Calling all ISB PGP Applicants: 2025 Intake Class of 2026

Hi.
I have just taken GMAT. Got 655.

With a 3 year workex in armed forces with 4 years gap right after graduating do I stand a fair chance in R1?

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­RahVern



Your GMAT score is competitive . Although Adcoms consider multiple factors beyond just GMAT scores, including your undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, personal essays, and interview performance,.

However, it is important to explain the career gap well. Taking online courses, pursuing a certification, and working on relevant projects during a career gap can certainly help to show that you have been productive during your break and gaining some relevant skills.

If you do not explain the gap well, though, it can surely end up being a weakness in your overall application. So be thoughtful and transparent when explaining the gap, and also try to compensate for it by highlighting your strengths and accomplishments from other areas of your profile.



We’d be happy to discuss your profile in more detail to enhance your application’s competitiveness.Feel free to schedule a call with us here for an in-depth profile evaluation and additional benefits.­

­Hi RahVern, overall a decent profile, but I am curious about your 4 year gap and the reasons thereof.
--
Ashish.

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can someone help evaluate my profile

-academic 10/12 both above 80%
-College Bsc from du -1st division
-MBA(2yr) from TERI University in 2012-2014
Work ex almost 9yrs
-Worked as Lead in EY, India til 2020
-moved to Canada and worked Senior Management consultant- in the digital transformation/cloud consulting space till March 2024
-PMP and Six Sigma-certified -Green Belt
-Cloud Azure certified.


Have my exam on the 30th sep- what should be my aim and how to prepare for the essay and SOP (as this would be my second MBA) as the deadline is 9th of October
and chances of r2/R3

Hey i can help you with this. Just to clarify- is this for ISB? What 9th October deadline are you referring to?

can someone help evaluate my profile

-academic 10/12 both above 80%: These are good to have however, given you have a work ex of 9 years, they will not hold a lot of weight. Try and highlight signifacnt achievements like Olympiad wins, National level participation etc, if any
-College Bsc from du -1st division: Highlight any signifact achievement/ position of responsibility/ initiative you drove
-MBA(2yr) from TERI University in 2012-2014: Highlight any signifact achievement/ position of responsibility/ initiative you drove; Also have a very clear answer on why you want to do a second MBA- role pivoting/ upskilling as per new curriculum etc could be some potential ansswers

Work ex almost 9yrs
-Worked as Lead in EY, India till 2020: Bring out your leadership experience and style- how many people did you lead, give instances of your people management skills
-moved to Canada and worked Senior Management consultant- in the digital transformation/cloud consulting space till March 2024
-PMP and Six Sigma-certified -Green Belt: ISB does look highly upon such certifications; do bring out (via your essays) how you used these in your workplace to drive impact
-Cloud Azure certified.


Have my exam on the 30th sep- what should be my aim and how to prepare for the essay and SOP (as this would be my second MBA) as the deadline is 9th of October
and chances of r2/R3

Given your strong work experience of 9 years, GMAT score will not be a deal breaker or maker for you. However, to be on the safer side, try and target 655(+). Major breakthrough will come via your essays where you clearly highlight your reasons for doing a second MBA and relate it strongly to your learnings from your 9 years of work experience. Also bring out how your work ex will add value to your cohort members both in terms of skill sharing and leadership experience sharing.

Overall, if you sell a convincing story, you should be able to get in even with an above average GMAT score. For all your essay/ SOP needs feel free to contact MBA Gully

-Ritvik Kuchhal (ISB ’24, MBA Gully)

yeah im talking about ISB only, but by mistake mentioned wrong deadline

does ISB still have this 10th 12th weightage?

I heard it got removed ..

Is this true? Can someone pls provide more details

Hi All

Need some help in evaluating my profile.

GMAT- 690
10 - 9.7, 12 -96.7, UG - 9.52, PG - 9.32 ( IIT, Guwahati )
2.8 years International work ex, Accenture, Japan.

Should i apply ? and Do i stand realistic chances ?

------------------------------------------------------
Also, just a side question.
Since schools are only accepting test centre based scores. Since test centre information is not mentioned in the score report, how would the school know ?

They don’t give weightage to 10, but they consider class 12

Hey, bhardwaj25


Your profile is strong, particularly with your academic achievements and extensive work experience. Aim for a GMAT score of 700 or higher. In your SOP, explain why you want to do a second MBA and how it fits into your career goals. Talk about specific skills or knowledge you hope to gain. Showcase your long job history, leadership positions, and how they've influenced your outlook. Explain how your background and your peers will contribute to the program. Outline your future career aspirations post-MBA and how the program will help you achieve them. Focus on making a compelling application and how you are perfect for the program. I suggest you apply in R1, as this Round has a higher chances of acceptance.


Good luck


We’d be happy to discuss your profile in more detail to enhance your application’s competitiveness.Feel free to schedule a call with us here for an in-depth profile evaluation and additional benefits.We match you with the students and alums of top B-Schools according to your background and target schools.­

Your academic background looks solid, which is definitely a positive. Regarding your GMAT score of 690, is this from the old scale or the GMAT Focus Edition? There’s a significant difference between the two, so it’s important to clarify.

Your work experience is quite unique and could set you apart. I’m curious, do you speak Japanese? I ask because Accenture recruits at ISB for roles that require Japanese language proficiency, which could make your placement more straightforward from the admissions committee’s perspective. Additionally, your experience would add value to courses like Operations Management, Project Management, Decision Modelling and Optimisation, and Supply Chain Management, where Japanese case studies are frequently used.

So yes, you should definitely consider applying. Also, did you take your GMAT online? If you took it offline, there’s no need to worry.

Feel free to reach out for any further help!
Shaleen
MBA Gully

That’s what I thought. So, to give you a short answer, a GMAT FE score of 655+ is in a good range.

However, keep in mind that ISB tends to scrutinize candidates who already have an MBA to understand the motivation behind pursuing another one. You’ll need to address this point very carefully in your application.

Aside from that, your profile and certifications look strong, and I believe you have a lot to contribute academically in the classroom. Additionally, try to highlight how you can contribute outside the classroom, as roughly 16-20 hours per week are spent in class, with the remaining 80% of your time spent outside. This will help your profile stand out.

Feel free to reach out if you’d like to discuss further.

Shaleen (ISB Alumnus PGP (Merit lister))
MBA Gully

Thanks , that clears my doubt too. I have a 655 score should I retake and apply in r2 or apply in r1?

ScottParker1, That depends on your overall profile. Without that, I would say yes retake the GMAT if you think you can score higher.
Moreover, I dont think there is time left for preparing round 1 application, if you have not started it.