Calling all ISB PGP Applicants: 2026 Intake Class of 2027

Hi everyone!
Profile review request — Would really appreciate if you guys can provide your feedback!

Educational background
Class X (CBSE) - 97%
Class XII (CBSE - Commerce) - 96% (100/100 Economics)
B.Com - Nagpur University
Chartered Accountant (1st attempt) - City topper in Strategic Financial Management

Work experience (~5 years)
PwC - Mergers & Acquisitions Tax consulting — 4 years (Assistant Manager)
Goldman Sachs - Mergers & Acquisitions Tax (Associate) - 1 year

Extra curricular
School House Captain at Junior as well as Senior level
District level Football and Kho-Kho player

GMAT & ISB
What would be the ideal score for my profile? Haven’t taken any mock tests yet.
Planning to apply in R2 - Does it majorly impact the chances of getting admission?
Thanks in advance

Not really. You might find the following article useful:

Which round of ISB has best chances of admission?

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Ashish.

Hi SHR11 (Shreya), Very promising career growth progression. I really like that you have a mix of strong brands as well as startup experience on your resume. It will signal that you can manage ambiguity, take initiative, and build from the ground up but also thrive within the rigour of large systems. You should make the best of the opportunity in the applications to highlight the contrasts in the working style to bring out your leadership experience.
Recently, many people from undergrad backgrounds at the periphery of engineering courses (think B.Arch, NIFT, etc.) have been asking about the ideal GMAT scores, and I have told many that the expectation is not any different, particularly if you have been in roles that are also widely pursued by those from other technical backgrounds. You may set your target at 675, but that is not to say that with a well-executed application and a slightly subpar score, the chances drastically change.
Although you did not mention your goals, I just want to highlight here that the goals strategy is perhaps the most important part of an ISB application, so do not overlook that. Feel free to speak should you want more personalised advice during a one-to-one discussion.


Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]­

Hi Khandelwalshubham

I like that you have strong experience in some areas of ops design and planning. Make that the foundation of your application and goals strategy should you like to see good success in your MBA application journey. You should set your target at 675 on the GMAT, which is slightly more than the class average and therefore expected from applicants with strong analytical backgrounds. I also suggest that you strongly consider IIM A and IIM B, provided you meet the work experience criterion. The competition at ISB will be brutal, so you should surely cast a wide net to maximise the odds.
Again, you did not mention your goals plan, but needless to say, that is a highly critical element in the ISB application, with two-thirds of the essays in the last season dedicated to just knowing your understanding of your goals plan, so do not overlook that aspect and be thorough in your answers.
Feel free to speak should you want deeper insights into the career options within ops design, analytics and SC planning domains, as that is also my specialisation.

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]­

Hi everyone!
Profile review request — Would really appreciate if you guys can provide your feedback!

Educational background
Class X (CBSE) - 100%
Class XII (State Board - Science) - 98.83% (PCMB)
B.Tech - IIT Madras
Working as Strategy Consultant at EY-Parthenon (Work Experience: 3 years)
Work experience (~5 years)
PwC - Mergers & Acquisitions Tax consulting — 4 years (Assistant Manager)
Goldman Sachs - Mergers & Acquisitions Tax (Associate) - 1 year

Extra curricular
School House Captain at Junior as well as Senior level
District level Football and Kho-Kho player

GMAT & ISB
What would be the ideal score for my profile? Haven’t taken any mock tests yet.
Planning to apply in R2 - Does it majorly impact the chances of getting admission?
Thanks in advance

Hi Aditya2901

With your strong analytical background, GMAT is likely not going to be a major concern. Upwards of 665 is fine. You should take a first mock and understand your baseline score. Then you will know how much effort you need to put into the exam prep versus the application and goals strategy, which will likely be the most critical part and will require deep deliberation. Cover well how:
A) your work connected to broader business strategy
B) what specific value you have added in deals
C) what leadership, collaboration, or decision-making you have demonstrated
D) why this background naturally leads into your post-MBA goals (what are they, why is ISB the right school for these goals?)

