Welcome 2026-2027 ISB Applicants Quick Access Menu Join ISB chat | Add to my Schools | ISB Application Walkthrough | MBA Applicants WhatsApp Community Welcome to the ISB Class of 2028 Applicant Community! > This space is dedicated to connecting prospective candidates, exchanging strategic insights, and supporting one another through the application journey. To kick off our discussions, we would love to hear from you. Are you planning to apply this year? Please introduce yourself in the comments below and share where you are in your preparation. Don't forget to bookmark this post and follow the thread for regular updates, peer reviews, and collaborative strategies. https://gmatclub.com/forum/schools/photo/ISB.jpg ISB MBA Deadlines 2026-27 Round Application Deadline Decisions Released Round 1 Sep 20, 2026 End of Nov 2026 Round 2 Dec 6, 2026 End of Feb 2027 Round 3 Jan 17, 2027 Mid March 2026 ISB MBA Essays 2026-27 Essay 1 What unique experiences have shaped who you are? What have these experiences taught you about leadership and the kind of leader you aspire to be? (400 words) Essay 2 What intellectual experiences have influenced your approach to learning and have led you to pursue an MBA? Please describe using anecdotes from your own experiences. (400 words) Essay 3 Optional: Share any intellectual pursuits, unique perspectives, or experiences that have shaped your worldview and how they will contribute to the ISB community. (250 words) ISB at MBA Spotlight 2026: Key Takeaways PROGRAM OVERVIEW The Indian School of Business (ISB) offers a one-year Postgraduate Program in Management (PGP) starting in April and ending in March. The program emphasises career pivots, resilience, and game-changing leadership, equipping students with business knowledge, leadership capabilities, and analytical thinking. CURRICULUM The curriculum is structured into core, flexi-core, and elective courses. Core courses cover foundational management disciplines, while flexi-core courses focus on analytics. Students can choose 18 electives from over 100 options across six business disciplines starting from term four. FACULTY ISB employs a portfolio faculty model with 70+ resident faculty and 200+ visiting faculty from top global business schools. Notable faculty include Professor Prasanna Tantri in finance and Professor Nandu Nand Kishore in marketing. ADMISSIONS & SCHOLARSHIPS Applicants need a bachelor's degree, a valid GMAT/GRE score, and a minimum of 24 months of work experience. The application includes two mandatory essays and one optional essay. The program fee is ₹33,16,000 plus taxes for shared accommodation. About 25% of the class receives scholarships, including merit, diversity, and need-based options. CAREER OUTCOMES ISB's Career Advancement Services (CAS) engage with 1,400+ global organisations, providing 300+ networking sessions annually. The average compensation for the recent cohort was ₹37.29 LPA, with a 248% salary increase post-graduation. The program supports significant career pivots, with 67% of students changing industries and 69% changing functions. APPLICATION DEADLINE The round one application deadline is September 28 at 11:59 PM. Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications early and can seek feedback on their profiles through ISB's profile evaluation service. ISB MBA Admission Stats 2025-26 Average GMAT 669 Average GRE 326 Work Exp. 49 months View the full ISB Class Profile --> https://www.isb.edu/en/study-isb/post-graduate-programmes/pgp-management.html View the full ISB Employment Report --> https://www.isb.edu/news/press-releases ... bilee-year

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Calling all ISB PGP Applicants: 2027 Intake Class of 2028

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admitStreet

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Location: India

Concentration: Strategy, Finance

Schools: HEC Jan 2018 Intake (A$) ISB '19 (A)

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Schools: HEC Jan 2018 Intake (A$) ISB '19 (A)

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28 May 2026, 15:38

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ar088 - interesting profile overall.

Which undergrad university (tier-1/ tier-2..) did you graduate from?

Some more details can help assess your work-ex better e.g. key achievements (or projects), which stakeholders you've worked with, timeline for the promotions (were they fast-tracked?), etc.

Also, considering that your entrepreneurial venture seems to be doing well, what's the motivation to take time off and pursue an MBA at this juncture?

Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | Request a free profile evaluation
W: https://admitstreet.com | LinkedIn | E: [email protected]

ar088

Hi, I am looking for a profile evaluation for ISB PGP programme and would really appreciate your inputs.

