ettotam
Hi All,
I am planning to apply for ISB and I have now given
GMAT Focus thrice and GRE once Please find below the results:
1) Attempt 1 - 595 (Gmat Focus) - This is the maximum score I have achieved in all mocks
2) Attempt 2 - 525
3) Attempt 3 - 555
GRE Attempt 1 - 302
Also, please find below profile for evaluation
27 Female
10th Marks - 94%
12th Marks - 95.5% (State Topper in Commerce Stream)
Graduation - Lady Shri College for Women | BA (H) Economics - 8.5 CGPA
Work Experience - 5 years 6 months (as on 31st March 2026)
Work Profile - Brand Manager in a top Indian FMCG firm
Work Achievements: Received CEO and CXO awards and other awards. Launched a new brand. Scaled an existing brand to profitability
Academic Achievements: Secured 1st in Paper presentation competition in inter-college economics fest (among 10+ colleges participating) | State Topper in class 12th
Position of responsibilities during college: Volunteer (2 years) and Head of Finance (1 year) in an NGO (NSS) | Sub Head in Student Council for LSR college (1 year) | Club Coordinator - Economics Department (1 year)
Professional: Core Member for the Outbound Committee in the current company
I do not have any other extracurricular activities.
Kindly suggest I should apply in R2 for ISB or wait for R3? If R3, will it be a disadvantage, considering it will be the last roun,d and competition will be tough?
Hi
ettotam,
You have a very strong non-test profile for ISB - your academics (LSR Economics, state topper, high consistency), brand management role at a top FMCG, and clear leadership impact (new brand launch, profitability, CEO/CXO awards) are all squarely aligned with what ISB looks for. As a 27-year-old female with 5.5+ years of experience, you also add valuable diversity to the cohort.
The challenge in your case is test consistency, not capability. ISB will consider your highest valid score, but multiple attempts with a downward trend can raise questions, which means your essays and recommendations must do more of the work in demonstrating readiness.
On R2 vs R3:
Apply in R2. You already have a compelling professional story and strong leadership credentials. Waiting for R3 does not materially improve your test profile and only reduces available seats.
R3 is more competitive simply because of fewer spots, not better candidates — so delaying would put unnecessary pressure on your application.
ISB has historically admitted strong FMCG brand managers with similar profiles when the overall story is cohesive and impact-driven.
You do not need additional extracurriculars; your college leadership and current professional committee role are sufficient. Focus instead on:
- Framing your brand leadership as strategic decision-making
- Showing scale, ownership, and people influence
- Clearly articulating why ISB now and how it accelerates your trajectory
Bottom line: Apply in R2 with confidence. Your profile is competitive; execution will matter far more than waiting another round. If you’d like, we can help you pressure-test your essays and positioning specifically for ISB before you submit. Feel free to
book a free appointment or speak with our consultants directly via email at
[email protected] or via call at +91 7789769732