Queries regarding ISB-PGP application

Respected Consultants,

I'm a re-applicant for the ISB-PGP and request your able advice on some queries regarding the application:

1) Does the Adcomm re-visit our previous application alongside our current application, esp the essays. I ask this because I'm confused whether or not to re-state my achievements etc. which I stated in my earlier application. If they do, I can very well use my current essays to highlight some other important aspects of my profile.

2) In Essay-1 ( Why should ISB choose you?), would it be better if I concentrate on highlighting one single achievement/trait like last year's essay-1 prompt guided us to do or would it be better to make the essay a description of multiple traits and achievements supported with short examples. The trade-off for the second option would be to leave the intricate details of achievements for accommodating more number of traits.

Please address to these queries with your valuable words of advice.

Thanks for reading.

I wouldn't assume any previous knowledge on their part. for Essay 2, I would recommend that you focus on the UNIQUE CONTRIBUTION you would bring to the school. They are up to their eyeballs in work accomplishments. Every single MBA applicant has heaps of those and it's unlikely to differentiate you. I would consider how you are different from the other applicants, and how that would benefit your colleagues in and outside the classroom.
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Thanks for the advice, Ma'am.

I got the same response from ISB's Adcomm. However, I'm confused on the fact that I come from a Public sector firm in Manufacturing sector and presume I've a profile a bit different from the IT pool at Indian b-schools. So, how should I highlight my less-represented pool as a differentiating factor.

Hi there, I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you're talking about. Are you saying that you think you should have gotten in because you're already different? If you could please explain that and clarify that a little bit. However I would not rely on where you work as a major differentiator. Think more from the perspective of who you are or what you've learned where you come from the holistic perspective. That is truly truly a better way to look at this. They're not excited about bringing in your work experience as much as bringing you in for who you are. Put that at the Centre of this process and things will fall into place.

Farrell Dyan Hehn, MBA
Admissions Consultant & Verbal Strategist MBAPrepCoach.com
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Hi AA2014,

An applicant doesn’t differentiate just by being a part of a less-represented industry, geographic, or ethnic group. That’s just the starting point.

In order to stand out, one of the ways is to pick a theme which shows how you’ve progressed/ grown over the years in your profession, what you’ll bring to the ISB community, and why ISB is a good fit for you. Show (through your experiences), and not tell, why you stand out.

Last, several short examples don’t touch depth, and hence don’t make for a good essay. Most of them, anyway, would be part of your resume.
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From my knowledge, ISB does not read your last year's application, but they have notes to refer to and may read the application if they feel the need. Last year's questions were different from this year's- both in quantity and the questions asked. So I am not sure how you can compare the two.

My approach would not be to repeat stories as they were written last year, because then you lose the chance to polish your material and make it stand out- something which could have been missing in your last year's application. Moreover, as Anil has pointed out, you have the resume to state your achievements.

2. This will be difficult to answer without knowing what you wrote last year, what you plan to write this year and how it fits into the essay themes. My general advice is not to lose out on the depth of your examples because you are covering too much breadth - that dilutes the impact.

Also, I am aware of several people applying to Indian b-schools from PSU manufacturing companies- I would not count too much on that "differentiating factor". An MBA application is best presented on the basis of your strengths, so work hard to make your application shine, whatever your demographic may be.
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Yeah ma'am,

I admit that I was thinking THAT. But this line of yours - "They're not excited about bringing in your work experience as much as bringing you in for who you are.", it cleared the clouds to a great extent. I've drafted out some stories based on my personality traits (prof and personal) and differentiating factors that set me and not my work-ex apart.
Lets see what development comes along.
Thanks a lot. Your words helped me a lot.

I had a query regarding filling evaluators details -
My recommender is my previous manager who is now in a different organisation. Should I add current designation & organisation ?

Hey everyone
Just had few queries regarding the ISB pgp application.
- I started working from September 2018 as a full time employee but received a placement offer in Jan 2018 and was under internship from feb 2018 - September 2018 in the same organisation. Do I need to mention a different column for the internship or can I add in it in the same work exp?
- during my graduation I did an internship for 30days in Deloitte - Risk advisory ( really don’t remember much of it) in 2017. Do you think I should still add it to enhance my profile ?
- I have also done a major project for three months in DRDL ( Jan’18-Marc’18), should I add this as an internship as well?

Someone please help me out, I am really confused
Currently I work in marketing and advertising and my post mba goal is marketing?
Will these internships ( Deloitte & DRDL) really make sense if I add ? Or should I not add them in the application and will be a extra burden since I don’t remember much of it

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