Profile Evaluation for ISB R1 Admissions 2025-26 batch

Question

Hi,

I'm planning to apply to ISB in R1 admissions in Sep'24.

My profile:

I am an Indian General Engineer Male (24M)

10th: 91.2% (2015)
12th: 88.17% (PCM) (2017)
Grad: 80% (B.E in Computer Engineering from NSIT, Delhi) (2021).

GMAT FE Score: 735 (V83, DI86, Q90) (Mar'24)

Work Experience: Total 2 year 10 months till date as a Software Engineer.

June 2021 - April 2023 (1 year 10 months) as a Software Engineer in MakeMyTrip India.
April 2023- Present (April 2024) ( 1 year) as a Software Engineer in a Eurpoean Remote Company, with a start-up like culture and work in tech team.

My tech stack is quite varied and have done some significant projects to improve the system efficiency and to increase the revenue made by the company.

Research Papers: 2 Research Papers published in total
1. Data Science Related Paper in Medical Domain: June 2021
2. In Biomedical Engineering: March 2024.

Extra Curriculars and Social Work: I have played some sports on college level and regularly play sports in my area, but none for which I have a certificate. I don't have certificates for an NGOs as well.

Awards, Achievements and Other Test Scores: 
1. Employee of the Month Award Twice at MakeMyTrip (June 2022 and Dec 2022).
2. Got 99.53 percentile in CAT 2023. 
3. Got 99.65 percentile in JEE 2017.

I had some awards and certificates from school time but can't find the certificates now. We shifted homes several times since then.

I have also converted SPJIMR (PGDM-IM) for the 2024-26 batch but have decided not to join that.

Please let me know what are my chances for the admission in ISB. What else can I do in my profile to increase my chances of admission and a scholarship in the same?

Should I re-appear for the GMAT for a higher score in order to increase my chances for a scholarship or are there any other areas I can improve upon?

I am also thinking of targetting some Eurpoean Universities for admission. What can I do differently for them?

Please let me know if I need to provide any other information as well. It will be a huge help. Thanks in Advance!

Goalisb · Answer

Hi,

Your academics and GMAT scores are competitive. Work wise, a diverse tech stack and experience with Makemytrip and the European remote company would be valuable too. You should work on the leadership narrative for your application.Engaging in community service or social initiatives and playing sports would definitely add a valuable dimension to your profile. These experiences need not be certified; you should try to reflect on these activities for your application essays.

To answer your questions:

1. Focus on enhancing and reflecting on leadership experiences, community involvement. Work towards building personalized applications for ISB and your targeted European schools. Your academic and professional accomplishments position you as a strong contender for merit based scholarships, but that's just where it starts. Your performance in all the aspects of the application process like essays, interview will be extremely important for the scholarships.

2. Given your already high GMAT score, it may be more prudent to focus on other aspects of your application unless you believe a retake could result in a significant improvement. You should weigh the incremental benefit of a higher score against the time and effort that you could alternatively invest in refining other components of your application.

3. Each European institution has its unique ethos and criteria. Understand these nuances while working on your application.

Should you require further assistance or have additional queries, please feel free to reach out.

All the best!

MBAGuide · Answer

parask11 Well begun is half done!

Congrats on the fantastic score. You need not do a retake but rather focus on understanding how various B schools evaluate applicants so you could present your profile in the best possible manner. Here's what I would say Q1. Please let me know what are my chances for the admission in ISB. What else can I do in my profile to increase my chances of admission and a scholarship in the same? Your academic arc is solid. ISB considers four key areas while evaluating applicants during the final decision: Academic history, GMAT, Career progression and experience, and Interview performance. I see confidence building up in the first two areas. For your professional background, I see an opportunity for story building as a result of working in two companies that have different work cultures. Deep dive and think of steep challenges you have faced in your respective roles, and don't limit yourself to only technical challenges. Highlight the differences and issues between people – functional logjams and technical hurdles. Turn it into a human interest story from the start. S hare what you did to overcome people issues – they don't have to be epochal. Patiently Listening to a teammate or changing your personal style to navigate differences, such as cultural, functional, gender, age, racial, etc., with another teammate, are worth mentioning. Always remember to describe the small, human-level things you did to show gratitude, move people forward, and illustrate the details that, together with the lessons learned, make leadership and teamwork stories work. Q2. Should I re-appear for the GMAT for a higher score in order to increase my chances for a scholarship or are there any other areas I can improve upon? Re taking the test is not required. However try to expand your score of extracurricular to present a balanced profile, not just for ISB but for other schools. Q3. I am also thinking of targetting some Eurpoean Universities for admission. What can I do differently for them? Depends on the schools that you are considering. You may be seen as relatively less experienced for schools like LBS, INSEAD or HEC Paris. However you can have a good chance at IESE which is also a consulting powerhouse should that interest you. Feel free to speak with me should you want personal guidance on this. Get personalized advice tailored to your unique circumstances in the B School admissions process. Reapplying? Get a free ding analysis Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alum, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) Founder, MBAGuideConsulting (former MBA admissions consultant at top global firm) LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

