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

Don't hesitate to apply due to something you deem as being low on your profile. Let the admissions team decide it. All the best for your admissions guys.

Hello all,

Many of you might be done with their interviews and would have come back from the Diwali holidays.
Time to get some debriefs.
Also do let me know if you have any questions.

Hey ankurgupta03, does ISB start floating out decisions prior to the final decision date as well ? I saw a couple of 'Admitted' statuses on the overview page.

FROM ISB Admissions Blog: A Closer Look at the PGP’s Five Learning Objectives

The PGP has five primary learning objectives in creating a comprehensive learning environment, but how do these apply to the everyday experience of an ISB student? Let’s take a closer look. 1. Interpersonal Awareness and Working in Teams Because the ability to work effectively as part of a team is essential in the contemporary business world, our curriculum is full of opportunities for students to learn to work together, designate responsibility, manage conflict and strive toward compromise. The PGP’s Experiential Learning Programme (ELP), in which teams of students work on a live consulting engagement, is a premier example of interpersonal awareness and teamwork in practice. While the ELP has many benefits — from hands-on experience to exposure in leading edge management research — it shines as the embodiment of this learning objective. After all, what better way to test your interpersonal skills than in a real-world business setting? 2. Critical and Integrative Thinking The PGP is not just about creating future business managers, but also about empowering future business innovators. Critical and integrative thinking are essential components in learning to identify key issues, draw insightful conclusions and formulate effective responses. Designed by management education intellectuals, the one-year PGP curriculum prioritizes the ability to quickly analyze situations and inspire outcomes. Students aren’t learning about business theory in a vacuum, but in a holistic environment that fosters a “big picture” viewpoint. 3. Awareness of Global Issues Affecting Business The 21st century global economy mandates a global perspective in which students must learn to acknowledge and analyze both domestic and global impacts. ISB’s exchange programs with 42 leading business schools from around the world offer an engaging way to expand student perspectives. Outbound exchange programs provide a firsthand look at the dynamics of management in other countries, while inbound programs enhance classroom diversity and peer-learning opportunities on our campuses. 4. Effective Oral Communication The ability to communicate is a business world requisite; accordingly, the development of organized, clear and persuasive oral communication skills is an integral component of the PGP curriculum. Students work together on projects, in clubs, and in the classroom to not only build strong, confident speaking abilities, but also responsive listening skills. And because our faculty members live on campus, students also have frequent opportunities for dialogue with leading thinkers in their fields. 5. Ethical Responsibility Research indicates that today’s business students are more ethically minded than ever before, and the PGP offers the coursework to back it up. While our 2014-15 core curriculum covers the basics of finance, strategy, marketing, operations and IT management, it also include a course on “Responsible Leadership.” The goal?  Creating responsibly business managers — not only for better business, but for the betterment of society. At ISB, we practice what we preach. These learning outcomes are not just pedagogical, but also real-world learning imperatives intrinsically built into the curriculum.

FROM ISB PGP Admissions Director Blog: A Closer Look at the PGP’s Five Learning Objectives

