the expertise in business in India and other emerging markets 2) The Visiting Faculty from the top global B-schools, who bring insights specific to the global economies The PGP curriculum is designed by the Area Leaders and Programme Leaders from the associate schools – The Kellogg School of management, The Wharton, LBS, MIT Sloan and The Fletcher School – who collaborate with faculty on research and advise the administration on curriculum, programme delivery, etc. ISB faculty come with a strong pedigree of Ph.Ds. from a strong research-oriented programmes across the world. Apart from taking classes and mentoring students, the faculty also conducts independent research. The insights from the research are merged with the textual learnings which gives students a realistic and real-time perspective on businesses. Infact, ISB was the first B-School in India to introduce this system of encouraging and rewarding high-quality research. ISB faculty have published in over 70 top-tier journals in different management areas. Some of the areas of research include: Strategy, Organizational Behaviour, Finance and Economics, Information Systems, Marketing, and Operations Management. Here is the list of the research published our faculty. For which they have received numerous coveted research grants awarded by premier academic institutions, research centers, corporate houses and reputed foundations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, MacArthur Foundation, WWF, McCombs School of Business, UT-Austin and others. These awards attest to the scope, depth and impact of the research conducted at the ISB. Students are also allowed to work on real-time research, by assisting them in the Faculty Initiated Research Initiatives. Check the list of research projects the faculty is currently working on here

FROM ISB Admissions Blog: My ISB Experience – Rahine Bose Co’17

The Indian School of Business (ISB) sets itself apart from all other B-Schools in having a rich blend of students coming from diverse backgrounds and work experience. At its Mohali Campus (part of the One school two campus theme of ISB), the institute boasts of 280 students drawn from some of the top notch academic institutes of India and the world. You will find students from reputed institutes such as IITs, NITs, NSIT, DCE, Presidency College, St Xaviers, SRCC, St Stephens, Goenka College Calcutta and Foreign Universities such as University of Pennsylvania,UT Austin and HKUST. ISB takes care to give admission to candidates with diverse work experience backgrounds. This was one of the biggest push for me too when I decided to apply. It is also a place where you would not find a fresher just out of college doing an MBA, but where everyone has something to bring on the table. The work experience varies from 2 to 20 years and more. MBA is not only limited to knowledge gained from reading the books but also should entail experiences garnered from the job life and practical experience. The fact that I will be interacting with my batch mates, who come from varied industries from diverse sectors, was a boost in itself. From doctors,  engineers, Chartered Accountants, Regional Managers of Banks to artists, musicians, National level sports personalities and entrepreneurs, you will find achievers from all walks of life. Ranked among the top 30 B-schools globally (as per the prestigious Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2016) ISB has been able to carve a niche for itself. It has one of the stiffest admission processes and if you are able to crack this tough nut, an amazing experience awaits you. Apart from one’s GMAT score which is also averaged at a staggering 710-720 (range being 610-780), one needs to showcase brilliance in various facets of work, life, academics and should bring in genuine and honest recommendations. There are students who keep trying and are reviewed as re-applicants the next year if their applications didn’t make the cut. One round of advice I can give to aspirants is that one has to be serious with the essays in the application as that is the mirror which gives the true image about you as an individual. All significant achievements in one’s career can be highlighted through the essays. Thus, they are very very important and have a significant weightage in the final selection. It doesn’t matter if you have not done well in one of the facets. Your ability to bring out the best in some other domain is what decides your crossing the line and making it here. Another big advantage of ISB is that it draws the top faculty from top notch global institutes like Wharton and Kellogg. It is a mind blowing experience to learn from such stalwarts. Academics at ISB is an intellectually stimulating experience and one will be having the opportunity to go through Case based learning which is very interactive. Apart from academics, ISB has many student clubs which are the professional and social clubs. For example, on the one hand, you will have the Graduate Student Board and Senior Executives Club and the musical club, sports club and many more on the other. ISB provides you opportunities unparalleled to bring out the best in you. All of this culminates in the strong placements that happen at ISB. In 2016, the record breaking 1100 plus offers to its 812 students stands testimony to this fact. With companies coming from all sectors and Consulting being the most sought after, ISB is one of the favourite hunting grounds for the recruiters for years now. My one piece of advise to all aspirants would be to work hard on the application and give it your best shot. Yes, it is a herculean task to crack ISB but if one has the grit and the determination then ISB will turn into a reality …. Live it for a lifetime. Rahine Bose is student of PGP Class of 2017 at ISB. His last industry role was Chief Manager & Regional Head Sales at ICICI Bank Ltd. First published in  Career 360.com | Oneyearmba.co.in

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: My ISB Experience – Rahine Bose Co’17

