ISB applicants - Ask GyanOne!!

The ISB PGP 2021 application is now open. Applicants can create an account on the ISB website, and can start working on their applications on the official ISB online application system.

The essay topics are the same as 2020-21. We provide a brief essay analysis on what ISB is looking for through these essays here.

What has changed in the ISB application this year?
- ISB seems to have decided not to rock the boat at all, and keep things exactly the same as last year. The essay topics are the same, and the deadlines seem to be similar too. The R1 deadline has been announced to be in September 2021 (judging by experience, it should be around Sep 15, possibly on the weekend of Sep 18/19, 2021), and the second one should be in December 2021 or January 2022.
- The PGP structure has undergone a change since 2020, with the new class now starting with the remote Digital Headstart Module (DHM) in June. This means that ISB now accepts applicants who will have 2 years of experience by the end of May. For this year's input, it means that anybody with 2 years of experience by May 2022 is eligible to apply directly (i.e. not as part of the Early Entry Option). Earlier (pre-2021), when the program was originally scheduled to begin in April, ISB used to require direct applicants to have 2 years of experience by the end of March of the intake year.
- While the R2 deadline has not been announced yet, it is expected to be similar to last year's deadline. Though there was a Round 3 (announced late) in March 2021 last year, there is no confirmation on whether there would be one this year.
- The number of deferrals for this year (Class of 2022) was extremely high, but they are expected to be significantly lower for the Class of 2023. This would mean greater normalization in the admissions process, with more seats available. Pending a huge increase in the number of applications, ISB's selectivity this year should be lower than last year
- While fresh applicants in R1 would need to pay INR 5000 as application fee, those applying in R2 would need to pay INR 7500. Reapplicants pay the same (INR 2500) in either round.
- This information is current as of June 1, 2021

ISB essays 2021 - analysis and advice
ISB 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)

Analysis: This is one of the rare years when ISB has not changed its essay set at all. While its second essay (goals essay) has remained pretty much a constant over the last decade and a half, the first essay has often seen a change year to year. Not this year.

This essay is really important to ISB's consideration of a candidate, if last year's applications are evidence enough. ISB wants applicants to state pertinent examples around a central quality (please note - only one quality), that most highlight your leadership potential for the future. It is critical here to not rush into answering the essay, and to first thoughtfully go through examples of accomplishments and initiative from the past. Not all these examples need to be professional; personal and social achievements count too. After you have thought through the examples, you need to highlight a relevant, and if possible, differentiated quality that runs through those examples. Be authentic - any attempt to misrepresent an example to highlight a quality that is not apparent can backfire.

Once you have a narrative, you need to think about how this quality really enhances your prospects of leadership. Turn the narrative from the past to the future. Why would you be a much lesser person if you did not have this quality?

As you go about trying to create a response to this essay, keep the following caveats in mind. These are common mistakes people make when approaching this essay:
- ISB is asking for one quality. Please do not give them a set of multiple qualities.
- On the other hand, examples (multiple) are asked for. You need to provide more than one, ideally. More than 2-3 would be too many.
- Resist the temptation to show problem solving as leadership. Far too many people tend to do that.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the industry and the ecosystem in which you operate. Nobody likes 'leaders' who do it all alone.


ISB 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 ISB staple. We have already analyzed it multiple times, so we will simply point you to the analysis here, here, and here.


We have been providing ISB admissions consulting for well over a decade now. If you are looking for help, or just want to drop in a quick hi, please contact us by putting in a free profile evaluation query here

You can also ask us for profile evaluations here on GMATClub on this thread

Nikhil

any special reason why essays have been kept the same? in my experience the topics used to be atleast slightly different if not a completely new one.

Thanks howdoesitmatter, that is an interesting question. Here is our take:
- While ISB did indeed change the topic for the first essay a bit almost every year, they kept the theme largely the same each year. The first essay was your avenue to differentiate in ISB's application every year.
- The second essay (goals) hasn't really undergone a change over the last 12+ years, though there have been slight variations there too. For example, for the 2020 intake, rather than ask for short-term and long-term goals, ISB asked about mid-term (5 year) and long-term (10 year) goals. Broadly, though, the theme has remained the same - goals + how ISB can help you get there.
- Our guess is that with multiple disruptions (COVID, new PGP program structure, sluggish economy, deferrals, online GMAT etc.) going on, ISB decided not to make a further change, and to stay with last year's topics.
- Our one piece of advice to anyone reading this who is a reapplicant (and may therefore be tempted to submit similar essays again) is that you should NOT be reusing your essays (even in part). Yes, aspects of your answers may remain similar (e.g. goals), but don't let your essays be a rehash of last year's essays.

Hi,

GRE 326 - Q/V 165/161

Applying for Round 2. Please evaluate my profile. Information presented in chronological order

10th - 91%

12th - 96.5%

Undergrad - JIIT - Biotechnology - 6.3/10 ~ 70%
Extra Curricular: Co-founded a environmental awareness student org.

