Calling all ISB Applicants - (2015 Intake) Class of 2016

For all those looking for the essay analyses for this year's (2014-15) ISB app, and who missed the other thread:
https://gmatclub.com/forum/isb-essay-analysis-171123.html

Lets rock it this time
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Interesting application process. We have option to choose which topic do we want to write about in one of the essays.
Also, the word limit has been reduced for two of the essays.

Essay Topics:

Essay 1:
Innovation or doing things differently it is said is a key to future success. Could you substantiate or negate this idea based on your experience. Please provide examples from your own experience – either examples of your own innovation or examples of others whom you have worked with.
(300 words max)

Essay2:
Applying to and enrolling in a Business School is an important career decision. Critically look at your career to date, the choices you have made, the key influences behind those choices, your goals for the future and how you expect to benefit from the ISB experience in achieving your goals.
(300 words max)

Essay 3:
One of the following:
A) This experience completely changed my way of thinking.
OR
B) An instance when you went out of the ordinary to achieve something significant, but in hind sight feel you could have done better.
OR
C) Tell us about your role in a team that made a significant contribution to the organization
OR
D) Contribution to peer learning and engagement with the ISB student body are important aspects of the ISB experience. What contribution do you expect to make in this direction during the one year at ISB.
(200 words max)

Essay4:
Please provide additional information, if any, that will significantly affect the consideration of your application to the ISB.
(200 words max)

Essay5:
Reapplicant Essay.(Not for everyone.)


Gung ho!!!
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Absolutely...

BTW.. did you retake the GMAT? Congrats on the 10 pt increase... Did you get feedback from anyone whether the 700 could be a hurdle (of course 700 is a great score, but looking at your profile holistically, did anyone suggest that you retake the exam)?
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Hey

I bumped into one of my interviewers at my current organization. He told me that 700 is not a good score so i appeared for gmat agaib but ended up with 710
Dnt know how much will this help

Posted from my mobile device
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Did he happen to mention what a "good score" is?

Then again for a candidate, a 710 doesn't hurt when measured against his 700.

P.S. Makes me wonder if my 720 is good enough or not
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FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: Young Leaders Programme

We completed the fourth and final Learning Weekend for the first batch of the Young Leaders Programme students at Mohali in mid February. We are ready to welcome these students to the regular PGP in April this year. Over the last two years we have mentored the students, given them inputs on critical thinking, team building, building consensus, value creation/value capture etc in addition to giving them inputs on various career choices they can make. We do hope they can use these inputs to chalk out a plan of action while they are at ISB for the next one year and make a flying start to their career thereon. The key aspects of YLP are the Learning Weekends that include leadership & knowledge sessions with the renowned faculty of ISB and industry leaders. These sessions include structured learning that focus on the fundamentals of management education along with building hard and soft skills. All this, along with mentorship from senior ISB officials & alumni enhances the professional experience of the student in those two years. YLP also provides an opportunity to connect with high-end achievers, great minds, hence, building a network for life. To top it, there is a scholarship of INR 1 lakh for every YLP student. Finally, the YLP ends with the student joining the PGP at ISB with a head-start to his career, enhanced work experience and an edge over his/her peers. As we have been doing in the past we visited India’s top colleges from various disciplines including the IITs, BITS, HR College, Lady Sriram College of Commerce, et al in order to interact with the prospective applicants. The response as usual has been very enthusiastic. To be eligible for admission into YLP, the candidate must be in his pre-final year of graduation in any discipline. The selection process is a three-stage one which consists of profile evaluation, analysis of academic and analytical skills, GMAT score, written essays, video presentation and personal interviews. Excellence at every stage is a must to make the cut. The best of the best are the ones who get chosen for YLP. So to sum it up, the youngsters who make it to this programme are, therefore, ideally positioned to transform into tomorrow’s exceptional business leaders. Because it really isn’t about where one comes from; it is about where one intends to go. Applications are now open at https://ylpapp.isb.edu/user/Signup.aspx

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: How to make a strong EEO application