The Indian School of Business (ISB) sets itself apart from all other B-Schools in having a rich blend of students coming from diverse backgrounds and work experience. At its Mohali Campus (part of the One school two campus theme of ISB), the institute boasts of 280 students drawn from some of the top notch academic institutes of India and the world. You will find students from reputed institutes such as IITs, NITs, NSIT, DCE, Presidency College, St Xaviers, SRCC, St Stephens, Goenka College Calcutta and Foreign Universities such as University of Pennsylvania,UT Austin and HKUST. ISB takes care to give admission to candidates with diverse work experience backgrounds. This was one of the biggest push for me too when I decided to apply. It is also a place where you would not find a fresher just out of college doing an MBA, but where everyone has something to bring on the table. The work experience varies from 2 to 20 years and more. MBA is not only limited to knowledge gained from reading the books but also should entail experiences garnered from the job life and practical experience. The fact that I will be interacting with my batch mates, who come from varied industries from diverse sectors, was a boost in itself. From doctors,  engineers, Chartered Accountants, Regional Managers of Banks to artists, musicians, National level sports personalities and entrepreneurs, you will find achievers from all walks of life. Ranked among the top 30 B-schools globally (as per the prestigious Financial Times Global MBA Rankings 2016) ISB has been able to carve a niche for itself. It has one of the stiffest admission processes and if you are able to crack this tough nut, an amazing experience awaits you. Apart from one’s GMAT score which is also averaged at a staggering 710-720 (range being 610-780), one needs to showcase brilliance in various facets of work, life, academics and should bring in genuine and honest recommendations. There are students who keep trying and are reviewed as re-applicants the next year if their applications didn’t make the cut. One round of advice I can give to aspirants is that one has to be serious with the essays in the application as that is the mirror which gives the true image about you as an individual. All significant achievements in one’s career can be highlighted through the essays. Thus, they are very very important and have a significant weightage in the final selection. It doesn’t matter if you have not done well in one of the facets. Your ability to bring out the best in some other domain is what decides your crossing the line and making it here. Another big advantage of ISB is that it draws the top faculty from top notch global institutes like Wharton and Kellogg. It is a mind blowing experience to learn from such stalwarts. Academics at ISB is an intellectually stimulating experience and one will be having the opportunity to go through Case based learning which is very interactive. Apart from academics, ISB has many student clubs which are the professional and social clubs. For example, on the one hand, you will have the Graduate Student Board and Senior Executives Club and the musical club, sports club and many more on the other. ISB provides you opportunities unparalleled to bring out the best in you. All of this culminates in the strong placements that happen at ISB. In 2016, the record breaking 1100 plus offers to its 812 students stands testimony to this fact. With companies coming from all sectors and Consulting being the most sought after, ISB is one of the favourite hunting grounds for the recruiters for years now. My one piece of advise to all aspirants would be to work hard on the application and give it your best shot. Yes, it is a herculean task to crack ISB but if one has the grit and the determination then ISB will turn into a reality …. Live it for a lifetime. Rahine Bose is student of PGP Class of 2017 at ISB. His last industry role was Chief Manager & Regional Head Sales at ICICI Bank Ltd. First published in  Career 360.com | Oneyearmba.co.in

FROM ISB Admissions Blog: July Q&A with Rupesh Bisht

Rupesh Bisht, Sr. Associate Director, Admissions and Financial Aid answers some commonly asked questions about the application process and the selection criteria at the Indian School of Business. Question:The application is a make or break deal for one’s admission to ISB. How should one go about filling in their Application? Rupesh: If you were to broadly classify the online application form, there are two parts to it 1)      The information section and   2) The Essays  & Recommendation section The information section requires you to fill in your basic personal and professional details, test scores and upload relevant documents. Though tedious it is pretty straight forward. Ensure there are no spelling mistakes or typos. The Second part, even though has just 2 essays and a recommendation letter, gives us more critical information about you. At ISB, we believe that apart from the learning that happens in the classroom, there is a lot to learn outside it as well, and peers enable this. So it is important for us to build a Class Profile with high caliber and diversity so the learning is enriching. Essay 1 asks you exactly that. (‘If we were to admit just one more candidate to the Postgraduate Programme (PGP) at the ISB, why should it be you?’ ) Tell us how you can add value to the peer group and also to the School, highlight your strengths and achievements in this essay. It is also important for applicants to showcase their career aspirations and clarity of thought in achieving those. The Second Essay (Describe your short and long term career plans. How does the PGP fit in with those?) gives us insights into this. You could talk about your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the one-year PGP will help you achieve these goals. You could also illustrate a few examples from your workplace that triggered the desire to pursue an MBA. The third essay is an optional essay. If the two mandatory essays and  the application in general, doesn’t  tell us enough about you and if you believe additional information will significantly impact your candidature, you should submit this essay as well. The last piece in this section is the recommendation from your evaluator. She/he needs to answer few questions about you.   Question: What is the Ideal GMAT and GRE Score to be able to get through ISB? What are the cut-offs ? Rupesh: At ISB, the individual profile is holistically evaluated. GMAT /GRE Score is one of several evaluation criteria and there is no cut-off. An average score alone doesn’t disqualify you or an extraordinary score doesn’t guarantee an admission. In the past, we have accepted students with an average GMAT score but a great profile and at the same time have rejected applicants with a high GMAT score but an average profile. Having said that, the Class average for GMAT has been 710 for the past few years and the range in the current class is 690 to 780. As far as the GRE is concerned, we have started accepting it from this year.   Question: Who would be an Ideal candidate for ISB’s PGP Rupesh: We look for well-rounded individuals who have ·         High Achievement orientation and clear career goals ·         Good extracurricular participation which highlights their leadership potential ·         Consistently performed well in school, work and outside work, who have taken up initiatives and have quality achievements ·         Good communication skills and can articulate their thought process in a structured manner   Question: How should you pick your Evaluator for your Recommendation? And what is the process of the evaluation? Rupesh: Recommendation letters should ideally be a testimony given by the applicants’ superiors at work (current or previous). If you are an entrepreneur- then you could ask your clients or vendors to recommend you. These are the following ways to submit an evaluation/ recommendation. The applicant will have to choose an evaluator and provide us with the details and the form will be sent to them accordingly. Online Evaluation: This is an online format, where a link would be sent to the evaluator’s official email id. The evaluator has to click the link, fill the form and submit. Offline Evaluation: The offline format is used only if the evaluator does not have an official (Organization email id). If the offline mode is chosen, a word document along will the link will be emailed to the evaluator. The evaluator has to fill the word document, print it, sign it, scan and upload it on to the link provided in the email.  —————————————————————————————————————- Watch out for more QnA Blogs every month. Write to pgp@isb.edu if you have queries related to  PGP at ISB Or you could attend an infosession in your city or sign up for a webinar  for more information Download the mobile app to stay updated. :ISB360 for Andriod,  ISB 360 for Apple