R1 or R2 should not matter so much, for as long as you have a narrative that helps you stand out both in terms of experience and character. Yours is not a run-of-the-mill kind of ISB applicant profile, but at the same time, the admissions committee will only see as much value in having you in class as you are able to advocate for yourself. So make sure you do a fantastic job there.


Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]­

Hi all
My profile
12th -89.4%
Grad, Business Economics- 7.904 cgpa

There is a gap of 2 years

Finance Executive- 2 years at a local firm
Citi bank- Performance Analyst
1.5 years
ETS - Financial Risk would be close to 1.2 years by march 2026
Cfa l1 cleared


My post mba goal is to pivot to Fp&A roles and core finance roles

Could you provide some guidance, planning to apply in R1
Thank you

100%:shock:
Which round of ISB has best chances of admission?

--
Ashish.

Slightly modest academics Sakshi. See if you can get 665+ on GMAT.
--
Ashish.

Hi everyone!
Profile review request — Would really appreciate if you guys can provide your feedback!

Educational background
Class X (CBSE) - 8.8 CGPA
Class XII (CBSE- Commerce with Math) - 93.6%
B.com Hons - Delhi University - 77.16%
Working as Knowledge Specialist at Bain Capability Network (Work Experience: 4 years)
GMAT: 625.
GMAT & ISB
What would be the ideal score for my profile?

655+ would be good. Considering that you are already at 625, just a last mile push would make you reach there.

Good luck!
--
Ashish.

Hi, is this group just for profile Evaluations?

Hi, you have a very interesting and unique background. Your experience in fashion can lead to a compelling journey post MBA. In my opinion you will be looked into as a diverse applicant and a GMAT of 640+ should work alongside a really strong application.

What else are you looking for?
--
Ashish

Hi, you have a strong shot anycase. The Bain brand certainly gives you leverage. If you can bump up the GMAT by 20-30 points that would be amazing.
Regards,
Neha Iyengar
ISB’08, Head MBA Counselling Oncourse

Academic Background:
Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech), Mechanical Engineering
Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV), 2021
CGPA: 8.32 / 10 (83.2%)
Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya (RGPV), 2018
CGPA: 7.62 / 10 (76.2%)
Class 10 – MP Board
Scored 77.5% –
Professional Experience:
Cloud and DevOps Engineer
Cognizant Technology Solutions | April 2022 – Present
Client: Ernst & Young (EY) – Canvas Project
Currently working as a Cloud and DevOps Engineer on EY’s flagship global audit platform, EY Canvas.
Played a key role in migrating infrastructure from on-premises to cloud (Azure), enhancing system scalability and reliability.
Actively mentoring junior engineers and new joiners, fostering DevOps best practices, and facilitating collaboration between development teams, product managers, and business stakeholders for smooth application deployments.
Regularly interact and coordinate with globally distributed teams in the US, UK, Argentina, Mexico, and China, although no physical international experience.
Recognized by both client (EY) and Cognizant for delivering high-impact solutions and ensuring critical system uptime.

Certifications:
Holds multiple Cloud and DevOps certifications (Azure/AWS, etc.)

International Exposure:
While not physically abroad, has significant cross-cultural and international collaboration experience with global teams and stakeholders from North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Extracurricular activities:-
🏏 Sports & Team Engagement
• Cricket and Football Enthusiast: Regularly participate in local matches and office tournaments, demonstrating teamwork, discipline, and strategic thinking.
• Leadership & Sportsmanship: Often take on organizing roles or mentoring new team members.

Health & Personal Discipline
• Fitness and Gym Training: Consistent focus on health and discipline through daily gym workouts — showcases commitment, resilience, and mental strength.

👨‍🏫Social Impact & Teaching
• Voluntary Teaching Post-COVID: Supported underprivileged students in local communities to regain academic momentum after COVID-19 disruptions.
• Taught basics of science/math-helping students develop confidence and continuity in learning.

NGO & Community Support
• Food Distribution with Local NGO: Worked hands-on with a grassroots trust during and after COVID-19 to distribute food to daily wage laborers and low-income families.

Please suggest to good score for ISB and good colleges in Europe

Mechanical Engineering to DevOps is quite a leap Nikhil!

Target a 675+ on GMAT. ISB is getting more competitive by the year.
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Ashish.