ISB R2 2026-27 intake - Profile Evaluation

Question

I (M24)  am looking to apply in R2 for ISB's PGP 2026-27 intake.

Academic Profile: 
· GMAT(FE):  655 (Q90- D80-V78) (91st percentile) 
· 10th: 98.40% (Nagpur Division Topper – Maharashtra Board)
· 12th: 88.92% (PCM)
· B.Tech. Mechanical Engineering’22 (NIT Nagpur): 9.90/10 CGPA (4 Gold Medals + 8 awards), Institute Gold Medalist (IR 1/1500)

Work experience: 
· 3.5 years at leading American MNC (Automobile manufacturing company for Off-road vehicles, Heavy earthmoving machines) 
·  Role : Research & Development engineer in Product Design department. For developing advance technology features supporting Vehicle Autonomy. 
· Working on the development of cutting-edge technology features for heavy earthmoving machinery sector.
·  Major Awards: 
 1. Recognized with an award for best performance during the first year of joining (top 6/80)
 2. Special recognition coin for providing innovative solution and patent filing with the US office.

Extracurricular & Volunteering Experience:

While I had limited extracurricular involvement during my college years, I’ve actively sought opportunities for personal development and community engagement through my work at my organization.
In 2023–2024, I was an active member of STEM outreach initiative of my organization which is focused on empowering underprivileged school students. 
As part of this program: I mentored a team of 8–10 students for the FIRST Tech Challenge 2024 (India Chapter), teaching them foundational concepts in robotics—both hardware and software—and guiding them in building a robot for the Goa International Robotics Festival 2024. I also served as a Judge at the same event, which hosted 66 teams from across India and nearby countries. Evaluated their presentations & interviews.
In addition to STEM outreach, I regularly volunteer at various internal events, contributing to employee engagement and broader community initiatives within the organization.

Outside of work, I enjoy making digital art (Instagram account –but do not have many followers) and playing the guitar.

My major concern is that my verbal score is low. Should I apply in R2 or reattempt GMAT in the next couple months and apply in R3?

pintukr · Answer

A 655 score speaks for itself.. You should go ahead, and apply..All the Best.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hi  ABS801 ,

It really depends on what sort of improvement you are expecting - so, if you were scoring much higher on your mocks and the additional time will help you bump this up, you may wait it out. Additionally, a balanced score would also be preferred.

That said, do not pressurize yourself. You have a strong overall profile and a set of well-written essays can help you create a favourable case for yourself.

Happy to discuss this in greater detail. Please leave an inquiry for a free strategy session; don't worry about enrollment etc; even if we are able to give you some good insights, we will be happy.

All the best!

Experts' Global

FLY.reachout · Answer

Dear  ABS801 ,

We believe your profile stands out on multiple aspects. You have performed  exceptionally well academically , and your achievements clearly reflect a record of excellence and consistency.

Your  work experience further distinguishes you  from a large part of the applicant pool, which often comprises IT professionals. You have built your career in a highly specialized and technically demanding field, and your performance—being among the top performers as per your brief—adds significant strength to your profile.

We understand your concern regarding the lower verbal score on your GMAT. However, we believe this  should not hold you back , as your overall score already falls within the  sweet spot for successful ISB admits , and your profile demonstrates  multiple other spikes  that make you stand out.

Your  extracurricular and community engagement experiences  also add meaningful depth, particularly your contributions to  STEM outreach and mentoring underprivileged students . These experiences reflect both leadership and empathy—qualities that are highly valued by the admissions committee. It will be exciting to see how you weave these experiences together into an  impactful personal story  through your application essays.

We would be happy to connect and discuss your goals and motivations in more detail to provide personalized thoughts on how best to present your story. Wishing you the very best for your ISB application journey.

At  Team FLY , we are a collective of ISB alumni dedicated to supporting prospective MBA applicants with  profile positioning, essay reviews and interview preparation .