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: July Q&A with Rupesh Bisht

Rupesh Bisht, Sr. Associate Director, Admissions and Financial Aid answers some commonly asked questions about the application process and the selection criteria at the Indian School of Business. Question:The application is a make or break deal for one’s admission to ISB. How should one go about filling in their Application? Rupesh: If you were to broadly classify the online application form, there are two parts to it 1)      The information section and   2) The Essays  & Recommendation section The information section requires you to fill in your basic personal and professional details, test scores and upload relevant documents. Though tedious it is pretty straight forward. Ensure there are no spelling mistakes or typos. The Second part, even though has just 2 essays and a recommendation letter, gives us more critical information about you. At ISB, we believe that apart from the learning that happens in the classroom, there is a lot to learn outside it as well, and peers enable this. So it is important for us to build a Class Profile with high caliber and diversity so the learning is enriching. Essay 1 asks you exactly that. (‘If we were to admit just one more candidate to the Postgraduate Programme (PGP) at the ISB, why should it be you?’ ) Tell us how you can add value to the peer group and also to the School, highlight your strengths and achievements in this essay. It is also important for applicants to showcase their career aspirations and clarity of thought in achieving those. The Second Essay (Describe your short and long term career plans. How does the PGP fit in with those?) gives us insights into this. You could talk about your short-term and long-term professional goals and how the one-year PGP will help you achieve these goals. You could also illustrate a few examples from your workplace that triggered the desire to pursue an MBA. The third essay is an optional essay. If the two mandatory essays and  the application in general, doesn’t  tell us enough about you and if you believe additional information will significantly impact your candidature, you should submit this essay as well. The last piece in this section is the recommendation from your evaluator. She/he needs to answer few questions about you.   Question: What is the Ideal GMAT and GRE Score to be able to get through ISB? What are the cut-offs ? Rupesh: At ISB, the individual profile is holistically evaluated. GMAT /GRE Score is one of several evaluation criteria and there is no cut-off. An average score alone doesn’t disqualify you or an extraordinary score doesn’t guarantee an admission. In the past, we have accepted students with an average GMAT score but a great profile and at the same time have rejected applicants with a high GMAT score but an average profile. Having said that, the Class average for GMAT has been 710 for the past few years and the range in the current class is 690 to 780. As far as the GRE is concerned, we have started accepting it from this year.   Question: Who would be an Ideal candidate for ISB’s PGP Rupesh: We look for well-rounded individuals who have ·         High Achievement orientation and clear career goals ·         Good extracurricular participation which highlights their leadership potential ·         Consistently performed well in school, work and outside work, who have taken up initiatives and have quality achievements ·         Good communication skills and can articulate their thought process in a structured manner   Question: How should you pick your Evaluator for your Recommendation? And what is the process of the evaluation? Rupesh: Recommendation letters should ideally be a testimony given by the applicants’ superiors at work (current or previous). If you are an entrepreneur- then you could ask your clients or vendors to recommend you. These are the following ways to submit an evaluation/ recommendation. The applicant will have to choose an evaluator and provide us with the details and the form will be sent to them accordingly. Online Evaluation: This is an online format, where a link would be sent to the evaluator’s official email id. The evaluator has to click the link, fill the form and submit. Offline Evaluation: The offline format is used only if the evaluator does not have an official (Organization email id). If the offline mode is chosen, a word document along will the link will be emailed to the evaluator. The evaluator has to fill the word document, print it, sign it, scan and upload it on to the link provided in the email.  —————————————————————————————————————- Watch out for more QnA Blogs every month. Write to pgp@isb.edu if you have queries related to  PGP at ISB Or you could attend an infosession in your city or sign up for a webinar  for more information Download the mobile app to stay updated. :ISB360 for Andriod,  ISB 360 for Apple

FROM ISB Admissions Blog: Why Class-diversity is important at ISB?

