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

Lets see how it turns up on the 15th
BTw I like the change in colour of your name. From purple to light green

Can Nov. 15 come any sooner? Please!

For that all thanks to Narenn

Hahaha ... everyone who is done with the interview is hoping the same

I wish you all good luck for ISB results that are a month away. And guys those who are gearing up for Nov 30 deadline - make sure you give your best shot. I wish to contribute a lot here, but ISB is keeping me quite busy. I m sure all selected applicants would agree next year.

But still, I will try to visit this thread and resolve some queries. I had promised this earlier, so please accept my apologies for not being upto mark.

Just one word suggestion for upcoming applicants - GMAT is not the only criteria !!

On side note, make sure you follow everything about ISB at all channels of facebook and twitter. The more you know about the school, the better your chance of presenting a sound application.

These links should help :

https://www.facebook.com/ISBadmissions
https://www.facebook.com/ISBedu
https://twitter.com/ISBedu
https://twitter.com/ISB_PGP
https://blogs.isb.edu/admissionsdirector/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCk--qM ... _XbSN9BGew

What's the life at ISB?

Do not forget to like https://www.facebook.com/LifeAtISB?
Follow Twitter : https://twitter.com/LifeAtISB

Thanks a lot gurpreetsingh.

Can you tell a bit about life at ISB? Is it very hectic or does one get time to pursue some ECAs?

I have a question for the experts and current ISB students.

ankurgupta03 gurpreetsingh pan18 llewellyn75 MBADecoder

Please throw some light on the following question how much is the ISB interview weighted in the overall application (would be great if you could put a %age fig, even approx)? Or does it become the whole and sole criteria if you have been invited to the interview? I am sure a lot of R1 folks here are wondering about this question after their interviews.

I do not think I have any knowledge on this topic. All I know is that they have a holistic selection procedure :D
pan18 visited this forum for the last time on on Apr 08, 2014 12:53 am :D

P.S. I have 99 followers. Can anyone please start following me and make that count to 100

Done - Now you have 100 followers. In turn, get me my seat at ISB!!!!

Now waiting for others to post a reply to my question.

Hahaha ... :D I wish I could have done that. Would have done for all the active members on this forum
therock99 too started following me. I have 101 :D

Where is everyone. Can we have more debriefs. Also, what is the status of the calls?
How many of you are still waiting? And for which location?

I had chosen Mumbai location; however, not received any call yet. Any chance that I may get an invite for Hyderabad location as Mumbai calls may have exhausted or something. What should be the Realistic last date till which I should be hoping for the call?

Thanks.

Ankur, I am your follower too!
So that makes it 101 after GMATbugsme pressed the button!

Gmatbugsme - I agree with Ankur that its a holistic process. But your interview is given the major importance once you are called for it. Your Someone's bad performance there will guarantee him/her a rejection.

There is no better evaluation of a person as compared to a face-to-face, which an interview gives.

But don't speculate on this- just do your best.

Nov 7th is the last date for interviews at Hyderabad. Theoretically, they could call you till that date for an interview at Hyderabad even if you set your preference to Mumbai or some other location.

I wholeheartedly agree. But, then doesn't this process have a lot of subjectivity built into it by design. All interviewers may not give the same rating to even one particular individual. Or that individual may be having a bad day!

In any case I agree that one should strive for his/her best performance. But, one can't help - the mind wanders as if it has its own "mind".

Looking back at my own interview, there was no other way it could have gone on any other day, had the questions/interviewers stayed the same. Just that one of my interviewers and I decided to "respectfully agree to disagree", as neither could be convinced of the other (he didn't agree with my logic and I couldn't agree with him - as it would have meant that my choice of career so far has been incorrect!).

I guess I'll find out what they thought of me on 15th Nov.

Any one having their interview tomorrow?
Let me know if you have any doubts.

Will be happy to help!

All the best!

With a little over 40 days to go...

I thought this would help people who are finding it difficult to start on their essays for ISB...

How to start developing the essays?


Yes the start is usually the toughest and sometimes consumes up to 40 to 50% of the time invested in doing up the MBA essays.

Well for starters go back to the basics and understand one thing that this MBA application is also essentially a selection process and there are fundamentally only two aspects to any selection from the recruiter's point of view:

1. What is it that the candidate brings to the table?

And

2. What is the expectation of the candidate from the recruiter?

Think about it ... Even if you have ever hired a domestic maid servant (or a CEO for that matter) these two have been the fundamentals of your selection.

As an MBA applicant for you the 'Recruiter' is the school and you are the candidate.

So start by asking 3 simple questions:

1. Who you are? - this will help you determine your diversity

2. Where do you want to go? and

3. How does the school fit into the scheme of things? - Both 2 & 3 will help make it very clear to you as well as the school what your aim is.

The B School application is primarily an introspection exercise but with a twist.

Start of by enlisting 'Who you think you are?' and do it like a brain storming session to come up with a long list of things you think will differentiate you. From experience I can say competencies you believe you have fit best in this list. I know it is tough but so did 304 of last years candidates also tell me... Today 286 of those who persisted with my advice are in ISB.

For God's sake remember that by DNA you are different and thus if you think you cannot come up with anything differentiating about you, you have not thought enough.Once you have a reasonable long list get it validated by your most ardent critic. Women with mother-in-laws are at a distinct advantage here. Men too can try it with your father-in-laws but do not add too much soda to his Whiskey.Jokes apart connect with someone who knows you real well to validate this list and once done look at the list yourself to understand if this is what you think you can contribute to the class's knowledge quotient.

Fit these differentiators in as things that made you do or think differently in the given situation in Essay 1. I am guessing cooking up the situation is the easy part.Now look at 'Where do you want to go?'

Connect the dots carefully to show a logical sequence. Stick to fundamentals of knowledge and qualification based steps rather than drive, passion or even interest. If you are coding software and want to go into investment banking you will have to show what steps you have taken besides applying to the school to get there. MOOCs, Apprenticeships, probono work, reading, research,etc... all can come to your rescue here.While showcasing your aim (goal immediately after MBA) try and workout a way in which you can show that you have thought through your plan but are still flexible. This flexibility is important as it will help you depict humbleness.

Now 'How does the school fit into the scheme of things?' Well this is the part most people get wrong. It is important for you to explain why you need that MBA so much in this part of the essay.

Unnecessary references to Projects, Programs (ELP), People (faculty), Clubs, etc... just do not help. I have only been too amused to read that candidates who know nothing about the life at a B - School write about how they will participate and organize activities for a club. It is too obvious to a seasoned essay reader that your research about the school is restricted to either its website or at max an infosession. This will not be appreciated.

Most schools expect you to know at least the why you need an MBA and you should not only be able to put this across well but also be able to defend it if interrogated.

A good consultant may be able to help you on how to put your points across but you will still have to do the leg work and come up with the 'What.'

So get up tomorrow... Have your cup of Tea and START working on that list...

​Llewellyn Desouza
Principal Consultant Hash & CMO Felecidade Villa
in.linkedin.com/pub/llewellyn-desouza/1/6a1/a52/