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

Will go in for R2. Let's see if I can up the GMAT by november

How the ISB admission process works

Written by Sameer Kamat
What are the chances that your ISB application will be shortlisted for an interview? What happens inside the ISB admissions office after you submit your ISB essays, recommendations? Will the ISB admissions officer reject your application purely because of a low GMAT score?

V.K. Menon, senior director of admissions, financial aid and careers offers some insight into all these questions in an interview with John Byrne from Poets & Quants. We bring to you the important points from Mr Menon’s interview as he dissects the ISB admission process for the benefit of applicants. Though these inputs are for ISB, you’ll find that the approach would be quite similar for the other top schools as well. So read on.

The most important message Mr Menon has for Indian applicants (who are used to entrance exams like JEE & CAT dominating the admissions process) is the fact that the GMAT isn’t the whole-and-sole deciding factor within your ISB application. The GMAT gets a 30% weight in the ISB admissions process, which is quite a bit.

But, like our political parties, it’s not enough to gain an independent majority. You have to work towards building a successful coalition – across the other application components.

Though a high GMAT score is desirable, those will scores as low as 600 also have a chance of being considered seriously.

If you don’t believe it, here’s the story of Sudhir Nemani who got into ISB with a low GMAT score of 600!

But the ISB admission process is a lot more complex that you’d imagine. With thousands of applicants with varying degrees of skills, expertise and potential, it can become pretty confusing. Almost like comparing Adam’s apple to Steve Jobs’ Apple.

So the ISB admissions team devised a structure to categorise each applicant based on their profile.

How does the ISB admission process work?

If you are applying to ISB and wondering about your chances of getting into ISB Mohali campus or Hyderabad, it would help you to understand how the Adcom will slot you into P1, P2, P3 and P4.

The coding scheme might give you the impression that the odds increase or decrease along with the numbers. But that’s not how it works. Here’s a lowdown on each of them, in a jumbled up order (for a reason).

Category P3:

This is the dream profile for ISB. Elite undergrad college (like IIT), very high GMAT score (770-780), excellent accomplishments in all spheres, impressive extracurriculars.

Unless you’ve really messed up in one of the key areas (described in the next section) you can be confident of getting interviewed by ISB admissions officer.

Category P1:

This is where the diversity candidates will be pooled together. Despite being the top B-school in India, ISB doesn’t have the same cultural diversity that European or American or even other Asian bschools (like NUS) offer.

The next best thing they can do is to look for differentiated backgrounds from unconventional professions. If you have a sports, NGO, military, creative background, good for you.

Back it up with a strong GMAT and some strong ISB essays and you can expect an interview call.

Category P2:

All you IT Male Engineers working in technology and software companies, this is where you’ll be housed. The good news is that you are still in the race. The bad news is that you have lots of company.

If you read the resume of any random competitor from the P2 group, you might feel like he copied your CV. Tough life!

Can you narrate a story that’s different from all the other applicants who also have your background? That’s the only way to make an impact.

Category P4:

This is the only category where the number signifies the position in the category listing. Applicants with a very low GMAT score who also have nothing special to write home about would be ‘dumped’ into (one step before the politely worded formal rejection goes out).

If you happen to be in this pool, the odds of getting dinged are very high. The only hope is if you can pull out a rabbit from your hat and convince the MBA admissions committee that you deserve a seat despite the lacklustre application.

What the ISB Admissions Committee looks for

Irrespective of the category you fall in, you will be judged on 3 aspects:

Academics: This covers the familiar territory of undergrad performance (GPA, percentage) and MBA entrance exams like GMAT.

Leadership: Here’s where your professional accomplishments along with all that you’ve done outside work (extra-curriculars) will get evaluated.

Interview: ISB wants to see if all the facts and figures you submitted is backed by an effective and impressive personality as well.


Here’s how ISB’s 4 P’s (inspired by the 4P model of marketing?) stack up against each other:

Your odds of getting into ISB are as follows:
P3 > P1 > P2 > P4
In terms of the number of applicants, the order changes:
P2 (2000) > P3 (1000) > P1 (500) > P4 (300)

Here is the link to the official post: https://www.mbacrystalball.com/blog/2014 ... n-process/

Can i have a hands up for all the people who are actively following this thread?
what other colleges are you all planning to apply to?

Have you people started preparing for the interviews? If yes, how?

You know I'm in. I've updated my schools (mostly!). Haven't started preparing for interviews yet as still working on applications of other schools. But, now that you've put it out there, I might as well start thinking about the interview.

I've read this before. I still can't figure out which P I'd belong to!

