ISB applicants - Ask GyanOne!!

Hi,
My profile is as below :
10th 89%
12th 90%
B-Tech : 8.7 CGPA (Computer Science and Engineering from VIT University)
GMAT : yet to take (targetting 720-750, going by practice exams).

Work Ex : 3 yrs (June, 2015).
Work Ex : I joined an early stage start-up after working 5 months in IT service company in India. I joined as the second employee and had helped the company to grow ground up.Company has secured good funding and is doing pretty well. Currently serving travelling market in Malaysia and Singapore and soon will be expanding to Indonesia. I have played a key role in the development of whole technical infrastructure. I am currently leading a team consisting of members from different countries : Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Tunisia to name a few.

Long term career goal : Management Consulting/Technical Management.

Questions :
1.How well placed is my current profile for schools like ISB, INSEAD, HKUST etc?
2.If I am planning to apply next year, what should I do to enhance my chances of getting into the above mentioned schools (other than good GMAT score) ?

Thanks.

Hi Vikram,

Your work experience is your biggest differentiator. The exposure and experience you have working for an early stage startup as well as for multiple foreign markets will set you apart. Startup experience also means that you have managed teams early in your career and that is a further positive.

By long-term goal, we assume you mean post-ISB goal, and at the moment the two you have mentioned are somewhat at odds with each other. Both are feasible, but at least for the management consulting part (if you go with that), you will need strong reasons for choosing that post-MBA. Perhaps look at Tech Consulting as an option as well.

On your questions:
1. Assuming you can get a decent GMAT score, you will be competitive at ISB and HKUST. To evaluate on INSEAD, will need more details on your experience abroad + your GMAT score, to comment more deeply.
2. First of all, ensure a strong GMAT score. That will help you more than anything else here. How to Improve Profile for MBA Admissions will also help. Some volunteering and community work (done sincerely, not just for the app) can also help a bit.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with further questions.

ISB MFAB Admissions team interviews with GyanOne

ISB MFAB (Management Program for Family Business) Admissions team interviews with GyanOne, providing insights into the program features, application process and admission criterion.

GyanOne: How is the MFAB different in structure and curriculum from the PGP and PGPMAX offered by ISB? What are the unique features of the MFAB?

ISB MFAB Admissions Team:

Much like PGPMAX, MFAB is a modular program. Students spend one week on campus attending classes for every six weeks. In all, there are twelve terms including the one term that happens at Kellogg. PGP is a full-time residential program.
These three are post graduate level management programs; the focus of MFAB is imparting skills necessary to take the family business to the next level. Therefore, in addition to covering core management principles, students get exposure to courses that address specific family business related challenges. Another important and unique feature of MFAB is international exposure that students get. They get to spend one week at Kellogg which has a family business center that has been doing quite a lot of work on issues related to family business.

GyanOne: While family business owners want to have a holistic view of business and general business understanding, they also invariably wish to focus on different functional aspects (like finance, marketing, or operations) as well as different industries (like manufacturing, real estate, or healthcare). What does the MFAB offer in terms of these?

ISB MFAB Admissions Team: As part of the core curriculum, students get exposed to all functional aspects of the business viz., finance, marketing, operations etc., In addition, the cases discussed as part the of the classes are selected from various industries. In addition, MFAB class is very diverse. This diversity will also enrich class discussion and students benefit from the functional and industry experience of the classmates.

GyanOne: Is the MFAB offered at both campuses (Hyderabad and Mohali)? Is the program exactly the same in both these locations or are there location-specific specializations?

ISB MFAB Admissions Team: There is only one cohort/class per intake. Classes are predominantly held in Mohali with few terms held in Hyderabad, and one term at Kellogg.

GyanOne: Networking is often seen as an important aspect of MBA programs worldwide. While it is understood that MFAB students would network with their peers within the program, what avenues are available to offer them a platform to network with PGP and PGPMAX students, given that these networks are much bigger?

ISB MFAB Admissions Team: MFAB students get plenty of opportunities to network. The networking starts when they enter the program and continues even after their graduation. PGP, PGPMAX and MFAB students become members of ISB Alumni Network which has chapters in various cities. They get to participate in alumni events and continue to network. Thus the networking is not limited to within the MFAB network but across all post graduate programmes offered by ISB.

ISB MFAB Admissions Team Interviews

GyanOne has helped hundreds of applicants gain admission in top MBA programs. With our detailed MBA Essay Editing service and experienced consultants, it aims to help you create the best MBA Application, a strong resume and focused recommendation strategy to get accepted into top MBA programs. Contact now to get started!

This interview was originally published on the GyanOne MBA Admissions Consulting Blog, the official blog of GyanOne.

For more resources, visit GyanOne Blog

Hi thesehgal2015,

The easy way is to show stong work performance alongside, so they know that is not the reason. Don't worry - ISB receives plenty of explanations that are similar, and they understand to an extent that not everyone is in a position to ask the direct supervisor. So its not really a big issue with them.