The applications for the Early Entry Option (EEO) for PGP are in progress and the last date for the same is just around the corner viz. on the 30th of April, 2014. Have you submitted your applications yet? If not, then here are a few pointers I would like to put across on how to make a strong EEO application. These will help you to increase your chances of securing an admission offer. First of all, if you have made up your mind and are certain that you will be making a career in management someday, then congratulations! You are already showing some signs of leadership potential which we look for while assessing your application. Parameters for evaluating an EEO application When you apply for the PGP through EEO, your application is assessed on the following criteria: Academic Capacity: Your past academic performance plays a major role in EEO as it demonstrates that you can meet the academic rigor demanded by the PGP at ISB. This does not mean that you strictly need to ace in your academics. If you have a good GMAT score with a fairly balanced academics score, you stand a great chance too. By balanced academics, I mean consistency in your academic performance throughout and not just your 10th and 12th marks. Balanced Personal Attributes Your choice in extra-curricular activities and your involvement in them display your ability to lead and influence people, organize activities and your ambition to see a project to its end not just for the sake of it but with a flair that is typical of a person who is an aspiring leader. You should highlight these qualities in your essays. Your essays should clearly reflect what you are, your personality, your goals and expectations. Mention your extra-curricular activities (achievements in sports, social service, college events etc.) and your past internships weaving them with your future goals. For example, if you want to make a career in FMCG marketing then link this with your college projects on rural marketing, internship in market research or advertising agency, etc. If you have any work experience, prioritize it in the flow of your essay and highlight the achievements associated with it. Remember that the key to composing a good essay is to be yourself while writing it. Make your essays so lucid that they differentiate you from the rest of the applicants. Leadership potential This attribute is evaluated mainly through the recommendations you submit. Recommendations from your college professor, department head, mentor at internship or at NGO/ sports academy etc. are very important when it comes to gauging your caliber as a leader. Be mindful about taking recommendations from people who know you well and can evaluate your abilities and potential thoroughly.If you ask a person who is not well acquainted with you, there is a possibility of them clicking on ‘Unable to evaluate’, an option given with every close ended question, which may go against you. So, when it comes to taking recommendations, the right people are the key than the people from top designations. To cut this long story short, know that there is no separate weight-age assigned to any of the above parameters. Your application will be evaluated holistically and based on an overall evaluation an admit offer may be given. So, if you are an eager aspirant who wants to join ISB, then work on a strong EEO application right away and submit by 30th of April, 2014. All the best!

Hmm ... lets hope 710 works out.

720 for sure is a good score. I know many people with 710 and above, but not with 700
And no he did not mention a good score ...
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Guys, the difference between a 710 and a 700 is exactly what it should be - 10 points. This is never going to be the make-or-break point in the application.

For further reference, this will be of relevance: https://poetsandquants.com/2014/02/24/the-gatekeeper-at-the-indian-school-of-business/

Do note that Mr. Menon is no longer ISB's Admissions Director - he has moved on to a new role effective April 1. However, the points expressed all remain valid.

Are you guys aware that ISB is giving feedback on previous applications?
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You mean to say personalized feedback for the application?
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Yes. Check out pagalguy's thread.

I sent a mail to them Friday but haven't got a reply. Will call them on Monday.
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Just had a feedback session. The person did not have my application, but only my interview form:

1. Nothing wrong with my application. Could have been admitted. Reason for ding was the competitive applicant pool.
I asked for elaboration on this: "Competitive applicant pool" means, though I did well, there was somebody else who performed better. I was told that, the interview panel expected a higher degree of competence from my given my work experience and educational experience (M.S. in Aero Engg. from U.S. univ). Further, the interview process requires you to present yourself in the best possible manner (your profile may be great... but you need to sell it too). Nutshell, sell yourself better in the interview as there was scope for improvement.

2. My undergrad GPA is not great. He asked me the reason for this. I explained the marking system of the Univ. His advice was to present my final year marks in the application (my final year marks were significantly higher than first three years), as my University awards the degree only on final year marks.

3. Related to point 2 - he asked if I could retake the GMAT . Upon demands of further elaboration: Not that 720 is not a good score, it is .... Just that 750 or 740 or even 730 is a better score, and would've helped considering my not so great undergrad marks. He did add that he understood that retaking the GMAT would involve around 3 months of preparation (really??? I wanted ask him to look around on the GC, how much time do people spend preparing for the exam) and it was my decision on whether, I wanted to retake the exam.

4. I asked whether it wouldn't be more beneficial to work on other areas in my application besides the GMAT - such as developing leadership outside of work, which I have been working on this year. He did not comment much on it, except came back again to retaking the GMAT.

5. My work experience is OK. I asked, if it is on the higher side (I will be nearing six years next year) - I was told that, it is OK for applying in this year, but it will be go over the "accepted" limit next year.

6. When I asked if there were any red flags in my application, he only mentioned that my college marks were slightly low. No other flags.

Overall, he encouraged me to reapply this year with the advice of maybe re-taking the GMAT to compensate for my college marks.
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Hi Everyone, I have recently joined ISB and will be happy to take your questions. Kindly refrain from messages and post your questions here. I m extremely busy at school and might not be able to reply soon. You all will know once you join ISB
Kindly refrain from asking ' what are my chances with 700, 5+ yrs exp type questions '. If you are still not sure what B schools looks really in your application, then spend some time to understand that first. I will try to help as much as I can.

To get started for ISB here you go :
https://www.facebook.com/ISBadmissions for latest updates.
https://pgpapp.isb.edu/ for your application

Meet Team Admissions and Alumni at our infosession
https://www.isb.edu/events/admission-eve ... &tid_3=All

No essay questions put up yet!

Maybe people haven't started thinking about them yet. Or maybe, they have just looked at the questions and are going over some of the analyses on various websites and from consultants.

Why don't you give it the first shot here? Maybe it'll open the floodgates.
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Hello gmatbugsme84,

How did you schedule the feedback session? Who did you call? I tried Admissions office but they said I still have to wait.

Please let me know if you remember the name of the person who you talked to for scheduling the session.

Thank you.

the slots for feedback are really full...keep calling Admission Office, you will get a slot as soon as new slots get opened.