ISB Profile Evaluation - Tools for B-School Profile Evaluation

Hi coldplay! Since we still have time before the application season starts, I would urge you to explore the possibility of giving GMAT again, and improving the score by at least 30-40 points.

Since you are a re-applicant, improved GMAT score would be a very objective characteristic of the profile that can be significantly enhanced in the coming months.

We have had extremely good success rate with the re-applicants; however all the successful re-applicants were able to demonstrate some significant characteristic that had improved in their profile since the last application; improved GMAT score could be that characteristic for you.

Also, I don't get any visibility into your goals and motivation for MBA, but that can be thrashed out at the application stage.

Good luck!

Hi Raghu2, any specific reason to appear in GMAT? Since you're already comfortable with GRE, pushing your current score by around 7+ marks, could also do the trick.


That's always an easy one....700+

Hi Ved22, many good things going on for you: consistent academic performance, great job experience, and decent extra-curricular.

Now the focus has to be on application (whenever it opens up). Since all your experience seems to be in the Telecom sector, make sure that your goals are consistent with your past experience. Completely disjointed (whimsical) goals, with no alignment with past experiences, are very often the reason for not getting an interview invite.

Overall, a very decent profile Amoghzz. It seems you have been performing very well at work as well. Do ensure that you project that in your application.

Since you want to go into Consulting, things can get slightly tricky here, because you need to bridge the gap between your current work at Infy and your future goal of Consulting.

See if you can highlight any strategy component of your work or even any interface that you might have had with strategy team(s), that piqued your interest in pursuing Strategy as a career choice.

Hi, Please evaluate my profile for the YLP at ISB

Female, 21 years
GRE Score: 323 (Q: 163, V: 160)

Acads:
10th: 10 CGPA (CBSE)
12th: 96.4% (CBSE)
Undergrade (Economics Honours): 8.22 CGPA (DU)

Extra-curriculars:
-Founded a social entrepreneurial venture involving manufacture of sustainable menstrual products, headed 30 member team and got funding of over Rs. 6 lac for the project

Internships and projects:
-Interned with NITI Aayog as a Research Intern, presented a research project on the Gold Market in India
-Interned with a wealth management firm
-Represented the Ministry of Rural Development in Madhya Pradesh as a National Level Monitor, collecting information on implementation of rural welfare schemes

I am currently in my final year, graduating this July. I had applied for the YLP last year as well, but didn't get a final selection post the interview round. My interview wasn't too good.

Would be great if someone could provide their insights regarding my profile. I am confused about whether I should try to get a better GMAT/GRE score.

Hi ms30, you do have a very decent profile; however, getting a better GRE score might not be a bad idea at all! It will help you distinguish yourself from the highly competitive pool that applies to EEO/YLP.

Hello,

My profile is a follows:

10th, ICSE- 85.83% ( 2014)
12th , ISC- 73.16% ( 2016)
Graduation, BCOM HONS with specialisation in Finance and Investment from Christ University- 8.63 CGPA (2019)
IELTS- 7.5 (overall band) (2019)

Extracurriculars

Won 3rd prize in Street Play in college at Darpan, an inter deanery fest in college.
Participated in dances every year
Won best student for Value Education, 11th std
Won prize for singing in school
Participated in badminton competitions

Work Experience

Worked as a Process Associate at Robert Bosch Engineering and Business Solutions Pvt Ltd from June, 2019 to May, 2020.
I was part of the Invoice Processing team under the Accounts Payable team.
Won the SPOT AWARD in December, 2019 and got Rupees 1000 as a reward for my good work.

Extra Courses and Professional Certifications

Course on Blockchain and Bitcoin Fundamentals
Course on Improving Global Health: Focusing on Quality and Safety from Harvard University
Completed Level 1 of CISI, UK. ( Professional Course)
Course on Ethical Hacking

Virtual Programs and Internships

Interning with Women For India as Finance Intern, (May, 2020 to June,2020)
Completed Global Consumer Banking Virtual Internship Program from CITIBANK ( May, 2020)
Completed Strategy Consulting Virtual Experience Program from BCG (May, 2020)
Interned with Magma Fincorp as a Summer Finance Intern for a month in April, 2018.

I am currently taking a break and preparing for the GMAT which is scheduled for 18th Nov, 2020.

What do you think of my Profile ? Do i stand a chance ?

Thank you.