Academic Background
- Higher Secondary Education (CBSE) in 2014 with a CGPA of 8.6
- Senior Secondary Education (PCM) from Bihar State Board in 2016 with 66.2%.
- Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2021 with a CGPA of 8.26

Professional Experience
- Currently possess 5+ years of professional experience at Accenture India, with progressive growth across the following roles:
Associate
Analyst
- Worked extensively in enterprise technology with exposure to cloud infrastructure and operational delivery. Currently working for client Bank of America. Working closely with the stakeholders.
- Founded a Private Limited company from zero with no business background in family and currently operating it with a stable annual turnover. Recently worked with a UK-based client as part of the business requirement.
- Simultaneously managed responsibilities in both corporate and entrepreneurial environments, gaining exposure to operations, client management, and execution.

Internships & Industry Exposure
- 2-month internship at Volvo India in the core mechanical engineering domain.
- 3-month consulting internship at HighRadius.

Certifications
- Azure Cloud Architect Associate certification.
- GitHub Copilot Certification.
- Microsoft certified DevOps Engineer expert.
- Microsoft 365 certified.

Awards & Achievements
- Received four Employee Recognition Awards during my tenure at Accenture for performance and contribution.
- Selected for SSB Interview for entry into the Indian Navy in 2021.
- Secured rank positions in multiple Olympiads during school years.
- Won Prize money worth 35000 in Technical fest for securing 2nd position.

Leadership & Extracurricular Activities
- Served as Associate Coordinator of the Robotics Society during my third year of engineering.
- Designed and built a fully functional 3D printer from scrap materials, which was recognised by the university and retained in the laboratory for junior students’ learning purposes.
- Have been actively associated with an NGO and participated in social initiatives.
- During the post-COVID period, while working remotely at Accenture, I also managed operations for a reputed hospitality chain property in Himachal Pradesh for nearly two and half years.
- Dedicated personal time towards teaching junior students at Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, during my college time.

admitStreet

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Schools: HEC Jan 2018 Intake (A$) ISB '19 (A)

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28 May 2026, 15:41

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rishabh14 - the undergrad pedigree/ GPA and BCN brand help.

What kind of roles/ projects have you worked on at BCN, and have there been any promotions or progressions? Also, anything on the extracurriculars side?

Given your work-ex (2.5 years) is a bit on the lower side considering the competitive pool at ISB, a 685-695+ GMAT Focus can help strengthen chances.

Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | Request a free profile evaluation
W: https://admitstreet.com | LinkedIn | E: [email protected]

rishabh14

Hi i am looking for profile evaluation for 2027-28 ISB PGP intake
Would love any inputs!
Age - 24, Male
Academics :
10th - 96%
12th - 95%
Bachelors in Management Studies from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies - 8.04/10

2.5 years work experience at Bain Capability Network (Consumer Department)

GMAT yet to be taken

CareerSimplified

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Schools: IIMA PGPX'23 (A)

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28 May 2026, 20:48

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Quote:

*conceptualaditya writes:*
I will try my best .
With 675 can I get in any MBA colleges including IIM a , b , c , ISB , IIM k or even IIM U ?
My profile include 4 years 10 months expirence by July 2026.

Minimum workex requirement for Banglore and Calcutta is 5 years.

GMATinsight

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Location: India

GMAT: QUANT+DI EXPERT

Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24

GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41 Verified score

WE:Education (Education)

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Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24

GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41 Verified score

Posts: 7,312

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28 May 2026, 21:29

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Quote:

*rishabh14 writes:*
Hi i am looking for profile evaluation for 2027-28 ISB PGP intake
Would love any inputs!
Age - 24, Male
Academics :
10th - 96%
12th - 95%
Bachelors in Management Studies from Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies - 8.04/10

2.5 years work experience at Bain Capability Network (Consumer Department)

GMAT yet to be taken

Just get a GMAT in excess of 655 and I think you will have very good chances.

From BCN for past year students even with 625 have converted.. but a 655+ would be comfortable for you to translate that application into interview and then work on Interview.

You can reach me through DM for more detail i fyou like

Bhoopendra Singh
http://www.AdmitSure.com
+91-9999687183
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bhoopendra1/

GradOcean

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28 May 2026, 22:06

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Hi rishabh14,

You have a strong academic background along with a solid brand name through your experience at BCN

Considering your work ex is 2.5 years which is on the lower end, a GMAT in range of 695+ will enhance your chances. Also think about what you want to do post MBA.

All the Best!