MBADecoder · Answer

Hi Parask11, Your profile comes across as very strong. I'll get into the details: 1. Academics- Only the Indian b-schools ask for your 10th and 12th grades, which are alright. Your engineering grades are pretty strong although it's, the 735 GMAT (that translates to a 760-770 on the classic edition) that gives you an edge. This score will definitely get you the needed attention from b-school adocms. That said, keep in mind, you will need to still submit excellent applications to be in the reckoning. Unfortunately, applicants with high GMAT scores do get rejected because of bad applications- but you can easily work upon the applications, so not much to worry here, just a word of caution. To your question about GMAT retake- absolutey not required! You are done and dusted with this chapter for 5 years. 2. Work experience- Having 3+ years experience at the time of matriculation is along the expected path, so you are good in terms of timing for an MBA. More important is the qualitative element of your work experience- what have you done at both your companies, what initiatves have you taken, what $$ impact have you made? You have mentioned some achievements about efficiency increase and revenue generation- which is all good and kind of stuff b-schools look for on your resume. Quantifying your achievements will be most important here, so start getting a hold of the numbers that are to go into your resume (costs saves, revenue increase etc.). The other important element in your work experience is your leadership capability- how were you able to convince, influence stakeholders and team members to support you on projects that had lasting impact? These examples would provide the material for your storytelling in the essays and recommendations. 3. ECAs- it seems like you have not been very involved in extra curricular activities since graduation, so you can actually build this component of your profile. Take up some activities where you help others- volunteering with NGOs, running community-level initiatives (social or professional) and working with your company's CSR are some ways of doing this. Your sports involvement is good, but thats like a personal activity/ hobby; you can continue that, but also involve yourself in initiatives where you benefit others. To your question about proof of ECAs - b-schools don't ask for certificates, just your word should be enough. School level certificates are not helpful, you have come a long way since then. 4. You can definitely apply to the European MBAs and there are several options depending upon your personal preferences and career goals. You dont have to do anything very differently for them as such- every b-school looks for well rounded applicants, and following the suggestions above will help you. The one thing you can emphasize upon in your European b-school applications is your ability to adapt to and collaborate with your European team. Another thing - build a network of students studying at your target European bschools and get a sense of what the job market looks like, what can be your realistic post MBA job expectations and what regions are you likely to find your preferred roles in - this dilligence becomes important for an international student studying in Europe. Hope that helps! Namita Garg, Founder, MBA Decoder Email: contact@mbadecoder.com Profile evaluation: https://mbadecoder.com/services/free-pr ... valuation/

IVYCRACKERS.COM · Answer

Hi Paras!

Acads:  You have a strong academic record with impressive marks in your 10th, 12th, and UG. Your degree from NSIT, Delhi, which is a great institute, adds significant value to your profile. Additionally, your high GMAT score of 735 is excellent and significantly above the average GMAT score for ISB, which typically hovers around the 700 mark. Hence, there is no need for you to re-take GMAT. In fact, your GMAT is pretty good for US and European universities too.

Work Experience:  With nearly three years of work experience by the time you apply, you fall within the typical range of work experience of ISB candidates. Experience in companies like MakeMyTrip and a European remote company certainly demonstrates your exposure to diverse work environments and cultures. The fact that you have worked on significant projects and contributed to system efficiency and revenue growth is something you need to highlight well in your application.

Research Papers:  Publishing two research papers, especially in varied domains like Data Science in Medical and Biomedical Engineering, showcases your research capabilities and interest in applying technology to solve real-world problems. This is a strong aspect of your profile, considering there is a lot of innovation happening in this areas and a lot of corporates are spending big time in these domains.

Extracurriculars:  While you have a strong profile, the only thing is that "Indian Male Software Engineers" is an overly represented pool of applicants. Also the IT industry is going through a churn right now, so a flavour of extra-curriculars will certainly give you an edge.

How can you ace the application:

Leadership Experience:  Highlight any leadership roles you've undertaken, both in professional settings and extra-curricular activities. ISB values leadership potential highly and it can be an edge for you.

Essays and Application:  Spend considerable time crafting your essays and securing strong letters of recommendation. Your essays should narrate your story, why you want to pursue an MBA, and how ISB fits into your career goals. Recommendations should come from those who can vouch for your professional achievements and personal qualities.

Networking Opportunity:  I also want to highlight that IvyCrackers offers you a unique advantage through access to mentors (50+ mentors from ISB to choose from) from top consulting firms, including MBB (McKinsey, Bain, and BCG). Connecting with these mentors can provide you with invaluable insights into the consulting world and assist you in navigating your path to MBB post-MBA. Their firsthand experience and guidance can be instrumental in refining your application, preparing for interviews, and ultimately, achieving your career aspirations. Checkout the profile of ISB mentors ( https://ivycrackers.com/our-mentors/ ).

Should you have any questions or need further assistance as you navigate your application process, please do not hesitate to reach out.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello parask11 , Thanks for writing in. You have a stellar GMAT score; therefore, you need not worry about retaking it. Instead the focus should be on how you can showcase some leadership potential in your application as well as the need for a PGP; bringing together your existing experience with your goals is going to be crucial as well; besides, your short-term goals should also be in sync with your long-term goals. In short, how well you draft your essays will be very crucial; the following video will help you in this regard; while this is from the previous application cycle, the overall theme will remain the same. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvy7qxUKX7Q With regard to European schools, we find your years of experience on the lower side; our suggestion would be to add a couple of years of experience and then apply. Hope this helps. All the best!

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