The best B-schools around the world give a great deal of importance to demographic and cultural diversity in their classrooms. When a group of bright young minds from different backgrounds are thrown together, it must necessarily result in the creation of new ideas and perspectives. Such a cross-pollination of thoughts and attitudes gives rise to innovation. This is exactly why Global B-school like ISB emphasize on building a diverse class. As a discerning candidate, you should certainly consider classroom diversity as a key factor in your decision to ultimately join an management program. This is because in a B-school environment, a great deal of the learning happens not just through classroom sessions and books, but also through interaction with peers. Here are 5 reasons why a diverse classroom is a big advantage from your perspective: Exposure to Diversity:You don’t always have to travel to get exposure. In a residential program like ISB’s, you will have to live alongside people from different regions, social and cultural backgrounds, age groups, and even life stages. In a single year at ISB, you may get to celebrate half a dozen festivals from different religions, learn a new language, sample delicacies from unknown cuisines, and make friends from different parts of the country! Exposure to Perspectives: Your background, habits, and life experiences determine how you see the world. As you engage in lively debates with others who have very different world views, you will get exposed to new ideas and new ways of looking at things. As you work on team-based projects, you will realize that a diverse group is more creative and critical in its thinking than one that conforms. This will make the sessions far more interesting and enlightening than if you were to work with a homogeneous group. Self Awareness: The foundation of learning is simple: Build on your strengths. Counter your weaknesses. But someone who thinks and behaves exactly like you may not be able to help you in your self-improvement project. Only when you meet and interact with people having strengths and weaknesses different from yours will you realize what you need to change and how. Hone your skills: When everyone in the room thinks differently, it will be very tough to build consensus. You may have to negotiate, compromise, or just take a hard call at the end. This is exactly the kind of workplace situation you may encounter on a daily basis once you graduate. Your experiences at ISB will prepare you to handle these situations effectively. Build your Network: A diverse peer group with varied career goals help you widen your network. These peers most probably would be your colleagues, clients or vendors in the future. If you have entrepreneurial dreams, chances are you’ll partner with someone from your MBA days. In a diverse classroom, you’re more likely to find people who complement your strengths, so that each of you can contribute to the startup in different ways. However, remember that diversity, in its real sense, is something more than your demographic background and profile. If you come from a very conventional background, but have very unconventional thoughts and perspectives to offer, then you are definitely bringing something unique to the table. On the other hand, you may have been a volunteer with the UNO and worked in 4 different countries, but if you are not able to share your experiences and learning with others, you’re adding no value to the class. So, don’t worry about how conventional or different your profile is. Bring your own brand of uniqueness to ISB – those crazy ideas, unorthodox thoughts, questions, and personality quirks.  As Dr.Seuss said, “Today you’re you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!” And this you is who we want. – Team Admissions If you have any queries about the programme write to pgp@isb.edu To know more about PGP click here.  Dowload the Brochure here  To Start your Application to PGP click here

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: Why Class-diversity is important at ISB?

The best B-schools around the world give a great deal of importance to demographic and cultural diversity in their classrooms. When a group of bright young minds from different backgrounds are thrown together, it must necessarily result in the creation of new ideas and perspectives. Such a cross-pollination of thoughts and attitudes gives rise to innovation. This is exactly why Global B-school like ISB emphasize on building a diverse class. As a discerning candidate, you should certainly consider classroom diversity as a key factor in your decision to ultimately join an management program. This is because in a B-school environment, a great deal of the learning happens not just through classroom sessions and books, but also through interaction with peers. Here are 5 reasons why a diverse classroom is a big advantage from your perspective: Exposure to Diversity:You don’t always have to travel to get exposure. In a residential program like ISB’s, you will have to live alongside people from different regions, social and cultural backgrounds, age groups, and even life stages. In a single year at ISB, you may get to celebrate half a dozen festivals from different religions, learn a new language, sample delicacies from unknown cuisines, and make friends from different parts of the country! Exposure to Perspectives: Your background, habits, and life experiences determine how you see the world. As you engage in lively debates with others who have very different world views, you will get exposed to new ideas and new ways of looking at things. As you work on team-based projects, you will realize that a diverse group is more creative and critical in its thinking than one that conforms. This will make the sessions far more interesting and enlightening than if you were to work with a homogeneous group. Self Awareness: The foundation of learning is simple: Build on your strengths. Counter your weaknesses. But someone who thinks and behaves exactly like you may not be able to help you in your self-improvement project. Only when you meet and interact with people having strengths and weaknesses different from yours will you realize what you need to change and how. Hone your skills: When everyone in the room thinks differently, it will be very tough to build consensus. You may have to negotiate, compromise, or just take a hard call at the end. This is exactly the kind of workplace situation you may encounter on a daily basis once you graduate. Your experiences at ISB will prepare you to handle these situations effectively. Build your Network: A diverse peer group with varied career goals help you widen your network. These peers most probably would be your colleagues, clients or vendors in the future. If you have entrepreneurial dreams, chances are you’ll partner with someone from your MBA days. In a diverse classroom, you’re more likely to find people who complement your strengths, so that each of you can contribute to the startup in different ways. However, remember that diversity, in its real sense, is something more than your demographic background and profile. If you come from a very conventional background, but have very unconventional thoughts and perspectives to offer, then you are definitely bringing something unique to the table. On the other hand, you may have been a volunteer with the UNO and worked in 4 different countries, but if you are not able to share your experiences and learning with others, you’re adding no value to the class. So, don’t worry about how conventional or different your profile is. Bring your own brand of uniqueness to ISB – those crazy ideas, unorthodox thoughts, questions, and personality quirks.  As Dr.Seuss said, “Today you’re you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you!” And this you is who we want. – Team Admissions If you have any queries about the programme write to pgp@isb.edu To know more about PGP click here.  Dowload the Brochure here  To Start your Application to PGP click here