Happy to connect if you’d like to discuss your profile in more detail.

[color=#000000]Website: Gradocean.in
Email: [color=#006597][email protected][/color]
Phone: +91-9892714308[/color]

rishabh14

Shreyesh

Joined: 28 May 2026

Last visit: 21 Aug 2026

Posts: 2

Location: India

Schools: ISB INSEAD MiM '27 MiM '27

GPA: 8.3

Schools: ISB INSEAD MiM '27 MiM '27

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28 May 2026, 22:26

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Can you evaluate my profile for ISB YL 27-29 intake.

GPA: 8.3
Pre-MBA industry: Student
Post-MBA industry: Startup/ Real Estate

SHREYESH REDDY

Hyderabad, Telangana, India | Languages: Telugu (Native), English (Fluent), Hindi (Fluent)

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Dynamic Architecture undergrad at IIT Kharagpur with a unique blend of design innovation, business strategy, and entrepreneurial drive. Experienced in streamlining operations, financial restructuring, and leading teams to success. Passionate about sustainable urban solutions and building user-centric spaces and services.

EDUCATION

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) — Final Year | CGPA: 8.3/10
Thesis: “Rooftop Parasitic Housing” — Researching sustainable urban densification paradigms through modular architectural interventions to address the affordable housing deficit.
State Board
Class XII | Percentage: 97.7%
Secondary School Certificate (SSC)
Class X | GPA: 10/10

ENTREPRENEURIAL & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Founder | Pause Hour (SPaaS Startup) | Present
Spearheading a Space-as-a-Service (SPaaS) startup designed to solve the "dead hour" gap for transit travelers.
Building a platform to connect travelers with on-demand access to premium boutique hotel amenities.
Currently driving early-stage market research, product development, and iterating to achieve Product-Market Fit (PMF).

Business Strategy & Operations Consultant | B2B Facility Management Vendor
Identified critical working capital bottlenecks and successfully integrated invoice discounting and supply chain financing solutions in collaboration with Integrated Facility Management (IFM) companies.
Spearheaded a complete brand overhaul; designed and launched a new corporate website and brand kit.
Streamlined business operations by developing a comprehensive, centralized Excel-based system for efficient data management and daily tracking.
Trained internal staff on effective B2B communication and vendor procurement strategies, directly contributing to the acquisition of two new major enterprise clients.

Architectural Design Intern | CREDAI Developer Exhibition
Designed an exhibition stall that won the "Most Sustainable and Affordable Stall Award."
Pioneered an innovative approach to temporary architecture by utilizing modular scaffolding and fabric draping, significantly reducing material waste and construction costs.

LEADERSHIP & POSITIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY

General Secretary (Mess) | Hall of Residence, IIT Kharagpur
Managed dining operations and event logistics, successfully orchestrating 4 massive Grand Dinners and numerous departmental meet-ups.
Spearheaded the largest infrastructural overhaul in recent hall history, independently managing and executing a renovation budget of ₹2.6 Lakhs.
Modernized management operations by deploying a QR-code-based real-time feedback system to monitor and enhance dining satisfaction.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACHIEVEMENTS & SPORTS

Kabaddi (Captain): Led the Hall Kabaddi team to its inaugural championship victory; awarded a medal for securing the highest defending points in the tournament.

Cricket: Recognized with the "Best Bowler" Cup for the Hall team during the 1st-year Inter-Hall General Championship (GC).

CORE SKILLS

Business & Strategy: Operations Management, Supply Chain Finance, B2B Client Acquisition, Product-Market Fit (PMF).
Design & Architecture: Sustainable Design, Temporary Architecture, Urban Densification, Brand Identity & Web Design.
Tools: Microsoft Excel (Advanced Data Management), Web Design Platforms, Architectural Design Software.