The PGP has five primary learning objectives in creating a comprehensive learning environment, but how do these apply to the everyday experience of an ISB student? Let’s take a closer look. 1. Interpersonal Awareness and Working in Teams Because the ability to work effectively as part of a team is essential in the contemporary business world, our curriculum is full of opportunities for students to learn to work together, designate responsibility, manage conflict and strive toward compromise. The PGP’s Experiential Learning Programme (ELP), in which teams of students work on a live consulting engagement, is a premier example of interpersonal awareness and teamwork in practice. While the ELP has many benefits — from hands-on experience to exposure in leading edge management research — it shines as the embodiment of this learning objective. After all, what better way to test your interpersonal skills than in a real-world business setting? 2. Critical and Integrative Thinking The PGP is not just about creating future business managers, but also about empowering future business innovators. Critical and integrative thinking are essential components in learning to identify key issues, draw insightful conclusions and formulate effective responses. Designed by management education intellectuals, the one-year PGP curriculum prioritizes the ability to quickly analyze situations and inspire outcomes. Students aren’t learning about business theory in a vacuum, but in a holistic environment that fosters a “big picture” viewpoint. 3. Awareness of Global Issues Affecting Business The 21st century global economy mandates a global perspective in which students must learn to acknowledge and analyze both domestic and global impacts. ISB’s exchange programs with 42 leading business schools from around the world offer an engaging way to expand student perspectives. Outbound exchange programs provide a firsthand look at the dynamics of management in other countries, while inbound programs enhance classroom diversity and peer-learning opportunities on our campuses. 4. Effective Oral Communication The ability to communicate is a business world requisite; accordingly, the development of organized, clear and persuasive oral communication skills is an integral component of the PGP curriculum. Students work together on projects, in clubs, and in the classroom to not only build strong, confident speaking abilities, but also responsive listening skills. And because our faculty members live on campus, students also have frequent opportunities for dialogue with leading thinkers in their fields. 5. Ethical Responsibility Research indicates that today’s business students are more ethically minded than ever before, and the PGP offers the coursework to back it up. While our 2014-15 core curriculum covers the basics of finance, strategy, marketing, operations and IT management, it also include a course on “Responsible Leadership.” The goal?  Creating responsibly business managers — not only for better business, but for the betterment of society. At ISB, we practice what we preach. These learning outcomes are not just pedagogical, but also real-world learning imperatives intrinsically built into the curriculum.

HI Guys,

I need your advice. I took gmat 2 days back and scored a 720. Do I stand a good chance for ISB ? I will retake in a month or so and confident of doing better. Should I start preparing applications while simultaneously prepare for retake ? If I retake after November 30, R2 deadline for ISB, would I be able to convey the new score to ISB ?

Thanks
Tarun

ISB declares the results on the same day. There are no floating results.
The admitted statuses may be for the EEO candidates.

Regards,
Ankur

720 is a good score for sure. But if you feel you can improve it, go for it. You surely stand a chance for ISB, if coupled with good essays
A 720 is considered to be a bit on the lower side for the IT pool candidates. For the rest, I think it is a good score.

If you feel you can improve, you should prepare for the GMAT, but do not let it affect your preparation for the essays.
I am not very sure if we can convey our scores after the deadline.
gmatbugsme84. Can you help?

Hey ,
IMO 720 should not be a factor in stopping interview call to you. The game will largely depend on rest of your profile and how well you write your essays. I know guys with 750 GMAT and no shortlist from last year and a guy with 670 GMAT who made it through interview. So dont fret too much over 720.
Coming from :
current student at ISB. 710 GMAT. More or Less I.T profile. Had other stuff to show off in my profile ! (you have to show off in subtle ways )

Hope this helps.

Best of luck.

I agree with ankurgupta03. If you can improve your score without hurting the other parts of your application, then by all means do retake the exam. But, do know that a a 720 with strong essays/ application has a much better chance than a 740 with sub-par essays/applications. Unless you have strong reason to believe that you can score more than 750, MY advice will be to work on other parts of your application (even so, the essays play a very important role).

In any case the 720 should will be good enough to take care of the academic portion of your profile (I hope that you have read about/heard about the 3 buckets that ISB divides your application into (1) Analytical, (2) Leadership, (3) Personal bucket). You have to prove competence in other areas besides analytics. This is portrayed in the essays/ recs/ other parts of the applications. And believe me, the other parts take a lot of time.

I do not think that ISB will let you send a update on your GMAT after the deadline (the last day to take the exam is on the application deadline date). Check with ISB admissions to be a 100% sure.

Tuning in !
Just joined the group. Let the party..oops.."anxiety" begin

Does ISB take blind interviews?

Not exactly. When mine happened, they knew everything kn my application. It was open right in front of them. Except my GMAT. The GMAT is something which is deliberately kept from the interviewer to keep him/her unbiased I guess.

They had my entire application and at one point asked me for my GMAT score also (though to be fair, it was a series of questions which led to the GMAT question).

Hi tarunktuteja!

