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

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ankurgupta03

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05 May 2015, 05:00

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garry$

Hi,
How to scale GPA on 4.My GPA is 6.51 on 10.

No need to scale it. The schools do not ask you to convert in on the scale of 4.
You can just write 6.51/10. That's it

adityadon

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05 May 2015, 05:08

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ankurgupta03

swagnikb

Hi,

I have scored 710 on my first attempt at GMAT(Q51 V34) and aiming for ISB. However I have a GPA of only 2.8. Other than that I have engineering background from IIT and good 10 12 marks. Do you think I have a chance in getting a call and converting it due to my low GPA? Or do I need to score more to compensate it? I have 3 years work ex in consulting.

Given your background, I think you are good to go and there is no need for the retake.
Higher GMAT scores are typically needed for the people from the IT backgrounds.
You have many differentiating factors already. IIT brand, work ex in consulting. Focus on the application now.

Also, what is your CGPA on the scale of 10?
I think by putting it as 2.8, your being too harsh on yourself

Hi Ankur ,

I work in IT industry. So is it valid to get one Recommendation from a senior software engineer (this designation is above mine in company hierarchy) from my previous project ? He is not team lead/manager,just A project resource but senior to me.
another recommendation i will get from my previous supervisor . (a good friend of mine too

) but he has left the company now.
Are both recommendations mentioned above will be valid ??

TIA

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Schools: ISB '17 (A) Kelley '18 (D) Scheller '18 (A) Carlson '18 (A) McDonough '18 (WL) Smith '18 (A$) Olin '18 (D) Cox '18 (A$) Foster '18 (D) Simon '18 (A)

GMAT 1: 710 Q50 V35 Verified score

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Schools: ISB '17 (A) Kelley '18 (D) Scheller '18 (A) Carlson '18 (A) McDonough '18 (WL) Smith '18 (A$) Olin '18 (D) Cox '18 (A$) Foster '18 (D) Simon '18 (A)

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05 May 2015, 07:40

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Hi,

I am planning to apply for next year's intake. Wanted feedback on my profile.

here is my profile (background - engineering)
GPA - 3.1 (CGPA - 8.08 - not sure if GPA calculation is right)
graduated from NIT Allahabad with B.Tech in ECE , above 90% marks in 10th and 12th.
GMAT Score - 710 (Q-50, V-35)
By 2016, 4 years work experience in Sales and Marketing with Texas Instruments.

kinjiGC

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05 May 2015, 07:57

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adityadon

ankurgupta03

swagnikb

) but he has left the company now.
Are both recommendations mentioned above will be valid ??

TIA

Should be fine but make sure they can talk about your contribution in concrete terms with instances. Designation doesn't matter, content does.

kinjiGC

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05 May 2015, 07:59

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[email protected]

You don't have to calculate to scale of 4 as Ankur just pointed out.

I think you are good and prepare the applications to best of your ability.

Again, I don't think class 10th Score is required. For ISB, Grad + GMAT + Class XII if my memory serves correctly.

A1991

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GMAT 1: 740 Q50 V40 Verified score

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05 May 2015, 08:37

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Hi,

I am planning to apply for the 2016 batch. Wanted feedback on my profile :

GMAT : 740 ( Q 50, V 40, IR 4, AWA 5 )
Class 12 : 91.4 % in CBSE
Undergrad : 8.43/10 electrical engineering from Jadavpur University, Kolkata. ( overall rank 20 out of 105 students in my department)
Working as a protection engineer in Damodar Valley Corporation ( autonomous government organisation ) since Oct 2013.

GyanOne

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05 May 2015, 08:46

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For ISB, you wont be required to scale your GPA to 4.0 and can directly report the percentage or GPA on 10 point scale.

For a general discussion on the matter, see how-to-convert-indian-gpa-percentage-to-us-4-pt-gpa-scale-124249.html

ankurgupta03

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05 May 2015, 09:17

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Welcome to the party GyanOne.
Having you on board would surely help the applicants here.

Looking forward for your essay analysis and useful tips on the forum.

