Calling all ISB PGP Applicants: 2024 Intake Class of 2025

I am a consultant but I help with about 50+ schools a year. From my observation it happened for quite a while in January but don’t lose hope just yet. And if you really need an exact date where they stopped, thread would be the best way to go about it.

Any update on invites for Mumbai?

Hello everyone! I had my interview in Mumbai today; I'll share my experience. Relatively new here so not sure if this is supposed to be posted on a different thread. If so, please let me know.

The interview was with two alums (Batch of '17 and '19)
It started off well, they made me feel comfortable. Asked how I spent my waiting time - I said we fellow applicants were chit-chatting and getting to know each other which really helped ease our nerves (it actually did). They introduced themselves and the interview began.
Tell us about yourself - I think what I said here really set the tone for the interview. I mentioned I like reading and we spent a few minutes discussing the last book I read. I also mentioned another hobby to which they said we'll pick it up at the end as we are keen on learning more about it (had written about it in my essay too)
Tell us more about your work and what you do at work - They had different backgrounds so they were just curious and trying to understand my work
Why MBA? - Since I am from a family business background, they went hard on this one
You are already doing business, I don't see why you need an MBA? - Explained further.
Why consulting? - Had it as my short-term goal, justified it.
In consulting you will essentially just be suggesting what to do, but in your business you are already strategizing as well as implementing. So again, why consulting? - Defended my choice.
Have you spoken to any ISB grads in consulting? - Yes, gave them names.
Have you spoken to any other college grads in consulting? - Yes.
Are you sure you still want to do consulting? - Yes.
I am still not convinced on why you need an MBA and how will consulting help you? - Here I got the feeling that they were trying to test how I respond, but maybe they really were not convinced. I can't say for sure.
What are your strengths and weaknesses? - I mentioned problem-solving as a strength, gave examples. They subtly tried to throw me off by saying this is not problem-solving, this is just 'jugaad' (it wasn't jugaad. I figured they were again testing how I responded to being challenged and I did not want to sound too defensive, so I just made a funny remark and we moved on)
What if you don't get in to ISB?
Backtracked to the hobby I mentioned at the beginning - talked about it for several minutes, they genuinely took an interest and seemed impressed.
Do you have any questions for us?

Remarks - The interview is very conversational, panelists are warm and friendly. Choose your introduction carefully, it will dictate the course of the interview. Have a solid story, be clear about it, and stick to it. If you are unclear, they will sense it and call you out for it. Choose your words wisely, do not blabber - the panelists are incredibly sharp and will catch on to any word and question you on it. Interact with applicants in the waiting room - it will relax you and it gives a good impression when you tell the panel about it. Don't approach the interview as a challenge but as an experience - it is an incredible one!

Tricky opinion (not the best idea but worked well for me) - Gauge the panel's demeanour and based on your judgment, crack the occasional joke - it really helps lighten the mood and prevents both you and the panelists from getting too serious. Even one witty remark does wonders - One of the interviewers had a uniquely difficult name; towards the end he said you cannot recall my name, can you? I did not respond for a few seconds, the other panelist made a remark and then I blurted out his name. They were convinced I had forgotten it so they were taken aback for a couple of seconds - then all three of us burst into laughter. I believe that ensured a pleasant end to the interview.

Good luck to everyone! If you have any questions regarding my experience, happy to help.

Hi All. Below are questions to some of the applicants we worked with and who had interviews in Bombay over the weekend.

1. If NOT an MBA, how else would you achieve your long-term career goal?
2. Give us 1 reason why we should NOT take you as part of ISB CO25 cohort?
3. What was the financial impact of your innovation as far as the company was concerned?
4. How did you learn to play the Ukelele?
5. Estimate the number of people currently in the Hotel where we are having the interview?
6. Tell us one thing about you which you would use an ice breaker during the O week?
7. You want to get into Top Consulting firms, and yet you have mentioned that you will participate in ILS, become the President of the Business Technology Club and do an ELP. Do you realistically feel that you will get time to realistically do all of these considering Top Consulting firms also consider your MBA CGPA in their evaluation.
8. What is the difference between a product company and a platform company? Please explain with suitable examples.
9. What in your opinion will be the impact of the upcoming National Elections on India’s stock market?
10. Questions around the Failure example – how can you ensure such a failure doesn’t happen in future.
11. Standard questions on Why MBA and why do you think this is the best time for you to invest in management education.
12. You have mentioned consulting as your short term career goal. Almost 70% of applicants state the same and yet only 30% of class get consulting placements. Why do you think you will be among that 30%.
13. Your goals seem to be more around Program Management and not Product Management. Are you aware of the difference between the two. Please explain with an example.
14. You have mentioned that your biggest failure was in choosing your co-founder for your startup. In retrospect, what could you have done differently.

Feel free to DM in case you have an invite and looking for some help with preparing for the interviews/

but, is there any harm in applying for R3?

If you don’t get in, you only get 3 months to make any major changes in your profile to demonstrate to the adcom what has changed. Other than that... No

6+ months if take a couple of months out for app prep. Jan to September period

Any EEO admits from round 1? Please DM, thank you!

R1 Admits - How long after the interview did you all received offer letter?

receive*

I think most people received it on 17th Nov

And when did their interviews end?

It’s going to take a long time for r2 on the website they have mentioned 3rd week of feb

Hello! Is there anyone who applied in R2 from Delhi and has received an interview invite?

Also, when does ISB send a rejection email in case you did not get shortlisted for the interview?

Has anyone from Mumbai whose interview got postponed, received any update from ISB ?

I guess they don’t send rejection for not been shortlisted for interviews

In the same boat here. Awaiting shortlist for interviews for Delhi location. Someone had mentioned they will start informing 13th onwards? Not sure though. DM me if you have other info!

Has anybody received mails for R2?