720 is normally a good score to apply, but it will be worthwhile retaking GMAT if at all you think it will not affect your application. If you retake GMAT within a week or so after the deadline, you may certainly update ISB with your updated score, but to be 100% safe that your new GMAT is considered, take it latest by November 30th.

All the Best!
'ISBmantra'

[Proud to announce that 100% of ISBmantra R1 2014 PGP applicants received an interview call]

Hi RG800! ISB interview is certainly NOT a blind interview and you must be well prepared to answer questions in the context of the stories and examples you may have used in your essays.

All the Best!
'ISBmantra'

[Proud to announce that 100% of ISBmantra R1 2014 PGP applicants received an interview call]

ISB Student Diaries #1 : Orientation week – A perfect start to life at ISB!

The community at ISB is truly diverse and vibrant. Each year, people from a wide range of age groups, from all walks of life, become ISB students. The 1-year MBA program translates to a very hectic life on campus, leaving little scope for students to gradually settle into the unique ISB culture. Orientation Week acts as a bridge that assists new students to smoothly transition and adapt to the ISB way!

The Dean’s address kicks off the Orientation Week which is entirely organized and run by ISB alumni. To begin with, experienced alumni act as advisors to newbies, answering all questions related to registration, finance, legalities, signing up for a laptop, accommodations – everything that a new student needs to know to kick start their tenure.

Although the week starts on a formal note, what follows is a pleasant surprise! After advising them, the alumni discretely direct the new students towards Khemka, ISB’s well-known auditorium. Here the students face a group of alumni who playfully ‘grill’ them for information for about 15 to 20 minutes. This unique ice breaker is followed by an end of the day theme based party, which further helps nervous new students to let their hair down and enjoy themselves.

The second day marks the beginning of a blitzkrieg of activities. A treasure hunt is ISB’s novel way of giving newcomers a tour of the sprawling campus. In another activity, alumni paint a long canvas with depictions of their experiences at ISB as well as daily life – creating a colourful testimonial of sorts for new joinees to get a glimpse of what to expect. Incoming students also get to try their hand at the most popular sport at ISB. It’s not cricket, it’s not football – its frisby, a much loved part of the ISB culture!

Every new student would have heard about most of the 28 clubs at ISB. However, presentations made by the ex-presidents and core members of the clubs throughout the week give students an in-depth understanding about what each club is about, who can become a member and how they will benefit from being part of it. This is a great way to decide which club or clubs would best compliment a student’s academic direction and career aspirations.

What comes as a pleasant surprise to ISB students is the high quality accommodation it provides. They get introduced to this facet of life at ISB during the Orientation Week. ISB has hired a 4 star hotel to not only maintain the dormitory, but also provide housekeeping services – daily! This is not just an extra facility – it is ISB’s way of letting their students know what to expect from life after ISB. The housekeeping is also very considerate given that students have to invest time in study groups, club activities, and academic assignments. Knowing, at the very beginning, that they will not have to clean their rooms for a year surely reduces a bit of stress for students!

Talent night is possibly the biggest event of orientation week, with each of the eight sections at ISB giving musical performances, skits and a medley of other performances based on a common theme. There is also a day dedicated to outdoor camping, where alumni team up members from each section and have a day of fun team building activities such as trekking blindfolded. While Talent Night binds students within sections, camping day promotes inter-section bonding.

Throughout the week, new students realise that life at ISB will not be easy, but it sure will not be dull! Getting 4 to 5 hours of sleep a day, the Orientation Week sets the pace for the rest of the year, building stamina and rigour amongst newcomers. The week is not a mere knowledge sharing event, it is a ‘passing on the baton’ ceremony of sorts. Alumni welcome new students to the institution that has become a part of their own identity. After all, once an ISBian, always an ISBian!

'ISB Student Diaries' is a series of articles published by ISBmantra to help prospective applicants develop a better understanding of life at ISB. The full set coming on our website soon.

All the Best!
'ISBmantra'

[Proud to announce that 100% of ISBmantra R1 2014 PGP applicants received an Interview Call]