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Guys, by when can 1st round applicants expect the notification decision?
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Guys, by when can 1st round applicants expect the notification decision?

Probably right upto the last interview date (or maybe a few days before).

ISB sometimes invites applicants to other locations (usually Mohali or Hyderabad). So hang in there!!!

With a 750 GMAT and 4.0 GPA, you have a very strong chance at ISB. Unless you really did something terrible on your essays (or if your evaluator gave you a negative recommendation).
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mayank_sharma
Guys, by when can 1st round applicants expect the notification decision?

Probably right upto the last interview date (or maybe a few days before).

ISB sometimes invites applicants to other locations (usually Mohali or Hyderabad). So hang in there!!!

With a 750 GMAT and 4.0 GPA, you have a very strong chance at ISB. Unless you really did something terrible on your essays (or if your evaluator gave you a negative recommendation).


Tired of waiting man... Maybe a reaction to my Duke ding
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mayank_sharma
Guys, by when can 1st round applicants expect the notification decision?

Probably right upto the last interview date (or maybe a few days before).

ISB sometimes invites applicants to other locations (usually Mohali or Hyderabad). So hang in there!!!

With a 750 GMAT and 4.0 GPA, you have a very strong chance at ISB. Unless you really did something terrible on your essays (or if your evaluator gave you a negative recommendation).


Tired of waiting man... Maybe a reaction to my Duke ding

I can totally relate to your feeling. I've been dinged from both schools that I applied to last year. You're probably feeling that "it would be great to have this done with and over".

What're your hobbies? I find that focusing on something totally unrelated to the whole MBA thing helps.
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I can totally relate to your feeling. I've been dinged from both schools that I applied to last year. You're probably feeling that "it would be great to have this done with and over".

What're your hobbies? I find that focusing on something totally unrelated to the whole MBA thing helps.[/quote]


yup man.... the same feeling..

Hobbies:
Poetry: Won competitions;
Powerlifting;
Football: won medals, represented my college
Dance: Represented the school, college and still actively engage in this..

Does not having an NGO experience hold one back a lot??
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I can totally relate to your feeling. I've been dinged from both schools that I applied to last year. You're probably feeling that "it would be great to have this done with and over".

What're your hobbies? I find that focusing on something totally unrelated to the whole MBA thing helps.


yup man.... the same feeling..

Hobbies:
Poetry: Won competitions;
Powerlifting;
Football: won medals, represented my college
Dance: Represented the school, college and still actively engage in this..

Does not having an NGO experience hold one back a lot??

LOL, I'd asked hobbies so that you could pursue one at this point. Not to evaluate your profile. Go to the gym!!!!

And, about NGO exp. It is not as important as it has been made out to be. If you have it then great (the learnings are more important than the experience itself). If not, then its still fine. You have some good EC's. Think about what you've learnt from these. And then, put these in your R2 applications (you have ample time to apply to great schools).

All the best.
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Dear Members,

Thank you very much for participating in recent chat session with MBA Decoder Team. We had a wonderful discussion with Namita and Gaurav.

For our friends who could not attend the event, here are some key questions and answers. For those who want to read full discussion, session transcript is attached below.

Good Luck to all!!

Divya123: How different are the EEO interviews in comparison with the regular ones?
MBA Decoder: ISB is looking for the similar qualities among EEOs as compared to the regular entry people. So the interview is not going to be very different. Perform your best and do represent an all-rounded personality.


Krr15h: Can you give us an overview of what ISB interviews are like? I've heard both that they are conversational and stress inducing
ISB Alum 13: The ISB interviews like any other MBA interview are conversational; it’s not always a stress interview mine was not. That said a stress interview means that the panel could be either testing you on a strength you have advertised in your application or mentioned in an earlier question.
A stress interview is also an opportunity for you to shine and let the panel know about your thought process and structured thinking that a MBA applicant should boast of. Also, for ISB remember they will never stress upon a weakness it will be always on an area of strength.


Bullzeye: I've read numerous past interviewees’ blogs. They say that the panel somehow doesn’t feel convinced for some important questions like "Why MBA, why now" etc.
ISB Alum 13: Remember that the why MBA answer needs to represent a delta between where you stand and where you want to be in the short term and the long term. If your answer details the skills required to fill in the delta and show an MBA is the answer for it your job is done. You need to convince yourself with the answer first before you convince the panel.

ISB Moderator Ankur: What does ISB look for in a re-applicant?
ISB Alum 13: If you are a re-applicant and have been invited for the interview then they are looking for (1) if you have worked on the earlier feedback (2) what progress have you made in your profession or towards your goal while you have been away for a year.

Devashish: How do we answer tell me something about yourself question? It should be personal, professional or mix of both starting from school, college and then work ex?
ISB Alum 13: it’s better to start in a chronological way and end with the most recent detail, but remember do not waste too much time on details that don’t matter for the interview for instance your school name etc.


Abhra: How to approach question like " can you achieve your goals without an MBA"?
ISB Alum 13: That’s a great question, the answer usually is Yes; you will try to get there but MBA is the way to get there faster and also MBA will prepare you better to take the next steps once you achieve your goals. The idea is to answer the questions in a positive way for instance you might be asked to detail on recent current affair which you might not have a clue about, now the only answer to that is I don’t know but you could compliment by saying, I don’t know I seem to have missed the news however I am up to date on XYZ and if you are willing can detail on that event. That ways you have answered the question and also informed the interviewer you are ready to answer another question in the same are but a different topic.


