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24 Jun 2020, 06:59
Kudos
Bookmarks
kvakhil
Hi kvakhil
Thank you for posting. Here is our assessment:
- Excellent experience in Blockchain, and some good names on your resume there (PwC, EXL, Reliance) which will definitely help. What were the applications of Blockchain you worked on at Reliance?
- While your work within IT is quite interesting, you are still coming in from an overrepresented pool of IT candidates, many more than usual of whom are applying to B-school this year.
- Your GMAT at 700 is decent, and could well see you through, but the goals will need a harder look. Given your profile, this goal may not fly. Need a deeper look at the leadership aspects of your profile as well, as that is something ISB is explicitly focusing on this year (see the ISB essays for this year, released today - our analysis of these in a post below).
- ECA seems ok. The blog part looks very promising. Kudos for that. TT is fine as well. Any other ECA to report?
Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with more queries as needed or to email us directly (see our signature below).
24 Jun 2020, 06:59
Kudos
Bookmarks
ISB has today (June 24, 2020), opened up its online application for the PGP 2020-21 intake. In a year that has already seen a number of disruptions owing to COVID-19, ISB has tried to remain close to its earlier applications, in both letter and spirit. In fact, most top business schools around the world have been wary of making too many changes to their applications process, judging by the schools that have opened up their application portals so far.
Key aspects of the ISB applications/admissions process this year
- ISB has kept the Round 1 admissions deadline (Sep 20, 2020) very similar to that for the previous two years. This ensures consistency between years.
- The Round 2 deadline has not been announced so far. It will of course be announced before Round 1 comes to a close.
- The rest of the application remains broadly similar to those of previous years
- While a Round 2 or 3 deadline has not been announced yet, it seems like the final deadline (last round) will be Jan 1, 2021
- The program will commence on April 10, 2021. The date remains unchanged from previous years (except 2020, when changes had to be made because of COVID-19)
- Around 250 deferrals from 2020 will also be part of next year's class.
ISB essays 2020 - analysis
Essay 1: Describe with examples the most important personal quality that you possess that significantly enhances your prospects of being successful as a leader (400 words max)
This is an interesting essay in many ways. For one, it breaks with ISB's tradition of asking applicants to write an essay on why they should be selected as part of essay 1. ISB persisted with that topic for its first essay for 5 straight years (2015-19). In many ways, therefore, it is refreshing to see an essay topic that asks applicants to think on a different dimension. This year's first essay is therefore also much harder to answer, because it requires applicants to think harder, and substantiate their arguments in new dimensions. Here are the things to keep in mind when addressing this essay topic:
- It is useful to first think of examples from your life when you have shown leadership and teamwork. Try and think of relatively more recent examples, and ones that carry some weight. The examples could be from either your professional or your personal life.
- Try and filter common abilities that made you a leader, or helped you to face challenges in a team, as these examples portray. Remember, ISB is asking for one quality, so ultimately, you will need to filter these qualities down into one dominant or common element.
- Make your essay real and believable. You will be quizzed on the very aspects you mention in this essay, during the interview later. In trying to show yourself as a leader, do not go overboard. A common temptation is to show yourself as a leader in a task in which you were a team member and contributor. Do not fall for this.
- Finally, don't forget to make a pitch for why the personal quality you highlighted is an indicator that you will be a good leader in future too. Do not leave the reader hanging by simply listing down examples, and expecting the reader to drive his/her own conclusions.
Essay 2: What are your short term and long term career goals? How will Post Graduate Program at ISB assist you in achieving your goals. (400 words max)
This is the old staple, back for another season. However, it's not quite served in the same flavor that it had been served in last year, though it is very similar, and in some cases, the same, as the goals essay asked for in years before that. Last year, ISB had asked for short, long, AND medium-term goals, and that made the goals essay a lot harder to answer. This year, the task is actually easier.
Keep the following inputs in mind when approaching this essay:
- This essay actually begins not with writing, but with research. Now that you have decided to apply to ISB, you must have a good idea of why you are doing so. What professional objective (goal, role, industry) attracts you and why? Why is this the right time to pursue that goal? Is an MBA important in helping you consider that goal? These are some aspects you must both ponder and research before you even attempt this essay. And no, please do not even think about changing your goals to those suggested by friends, colleagues, or relatives. Your goals are yours. You should be able to justify them (with research and time, of course). Remember, you will be defending exactly these goals in the interview. They better be something that you are thorough with.
- Your short and long term goals must be both crisp and relevant. Do not spend or waste space beating about the bush. Be clear about what you want to do, and how your background is relevant (or not - sometimes, changing careers is fine!) to these objectives.
- Do not forget to talk about the long term goal as well. Some applicants focus so much on the goal after ISB, that they forget to address the long term goal. Note 1: Your long term goal does need to be related to your short-term one. Note 2: Entrepreneurship is not an easy sell as a long term goal. If you are planning to include it, ensure that you think it through. Some applicants have faced a hard time in interviews just because of making a mistake/not fully thinking through on this aspect.