Why is ISB Hyderabad the Most Prefered MBA among Indian Applicants?

The ISB MBA is one of the most popular MBA programs among applicants in the Indian and larger Asian region. While a lot has already been said about ISB’s infrastructure, the quality of its faculty, the prestige of the ISB MBA, and its affiliation with other top b-schools, this article seeks to present an insider’s view of some of the other things that make Indian School of Business a great school to attend. The ISB MBA is actually the ISB PGP (Post Graduate Program) in Management, but as most people refer to it as the ISB MBA, that is what we too will do in this post.

Social initiatives: ISB is host to a local chapter of the Net Impact club. This club provides students with plenty of opportunities to lend a helping hand to the needy. Some of the activities that students can participate in through this club are:

(a) Social welfare activities like organizing blood donation camps and health check-up camps. Another important event is Bandhan, an annual event where ISB MBA (PGP) students celebrate India’s Independence Day (Aug 15) with less privileged students from four Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) across Hyderabad.

(b) Management consulting and strategizing opportunities for non-profits. The club provides opportunities for giving pro-bono consulting services to non-profits. This is a great learning experience as it allows students to apply business and management principles to real-life problems. Although the consulting opportunities are only open with non-profits through this initiative, the problems that students solve may be classic business problems, ranging from improving operations to managing finances better to creating a marketing strategy. Similarly, iDiya (pioneered in 2011) is a social venture competition that allows non-profits, b-school students, and working professionals to showcase their ideas/ventures centred on social change.

(c) Strategy events and workshops for non-profits. These events give students a chance to participate in imparting skills and business acumen to non-profits. The Diffusion initiative (started in 2011) saw students come together with the Central University of Bihar to offer skill-building courses as part of a two-day workshop for non-profits. Similarly, the Social Venture Implementation initiative allows students to write a paper about the role of social enterprises in emerging markets. The aim is to provide an idea platform for alumni who want to start a social venture.

ISB Exchange Program and Leadership Initiatives

Hello GyanOne,
I am planning to apply for R2 of ISB, need some inputs on my profile,
Profile:
X: 95.6% CBSE
XII : 79.4% CBSE
Grad: 7.29/10 (B.E Mechanical){Birla institute of Technology,Ranchi}
GMAT: 690(Q:50(87 % percentile, V:31(61% perecentile), IR:8, AWA:5
Work Ex: 52 months on Apr 16,
Company: JSPL(jindal steel and power limited):plate Mill.
BHEL-PSER, part of BHEL(a Maharatna PSU) Engaged in erection , commissioning and servicing of power plants in eastern region of india.

Work Ex Description :
Joined as Engineer trainee,BHEL.
Was promoted to engineer in within 1 year.
I have worked on two projects :
IOCL Barauni: 1X20 MW+150 TPH Boiler: Erection and commissioning of a captive power plant at IOCL barauni.
I worked with a small team as it was small project of Rs 105 Cr. The value of mechanical works was Rs 7 Cr. Value. Was involved from the starting of mechanical works till the closure of the project.
EPC Barauni(customer Bihar state electricity Board):2X250 MW: my current project. Involved in project management,assuring quality of work and procurement of small value materials(less than 10 Lakhs). The total cost of mechanical works is Rs 20 Cr.
Long term career goal - Management Consulting/ Project management

Extra curricular : Was part of my University cricket team. Was part of the JSPL raigarh team;a decent badminton player(though never won a tourney )Won some quizzes inter school competitions.
My Questions:-

How will you rate my profile for ISB and XLRI-General management?
I don't have much to show under achievements and extra curriculars, so, what else can I do now to enhance my profile in such a short span of time, if there is any?
Should i retake GMAT?
What all other B-Schools should I target?

Hi Somdebb,

You have worked in the public sector and also with a large private steel player. The importance and magnitude of the projects you have worked on gives you a differentiator right there. Your acads are decent, and your GMAT score, while not outstanding, should be fine for your profile and experience.

You are not outstanding in terms of the ECA part, but you do have enough activities to mention and not be considered weak there either. Further, your profile is more EPC and project management focused, so you will need to translate this to a future business objective, as well as clearly explain why you wish to pursue a career in consulting. A career in consulting, though, is very feasible for you - top consulting firms value the kind of experience you have. Also note that Management Consulting and Project Management are widely different goals, so you should have one clear focus.

On your other queries:
1. Your profile is decent for ISB and XLRI.
2. There isn't too much you can do in a short span of time just before your applications, but How to Improve Profile for MBA Admissions will provide some ideas.
3. Yes, if you can retake, do so. A higher score will help.
4. This is a pretty wide question and depends on the geographies and program formats you are looking at. Within India, and in the 1-year format, you have IIMC PGPEX (deadline extended so still open), and IIMB EPGP as two other possibilities to consider.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with further questions as needed.

thesehgal2015

Also, just to add: you will still need to enter your supervisor's details on the online app, so don't shy away from doing that.