GyanOne

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05 May 2015, 09:56

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ankurgupta03

Welcome to the party GyanOne.
Having you on board would surely help the applicants here.

Looking forward for your essay analysis and useful tips on the forum.

Thanks Ankur! Delighted to be back for 2015 applications and hope to help in any and every way we can. Queries on all aspects of the application/essays/recommendations welcome from all ISB Co2017 aspirants!

We have already posted two quick articles on salient changes to the ISB PGP application in 2015 and a quick essay analysis of the ISB PGP 2015 essays. Both links are included here for quick reference:

A brief list of salient changes to the ISB PGP application in 2015
A brief analysis of the ISB PGP 2015 essays

AakashAggy

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05 May 2015, 22:06

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Hi,

Can someone here help to evaluate my profile?

GMAT: 680
Work ex: 2 years (3 by next year feb) in a good international consulting firm (but in India only. No international experience). Have worked with many clients in many industries. I have worked with managers and in one case even the Director of one of my clients. Does that help?
Studies: Engg from a top 10 engineering college (non-IIT). First class (65%)
Extra curricular: Very good. Part of many college societies, part of tech fest, and also have some ngo experience after college.

My questions are:
1. I know my GMAT score is below average for ISB, but my question is, can this score work for anybody at all? Or should I retake only?
2. Will not having distinction in college matter?
3. Is 2 years experience so far too less to apply?
4. If I ask my boss for reco, he will come to know I am applying. So if I do not get an admit, that might affect my promotion at my workplace (I am due for promotion this year). What can I do, if anything at all?

Thanking you in advance.

charu1990

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05 May 2015, 23:03

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Hello,

I gave my GMAT in April end, and scored 710 (Q50, V37, AWA 5.5)
I am very keen on going to ISB Hyd, but I feel my score might be a little low for the call. So I am planning to give GMAT again after 2 months.
My profile is :
10th : 94.2 % , 12th: 95.75% , Graduation: 76% , Work-Ex: 3 yrs (Samsung Electronics - Software Developer)

Since I belong to the over-represented IT Pool , so to increase my chances of getting a call , I am planning to give GMAT again .
Am I even eligible of getting a call anyway with this profile :O ?

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05 May 2015, 23:13

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charu1990

Hi Charu,

Your GMAT score looks fine for ISB. It is not low enough to render you non-competitive. Of course, if you feel you underperformed in the exam and would like to take it again to achieve a higher score that you know you truly can, go for it. However, don't retake the GMAT just because you feel that this score is too low for ISB (it is not). Your academics are pretty good too, which makes this even less of a concern. You are definitely eligible for getting a call with this profile.

In terms of your industry, yes, you do belong to an over-represented pool, but the important thing hereon is going to be around how strong an application you can create and submit. The GMAT is one factor that can help you get a call, but it also has to be supported with well-developed perspectives and a clear career goal. Further, you do not have typical IT profile, although you will be classified as a tech applicant. With that, and a 710 GMAT, you can certainly make it.

Feel free to come back with further questions on this or on other aspects of your profile.

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Updated on: 06 May 2015, 19:20

Originally posted by GyanOne on 06 May 2015, 00:15.
Last edited by GyanOne on 06 May 2015, 19:20, edited 1 time in total.

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AakashAggy

Hi Akash,

Your overall profile is fine, but we would recommend that you raise your GMAT score to 700+ to give yourself a better chance.

1. Although a GMAT score of 680 can certainly work (saying this on the basis of clients in previous years who have got through with this, and a little lower scores as well), if you can raise it to a 700 or above, do so.
2. No, that's ok. Having a distinction can help, but not having one does not mean that you cannot get in.
3. No, it is not. 2 years is the minimum that ISB requires, and many people have 2-3 years of experience when applying.
4. This can be an issue with many applicants. Browse through this thread for suggestions on a similar issue given by ankurgupta03. In general, some options available to you are to seek a recommendation from a client, or from some other manager you may have worked with in the past (or are working with now). Be aware though that even if you do so, you will need to keep the said person in strict confidence, else your manager/boss might still come to know. Sometimes, it is best to let your boss know upfront and talk through how you are planning things (and that you are committed to work to your best ability even as you apply) because the consequences can be worse if he/she comes to know through other channels. We will let you take a call on that according to your circumstances, though.