ShiftPuma

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28 May 2026, 23:23

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I just had a small technical doubt

If we apply in the Round 1 for ISB and if admitted and then pay the initial fees

Post this if you’ve also given CAT and get an admission in some other college as well which would be around April May long after the ISB results and fees are paid

Is there any process at ISB to get the refund of the fees
Just had this technical doubt before planning as by then colleges must have also started

WA@rge4049

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28 May 2026, 23:26

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GMATinsight

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Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24

GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41 Verified score

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Schools: IIM (A) ISB '24

GMAT 1: 750 Q51 V41 Verified score

Posts: 7,312

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28 May 2026, 23:37

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Quote:

*ShiftPuma writes:*
I just had a small technical doubt

If we apply in the Round 1 for ISB and if admitted and then pay the initial fees

Post this if you’ve also given CAT and get an admission in some other college as well which would be around April May long after the ISB results and fees are paid

Is there any process at ISB to get the refund of the fees
Just had this technical doubt before planning as by then colleges must have also started

I sense redundancy in the questions... 😛

Please forgive me but I am unable to fathom a reason why would someone leave a seat at ISB to join any other indian business school...

Since Nilanjan has answered it so I will stay away from giving technical answer of this

ISBeacon

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28 May 2026, 23:52

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rishabh14

Things looking decent rishabh14.

The one (minor) drawback in your relatively lesser work-ex. So, see if you can try for a 685+ on GMAT, to compensate for this.
--
Ashish

ISBeacon

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28 May 2026, 23:55

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AnushaLakhotia

5. What GMAT/GRE score should I target to offset my relatively average graduation CGPA?

685+ AnushaLakhotia.
--
Ashish

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28 May 2026, 23:56

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29 May 2026, 00:00

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MBAGuide

Joined: 24 Jul 2019

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Location: India

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29 May 2026, 00:02

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Hi AnushaLakhotia

I would like to be direct. Your profile is decent and I particularly like your internships. But you need to understand that the DU pool of applicants is huge, and so there is a wide spectrum with respect to the league of schools within DU, and that does matter in very competitive programs. If you currently do not have a job, make it your number one objective to get a strong footing with a full-time opportunity in hand if you would like to come across as a high-potential candidate. Since you asked about gaps, think of this as a gap area that you need to bridge. Since you also asked whether analytics, consulting, research, strategy, or startup experience would be valuable, then YES, absolutely, it will be. Even if you do not get into ISB YL, think about how the effort to get a good role at this stage will pay off later with a PGP admit when you become eligible.
Recently, I have been speaking with prospective YL applicants who are looking at it as an exit path out of a career break, job search, etc. Do not fall into the trap of overoptimism because ISB knows exactly the kind of profiles it wants for YL. Continue to invest in your own professional growth irrespective of when you eventually get the admit for a master’s in business/PGP/YL. Focus on good professional opportunities before jumping into GMAT/GRE.

Happy to have a one on one chat

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]

AnushaLakhotia

Hi everyone,

I would really appreciate a profile evaluation for ISB Hyderabad PGP YL.

Academics
• Class 10: 93%
• Class 12: 97%
• BA (Hons) Economics, Delhi University (Graduated in 2025) – CGPA 7.65

Internships
• NITI Aayog – Economics Research Intern (Feb 2025 – Apr 2025)
• InterGlobe Enterprises (Summer Intern) – Aviation Sector Research (Jun 2024 – Jul 2024)
• Metvy – Management Intern (Sep 2023 – Nov 2023)

Leadership & Positions of Responsibility
• President/Head of Organizing Committee, Economics Department
• Technical Head, College Placement Cell
• Placement Coordinator, College Placement Cell
• Research Associate, Global Association of Economics Education (GAEE)

Extracurriculars
• 3 social impact/community service initiatives
• Case competition participation
• Extensive event management and leadership experience

Current Situation
I graduated in 2025 and am currently looking for strong internships/full-time opportunities, particularly at startups, in analytics, strategy, research, consulting, or business roles. My goal is to build a strong profile before applying to ISB PGP YL.

Given my profile:

1. What are my chances at ISB PGP YL?
2. What would you rate my profile out of 10?
3. What are the biggest gaps I should address?
4. Would analytics, consulting, research, strategy, or startup experience be most valuable for ISB?
5. What GMAT/GRE score should I target to offset my relatively average graduation CGPA?