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: ISB experience of a Senior Executive (8+ yrs work ex)

My Transformational Journey - Ashish Poddar Class of 2016 Prior to joining the PGP program at ISB, I had worked in a fintech startup for several years eventually leading its India operations based in Gurgaon and later on started an online tea store called Kadambri Teas. I joined ISB to understand the recent developments in the technology sector and to deep dive into the nuances of strategy and marketing, preparing myself for my next venture. However, the PGP program was much more than what I expected. There was a lot to unlearn, as they say it. The several courses on leadership, business communication and organizational behavior helped me look back and realize how one’s strength can manifest into weakness if not managed and upgraded with time. The several case studies demonstrated the changing needs of an organization through various phases of growth – and I could relate it precisely with my experience at Nirvana Solutions, while it grew from a small startup of 4 people to about 100 people across the globe. Personally, I can summarize the PGP program as a game-changing experience, both in terms of learning and building a long term network, which I believe will help me thrive over the years to come. Make the best of your ISB experience Being outliers in terms of experience brings with it the challenge of finding the right roles and right jobs after ISB. Eventually, it’s not only about your talent, it is also about what the market is looking for – and MBA hiring, in general, is geared towards 2 to 6 years of experience. So how does a person with 8 to 15 years of experience make the best out of the ISB experience? Here are three things that come to my mind: 1. Leverage your past experience – Any recruiter that hires someone with 8+ years of experience is doing so primarily because of his experience and maturity. Hence it is extremely important to target jobs that leverage the skills and expertise you have gained over the past years. 2. Be focused and know what you want to do – There will be a lot to do during your year at ISB. It’s important to know what you want and focus your energies towards it. Recognize your strengths and skills and map them to the industry and roles that you want to target. In case you are planning for a significant shift in industry/role, make sure you understand the role so that you are not surprised. And always have a Plan B. 3. Be Prepared – The ISB PGP program is a 1 year fast paced program and time flies by pretty quickly. Start early and speak to ISB alumni and find out how they succeeded in finding their dream jobs. Resume and cover letters play a critical role in getting the shortlists that you so desperately want. Trust me preparation matters much more than anything else in this part of the process. As the popular saying goes – Nothing beats luck like preparation! ____________________________- About the Author Ashish Poddar is an alum of Indian School of Business, Class of 2016. He was the president of the  Senior Executives Club at ISB Hyderabad – a club with membership open to students with 8+ years of experience. Ashish has around 10 years of experience in the startup ecosystem; after working for a startup building products in the Financial Technology domain, he ventured  out on his own and setup an online platform for delivering quality teas. He is passionate about startups, likes reading and discussing history, philosophy and human behavior. Reach out to him on Linkedin, or on Twitter @ashishpoddar13

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: Getting started with your ISB Application? Here’s what you need to know