Hi Sonia,

If you have only one year of work experience and now you are on a 5 month break for studying GMAT, then its not gonna help you too much (unless you were laid off and have such a reason for not working right now)
Work experience is what makes one's profile most competitive and you will not have any work experience adding up just before your application to ISB. Add to that, you don't have much on the extra curricular front either.
It may be a better idea to continue taking the GMAT this year, while also looking for a job, and then applying 1-2 years later after you have amassed some solid work experience

Hi Rajesh,
Your GATE rank is exceptional, but it is a test of technical temperament, for ISB you need to complement it with a good GMAT score, at least 700+ to show your aptitude for managerial tasks. You have a very versatile mix of IT, PSU and family business in your job profile. Your work experience in a top-notch PSU such as IOCL will boost your candidature. Your association with your dad’s business and the other co-curricular involvements definitely add value to your profile. With a clear depiction of long-term and short-term goals in the essays, you can present a saleable story to the ISB Admissions committee.

For more information regarding MBA and career switch from PSU to Private sector check the free resources at https://psutoprivate.com/.
All the best!

Hi.

Hoping everyone is safe around in this difficult year.

Looking forward to get my profile evaluated and knowing my chances for ISB batch of 2021.

Age: 27
GMAT: Yet to take the exam, planning to give it by august 2020. (considering to apply for R1)

Acads:
1) Class X: 88% (SSC Board)
2) Class XII: 80% (HSC Board)
3) Graduation: B.Tech in mechanical engineering with an 7.8/10 CGPA
4) A member of PMI (Project Management Institute) and undergone official PMI training.

Work Experience:

1. Started working with Jacobs Engineering, as a design engineer in 2015. Since i was keen towards the management profiles, changed my role and entered project management group in the same company with constant hard work and diligence.
Under the new role I outgrown myself professionally. In a short span of 6 months i was leading a multi million project as a project control lead with a team of three.
For the same project i received an excellence award from the client Exxon Mobil for being Agile,Committed, Transparent and Responsible.
Also, i was awarded with the highest excellence award of the company called TAP for excellent performance.

2. Recently, i have switched and i am now working with Tecnimont Pvt Ltd.since the last six months.
The role being a senior project engineer, i am working with the cost management team for an 1500 crore Indian project.

Apart from all this i have been widely participating firm wide activities including CSR and participating in competitions. In my first company i was leading a group called Jacobs Connect, which was responsible for all the cultural and safety management sessions held in the firm.

Extra-curricular activities:
- Marketing head of college’s Cultural and Technical Fest
- An active member of an NGO formed by us and a group of students called as burning minds.
- Conducted many workshops for students, the highlight being a pre-placement workshop conducted for the entire batch.
- National level Dance certificates, and other activities like photography, Drama, UV acts etc.
- School and college level active participation in sports like badminton and table tennis.
- National level trekking certificate.

Others:
- I had co-founded a start-up with my friend but we had to shut because of our job commitments and being in different cities created problems. But the FB of the same is active and we have been guiding students for all the while.

Hobbies:
- Modelling, I am level 2 Salsa dancer, trekking.

Thank you so much for reading through such a long post. Would greatly appreciate your thoughts on my chances at ISB 2021, my target score, and any other advice such as any courses which i can under go online to strengthen my portfolio.

P.S: Do you think getting into ISB in 2021 will be tougher than usual ?

Thanks & Regards,
Rohan.

Hi Rohan,

Its a pleasure reading your profile first thing as I log in. I see a lot of leadership experience and impact - the very criteria that matter to business schools. You are on a fast track growth and follow that up with ambitious (yet realistic) goals in the application.
You have a good mix of extra curricular activities, although most are from college. The CSR activity is a plus- that's also part of your extra-curriculars, fyi. Jacob Connect supports the leadership experience (leading the program) that I earlier talked about. Ofcourse the results you achieved through these activities and the impact they created on the beneficiaries would be equally important.
I am going to root for a 710+ GMAt score. In terms of strengthening your profile, at this time GMAt should be on top of list. Everything else looks good.

I think admission at ISB is very competitive every year. Even this year, the set of candidates who apply will remain similar, although the vacant seats may be lesser. Bottom line, is you should absolutely present the best application you can. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to chat further.

Five years of experience in Industrial Automation ,Currently working as an Engineering Consultant(Power Plant) in an EPC Company
Have worked on 14 projects with clients all across the globe. Six months of onsite experience in South Korea.

