Calling ISB 2012 Applicants - Let's Roll

@bigoyal: thanks for starting up this thread, dude. You seem to be on top of the game. ISB has gone for the plain vanilla approach with the essays - short, unambiguous and direct. What are your first impressions?

btw, do you know how i can get the sample format for the recommendations? I want to see what kinda questions are being asked before i venture to talk to my potential recommenders.

strangebrew, which round are you applying to?

Regarding essays, yes, I agree with you. The topics are very crisp. We don't have any scope to add any masala to the essays.

I think the 2nd essay is going to be the most difficult one. People mostly are not very clear about their goals and how MBA could help to achieve those goals. One needs to be very clear about his/her career objectives for this essay.

The 3rd essay seems to be similar to the optional essay ISB had last year. This time there is no optional essay. For me this essay seems to be an extension of essay 1

I'll get you the sample format for recommendation. Between, I'll suggest you to create your application login so that you can see application format etc.

@bigoyal - I am starting pretty late.
I am trying to get my GMAT done before the end of july so that i can potentially get my application in for round 1. In the meantime, i want to take a quick stab at the essays so that i don't have to start from scratch in august.

Thanks for the tip - i created a login and was able to check out the format of the application. Looks pretty involved!

Sign in to your application -> Evaluations -> Click Add (for one of the evaluators) -> Select Online and click on "Click here" to download the evaluation format.

Here are the questions for your reference:
1. Under what circumstances and for how long have you known the applicant? (50 words maximum)
2. Please rate the applicant's achievements when compared to those of his or her peers and mention the
reference group with which you are making these comparisons. (100 words maximum)
3. Please describe, in brief, situations where the applicant displayed signs of leadership abilities and team
skills. (200 words maximum)
4. Please mention two consistent strengths of the applicant and if possible provide instances where she/he
demonstrated these strengths. (200 words maximum)
5. Please indicate two areas where the applicant has shown learning and improvement which would add
value to his application to the ISB. (100 words maximum)
6. Please provide any other comments that you consider are relevant to the applicant's admission to the
ISB, especially regarding the applicant's career in business/management. (200 words maximum)

count me in

Thanks for sharing the format, bigoyal!

Thanks for starting this thread

Count me in.
I am shooting for R1

Gave my GMAT in March 730(Q50 V40)

I am yet to start on the essays.
Dont know where to begin

great platform to share here ... thanks bigoyal

Me targeting R1 .... hv GMAT scheduled in July End .....

thanks for the info !

Hi techchin,
Great score. For your essays, start listing down your points, initiatives, extra-curriculars etc and also start browsing isb website. You may need to correlate your strengths with initiatives in ISB and highlight the same in your essays. Example, if you are an artist, you can certainly add value to the artist's club at isb.


Hi hsuya,
All the best for your gmat exams. concentrate on your gmat tests right now.

Start working on your application as soon as you are done with gmat. It would lil aggressive to complete the essays in 1 month, but still one can do it.

I am aiming for R1. I have scheduled GMAT for 12th Aug.

I have a work experience of only 2 years as a systems engineer in LnT Infotech Mumbai( Larsen and Toubro). I am aiming for a score of 700+. Do you think I will have any chance of getting into ISB?

And, how do we calculate GPA? I have done B.Tech. from a college in UP, India. Scored 65% aggregate. Can somebody help me with this, please?

Hi,

I scored Q50 V31 (Total - 680) AWA 5.5 in GMAT. I do understand that my score is on the lower side of ISB requirements.

I have more than 10 yrs of experience, including more than 4 yrs work experience in US. I have also worked in Singapore and in London. I did my graduation from IIT R and another post graduation part time course from IIT Delhi. I have been in Manager role for the last few years in US and am PMP certified.

I also have some noticeable achievements in Cricket.

I know that a better GMAT score will definitely improve my chances in ISB. But do I have even a average chance to get admit in ISB with my current score and profile.

Any idea how the placements have been for the batch that graduated in April-2010?

the ISB website has 2009 data

I'll try to comment with whatever I know.


@hellraiser06: Avg experience in ISB is around 5 yrs. Your exp would be counted less as compared to avg pool of candidates. With 2 yrs of exp, you'll need to strongly portray yourself as matured enough for the isb program. You can do this by highlighting your extra-curricular and any leadership initiatives. Also, you need to be clear enough on your career goals and how MBA would help in achieving your goals.

For ISB you don't need to convert your scores into GPA.


@xyztroy: You got a good profile with some obvious strong points - graduation and post graduation from IITs, good international work ex, PMP certification, extra-curricular. Good academics should fill the gap due to low gmat score.

Weak point- From your profile it seems you are from IT sector, which is the most competitive pool of applicants. A higher gmat score would surely improve the chances.

For ISB the 80% GMAT score distribution is 680-760 with average being 716. At the sametime ISB has admitted applicants with score as low as 600 provided you have a strong application.

Check out this post by herovijay, he has talked in detail about ISB GMAT scores:
indian-school-of-business-2010-11-thread-82576-60.html#p644590

yeah, thats true. No media hype as well. Though I know that all got placed, but I doubt about the quality of offers and pay-packages as compared to previous yrs.

Seems isb also doesn't want to update the placements web-page before the admissions

is it possible to apply for round 1 and round 2? Say I give my GMAT and am not happy with my score. I take it again, do better and then can I apply again for R2?