ISB Profile Evaluation for R1

Question

Seeking an honest profile evaluation

Hi all, please review my profile for ISB

Indian, male, 24

Work experience: Three years as a product manager, currently working at a series C startup managing one of their key product charters. Have been promoted once from APM to PM in my previous company which was a major healthcare unicorn. Have worked on several high impact projects.

Academics: 7.5/10 GPA from BITS Pilani, had 10 CGPA in class 10th and 93% in class 12th.

Entrepreneurship - Built and currently running a $2500 MRR email marketing agency as a side hustle.

GMAT - Got 720

Extracurriculars - Honestly not a lot, but won some small bplan competitions in college and was a part of a few student bodies related to entrepreneurship.

NGO/Volunteering - Volunteered for a year last year

Career goals - Advance as a product manager at bigger companies like FAANG

Posted from my mobile device

MBAGuide · Answer

sayan.1099 I see a lot of potential, but for someone who is still on the lower side of the age and experience spectrum, you will have to create a strong positioning strategy. Your academic arc is solid, you have a good undergrad brand association. I want to be honest with you that your undergrad GPA and your GMAT are not the attention grabbers you would expect. I am curious to know what the breakdown of your GMAT score is and if there is scope for improvement. The younger a candidate in the admissions process, the higher the benchmark for what's considered impressive for the GMAT score. But as long as the score is balanced (high quant score) and the adcom really loves your profile, I would be less worried. Work experience and goals - You have been a product manager for most of your career and you aspire to continue in the same function in the future, albeit for more prestigious companies. These are some of the most generic career goal plans we see in the ISB applications. We know that ISB is a strong feeder into tech roles, but getting that coveted admit certainly takes more. Admissions officers have a weakness for applicants who are, in the well-traveled term, "passionate" to pursue their dreams. It is only human to respond to enthusiasm. The schools will use the essays to make an indirect read on the quality of your mind and thought process. As a product manager, do you think critically about the problems in your company or industry? Are you a realistic person or a vague dreamer? Can you craft a compelling case that links your past, your goals, and ISB? What is your unique story? Show your personality in the essays. The essays of unsuccessful applicants often read like they were written for an audience of rubber stamping, degree issuing gatekeepers waiting to pounce on signs of individuality. ECs - Your ECs are alright. I haven't known Indian schools to be highly fixated on the ECs as long as they can demonstrate an ability to forge connections through the stories in the essays. Happy to advise further Get a free one to one personalized advice session tailored to your specific situation. We do not cap discussion hours with our applicants. Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) Founder, MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hi  sayan.1099 ,

Thanks for writing in.

Barring the extra-curricular activities (which are very ordinary), you have a lot going for you in terms of the promotion, the start-up experience, as well as the entrepreneurial stint. We are certain that your work on the high impact projects will give you a number of important talking points.

Your GMAT score is in good shape too.

Your chances of success depend highly on the essays you put forth - how well you portray your strengths, how logically you express your career goals, and how coherently you establish your need for the PGP. In short, you must direct all your efforts on this front.

The following video will prove to be of help. While the question is from the previous year, the content will mostly remain the same:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvy7qxUKX7Q

Should you wish to discuss your profile in greater detail, please get in touch with us..

All the best!

admitStreet · Answer

@sayan.1099 - some thoughts on your profile: 1. The academic (BITS) pedigree and GMAT are strong - assuming the Q/ V split was balanced too. GPA is a tad bit low, but the other aspects would likely compensate. 2. The start-up experience, impact on the role(s) and promotion and can add interesting angles to the profile and essays. It'd be crucial to have a strong narrative showcasing your professional/ personal journey so far, skill-sets you've picked up, where you want to go, and how the MBA (and particularly ISB) would help. 3. With respect to Extracurricular Activities, recency and consistency would matter. This can then help showcase how you'll be able to add value to clubs/ activities at ISB, and in your personal journey going forward. Some guidelines and best practices on how to tackle the ISB essays are here . Feel free to reach out if you'd like to have a deeper chat. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Schedule a free chat W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

IVYCRACKERS.COM · Answer

Hey! That's a pretty solid profile along with a good GMAT. The extracurriculars are good as well and your side hustle is impressive too. I feel you have a great chance, just that you have to articulate these things well in your essays as well as interviews.

At IvyCrackers, we have 40+ mentors from ISB and a few who have had a career transition similar to what you are aspiring for. Few of our mentors have been on ISB's admissions interview panel. You can book a   30-mins complimentary profile evaluation call   with us for a 360-degree profile evaluation.

MBAandBeyond · Answer

Hey sayan.1099 I hope you are doing well. Your profile for ISB is looking great! At 24, with three years of product management experience – especially with a promotion at a healthcare unicorn and managing a key product at a Series C startup – you've already built a strong foundation. And a 720 GMAT score? That's seriously impressive! Your side hustle with the $2500 MRR email marketing agency shows some real entrepreneurial spirit – a quality ISB values. Academically, your BITS Pilani GPA is solid, and consistent strong performance throughout your schooling is a plus. Volunteering for a year demonstrates a well-rounded profile with social responsibility. Here's the thing: while your entrepreneurship involvement is a great start, showcasing a more diverse range of extracurricular activities could make your application even stronger. Overall, you've got a compelling profile! To maximize your chances, let's delve deeper. We can help you quantify the impact of your product management work, brainstorm ways to expand on your extracurriculars, and craft a winning essay that showcases your unique story and goals. Schedule a free 1:1 call with us to refine your application and turn ISB into your springboard to product management success! CLICK HERE TO SCHEDULE YOUR FREE PROFILE ANALYSIS SESSION WITH US. Email: hasan@mbaandbeyond.com

FLY.reachout · Answer

Hi  sayan.1099 ,
Let's look at the numbers - The majority (>35%) of the cohort lies within the 3-5 years of work experience band. Function-wise, Tech/PM were the top hires - 31% (for PGP2023). Your GMAT score of 720 (presumably classic GMAT) lies right above the cohort median (mid 80%) score. Good academic scores. You've checked all the right boxes.

In addition, you have a great work profile along with an entrepreneurial highlight! A direct correlation of your post-ISB goals with your current profile also helps you remove any ambiguity and add detail to your contribution and efforts at ISB.

We believe you have enough "spikes" to leverage upon and build a solid profile overall. Compelling essays, strong application and a confident interview gives you a thumping chance to beat your competition and make it into ISB!

At Team FLY, we are a collective of ISB alumni dedicated to supporting prospective ISB candidates with profile positioning, essay critiques, and interview preparations.

Please feel free to book a 15-minute free session for a detailed discussion with us:  Book a session .

With warm regards,

Team Fly
 LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/company/reachusfly/

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