NGO experience : 1.5 years of teaching underprivileged children.
Extra Curricular : Achieved Distinction for Vocal Music Exam till Grade 5 from Trinity College of Music .London,Trained in Hindustani Classical Music as well. Performed at various shows in Delhi/NCR/Bangalore.Also conducted fest in undergrad college.
Academics Xth :78.4%,Xii :80%,Engineering :73.3%
Gender :Female

How much GMAT score would I require for ISB?

Hi Sukriti,

While there is no lower or upper limit on the required GMAT score, its beneficial to get a 700+.

Hello everyone,
Will be greatful for a profile evaluation.
Indian male, 24
Gmat -740

Preferred bschools - kellogg, , Columbia, emory, isb (india), rice (jones), darden

Undergrad 6.5/7 CGPA from a top 10 college in India as a bachelor's degree in Commerce, graduated in 2017. University of mumbai ( HR COLLEGE OF COMMERCE)

Other certifications- US CFA ( above 90 percentile at all levels) , US CMA , US CPA , US CAIA ( Part 1 completed).

Few other investment and derivative certifications and courses along with the FMVA financial modelling course.

Worked full time during all three years of my college,
2 years as an investment analyst in a mid size firm (full time though might be considered as an internship)
1 year of articleship as an accountant in a mid tier accountancy firm ( since i did two levels of Chartered accountancy as well)

Post graduation,
Working in one of the top accountancy firms in my state , joined as an accountant but with pretty good performance, was promoted as the team leader within a year , managing a team of 8.
Well after working there for about 2 years, i had developed indepth knowledge of the biggest industry in that state ( mining and minerals) as they were our major clients and successfully started a new wing within my firm providing consulting and advisory service to MSME ( Micro small and medium enterprise).
Was a great success, bought in a chunk of clients bringing other business with them as well. Was promoted as the manager of the firm handling the entire msme consulting division along with the 20 employees that comes with it.

With respect to the social impact, i am very happy and proud of the projects that i have successfully completed.
During my college days, was the head of the National service scheme, ( pretty big collaboration between colleges), though head of my own college.
Helped the workers and the domestic help to get themselves organised and worked with them forming a union registered with their local police stations bringing a regulation and oversight towards any wrongful treatment and exploitation against them.

For the past 4 years, I am a registered member of the heartfulness organization, an education and spirituality organization, teaching the younger generation about the importance and understanding of spirituality. Have organized seminars all across the country with an median attendance of about 2000-3000 people in every one of them.
Have been part of various initiatives such as the green kanha, wherein we strive and work towards environmental protection and preservation, planting thousands of trees and having a means for water conservation for the use of agricultural.

On a side note- i created 2 firms in the mining and mineral line, using my skills and knowledge to grab a solid opportunity, (wanted to strategically use funds, selling one business at a good profit and utilizing that to run my other firm and making it a export oriented unit, this sale freed up my investment and helped my family come out of a tough financial condition). The important part of this venture was to make it a self sustaining source of incomenfor my family and form a partnership with the right kind of people having excellent business management skills and good hold at a local level. Hopefully everything till now went as planned.

Posted from my mobile device

My friend with 2 years of experience received admissions from ISB. I think you can apply as you are not from a regular IT profile but try to showcase leadership qualities.

That is great. I have a non it background, and have managed good leadership position along with my own venture, but the thing i think i lack is the brand name associated with the firm, based on reading various forums and chats i think indian schools like isb tend to focus more on the brand name and the stats rather than the work and roles.
( thats less riskier i get that but still).
Please correct me if i am wrong, may be biased and pessimistic reading various forums and chat boxes.

Posted from my mobile device

Hi Jeet,

You've got a lot going for you,
- solid acads with a number of certifications. Most candidates in the field either have none or max 1 such laurels
- Work-ex: Although the experience you had during graduation wont be considered as full-time but adds a lot to your overall package. Your full-time work-ex with the MSME has a lot of achievements which can be used to highlight the key traits you bring to the table
- Your continuous experience in the development sector adds another dimension to your profile

For any school, the challenge would be to coherently package all (or most) of this together. Regarding brands, WHAT you've done matters slightly more than WHERE you did it. For Indian schools, brands are a signal to get a 'foot in the door' but that isn't the only thing. Hence, your chances at ISB wont be impacted simply because your firm(s) are not known in the market. You have a strong chance across all the schools you're targeting. All the best!

Cheers,
Manan