Writing a B- school application is a very introspective and time consuming process. It is your pitch to the school highlighting your personal and professional qualities, career aspirations and fitment. A well thought out narrative which presents your case in a compelling manner enhances your chances of securing an interview call. If you are serious about applying to ISB, we recommend that you start writing your application at the earliest and continue preparing for your GMAT/GRE simultaneously. Once you get your test center report, you can plug in the score and submit your application on or before Oct 15 for consideration in Cycle 1 and on or before Jan 15 for Cycle 2. While test scores are important, they are just a small part of the selection process and remember, it takes multiple iterations to write a compelling application. Take that first step: register on the ISB portal and fill out the application form correctly and with due thought. It is important to make sure that the details you fill here are accurate. We’ve put together some tips to help you fill the application without missing crucial details.   Employment details: The very first screen will ask you for your employment details. This needs to be filled in reverse chronological order. I.e. latest job first. On this screen, you also need to specify the number of years of experience you have. Note that you need to calculate this number as of March 31, 2017, i.e. until your year at ISB begins. Fulltime employment & part time employment : ISB considers only full-time employment after graduation as work experience to evaluate your profile. There cannot be an overlap between two jobs you’ve held.  If you have worked for more than one organization during the same time period, please enter the less significant engagement as part-time employment. You need to have two years of full-time work experience to be eligible to apply to the PGP. However, if you don’t fulfill this criteria, you can apply through the deferred modes of admission (EEO&YLP).  Essays: Stick to the essay word limit. Essay #3 is not mandatory. Use it only if you have to share something that has not been covered anywhere else in the application. Re-applicants can use it to explain what’s changed in their profile. Do not repeat things you’ve already described elsewhere.  Re-applicants: Only those who have submitted a complete application in previous years will be considered as re-applicants. If you have created a login ID last year but didn’t submit your application, you are not  a re-applicant.  Letter of evaluation: Your evaluator needs to use his/her corporate email ID in order to complete the evaluation online. If she/he does not have a corporate ID, please write to us and we will provide an alternative solution.  GRE/GMAT Scores: You may submit your application using your unofficial/ test centre scores. However, your official score report needs to reach ISB within 2 weeks after the  application deadline. Only after we receive this will your application be evaluated. The last day on which you can take the test and apply to cycle I is October 15th.  Scholarships: All applicants will be automatically considered for the merit scholarships we offer. There is no separate essay you have to write for this. The scholarship essay that’s part of the application needs to be filled only if you’re applying for a need-based waiver, the diversity waiver, the ISB-AIESEC waiver and the Bridge to India scholarship. Read more about the scholarships we offer here  Editing your responses: At first look, the application can seem long and complex. But the good news is that it need not be completed in a single session. Take your time with each section, verifying details and thinking through your answers. Don’t forget to save as you go, so that your responses get recorded. You can go back to modify it any number of times until the application deadline.  Navigation help: Click on the ‘Come back later’ button on each screen to go to the next section without filling the page. If you’d rather fill in as you go, don’t forget to hit ‘Preview and Save’ after each time  Supporting documents: All pages of a particular document should be scanned together in one PDF file. For instance, scan the first and last page of the passport together in one PDF. Scan your mark sheets for all semesters together into a single PDF file.  Preview: When you click on the Preview button, you can see what you have filled out so far. But remember that the documents you’ve attached will not show up here. Application Submission: After you complete all the sections and make the payment, you will have to click on the Submit button in the Application portal, only then the application will be sent to ISB. We recommend that you make you payment earlier to avoid congestion issues on the deadline. Do make sure you get a printout of everything at the end for your own reference. If you’re stuck at any point, do reach out to us at apphelp@isb.edu, we’d be glad to help.

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: All about Recommendations

One of the most crucial part of your application to ISB is your recommendation letter. This year the PGP application process requires one independent evaluation. All PGP applicants have to choose one evaluator who can give the admissions team a snapshot of the candidate’s abilities. This evaluation helps in determining whether the candidate is a good fit for the programme. The candidate has to nominate an evaluator by providing the evaluator’s name, designation and official email id. The evaluator will be sent an evaluation form by email and instructions on how to fill it. The evaluator provides inputs on  the applicant’s strengths, areas of improvement, achievements, leadership potential, etc and will require at least 45 to 60 mins to fill the form. Who should write your recommendation? The selection of the evaluator/ recommender is very crucial for the application. Here are some pointers to keep in mind for selecting your evaluator. Ideally, you should nominate someone who had a chance to observe your work closely in the recent past. Your evaluator should be familiar with your abilities, areas of improvement etc. In case you are not comfortable nominating your current boss, you can nominate others who have had a chance to observe your working style and personality – previous manager, mentor, client, etc. If you are in family business or have your own start-up, your evaluator can be a vendor, supplier, client, customer, auditor, banker etc. Avoid approaching co-founders or blood relatives. It is impactful to choose an evaluator whose performance has been impacted by the work you put in. His/her inputs will provide deeper insights. How can the evaluation be submitted? The evaluation submission can be done in two ways: online and offline. We prefer an online evaluation, it’s convenient and is preferred by most evaluators as well. Here the evaluator will be sent a link to the form, He/ She will have to answer few questions online. For offline evaluation, an evaluation form and an upload link will be sent to the evaluator. The form can be downloaded, a printed copy should be filled, signed and scanned into PDF format.  This should then be  uploaded via the shared link. Evaluator details must be submitted on or before the application deadline (Oct 15, 2016, for Round 1; Jan 15, 2017, for Round 2).  It is however, advisable to do so well ahead of deadline to provide adequate time to the evaluator.