- Finally, talk about the PGP and how it will move you closer to your goals. The information gathered in ISB webinars and info sessions will be very handy. Again, please do not forget to talk about your own needs. Don't simply tell ISB what all it has - trust us, it knows!
Hope this helps. Feel free to contact us directly on this, if needed, at info [at] gyanone [dot] com
Key aspects of the ISB applications/admissions process this year
- ISB has kept the Round 1 admissions deadline (Sep 20, 2020) very similar to that for the previous two years. This ensures consistency between years.
- The Round 2 deadline has not been announced so far. It will of course be announced before Round 1 comes to a close.
- The rest of the application remains broadly similar to those of previous years
- While a Round 2 or 3 deadline has not been announced yet, it seems like the final deadline (last round) will be Jan 1, 2021
- The program will commence on April 10, 2021. The date remains unchanged from previous years (except 2020, when changes had to be made because of COVID-19)
- Around 250 deferrals from 2020 will also be part of next year's class.
ISB essays 2020 - analysis
Essay 1: Describe with examples the most important personal quality that you possess that significantly enhances your prospects of being successful as a leader (400 words max)
This is an interesting essay in many ways. For one, it breaks with ISB's tradition of asking applicants to write an essay on why they should be selected as part of essay 1. ISB persisted with that topic for its first essay for 5 straight years (2015-19). In many ways, therefore, it is refreshing to see an essay topic that asks applicants to think on a different dimension. This year's first essay is therefore also much harder to answer, because it requires applicants to think harder, and substantiate their arguments in new dimensions. Here are the things to keep in mind when addressing this essay topic:
- It is useful to first think of examples from your life when you have shown leadership and teamwork. Try and think of relatively more recent examples, and ones that carry some weight. The examples could be from either your professional or your personal life.
- Try and filter common abilities that made you a leader, or helped you to face challenges in a team, as these examples portray. Remember, ISB is asking for one quality, so ultimately, you will need to filter these qualities down into one dominant or common element.
- Make your essay real and believable. You will be quizzed on the very aspects you mention in this essay, during the interview later. In trying to show yourself as a leader, do not go overboard. A common temptation is to show yourself as a leader in a task in which you were a team member and contributor. Do not fall for this.
- Finally, don't forget to make a pitch for why the personal quality you highlighted is an indicator that you will be a good leader in future too. Do not leave the reader hanging by simply listing down examples, and expecting the reader to drive his/her own conclusions.
Essay 2: What are your short term and long term career goals? How will Post Graduate Program at ISB assist you in achieving your goals. (400 words max)
This is the old staple, back for another season. However, it's not quite served in the same flavor that it had been served in last year, though it is very similar, and in some cases, the same, as the goals essay asked for in years before that. Last year, ISB had asked for short, long, AND medium-term goals, and that made the goals essay a lot harder to answer. This year, the task is actually easier.
Keep the following inputs in mind when approaching this essay:
- This essay actually begins not with writing, but with research. Now that you have decided to apply to ISB, you must have a good idea of why you are doing so. What professional objective (goal, role, industry) attracts you and why? Why is this the right time to pursue that goal? Is an MBA important in helping you consider that goal? These are some aspects you must both ponder and research before you even attempt this essay. And no, please do not even think about changing your goals to those suggested by friends, colleagues, or relatives. Your goals are yours. You should be able to justify them (with research and time, of course). Remember, you will be defending exactly these goals in the interview. They better be something that you are thorough with.
- Your short and long term goals must be both crisp and relevant. Do not spend or waste space beating about the bush. Be clear about what you want to do, and how your background is relevant (or not - sometimes, changing careers is fine!) to these objectives.
- Do not forget to talk about the long term goal as well. Some applicants focus so much on the goal after ISB, that they forget to address the long term goal. Note 1: Your long term goal does need to be related to your short-term one. Note 2: Entrepreneurship is not an easy sell as a long term goal. If you are planning to include it, ensure that you think it through. Some applicants have faced a hard time in interviews just because of making a mistake/not fully thinking through on this aspect.
- Finally, talk about the PGP and how it will move you closer to your goals. The information gathered in ISB webinars and info sessions will be very handy. Again, please do not forget to talk about your own needs. Don't simply tell ISB what all it has - trust us, it knows!
Hope this helps. Feel free to contact us directly on this, if needed, at info [at] gyanone [dot] com
24 Jun 2020, 08:26
Kudos
Bookmarks
Hi Team,
Thanks for the detailed analysis.
Although this is not the right forum, other than ISB, with consulting as a long term goal in mind, which other top international schools can I apply for ?
Thanks for the detailed analysis.
Although this is not the right forum, other than ISB, with consulting as a long term goal in mind, which other top international schools can I apply for ?
GyanOne
