When admissions committee evaluators review your post-MBA or post-PGP goals, they simultaneously consider your resume, work experience, volunteering activities, extracurricular involvement and motivation. The collective assessment of these factors largely determines the feasibility of your goal strategy. To effectively showcase your capabilities and persuade the adcom, it is crucial that your entire PGP application narrative is structured in a way that leverages the aforementioned factors to support your goal plans.
The following section provides tips for applicants to strengthen their goal strategy for each factor specifically tailored for ISB PGP applications.
1. Motivation for post-PGP or MBA goalsAn MBA should not be the first attempt to improve one's skills or take advantage of cross-cultural learning opportunities. Most successful ISB applicants show the initiative to gain additional experience by taking on projects that take them out of their comfort zone.
For example,
A) finance professionals, who learn new technologies to complement their core finance skills can stand out among a large number of applicants.B)Techies and software engineers who take finance or marketing courses to develop a deeper understanding of the business and apply their newfound knowledge to developing systems, software or campaigns are also some of the other examples that will leave a lasting impression on ISB adcom.Demonstrating motivation to grow professionally through small but impactful examples such as traveling to meet with clients, meeting with diverse stakeholders, and developing a perspective on cultural and organizational challenges can set you apart as an applicant. When a post-MBA goal is coupled with evidence that you have gained cross-cultural and cross-functional experience and have gone the extra mile, the credibility of your goals increases significantly.
Anyone can name ambitious post-PGP goals. It's not about what you wish for. But what small steps have you taken to convince the admissions team that you have the work ethic and drive to achieve your goals?2. Volunteer and develop secondary skillsVolunteering and extracurricular activities are an integral part of evaluating PGP applicants, and for good reason. Professional competence and academic learning, while important, are not the only criteria for achieving post-PGP goals.
Most of the skills a future business leader must possess are heavily dependent on emotional intelligence. Without interacting with people from different cultures, hierarchies, and motivations, it is difficult to understand the realities on the ground, even if you know all the management concepts.
Since many PGP candidates will be in advisory roles their future jobs, volunteer experience before and during the program is an important part of seeing the human side of situations. The problems that afflict the majority of the world's population are not first world. Governments and non-profit organizations are not capable of solving problems of this magnitude. The experience of a professional who has worked in a highly systematized and incentive-based environment would improve the effectiveness of philanthropic organizations.
Social initiatives give PGP applicants the opportunity to navigate a cross-cultural environment, a criterion considered especially important for excellence at a global business school like ISB.
3. Proof of flexibility and readiness to sacrifice for the good of your careerMost applicants consider an MBA or PGP would have spoken at some point to their supervisors or managers about the fact that they cannot continue in their current position, which is how they recognized the need for an MBA or PGP.
Some of these professionals may have tried to pivot to aspired roles in ways such as shadowing a senior person to forgoing a more senior position when they take on new responsibilities as an entry-level employee. Willingness to make sacrifices is an important aspect for career changers to demonstrate that they are willing to make an effort to change their career path during and after the PGP. Mapping the skills that post-PGP applicants need to be successful with ISB's curriculum is a very important exercise that applicants should do and speak about in the ISB PGP Goals essay.
4. Show bias for action ISB admissions team places a high value on applicants who demonstrate a propensity for action in achieving their post-MBA goals. One way to show this proactive attitude is to actively participate in networking activities with alumni, recruiters, and industry experts. At top MBA programs, there is a general perception that an applicant who engages in optimal networking before applying will have the right opportunities during the recruiting season, when networking plays a major role.
A personal observation: among my recent applicants, people with military or entrepreneurial backgrounds have demonstrated exceptional pre-MBA networking skills and earned adcoms' special love thanks to their discipline, clearly defined work plan, focused mindset, and unwavering concentration. These profiles remain unaffected by excessive thought patterns, making them especially desirable in consulting fields that require significant personal sacrifice. Military personnel, in particular, are accustomed to such sacrifices during their service and have a remarkable propensity for action, which gives them a distinct advantage over other applicants.
5. Feasibility of goals If you are considering a career change, such as from entrepreneurship to FMCG marketing or from healthcare to consulting, it is imperative that you consider the viability of your goals. While it's important not to be discouraged by historical data, trends and general perception, paying attention to relevant statistics can provide valuable insight.
Engaging with professionals who working in your desired industry or role, whether through platforms like LinkedIn, attending webinars, or speaking with career offices, can help you gather first-hand information about the viability of your post-PGP goals. Also keep in mind that many MBA and PGP candidates refine their goals after beginning the program. Therefore, connecting with alumni who have taken a similar path can provide valuable perspectives on goal attainment and help you make informed decisions.
6. Demonstrate the Fit with PGP The School-applicant fit is an important factor that is determined by admissions criteria, the applicant's work experience, culture, and international and geographical factors such as the economy, competition, application volume, similar profiles, immigration trends, and industry demand.
ISB applicants who are more than 30 points below the GMAT median score can focus too much on telling their story. While interesting narratives are recommended, knowing the lower bound of the admissions criteria on academics for a school like ISB can help set the right expectations.
While for a top PGP program like ISB or IIM A GMAT score of 730+ and an undergraduate percentage of 85% or higher is considered a winning combination, meeting these criteria alone does not guarantee admission. Work experience is an important piece of the puzzle. If your work history is not clearly defined, or if you are too inexperienced or too experienced, the admissions team will find an excuse to reject you.
In startups, where the organizational structure is usually flat, your contribution will usually be measured against the milestones the company has achieved. If you align your resume with the aspects that ISB looks for in applicants, the admissions team may see your post-PGP goals in a positive light. ISB interviews are primarily about assessing your goals and suitability for the school. If you cannot demonstrate that you are a good cultural and academic fit for the school and your post PGP goals, you may not receive the admit you think you deserve.
Are you a reapplicant to ISB? Consider checking these out 1. Comprehensive strategies for re-applicants 2. Strategy for acing that ISB InterviewAvoid these pitfalls in goals essaysAanchal Sahni (INSEAD alum, ex admissions interviewer)
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