Calling all ISB Applicants - (2016 Intake) Class of 2017

Mam,
I was selected into NTPC's Nuclear programme based on my CGPA. Spent 1 year for training in nuclear programme and then 2 years in commissioning of nuclear power plant in Kudankulam. After completion, was then transferred to Thermal Plant of Sipat where currently i am in the team for maintenance of CHP equipments as well as additional responsibility of operation and maintenance of Heavy Vehicles in plant. I was also awarded Excellence award by HOP for my work in maintenance.

I want to know that a score of 700 is ok for the isb or should i retake exam aiming for 730 and then applying in R2?

Thanks for the details Rahul.

A higher GMAT score is not a guaranteer of admission. Your application still needs to be stellar.
Now if you can get a 730+ with little effort, then a higher GMAT will help you move to another bucket of the applicant base.
Applying in R1 or R2 has no added benefit.

Go with your gut here.

Hello MBADecoder,

You mentioned the bucket system at ISB in this post, I have priliminary info. about buckets(P1to P4) I have read Mr.Menon's interview. Can you give us more details about the buckets and their role in admission process? can you tell to which bucket would an IT guy(work ex: 3 years) with 720 GMAT would belong?

hi to all,

i am balakrishna, applying for ISB for the first time.

Yet to give my GMAT and preparing to give it in september 2015.

Profile:

10th: 80%
12th: 93%
B.Tech:66%
M.Tech:70%

work experience: i am working as Asst.Manager in Regional Rural Bank and will complete 2 years by this september.

I am requesting your valuable suggestions about the prepartion for the GMAT.

I am awaiting for your reply,

thanks in advance.


with best regards,
balakrishna.

Hi Balakrishna,

You should aim for a GMAT score of 700+. Your profile has a lot of potential, with experience in a very niche sector (rural banking). While you are on the lower side of the work experience spectrum (magnitude of experience), that should not be an issue if you can get a score nearabouts 700. Your M.Tech. will help supplement your profile further.

Prepare well for the GMAT. Feel free to post back with specific questions on other aspects. All the best!

GyanOne

many thanks for your quick reply.

Please suggest me the best books for preparation.

Whether GMAT 2016 official guide bundle is enough for scoring 700+?

I am awaiting for your reply.

Thanks in advance.

You will find the following post useful: best-gmat-books-latest-update-118706.html?fl=menu

Please note that while the GMAT 2016 official guides are important elements of GMAT preparation, this set is unlikely to be enough alone.

Hello there,

I had been waiting to apply to ISB for a long time now. Was waiting to complete 2 years of work exp before applying!

I was wondering if somebody could guide me as to what else is required from now to the R1 deadline with regards to my profile

Age - 22 years
Work Exp - 25 months in e-commerce industry
BBA Graduate - 75%
GMAT score of 690
Fairly decent extra curricular's.
NGO experience

Really appreciate any help!

Regards.

Hi,
With yours stats in place, you will require the following most of all:
1. Professional maturity. Read this: https://mbadecoder.com/show-maturity-in-mba-application/
2. Good career progress with impressive achievements (refer back to stories from your work experience)
3. Clear career goals
4. well defined need for an MBA and MBA now (think- why not net year?).

Hi Balakrishna,

As gyanone correctly pointed out, OG might not be sufficient in itself for GMAT preparation.
OG consists of the questions, but for the concepts, you will have to take the help of some or the other preparation books.
Once you are done with the fundamentals, then you can shift you attention towards OG.

You can go for the manhattan study guides. The SC guide is a must.
After the books, you should focus on your test taking skills. The two free tests from GMAC, along with the 6 tests that you will get after purchasing any of the Manhattan guides should be fine.
Over and above, I would recommend you to purchase the Exam Pack 1.

Let me know if you have more questions.

All the best!

The most important thing you need is a clarity of your Goals, why MBA and why ISB.

If you can link your work experience with your Goal and place ISB in between i.e. you cannot reach your GOAL without ISB.
Also, you do not just need your extra curricular and NGo experiences on your Resume, but you also need to know what were the lessons you derived out of them, what was the impact and what changes did you make in your surroundings.

If you have all these things sorted out, you are good to go

I would suggest you to read this post before you start writing your essays.
calling-all-isb-applicants-2015-intake-class-of-170219-60.html#p1375687

Also, go through the ISB preparation kit here: calling-all-isb-applicants-2015-intake-class-of-170219-140.html#p1395539

This is for the old timers.
Did any one of you manage to get a feedback from ISB?

I did get a feedback from ISB today, "You were not able to convey your strengths during the interview".

Sagar, was this it? They delayed the feedback because they were planning to give a detailed feedback.

Hi Namita,

Unfortunately yes. I too was under the impression that ISB would provide a more detailed feedback this year but that was not to be.

Even I got the same feedback and so did others who were called for the interview.
"You were not able to convey your strengths during the interview"

For those who were not called for the interview, I think they talked about demonstrating strengths in the application. Just this one line.

I am perplexed as to why ISB did so.
They could have simply said no to personal feedback instead of this futile exercise

Hi All ,
Can you please evaluate my profile and let me know the chances to get into ISB .
GMAT score : 720 ( 51 Q , 35 V , 8 IR )
CGPA : 9.2 ( National Institute of Technology )
10th : 89% (CBSE )
12th : 79% (CBSE)
Work Ex : 37 months ( Electronics core job with no international experience ) , I have received few accolades and also presented papers in company .
Extra curriculum : Conducted many events in college and worked for NGOs , also participated in plays .
Sports : State player , 5 times district winner and I have also won inter corporate tournaments .

I am targeting only ISB this year . There is a big difference in my verbal (35) score and IR (8) / quants (51) score , will it impact my application .
Also is there any need to re-attempt gmat for better verbal/quants-IR ratio ?

Awaiting your replies !!!

Thanks
Nikhil