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: ISB for Women

The Indian School of Business encourages women to get back to the work force. Apart from refreshing management basics and giving you the global business perspective through the PGP course, the school also encourages women with the clubs and amenities that make the career transition as smooth as possible. The school also takes pride in having one of the best female to male ratio in the B-schools of its league. Accommodation & [b]Amenities[/b] The School has studio accommodation for families, so you don’t have to worry about your family and children staying away from you. The school also has day care facilities, so while you are away taking classes and working on your assignments your children are taken care off. The campus is also self-sufficient - the canteen, gymnasium, recreational center, stationary and grocery store, wellness center with visiting doctors, parlor, laundry, courier service etc are all available on the campus so you don’t need to step out. Clubs & Network Apart from the formal clubs like consulting, finance, entrepreneurship where students can interact with industry experts, network and gain valuable insights, there is also a ‘Women in Business’ club for women, which focuses on the issues and challenges that women face at work place. Women alumni and other industry leaders often address the club on several occasions. Scholarships & Financing  There are 80+ merit and need based scholarships given to deserving candidates at ISB to ease your financial burden. Know more about the scholarships here. Here is the list of scholarships that are offered at ISB https://www.isb.edu/pgp/fees-financing/Scholarships ISB also has tie ups with leading financial institutions in India which provide funding for up to 95% of the programme expenses to ISB admits. This helps you make your educational investment decision easier. Follow this link for more details  http://www.isb.edu/pgp/fees-financing/loans Careers The Career Advancement Services (CAS) gives you the necessary inputs for furthering your career aspirations by conducting one-on-one interaction sessions with the in-house team of industry experts. Conducting detailed resume review workshops and exhaustive mock interviews for the roles you aspire to take up. Last year 1151 job offers were made by 297 companies who participated in the placements process. Top consulting firms, Technology and technology services, E-commerce companies regularly visit ISB for placements. Here is the list of companies that visit campus regularly  https://www.isb.edu/pgp/careers/Recruiting-Companies A total of 74 offers were made for senior leadership roles and global leadership programmes. These include several CXO level positions  and  those made to women students.  Axis Bank alone, which runs its ‘Women Leadership Programme’ at ISB made 30 offers, up from the 18 last year. Here are last year’s placement highlights https://www.isb.edu/pgp/careers/placement-highlights

Hi everyone! Can you please evaluate my profile -

10th - 85%
12th - 80%
Engineering in Information Technology from BMS College of Engg., Bangalore - 8.8/10
GMAT - 630

- 25 year old female with a work ex of 3.4 years of experience in Analytics(Business analyst in Mu Sigma for 2 years, now a Senior Analyst)
- I run a late night food start up since more than a year now. Planning on starting another venture by next year. I got interviewed for this and have an article published on the same.
- I am a certified belly dancer and have done few shows. I make a lot of handicrafts which are sold in flee markets.
- Social service - Have a foster kid since two years
- Got selected and going for Jagriti Yatra this year which is a 2 week train journey conducted by TATA. It aims at building India through enterprise.

I am in a fix right now whether I should retake the exam or not. If yes, what should be an optimum score?
Thanks in advance!

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: How an MBA in India took a Spanish national to the top of the Clean Tech M&A Industry in Spain?

Aurelio Gutierrez Perez remembers being overwhelmed, not by the spicy food, the crowds, or the searing summer sun, but by the intense class participation. ‘In Spain, if you ask the class a question, you have maybe one hand go up. In ISB, 90% of the hands would go up. I realized then, how focused these my classmates were.’ After graduating from the Universidad de Oviedo with an MSc in Telecommunication Engineering in 2006, Aurelio joined Arcelor Mittal as a Research Engineer and spent three years travelling around Europe visiting blast furnaces and exporting technical processes across the group. The repetitive nature of the job, however, soon took its toll and he was tearing for a challenge. Realizing that moving beyond the technical nature of his job and making a lateral movement into management would require an MBA, Aurelio began researching business schools.  The obvious choice would have been the US, but he was keen on a scholarship as well as gaining global exposure and ISB was a perfect culmination of the two. Initial apprehensions notwithstanding, stellar Alumni feedback on the international student experience at ISB helped tip the decision in the school’s favour and Aurelio found himself on a flight to Hyderabad, along with fellow Spaniards, who were also part of the program. ‘The Alumni I spoke to was extremely happy and here I had the opportunity to explore a new country and culture while being taught by the best faculty in the world.’ He spent the first few days being hosted by an ISB alumnus in their home and getting familiar with the city and its renowned Biryani. He says he was awestruck during his first visit to the campus. ‘I was only used to city universities. While we have beautiful historical buildings, we don’t have a one place to come together.’ The elegant buildings, the open-air stone atrium, and the campus facilities, especially the library, helped create a community atmosphere he had never experienced before. Initial hiccups with the accent aside, Aurelio quickly settled in. ‘In the beginning it was natural for three Spanish students to stick together but within three weeks or so, I had already found my group and made good friends.’ Academically, ISB exceeded all of his expectations; he enjoyed the different approach, the ability to apply theory to real business. ‘No one ever even used the board to explain concepts or formulas, it was always through case studies.’ He was also impressed with the students. ‘They were so young,’ he says, ‘but so focused.’ It was not just their quantitative and theoretical abilities that set them apart, but also their awareness of the world and their ability to express themselves with such articulation. ‘They know so much about everything,’ he says, ‘I understand they are not a representative sample of the country but they were so well oriented. They were also very patient and supportive, because I asked so many questions.’ To broaden his exposure and network in Asia, he also attended the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology – School of Business and Management as an exchange student for three months. He mentions the ability to focus as one of his biggest takeaways from the 14-month program and it reflected in his performance- he was part of both the Merit list and the Dean’s list and was also awarded the ISB Merit Scholarship. But ISB also helped him discover what he wanted to do in the future. ‘I liked my courses very much, especially Corporate Finance and Economics. This made me want to get into finance.’ After participating in the placement process, Aurelio fulfilled his ambitions and joined Nomura as an Associate in the Global Markets Division in Mumbai. But tapas beckoned and after developing Algorithm trading models for a year, he moved back to Spain to join EDP Renewables in M&A where he’s been ever since, but he misses the travel; he visited Darjeeling, Calcutta, Leh, Ladakh and the Maldives during his term breaks. One of his fondest memories is a nine-day trip he took with his friends from Spain, planned with the help of his batch-mates. ‘To this day,’ he says, ‘all of them feel India has been their best holiday experience ever.’ He would do it all again in a heartbeat, he says in the end. ‘India changed me and made me more culturally sensitive and globally aware. It helped created a network around the world I can count on. My batch mates have moved to so many countries that I have friends everywhere.’ — Aurelio Gutierrez Perez currently heads Investments and M&A at EDP Renováveis, Spain and is an alum from the Class of 2011