Infosys - Senior Systems Engineer 3 yrs
Awards: GEM Young Achiever

Masters - USA - Environmental Engineering - 3.686

Construction/Engineering Firm (Florida) - Environmental Engineer - 4 yrs
Design and construct water treatment plants. Water treatability studies. Clients - Public Utilities, Semiconductor chip manufacturing firms, Pharmaceutical firms. Locations -Florida, California, Indonesia, Oregon, Tennessee
Recognition
On the Spot Bonus award - 2 times
Extra-Curriculars
Girls Leadership Institute - Represented company and conducted hands-on-project session with high school students
Girls who Code - Guest Speaker - took 2 classes to introduce logic and reasoning to middle school to high school students
B.E.S.T Summer Academy - Guest Speaker - Introduction to Engineering

Construction/Engineering Firm (California)- Environmental Engineer - 2 yrs
Design and construct water treatment plants. Water treatability studies. Client - Public Utilities. Locations - California, Nevada
Extra-Curriculars
Developed KPIs for a non-profit to manage their sanitation infrastructure at 7 schools (Bathrooms, hygiene supplies) in Honduras

Work Summary:

I focused better part of my career developing core technical skills (being a female engineer in construction/engineering, comes with the territory, had to work harder to prove my technical capabilities) and designed unique engineering solutions for Water/wastewater treatment plants. Now, I want to have a larger impact beyond engineering. I want to help companies optimize their processes and develop strategies to grow. There is a lot of exciting work happening in India right now in both product space and consulting space (Infra.Market, Big 4 and MBB expanding their services with Govt) and I want to be part of that wave.

Questions:
1. I am an older applicant. Would that impact my application negatively?
2. Do I have competitive chance to get into ISB?

Dear All;
Requesting for your guidance and profile evaluation for ISB

10th = 72%
12th = 57%
Mech Engg = 63%
GMAT - 550
Work Experiance : 13 years in Sales and Marketing (Automobile sector)
Expertise in - Product Seeding, Market Mapping, Channel Development and strategic planning
Different geographic location worked : Tamil nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat in India
CSR Activity : Tree Plantation, Blood Donation, School Student motivation seminars, Food Distribution, Vaccination co-ordinator, Flood releif voluntrer, Charity Sports Competition organizer etc.
Individual Special Projects : BAJA SAE offroad vehicle manufacturing (Sponser by M&M Rise, Battery operater 4 wheel Drive Car - VERROC ltd etc
Orginaztion Special Projects : Market share Acheivement throughout in tough area and Making orginization Number 1 in the region.

Short term Goal :
- ISB PGP 2022-2023 batch
- work experiance and learning to depute increase in EV in India
- Middle Senoir Management
Long term Goal:
- Upper Management Strategic and Marketing department

Hi

Apologies for the delayed response. We were swamped with applications and requests.

Overall, you may have too much experience for the ISB PGP. You should consider the PGPpro or the PGPMAX at ISB. Alternatively, you can raise your score to a 650+ and target IIM Indore EPGP, the IIM Lucknow IPMX, or the XLRI GMP.

Hi

Apologies for the delayed response. We believe you have what it takes to make it to ISB overall. If you did apply with a decent app, you should have had a good chance.

ISB sample essays



ISB sample essays – how you should use them
These are ISB sample essays from a previous applicant who has agreed to share them. Please note that you should not treat these essays as templates but only as examples. Your essays should highlight your achievements and goals. We have written about this earlier. These essays may not represent the current essay set. We are sharing these sample essays with our readers so that they can get an idea of how to write an essay for this particular admission cycle at ISB. Please note that these essays are not written by us but by someone who has taken admission at ISB in the past year and agreed to share his/her essay with us for educational purposes only!ISB essays
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How To Get Into ISB in 2022



How to get into ISB in 2022 – The Indian School of Business (ISB) is one of the leading business schools in India and Asia. The school has been consistently ranked as one of the top five B-schools in India by various publications. ISB is a highly selective business school. ISB offers a one-year full-time MBA program focusing on experiential learning and international exposure. The application process is challenging, but you will be well-equipped to apply successfully if you follow the steps below. The ISB PGP is one of the best MBA programs in India. It is also one of the most selective universities in the country. ISB admits only a small percentage of applicants and has an acceptance rate of just over 20%, making it more demanding than even many international MBA programs..How To Get Into ISB in 2022
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ISB essays 2022 – 23 analysis, tips, and suggestions



ISB Essay 1: Peer Learning is a major building block of PGP at ISB. Help us in understanding how will you be able to add value to the PGP peer group through your personal and professional qualities/capabilities? (400 words)
The ISB essays 2022 have one surprise – a change in the first essay of the essay set. This essay had been used for the last two years, and so a change was due. The essay is on your personal and professional qualities and capabilities. The answer should be grounded in a concrete example of how you have added value to a peer group or team in the past, and how you can do it now..ISB essays
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ISB reapplicants – how to apply again, this time successfully



