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

Cadaver, and all others, here goes our analysis of ISB's essays. Its a little late, but it should help ye all...

If we were to admit just one more student, make a compelling argument as to why that student should be you by describing an (only one) achievement in your personal / professional life that you are most proud of. What did you do that sets you apart from others? What did you learn? (300 words)


At the heart of this prompt they are asking you a simple question – what differentiates you from others? This question has been an old favourite of ISB, but it was taken off the circuit for a couple of years. It makes a comeback in a grander style –it's more elaborate than before, with specific instructions on what to answer.

ISB wants to know one single example of an achievement where you did something that others would not do. The example has to be about using a unique strength, a strength that sets you apart.

So, your foremost task is to identify a couple of strengths that differentiate you from college mates and colleagues. Go deeper in your introspection and come up with those traits that have a constant history of being repeated. As an example, if you are superb at mentoring people, you would probably have mentored your college colleagues, your team mates on a technology you learnt before allot hers and maybe even taught Math to your cousin, who went from being a Math phobic to a high scorer. What is your biggest quality that differentiates you? Using a repetitive trait will help you come up with more examples during the interview process as well.

So once you have nailed down your differentiating factor, select a strong personal or professional story associated with it.

For the essay writing part, after briefly mentioning the situation, explain your role in it. What was the challenge involved? How did you deal with it? How did you use your differentiating factor to navigate through the situation? What was the outcome and eventually, what did you learn about yourself?

Having read through huge numbers of ISB applications over the years, we find that most people don't get under the skin of their examples. Simply put, they don't do deep introspection on what that differentiating factor is, why the achievement is their biggest or what they learned from it. While the examples you illustrate are going to be similar (similar problems in the IT industry or the banking sector), it is this analysis which will reveal your thought process and also help to set yourself apart.


Essay 2
Describe a (only one) defining moment in your personal / professional life when you had to make a risky decision, and explain what you did, why and the outcome?

ISB has been specific in asking applicants for one single anecdote per essay this year. This helps applicants add more depth to every anecdote they mention.
What are the risky decisions you could face in your professional life ? Letting your colleague get away with no work nor any contribution to a project could risk your ethics being compromised? Initiating a project that your boss thought would be a failure would be a risk of losing face in front of the team. And you could risk your job by disagreeing with your boss for hiding a blotched software release.

In questions like this one it's not sufficient to only describe the situation. I was faced by a risky situation and I did Xxx…that will not do! Explain WHY you took this decision.what prompted you? Was it your value system which was challenged? Was it because you had the vision to see that this step would help in the future, as in suggesting an initiative which no one else believed in?

Then explain, what was the risk itself? Would you lose an upcoming promotion? Would you lose the leadership of a team? Worse, Would you be asked to pack your bags? The risk in question does not have to be so dramatic, but the reader must be able to clearly visualise that you were going to lose something important. Basically something personal has to be at stake. And that fact that you still stuck to your guns make you a bravo! The kinds that adcom wants to meet for an interview.

or

Describe a (only one) situation in your personal / professional life when you had to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. How did it affect you and what did you learn? (300 words)

This is an interesting question as ISB has never before asked questions on cultural diversity. With their class size increasing from 500 two years ago to 750 now, ISB surely wants to focus on this element.

So if you were put in a situation where your team members had different backgrounds as compared to yours, then how would you behave?

If there was a conflict among this group would you try to bridge it? ISB is not looking for a conclusive answer where you ensure that everything ends well and you are the clear winner in the situation. Despite that you would like to frame an answer that shows your maturity in handling unrelenting team members, and your adaptability to their perspectives. Also, take atleast a hundred words of space to explain the impact this situation has had on you- what did you learn, how did you change yourself?

A b-school environment is all about learning from different perspectives after all, so you would want to make sure that you come across as a person who will thrive in this environment. Your situation can be from the professional or the personal realm, although we strongly suggest that you use atleast one professional example between the first two essays. Also, a diversity situation does not have to involve interactions with foreigners and foreign locales. India has enough diversity within itself.

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Can anyone tell me is there any possibility to not join PGP program after YLP program.
What is the fees structure for YLP program ? Do we have any concessions in PGP program later on ?

Wishing the new year brings in admits from your dream schools.
Please let me know if I can be of any help, a 2nd set of eyes for your essays, maybe! Eager to help peers.

Give a lot of importance to your essays... They are the make or break thing in your application.

R2 Applicants need any help related to Profile Evaluation, Essay Reviews or any other queries, you can email me at avishek_ganta2016@isb.edu

Hi guys,

Need a little help to clarify doubts in the R2 application. Would really appreciate if anyone can take out time to clarify!

1. Where can I mention the summer internships as there was no stipend associated with it but was a value gain exercise.

2. In the evaluation section, the field for relationship with applicant, what should the relationship be if I am asking my Manager to fill in the reference for me? I am confused between supervisor and senior executive.

Thanks!

Just found this. Though this might help some lucky candidates decide:

https://www.mbastarter.com/indian-school ... s-schools/

Hey,

R1 applicant here

1. You can mention the summer internships in the employment history section
2. I would say relationship would be Direct Supervisor. You would anyway be giving his/her designation when you fill out his/her details

Hey !
All the very best to all R2 applicants ! Let me know in case any one needs a review with his/her essays . Happy to help
Regards

Hey wishing a happy new year to everyone!

Best of luck to all R2 applicants..

Hi,

I will complete my 2 years of work experience by June of 2016.
And the ISB site states that one needs to complete 2 years of work experience by March 2016 for PGP admissions.
But when I called them, they told that you can apply if your 2 years of work experience get completed by June.
So, I am confused now.
Can anyone help me figure out if I will be eligible this year for the PGP admissions?

Thanks,
Pooja

Hi,

If you have got confirmation from ISB itself then you should probably go ahead and apply.

Thanks a lot samriddhi320!

But the page prompt does not allow the details of internship to be saved.

"Employment From Date is in conflict with UnderGraduate Programme Dates, Employment To Date is in conflict with UnderGraduate Programme Dates)"

It was a summer internship so it will coincide with the course term. I even selected part-time option but no success!

Hi,

How do we know if the GMAT scores have been reported to ISB ?
Is it only through the mail from GMAC or we can see it via the application also?

Vijay

Also, Can anyone let me know where exactly is the application reference number?

I have not yet submitted my application though.

Vijay

If you have got the mail from GMAC, don't worry about it further. Assume action has been completed.