Does Being From IIT Help in ISB MBA Admissions?

Like most IITians, Sudeep Reddy is someone who likes to get technical about his work. Very technical. So technical, that his first ISB essay drafts discussed how he had worked on “PBR2 and PP4 plants” to replace electromechanical relays in a large Reliance factory. This was excellent work, but it was too technical. Additionally, this was just ten days before the ISB R2 deadline of Nov 30, 2013. Sudeep’s friend (and a former client of ours, Bhargav Lingamneni), who had successfully made it to ISB with us in R1 of the same cycle, recommended GyanOne to Sudeep to help him bring out the best elements in his profile.

ISB Admissions Success Story

Hello GyanOne,

My company went through a spin off this year. This transition led to alot of extra work and projects, I took up alot of initiatives and helped in esaing this transition for my team. I worked hard and enthusiastically to deliver to the new clients.

Is it worth mentioning in my optional essay for ISB?

I first GMAT score was 650 and second is 700. Should i explain my initial low score? I do not have gaps and my academic scores are above average.

Please advise.

Thanks.

Hi fusion21,

1. Yes, you can mention the work that you did during the transition. However, ensure that you bring out efforts that will be seen as differentiators and highlight how your contribution eased the work for the team.
2. You do not need to comment on your earlier GMAT score of 650 at all. You have a 700 now and that is what will be considered. No further comment on this needed.

Feel free to come back with further questions if needed.

Hi GyanOne,

I have recently given my GMAT1 and since it did not go quite as i expected, i had a few questions in my head that i feel you can help me with.

I started my preps in June and appeared for the test on 12th Sept-
GMAT: Sept 12th | 630 (Q44, V32, IR7, AWA should be >=5)
(I feel that V32 could have been around 35 easily had i not messed up with the timing. I had to guess last ~4 questions )

Now, as i am targeting IIM-A/B, and ISB, i know i need to have a 700+ score. For this reason, i am planning to appear for GMAT again in a month's time. Do you think, given my current standing, a month is enough for raising Q from 44 to 49 and V from 32 to 40 (i know this is too broad to answer, just thought to have an unbiased perspective)?

Query#2: If i eventually plan to apply now, with all the RECOs and SOPs + a GMAT-630 and i dont make it, will this go against me when i will be applying for the same colleges after my second attempt? Will i be able to reuse the RECOs i use in this cycle? Or given the fact that im anyways going for GMAT again, do u suggest i should not apply this time at all? (I have already reported my official scores to these schools)

In other words, does applying to a b-school and getting rejected once effect, in any way, the chances to get in the next time one apply to the same program?

Query#3: In addition to above mentioned Indian schools, i was keen to apply for NUS and LBS too. Can you please elucidate as to how can one go about this.

Thanks in advance!

-Arhum

Hi Arhum

Thanks for posting. Always happy to help.

Your GMAT score, as you rightly pointed out, is too low for ISB and IIMA/B. It is possible to raise the score to the levels you say within a month, but you should ensure you are focusing on your weak areas, not running away from them (some people do that; just tendering generic advice here). To fix timing, practice more and take more mocks. A Q44 V35 will take you to 650, while Q48 V35 will be 690. So with just a little improvement on both sections, you can move closer to your goal.

On your second query: Getting rejected once and applying again is not a negative, and a B-school won't hold that against you. However, given that your GMAT score is significantly below the level they expect right now, we would suggest you not apply right now at all. It is one thing to be at your best, get rejected, and then reapply, and quite another to know that you are significantly lacking on one front and still put in an application. Given that you are in the latter category, first try to enhance your GMAT score. If that is done before R1, apply in R1. Else, go for R2.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed.

Thanks for your response Gyanone.

Please let me know how can I get my essay reviewed by you.

Hi GyanOne,

I am keen on applying to ISB round 1(15th oct). I have taken the GMAT multiple times and secured a 710 [Q 50,V 35], IR 7/8, AWA 5.5/6 in my last one. I have 3 years of work ex, 1.5 Years in Deutsche bank and the other 1.5 in my family business where I am taking care of 60 employees and have started my own business line. I have done my undergrad from Hansraj College, DU and secured a 60.1% (first division). I have taken up various leadership roles while in college, and am also an alumni of AIESEC, an organisation that ISB values. While in DB i have received various awards and was the youngest member to win a lot of contests and really add to the revenue earned quarter by quarter.

I have not yet started on my essays, and want to know whether I should apply to ISB or not, looking at my profile. I would really appreciate any guidance you can provide me with.

Hi fusion21

Sure. You can contact us directly.

Hi sanrohan

Your profile looks good. You can definitely apply. You will have around 2 years in your family business by the time you join, which is fine. Clarity on what you wish to do post-ISB and how ISB can help is important, so focus on that. Other than that, good to go.