Any honest feedback would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

nidaa

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29 May 2026, 00:04

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28F,General:
Education:
10th: 85.6%
12th PCMB: 55%
B.Tech CSE (Tier-2 college): 8.75 CGPA
Extra curricular:
NCC B Certificate
Studied German till Level B certified at Goethe-Institut after graduation while preparing for MS Germany plans before COVID changed things
Work ex:
4+ years in Salesforce domain with 3 certifications planning to add AI certification in Salesforce, but I don’t enjoy the long-term technical path and want to transition into management/business roles.
Considering 1-year full-time MBA/PGP in India mainly for:
Career pivot
Better compensation
Networking/exposure
Moving into management roles
My biggest concern is the 55% in 12th.
Want a realistic opinion on:
-Which Tier-1/Tier-2 colleges are still achievable?
-How much will the 12th score hurt during admissions and placements?
-Even if admitted, will placement shortlists become difficult?
-Do 1-year MBA programs evaluate profiles differently from 2-year MBAs?
-Would appreciate honest advice from MBA grads/recruiters/similar profiles.

MBAGuide

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Schools: Insead Sept'18 (A$$) ISB '19 (A)

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29 May 2026, 00:16

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Ray1419

Hi! Very interesting profile. Also, you are at a favorable stage should you want to transition into a corporate career. Had your experience been significantly lower than this, it could have appeared that you did not serve a meaningful tenure or gain reasonable managerial experience.
Profile evaluations are incomplete without knowing your goals. What you have functionally been doing within your current role will largely help in understanding what your transferable skills are for post MBA opportunities. This does not necessarily mean that you would be stuck with a limited set of roles or industries. My past mentees from the defence sector have gone into everything from top-tier consulting roles to even life sciences and healthcare analytics roles.
Last year, I mentored an Indian Navy officer with 14+ years of experience who recently graduated from ISB. Should you want to discuss the specifics of your profile, feel free to reach out.

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]

Ray1419

Hi, I am looking for profile evaluation for 2027 intake. Would really appreciate any inputs!

Age-27, M
Academics:
10th- 10 CGPA
12th- 79%
BTech from IIT- 7.7 cgpa

Work ex
4.5 years as an Officer in Indian Coast Guard, Ministry of Defence.

Targeting
IIM and ISB

Gmat yet to be taken

ARINGO

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29 May 2026, 00:18

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Applying to ISB this year?
If you’re considering ISB and would like feedback on your profile, we’re offering a free profile review.

We’ll review your academic background, work experience, test scores, leadership involvement, career goals, and overall fit for ISB. We can also highlight areas that may strengthen your application before you apply.
Feel free to connect. We’d be happy to help.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR A FREE PROFILE REVIEW

MBAGuide

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Location: India

Concentration: Operations, Marketing

Schools: Insead Sept'18 (A$$) ISB '19 (A)

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29 May 2026, 00:22

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conceptualaditya Tough spot! But try to think from the admissions committee’s point of view. They are basically giving you a free hand to pick your best advocate. From that perspective, it may seem somewhat worrying if you do not have anyone willing to vouch for your professional capabilities.
Could it be that you are somewhat hesitant to ask for a strong recommendation? People are usually not as unsupportive as we imagine. If you have any colleagues or friends in a professional capacity who may be willing to support you, even their endorsement would count.

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]

conceptualaditya

I am right now working as a doctor in UK and due to ongoing sweet racism.
I decided to apply for ISB. But unfortunately I don’t think anybody would prefer to act as referee or give me positive references.
What should I do with regard to application

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Location: India

Concentration: Operations, Marketing

Schools: Insead Sept'18 (A$$) ISB '19 (A)

Posts: 2,551

Kudos: 1,036

29 May 2026, 00:34

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Hi rishabh14

I have worked with many candidates from BCN and similar profiles. It is a fairly represented pool at ISB now. To be honest, 2.5 years of work experience with BCN is still on the lower side because, at that stage, many applicants may not yet have had ample opportunities to demonstrate meaningful client exposure, ownership, or genuine decision-influencing capabilities. Of course, this is only my surface-level read. A lot will depend on your goals and how sharply and maturely you present your narrative across the application and interviews. Many applicants from your kind of background come in with goals of pivoting into front-end consulting roles after ISB, but that narrative has become extremely common now. Others speak about moving into PE/VC/IB, but there again, because you are still early in your career, schools would ideally want to see signs that you have already made some effort to move closer toward those ecosystems independently, even through entry-level opportunities or adjacent exposure.

ISB is not necessarily in a hurry to hand out admits at around 2.5 years of experience. At that stage, you need to give them stronger reasons to believe why now is the right time for you and why your trajectory already shows unusually high potential relative to your peer group. So be very conscientious and strategic about how you approach the application and specially your goals strategy. Feel free to connect should you want to discuss your role at BCN.

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]

rishabh14