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06 May 2015, 00:24

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Wow... the party already began?

We wish all the success to GMAT Club members applying to ISB this year. As many of you will be digging around for more info about ISB and its application process, I hope the following resources will be of some help.

Collection of Important Posts from ISB Class of 2015 Discussion!! It's basically a summary of year's worth of applicant wisdom. We shall make a similar thread for Class of 2016 discussion in June.
Last year, we conducted a few chat sessions with ISB's admission team members and current Students. I am attaching here the transcripts of those chats. Hope you will find them useful too.

Good luck again to all ISB aspirants. For any help, feel free to reach out to forum moderators.

Attachment:

ISB Chat Transcript 04th Aug-1.pdf [334.07 KiB]
Downloaded 144 times

Attachment:

ISB Session Transcript 1st Sept.pdf [351.48 KiB]
Downloaded 125 times

Attachment:

ISB Session Transcript 14 Nov.pdf [840.85 KiB]
Downloaded 114 times

Attachment:

MBA Decoder ISB Interview Session Transcript 06th Oct.pdf [359.36 KiB]
Downloaded 125 times

souvik101990

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06 May 2015, 02:53

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Check.

ISBmantra

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06 May 2015, 07:30

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Hi! Many of you have taken GMAT already and have some extra time in hand. Use it well at work to take initiatives, create leadership opportunities and build rapport with people you may have identified for your recommendations. While you may be keen on making it to ISB, it is wise to explore some global options as well. Cost isn't always as high as it appears on paper. Several universities provide as much as 100% scholarship and several others provide cosigner-free loans. You can always choose ISB eventually, but it's good to have some bargaining power in hand.

Also, if you are applying to foreign schools, try taking some MOOCs in Maths and Stats, if that part of your profile isn't clearly strong. If you haven't had any exposure to advance maths, it's good to take up some online courses. This will not only strengthen your application, but will also give you some meat for your optional essay. Some of the relevant courses may be:

https://www.coursera.org/course/statinference

https://www.coursera.org/course/exdata

Feel free to reach out to us for any further assistance.

All the Best!

'ISBmantra'

https://www.isbmantra.com/people.html

[Check out our team here]

gmatbugsme84

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06 May 2015, 08:17

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Another resource that might be helpful to applicants (especially first time applicants who need more information on the school and the application): Infosession details https://www.isb.edu/events/admission-events

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06 May 2015, 14:40

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hello everyone!!!

I am currently a student of ISB CO2016. Let me know in case you guys need any help!! I owe a lot to GMATClub.com, lemme see if I can help you future aspirants to get into your dream school.

Not that I am averse to PMs but keep your questions public so that others can also learn from the responses.

Ankur, you are doing a great job man!! Hats Off. By the way r u joining Tepper???

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07 May 2015, 12:07

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swagnikb

I am just wondering how you got a 2.8 score as GPA- Indian colleges don't use the 4 point scale. I hope you are not under-reporting your undergrad marks on account of using some online conversion software.

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07 May 2015, 12:13

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ptecks

Hi,

I gave the GMAT and scored a 710 (Q-49/V-35). My GPA is 3.5 and I have done my engineering in IT. I currently have a work ex of 24 months in Testing in the IT Industry. I am targeting ISB Class of 2017. Is there a need for me to give the GMAT again?

GPA= 3.5? If you studied in India, you would have got a CGPA/GPA out of 10, right?

Your GMAT score is pretty alright actually. What can work against you is:
1. You belong to the most common pool of applicants- IT.
2. low work experience which could translate into lack of leadership opportunities.

Its not going to hurt too much if you wait another year before you apply. If you do plan to apply this year, you must work on the second pointer for the next few months. That will be better utilization of time as compared to retaking the GMAT.