I won't start preparing for the interviews until I get a call. Don't want to build castles in the air.

I think you should start doing the ground work. I remember how much panic-striken I was when I got the call.
Go through the essays, try to find the questions. Research about your work.

All this will help for sure.

All the Best Ankur!

Many of you must be thinking

What to do now? I have submitted the application for ISB

Here is the answer:

1. Do not stop, continue writing your essays for other B-Schools. ISB may be your first preference, but you should always have back up. Do not be complacent and do not stop.
2. Start preparing for the interviwes. Practice never hurts. Sit down, reflect on your profile, introspect as a person. and think about why you want to go to ISB. I will write a detailed post later about ho to get started for the interviews.
3. Please come ahead and participate in the discussion

Regards,
Ankur

Looking forward to your interview post.

Few things I did right and wrong during my previous interview prep:

Right
1. Thoroughly reviewed my app, came up with all sorts of questions relating to them.
2. Spoke to lots of current students regarding ISB, tried to gather as much information as I could
3. Updated myself with whatever happened during the past 1 year in my industry
4. Why MBA? Why ISB? : two question I wrote answers to, reviewed, took feedback from all places
5 Relaxed

Wrong:
1. Extra-curricular improvements in my profile, didn't have much to talk here
2. Didn't thank the interviewers after my interview
3. Extempore preps: Could have done better?

Hi! Submitted the application on 12th Sep. When are the interview calls expected?

Submitted for R1,
Any idea, when will isb start sending out interview invites?

Wow. We didn't have this much activity prior to submission of applications. Now everyone is worried about getting interview calls.

We men are strange creatures, we worry only about things over which we have little or no control, yet pay lesser attention to those things over which we do have more control. Just a thought.

Here is the link:
https://pgpapp.isb.edu/user/cycle-1.html

ISB has still not updated the dates.

Expect a call one week prior to your interview date.

Whats funny is that this link has the interview dates: https://pgpapp.isb.edu/user/KeyDates.html

I agree! And thanks for the link. :^) All the best

FROM ISB Admissions Blog: Fostering a Community: Student Clubs at ISB

ISB’s commitment to creating the world’s future business leaders involves far more than classroom learning. In addition to innovative programs and world-class faculty, ISB’s student clubs offer access to continued enrichment through leadership, social and personal experiences. Coordinated and managed by ISB’s Graduate Student Board (GSB), student clubs — which are student-led and organized into teams — offer competitions, events, and activities across a diversity of student interests and talents. From the Energy Club’s annual Energy Summit to a student jam session with the Music Club, the campus is abuzz with enrichment opportunities. Let’s take a look at a few of the ISB students who have led some ISB clubs: Anmol Rastogi, President of Hyderabad’s Business Technology Club – Anmol uses his passion for technology and international work experience to lead the club in organizing interactive seminars in which participants apply technology to everyday business problems. He also leads the club’s collaborations with other student clubs, including Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail, and Consulting. Bhavna Choraria, President of Hyderabad’s Women in Business Club – Bhavna reports, “I believe in the importance of accepting the existence of diversity in this world and its direct relation with one’s overall learning & development. After all, as pointed out by Thoreau, it’s never too late to give up your baseless prejudices.” Bhavna spearheads organized speaker sessions, alumni interactions, workshops and seminars which provide industry and functional exposure to students. Shõan Shinde, President of the Arts & Creativity Club – Shõan says: “The job of good art is not to please the eye; it is but to create turmoil in your head and your heart – to make you question, scoff, think, dream and be enthralled.” With a background in the arts and engineering, and an ongoing interest in both, Shõan promotes interactions with established art practitioners while fostering on-campus activities. Ajay Shreenath, President of Mohali’s Quiz Club – Ajay who has a background in Engineering and Physics — leads the club in presenting out-of-the-box, on-the-fly thinking opportunities for students, such as the popular “Pub Quizzes”. The complete list of student clubs at ISB includes: Professional: Business Technology Club Consulting Club Emerging Markets Club Energy Club Entrepreneurship & VC Club Finance Club General Management Club Healthcare Club Manufacturing & Operations Club Marketing Club Media Club Net Impact Club Srei Infrastructure Club Senior Executive Club Retail Club Women in Business Club Social: Arts & Creativity Club Dance Club Golf Club Music Club Photography Club Radio Club International Club Quiz Club Theatre Club Sports Club Toastmasters Club Wine & Brew Club Overall, ISB’s student clubs foster an engaged community in which students explore similar interests while interacting with alumni and professionals in their fields. This not only helps promote lifelong connections, but also delivers a deeper sense of personal and professional fulfillment.