Please feel free to book a  15 minute free session  for a detailed discussion with us:  https://calendly.com/reachusfly/15min

With warm regards,
 Team FLY 
 www.teamfly.org

ARINGO · Answer

Hi ABS801
Priyanka here from ARINGO. Your profile looks strong and distinctive. You have got both academic excellence and professional credibility that ISB adcoms love to see. A 9.90 CGPA from NIT Nagpur with multiple medals, immediately sets you apart academically, and your R&D experience at a top U.S. automobile MNC adds great technical depth. Working on autonomous vehicle technology and filing a patent shows innovation and tangible impact, that’s exactly the kind of achievement ISB highlights in their classroom diversity.

Your GMAT score is strong. Plus, your exceptional academic record and communication-heavy work demonstrates solid analytical and communication ability, that can help offset a sub-ideal Verbal score if your essays are strong.

The STEM outreach and mentorship experience is another big plus, it shows leadership, initiative, and community contribution beyond your technical role. AdComs at ISB really values candidates who show evidence of giving back and mentoring others.

If you’re confident you can raise your GMAT to 685+ in one attempt within 4–6 weeks, a reattempt could slightly boost your odds. But honestly, given your standout academics, patent, awards, and mentoring record, you’re already a strong Round 2 candidate, especially if you craft compelling essays that tie together your technical expertise, leadership in innovation, and desire to transition into business leadership.

Email: priyankak@aringo.com to connect for a better and detailed analysis

CrackAdmission · Answer

ABS801 - 655 will be touch and go. Its better to get a 675 and apply in R3 vs applying in R2 with a 655.

Feel free to reach out to us at https://www.crackadmission.com/contact-us for a profile evaluation session with one of the ISB alums in our panel.

ScaleHire · Answer

Hi! Here is our detailed analysis for you:

GMAT:
A 655 (Q90–D80–V78) is a very respectable score — around the 90th percentile overall — and absolutely within range for ISB. The concern about the verbal section is understandable, but given your stellar academics, professional achievements, and overall percentile, you do not need to retake the GMAT. You’d be better served focusing on crafting a well-structured and impact-driven application in Round 2. ISB’s adcom will likely view your quant/verbal balance as strong enough, particularly given your technical background and communication-heavy outreach work.

Academics:
Truly exceptional. Institute Rank 1 from NIT Nagpur with a 9.9 CGPA, multiple gold medals, and national-level recognition demonstrate intellectual excellence and academic consistency. This is a major strength and will put you in the top academic tier of ISB applicants.

Work Experience:
Your 3.5 years at a leading American MNC in R&D and product design for autonomous and heavy machinery applications is highly distinctive. Few applicants bring this depth of technical innovation, especially with a patent filing and cross-border collaboration with the US office.
Highlight the business and leadership angle behind your engineering work — for instance, how your innovations improve efficiency, safety, or market competitiveness. The early performance award and innovation recognition further strengthen your leadership narrative. ISB values engineers who have transitioned from pure technical contribution to strategic problem solvers — frame your essays accordingly.

Extracurriculars & Volunteering:
Your STEM outreach and robotics mentorship add a very meaningful human dimension to your profile. These experiences demonstrate initiative, mentorship, and social contribution — traits that resonate strongly with ISB’s leadership ethos. Being a judge at a national robotics festival adds credibility to your mentorship story. The digital art and guitar interests round out your profile nicely; even if not extensive, they help portray you as balanced and creative.

Overall Assessment:
You present a high-caliber, well-rounded profile — top-tier academics, strong professional growth, tangible innovation, and credible social engagement. The verbal score is not a concern significant enough to delay your application. Round 2 is ideal; retaking now may push you into R3, where competition intensifies and fewer seats remain.

Focus your efforts on:

-Crafting essays that link your engineering achievements to business outcomes.
-Highlighting leadership through innovation and mentorship.
-Showcasing intellectual curiosity and the desire to transition from technical depth to managerial breadth.

You are a competitive and differentiated candidate for ISB, and a well-written application can comfortably place you in the admit range.

Feel free to connect with us, we offer no-cost guidance to all aspirants

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