ISB Admit Chances | M28

Question

Hi,

I am M28 working as Business Analyst.

My Quick Background is

X (2012):  9CGPA
 XII Sciences (2014):  77%
 Graduation (BTech CSE) (2018):  6.55/10 CGPA
 Work Ex. (2018-2021):  2.5 Years (IT in Manufacturing Company)
 Gap:  2 Years (Family Medical Emergency)
 1 Year MBA in Data Science (2023-24) Full-Time 
 Currently Working as Business Analyst from 9 months

GMAT (2021): 660 (Q47 V34)

Now I am targeting ISB for 2026. I am preparing for GMAT Focus edition for last 2 months and targeting to appear in next 2 months. Please tell me the safe score for the admit based on my profile. I am not much aware about the GMAT Focus Edition cutoff.

CrackAdmission · Answer

shubhms ,

Based on our experience of working with applicants for this year's admission across R1 - R2 & R3, you should aim to get a score of 655+ in the GMAT FE to have a competitive shot at ISB. Needless to say that the score is one of the several other (professional, academic & cultural) parameters that are evaluated by the admission committee to gauge fitment to the cohort.

Feel free to reach out to us once you are confident of a score and we can help you craft a compelling application.

Cheers and Wishing you all the very best!

admitStreet · Answer

shubhms - While school's haven't published their GFE averages yet, the most reliable datapoint we have is their published GMAT Classic Averages, which can be converted to GFE using the official GMAC concordance tables. That comes to 665 - 675 GFE for ISB. This is also what we've also noticed in the recent application cycle. As your GPA is on the lower side and there's a career break, I would suggest aiming for 675+ to increase your odds. Ofcourse, other aspects of your profile including work-ex, career goals, narrative and essays would play a factor too, but right now, the focus should be on GMAT as you've mentioned. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Request a free profile evaluation W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

MG4MBACrystalBall · Answer

shubhms ,

Some thoughts on your profile evaluation and several points to ponder.

The academic arc is unclear. How was the college pedigree and any precedence? The GPA appears below average which would mean a higher push on the GMAT front. No  magic GMAT number  really there and higher is better.  
 The professional profile shows some promise but will need more clarity. How was the trajectory at the mfg company? What is the brand recognition of the firm. Where are you currently working? BA is very vague - the exact nature of work matters. Were you able to make up for the lost time or had to take up a junior role?  
 ISB values  extracurricular/volunteer efforts . Anything here? 
 The  gap will pose a handicap  but will depend on the exact nature/severity of the situation.

Consider the above carefully and evaluate if waiting another year can help bolster your prospects. Also try to hedge your risks by targeting multiple schools instead of one.

Hope this helps spark the right thoughts.

Cheers,

GyanOne · Answer

Hi Shubham

- Your overall academic profile in school was good, but the 6.55 in college is on the lower side. A strong GMAT is important here, and the 660/800 you got in 2021 will not be enough. You should aim for 665 and above on the Focus Edition given these. 
- Your 2.5 years in IT in manufacturing could potentially be a differentiator but we need more details around that. The career gap is understandable (medical emergency) but it needs to be accounted for in a way that it is not seen as a deterrent for your future progress. 
- We don't have much information here on your current employer or industry. Please provide that. Possibly that could act as a bridge towards your future ambitions.

Hope this helps. Feel free to come back with any further queries and with the information we seek.

GeneralEducation · Answer

Hello  shubhms  
Your school academics are fine, but the 6.55 CGPA in college is below average, so aim for 675+ on GMAT to strengthen your ISB application. Your IT experience in manufacturing and your current Business analyst role could be a differentiator, but more details are needed. Address the career gap thoughtfully and highlight any extracurriculars or volunteering. Also, consider applying to multiple schools to maximize your chances. As the information provided is insufficient to guide you with a list of schools, we would greatly appreciate it if you could schedule a 1:1 detailed profile analysis with our admissions experts.

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  shubhms ,

While there is no safe score, a score in excess of 675 on the GMAT will give you a decent chance at receiving an interview call. The higher the score, the better it is.

Needless to say, a competent overall application is needed.

All the best!

MBAGuide · Answer

shubhms

Please note there are several points in your profile that need to be tackled carefully in the applications (hope you are aware of this). Even after taking into consideration that you had a two-year career gap because of family circumstances, and given your age, the schools will expect to see proof of career growth progression and good professional work in the years after. How are you placed in that aspect? Your GPA will be an area of concern, and so a very high GMAT becomes a bare minimum in terms of expectation. But I am afraid that even with a very high score, you may not make it unless you have strong high points in your profile. You also have an MBA in Data Science, so why do you need another MBA so soon? Lots of questions come to my mind as a reviewer that you should carefully prepare for.

Happy to take up your case over a deeper discussion should you need some guidance. Feel free to speak with me.

Best wishes
Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aanchal-sahni-83b00819/ |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- [email protected]

shubhms

Hi,

I am M28 working as Business Analyst.

My Quick Background is

X (2012): 9CGPA
XII Sciences (2014): 77%
Graduation (BTech CSE) (2018): 6.55/10 CGPA
Work Ex. (2018-2021): 2.5 Years (IT in Manufacturing Company)
Gap: 2 Years (Family Medical Emergency)
1 Year MBA in Data Science (2023-24) Full-Time
Currently Working as Business Analyst from 9 months

GMAT (2021): 660 (Q47 V34)

Now I am targeting ISB for 2026. I am preparing for GMAT Focus edition for last 2 months and targeting to appear in next 2 months. Please tell me the safe score for the admit based on my profile. I am not much aware about the GMAT Focus Edition cutoff.

ISB Admit Chances | M28

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