The Indian School of Business is among the most selective programs in India, and if you did not make it, don’t spend your time wallowing in disappointment, but try again.
If you’ve been rejected from ISB and have decided to reapply, your first step should be to figure out why you were rejected in the first place. The best way to do this is to call the admissions office and talk to someone there. Hopefully, they’ll give you some specific feedback that will help you with your reapplication. More often than not, though, they won’t be able to share very much information with you because of the number of applications. In recent years, ISB has been known to share application feedback with rejected applicants that showed promise..ISB reapplicants
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ISB Recommendation : Things To Keep In Mind



Why is the ISB recommendation important?
The ISB recommendation is important because it provides the admissions committee with a third-party opinion of the candidate. A professor or a manager can speak about aspects of your profile that you may not be able to highlight in your application. The recommender can also add perspective on how you will fit into the ISB environment, and why you should be considered for admission. Still, why does ISB ask a third party (your recommender) about you? The answer is simple. They cannot trust you completely. No school can trust an applicant without knowing more about him/her other than what he/she writes in the essays! Personal interaction is necessary, which is why schools give that much importance to their interviews..ISB Recommendation
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INDIAN SCHOOL OF BUSINESS (ISB) ACCEPTANCE RATE



The Indian School of Business (ISB) is one of India’s top business schools, offering working professionals a top-notch education. ISB’s elevated education is based on the concept of “one school, two campuses” (Hyderabad and Mohali). ISB does not acknowledge CAT scores for admission, unlike most other Indian business schools. If you’re an ISB applicant hoping to get into your dream university, you should know that your GMAT score is crucial. What constitutes a strong GMAT score, however, is determined by the competitive nature of the program as well as your profile..(ISB) ACCEPTANCE RATE
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Indian School of Business Hyderabad Admissions



NIHARIKA SHARMA

GMAT Score: 690, Work Ex: 7 years, Analytics Consultant
As a consultant working on the front end with diverse clients, Niharika was able to use her management skills and 7 years of working in the sector to her advantage. She secured admission to the 2021 ISB cohort.
She made up for her low ECA with her work at SAP, a multi-national software corporation. As an analyst at the customer relations end, she focused on her exposure to the software development cycle. Her Bachelors in Technology from Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, served her well..ISB MBA Admission consultant
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Awards and Activities for the ISB Application



If you’re applying to ISB, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the ISB application has both an awards and an activities section. The awards and activities for ISB section is both pretty straightforward—just list your 5 most impressive accomplishments and 5 most impressive extracurricular activities. I’m sure you have plenty to choose from if you’ve been reading along with us. And if not, well, I guess you can make something up. Just kidding! But seriously, while many applicants find these sections to be more time-consuming than difficult, others have struggled with the thought of coming up with five awards and five activities. With this in mind, we created this article to help you tackle the awards and activities sections on the ISB PGP application portal..Activities for the ISB Application
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The Best ‘Why MBA?’ Interview Answer



The question “Why MBA?” is a standard question in the MBA admissions interview. The interviewer wants to know why you want to pursue an MBA degree in the first place, and how your particular background and ambitions fit with what they have to offer. This is a great question to ask yourself in advance because it will help you prepare for when you’re sitting across from someone asking you that same question. Here are some reasons why you should answer this question:
You want to get into business school!
The why MBA interview answer can be all-important because it is the very center of your candidacy. There is no getting selected if you don’t answer this one right..MBA interview tips
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5 tips to crack ISB interviews



ISB admissions are extremely competitive. You can expect to be asked anywhere from 10 to 15 questions, each of which will be on a different subject, during the course of your interview. If you want to give yourself the best possible chance of succeeding, you should practice with someone who can give you feedback on how well you are doing and prepare in advance for each question that will be asked. You will gain a better understanding of what works and what does not work during an interview as a result of doing this, which will allow you to improve your performance in the interview..ISB interviews
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BEST MBA GMAT COLLEGES IN INDIA



GMAT is becoming increasingly famous in India. Over a hundred colleges in India accept GMAT scores on top of the international B-schools. IIMs, ISB, XLRI, SPJIMR, and other Management Colleges in India accept the GMAT. As an Indian MBA applicant, your GMAT score can be used to apply to MBA programs both in India and abroad..BEST MBA GMAT COLLEGES IN INDIA
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What is the Average GMAT score for ISB?



The average GMAT score for ISB, class of 2022 is 711 and the average GRE score is 323. The lowest GMAT score profile that has been accepted in 2018 was a score of 600, the maximum being 780! So what is the score that you should prepare for or be confident of applying to ISB with? Let’s look at the average scores of the past five years..Average GMAT score for ISB
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really useful, I've been looking for this for long time