Calling all ISB PGP Applicants: 2024 Intake Class of 2025

Hello everyone. Should people with weak academics opt for GMAT, instead of GRE? In my opinion GMAT is more challenging than GRE, and helps to prove a candidate’s academic mettle in a better way. I understand that a B-School will look at the overall profile of the applicant, and a GMAT/GRE score alone won’t get anyone an admit. But still wanting to know and trying to control the controllable.

Hi Rishab7, if you find GRE easier, go ahead with GRE and get an exceptional score (330+). I can assure you that your weak academics will be largely taken care of by this score.

Over the years, we have not found any specific trend that could confirm/negate that ISB prefers GMAT over GRE or vice-versa.

Are poor/average academics a show-stopper at ISB?
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Ashish.

Hi @ayushiiiarya, please see my responses in-line:

1. Considering that my application was rejected last year in Round 2 (without being waitlisted), I would greatly appreciate any feedback on potential weaknesses in my profile. I am committed to addressing these areas, apart from my GMAT score, of course.
My feedback is that your experience (~2 years last year) was on the lower side, and this should have been compensated with a strong GMAT score (ISB's average is ~710). While I haven't read your essays, one other possible reason could be the lack of a compelling justification for the post-MBA shift into strategy consulting.

2. In light of my intention to retake the GMAT, I would like to know which other aspects of my application I should focus on improving.
I would suggest focusing on strengthening your responses to: why MBA, why now, why ISB and why strategy consulting. The more honest, candid and precise your answers to these questions are, the better. Pursuing a live project or an internship (even pro-bono) in consulting can help. Having transitioned from a technology role into strategy consulting post my MBA, happy to connect over a chat. I can also connect you with an ISB alumnus who now works in a top consulting firm in India (for a quick chat). Feel free to reach out.

3. I believe my extracurricular involvements may require further work. Could you kindly provide suggestions on how I can work on them over the next few months or present them more effectively?
Most AdComs can clearly see through last minute rush-ups to improve ECs on your profile. My suggestion is to dig deeper into your interests/ areas of passion and your involvement in these topics, especially on the non-professional side (most of your ECs seem work-related). For example, if you like reading, you can introspect and talk about the important books you have read, how they impacted you, what you learned, and how those learnings can translate to your journey in and post MBA. Similarly for your sports (swimming/ surfing). The key is to highlight your unique traits and interests in the application, and present yourself as an interesting person (beyond your scores and work), one that the AdCom can relate to.

4. I have obtained a Letter of Recommendation (LOR) from my direct manager in the Indian team. Would it be advisable to also secure a LOR from a manager in the EMEA team, given my close collaboration with them?
I would suggest going for the Manager who has worked more closely with you and can talk about your strengths, traits and motivations. If that's the EMEA Manager, why not. The goal of the recommendation essays is to present a different but consistent point of view(s) on your unique strengths and attributes that you will highlight in the application.

5. If anyone would be willing to review my essays, I would be grateful to share them, as they may have contributed to my previous rejection.[/quote]
ISB has changed the essays this year, so reviewing last year's essays will not be useful. I recently wrote an article analyzing the latest essays in-depth with suggested approaches on how to answer: https://admitstreet.com/blog/isb-essay/

Regards,
Arvind
HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions interviewer
W:https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com

All the very best to applicants this year. The journey after GMAT becomes. Give your best and I hope you all make it into college you have dreams about.

For any questions or help please feel to reach out to me personally or through group chat, I will be more than happy to provide my 2 cents.

Hi, would it make a difference if the recommendation comes from ISB Alum? I report to them for my performance review but not for my projects, so they wouldn’t know my traits that well. Weighing in the pro-con of their rec.

Preference should be given to those who do have a direct visibility on your day-to-day work and can vouch for your work by giving specific instances that corroborate your traits kanishkakarpe.

What should the Letter of Recommendation comprise

Hi, is there any major disadvantage of applying in R2 through EEO? If so, is it recommended to wait until the admission season next year and apply in R1 through regular PGP admissions?

Not really, except some advantage that one gets in scholarship allocation in R1.

So, if you feel that your candidature will be stronger by R2 (by virtue of perhaps a better GRE/GMAT score), apply in R2.
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Ashish.

kanishkakarpe - The goal of the LoRs is to have your recommenders provide supplementary views about your traits, strengths and motivations by providing specific anecdotes and instances. Prefer the recommender who has worked more closely with you and can provide specific viewpoints.

Regards,
Arvind
HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions interviewer
W:https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com

Hi. All. There were multiple questions around the LOR - whom should you take it from to maximize your chances, what are the LOR topics, should you draft the LOR on your own and share with your recommender, what stories to cover in your LOR etc. I am hereby sharing the link of a collection of Sample LORs from some of our our successful applicants. Hope this helps.
https://www.crackadmission.com/mbaresources/samplelors/

How to well tune an LOR basis the nature of the University applied to?

Hi anyone who wants the paid Magoosh self-prep plan at less than half price, reach me phone no 7999796034. The course is valid till March 2024.

rahulp2998 - The goal of a good LoR is to supplement your essays/ application from the recommender's point of view i.e. by sharing their viewpoints, anecdotes, experiences about your strengths, traits, motivations, etc. Depending on the university's specific ethos/ values (e.g. team-skills, analytical aptitude, entrepreneurial spirit, interesting ECs, etc.), the recommender can highlight their viewpoints aligned to those dimensions.

Regards,
Arvind
HEC Paris MBA alum, Admissions interviewer
W:https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com

Do female applicants get any diversity quota in ISB ?

https://www.isb.edu/en/study-isb/post-g ... t/faq.html

I’ll answer it honestly- No but yes.

hi everyone! does anyone know if we need to fill the R1 application few days earlier so that ISB gets time to get our LOR ? or can we still apply on the last date as well and LOR can be taken afterwards

The LOR needs to reach by the deadline too. You can prompt the LOR to your recommender’s mail even now, without filling any other details in the application in the account that you create for yourself.