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: 2 Weeks to Cycle-2 Deadline | FAQs

Here are some last minute frequently asked questions, that will help you gain clarity regarding your application to ISB in the cycle-2. 1.       When is the last date to submit the GMAT/GRE score? January 15, 2017 is the last date to submit your test scores. If you take the standardised test on January 15, you can directly report it from the Test center. Don’t forget to plug in your scores and submit your application on or before the Deadline. 2.       When should you submit my recommender details? It is best you give your recommender ample of time to do justice to your evaluation, so do this as soon as possible. You will have to enter their name, phone number and official email address, and an evaluation link will be sent to them. 3.       Who should be your evaluator? Ideally, your evaluator should be someone who has had a chance to observe your work closely in the recent past. Your evaluator should be familiar with your abilities, areas of improvement etc. Here is a detailed blog on the same. https://blogs.isb.edu/admissionsdirector/2016/09/22/all-about-recommendations/ 4.       What if you want to change your evaluator details? Write to apphelp@isb.edu and request for the change 5.       What is the eligibility for the Need-based scholarships? The family income should be less that Rs 10 lacs. Family income includes the income/ pension of you father, mother, spouse and any unmarried sibling if any. Income proofs for the same need to be submitted 6.       Do we get merit-based scholarships in Cycle 2? Yes, we do give out 50% of the merit scholarships in the Cycle 2 7.       What are the scholarships available in Cycle 2 ? Apart from the need-based and merit-based scholarships, there are corporate scholarships and alumni endowments are given out once you join ISB. Here are more details of the same https://www.isb.edu/pgp/fees-financing/Scholarships/corporate-and-other-scholarships 8.       What is the eligibility for the merit-based scholarships? Everyone who applies to ISB is by default considered for the merit-based scholarship. The overall application is evaluated for the same – the GMAT, Acads, Quality of Workex and Interview performance all count. 9.       What should we project in the essays? You can base your essays to highlight your strengths. Here is a blog on what do we look for in a candidate. https://blogs.isb.edu/admissionsdirector/2015/09/22/what-do-we-look-for-in-a-pgp-candidate/ 10.   Is being a re-applicant a deterrent? No, ISB doesn’t differentiate between fresh applicants and re-applicants. If you are a re-applicant, do highlight your achievements from the last time you have applied. Hope these answers clear your doubts. Do write to pgp@isb.edu should you need more information All the best with your application.

Does ISB start inviting for interviews as soon as the application is complete or does it wait for the deadline to send out invites?


Sent from my iPhone using GMAT Club Forum mobile app

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: Admissions FAQs

Here are some more commonly asked questions. This should help you gain more clarity on your application to ISB. 1.       Is GMAT given more preference over GRE? No. There is no preference given to one over the other. Both the exams would be weighted equally in your profile evaluation. 2.       What are the cut-offs for GRE and GMAT? There are no cut-offs for either of the tests. The scores along with your essays and recommendations add weight to your application. However, we had applicants apply to us with a GMAT range of 600 to 780, and a GRE range of 303 to 334, in the past. 3.       Till when should the scores be valid? If your scores expire before the interview date is that ok? Your scores need to be valid till your enrollment into the class. i.e. April 15, 2017 if you are applying to the Class of 2018. The application deadline however January 15, 2017 4.       What are the career opportunities post the PGP programme? Last year, a total of 1151 offers were made by 297 companies which participated in the placements process. Read more about the placement highlights here www.isb.edu/pgp/careers/placement-highlights Read more about the placement trends here:  www.isb.edu/pgp/careers/placement-trends 5.       How do I submit the GRE scores as the test center doesn’t give you the same? Applicants giving their GRE on January 15, 2017, can submit the GRE scores provided at test centre. Percentiles, if not available can be entered as 100. Applicants who have not received their official GRE score report, can upload your GRE appointment letter under “Upload Documents” section. But ensure that you request your official score reports to be sent to ISB. 6.       What is the School code for GRE / GMAT The school code for GRE is 7892, and for GMAT is N2D-J5-01 7.       Can I pick the campus I want to go to? You may state your preference in your application, but the admissions team allocates the campus to maintain similar class cohorts to enhance peer learning. 8.       Will my chances of admissions or placements get affected by the campus I choose? No. ISB follows a unified admissions and placement process for Class. The process is common for all and has no bearing on which campus you study or prefer. If you have any more questions write to us at pgp@isb.edu Good luck.