Bullzeye: When I am from a large pool of common applicants, say IT.. is it best to differentiate me with my personal traits applied to professional environs?
MBA Decoder: An MBA is a professional course. Just focusing upon the personal stuff to differentiate will help much. The panel may perceive you to be light on work related experiences which will not go down too well. Will NOT help much.


Gmatbugsme84: Does the interview panel have the feedback that we got on our last application? Because most of the feedback that I got seemed to be kind of given on the spot and not prepared beforehand?
ISB Alum 13: Well the interview panel might / might not know it but when they will submit their feedback and the weakness matches what was drafted in the last year’s interviewer feedback ISB will know not much progress has been made.
MBA Decoder: I would like to add to ISBAlums advice on the length of your questions. When we conduct mock interviews, we often find applicants taking a good 5 minutes on the opening question- tell us something about you. It becomes a kind of a rant. Not required. Practice this answer really well. Often what you say here will form the basis for the next set of quest.
ISB Alum 13: Add to MBADecoder point, with our services one thing that we will focus on is to ensure that you cover all aspects of your strengths and offering when you answer the interview questions, most candidates make the mistake of preparing really well for the interview but somehow only focus on probably 15-20% of what they can offer and that a natural thing as we somehow consciously fall back on our greatest strengths whenever asked to field a question that’s we believe is important to us.


Bullzeye: What would you do it not selected to ISB - how to deal with such questions?
ISB Alum 13: That’s a question where you inform the panel about your Plan B to get to your desired goal. But again end on a positive note your answer should show your determination to achieve your goal.
MBA Decoder: Plan B- that’s an important question, which a lot of b-schools have been asking these days. Not getting into ISB is not the end of the road for you, but you must tell them that you will still continue on your growth path.


Abhra: What degree of details should we know about the future roles we are targeting... for example consultancy??
ISB Alum 13: abhra great question again - you need to know the career / role in a crux and how its useful to you in the longer term for instance if you talk about consulting then you should be aware of whats a day in a consultants life like , thsi will give you the grounding to answer the questions with tangible points consulting will not allow you to present or work with CXOs on the first day or even in the first 1-2 years so no point in talking about inspirations you will draw from a working session with a CXO cause that will not happen right away.


Mayank760: How to tackle a question such as, "Why should we not select you at ISB?”
ISB Alum 13: Turnaround the question and answer why they should select you and talk about your development areas and why MBA is important to address them and then end on a positive note by re-iterating your strengths. No other great way to answer a difficult question like this.


Ladl1: Do I need to worry about general knowledge?
ISB Alum 13: Current affairs YES! general knowledge like i posted earlier if asked about X say you dont know much and give them a Y to question you on. Don’t fret / stress over it too much though, it should not affect your main prep for the interview.


Chat Transcript
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farhanc85
Ok Honest feedback time :oops: :oops: :oops:

ISB told me to work on my Verbal score / "WOW" them during interview.

In the last year I have accomplished a few things to "WOW" the interviewers
1. Learning a new language (Ties with my career goals)
2. More community involvement (Teaching and mentoring kids)
3. Larger network(Through various activities on social media)
4. Given the biggest portfolio in my company
5. New business for company

Even though I feel I have done a few things which I can "Wow" them with I think the GMAT is a hurdle. A point drop in Verbal and ultimately 20 point drop in score 670 from 690. I am losing patience with GMAT and don't think I will have time to take it again with all the apps deadline around the corner. What do you guys suggest? Should I drop a few extra-curricular activities and focus only on GMAT. I am afraid it might not lead to an overall impact in profile but I know ISB gives lot of weightage to GMAT.

farhanc85 if you are still thinking of taking the GMAT again, may be my experience will help? There is some intangible advice in my debrief like diet, state of mind etc... and also the material I used. See if it can help you.
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ankurgupta03
Dear Members, Thank you very much for participating in recent chat session with MBA Decoder Team. We had a wonderful discussion with Namita and Gaurav.

]


Ankur & Naren, Thanks for posting this!

Interacting with you guys over this chat session has been amazing! You guys rock and every b-school out there had better realize this!!!

All the best to you in everything you do.
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Just had a mock interview with an ISB student... :shock:

He told me the actual interview will be like :shock: :shock: :shock:
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krr15h
Just had a mock interview with an ISB student... :shock:

He told me the actual interview will be like :shock: :shock: :shock:

Like??? :)
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krr15h
Just had a mock interview with an ISB student... :shock:

He told me the actual interview will be like :shock: :shock: :shock:

Like??? :)

Don't you sleep?
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gmatbugsme84
Don't you sleep?

Same pinch :)
Interviews and Applications don't let me sleep :P
was chatting with bb and studying for the interview.

By the way, got invited for Tepper :)
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gmatbugsme84
Don't you sleep?

Same pinch :)
Interviews and Applications don't let me sleep :P
was chatting with bb and studying for the interview.

By the way, got invited for Tepper :)

Cool. Congrats. I was prepping for the interview as well. Let's see how it goes. I still need to get my Duke application done.
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gmatbugsme84
Don't you sleep?

Same pinch :)
Interviews and Applications don't let me sleep :P
was chatting with bb and studying for the interview.

By the way, got invited for Tepper :)

Already Ankur? You applied on 5th?
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