ISB Admission chances

Question

Hi,

Recently I gave the GMAT FE and scored 655 (got nervous and couldn't manage the time properly). I have decent GPA of 8.42 from IIT Madras in Chemical Engineering, along with good PoRs (spons & PR/ Corporate relations) in college fests. I have 3 years of work experience in the Leadership development program of Vedanta Limited majorly working in R&D Department (Co-inventor for one patent, 1 promotion) and short 3 month marketing team stint in the beganing. I have 85% in my XII. So, I wanted to know what are my chances for ISB admit with the current GMAT score or should I re-attempt? Kindly suggest.

Thanks!

MBAGuide · Answer

Shubhp103 hope you are doing great How were you performing on the mock exams? If you believe you have the potential for a higher score but fell short due to a specific shortcoming during the exam, consider retaking it. If it all comes down to stats, your GMAT will matter. You have a strong undergraduate background, and to stand out among others in this competitive pool, your GMAT score should reflect your academic capabilities. Otherwise, reviewers might wonder what went wrong during the exam. Regarding your work experience its a bit presumptuous to say anything. What would you like to do after an MBA? Try to understand the underlying theme in your story and present strong essays that highlight your unique personality and solid career progression. Admissions officers have a weakness for applicants who are, in the well-traveled term, "passionate" about pursuing their dreams. It is only human to respond to enthusiasm. ISB will use the essays to make an indirect read on the quality of your mind and thought process. As an R&D manager, do you think critically about the problems in your company or industry? Are you a realistic person or a vague dreamer? Can you craft a compelling case that links your past, your goals, and ISB? What is your unique story? Show your personality in the essays. The essays of unsuccessful applicants often read like they were written for an audience of rubber-stamping, degree-issuing gatekeepers. Feel free to seek further advice Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alum, 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- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

yogi.0195 · Answer

I would recommend proceeding with a retake if you think you can score better; a lot about your profile will depend on how you portray it, your IIT credentials will help but yes, a better score would justify this also.

admitStreet · Answer

@Shubhp103 - If you feel you can improve the score, you should. Putting your best foot forward is crucial, given the competitive nature of the admissions process. ISB's latest published average is 720 (Classic) so aiming for 20+ points (GFE equivalent) would be ideal. Your IIT pedigree, GPA and work-ex (though I'd like to understand the professional arc, achievements etc. better) are good angles. Given that ISB's essays focus on your overall persona, a lot will also depend on how you portray the profile. Some guidelines to tackle the ISB essays are here . Feel free to reach out through the links below for a deeper chat. Regards, Arvind Founder, admitStreet | Schedule a free chat W: https://admitstreet.com | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com | LinkedIn

CrackAdmission · Answer

Hi  Shubhp103 ,

655 FE ~ 710 GMAT Old ; typically this is a competitive score for ISB. Complemented by the fact that you have an above average undergrad GPA from a Tier 1 institute in a core branch, score wise you shouldn't be very worried. Experience in a well-known company, particularly in a leadership development program, is highly valued. It will be interesting to understand the business application / commercial viability of the patent you filed - you should focus on this aspect in your essays to demonstrate that you have techno-managerial acumen.

Focus on presenting a strong overall application by emphasizing your unique experiences, leadership qualities, and the impact you've made in your professional and academic career.

I am an ISB Alum, CO15, and have been guiding applicants get into top MBA programs for the last 7 years. Feel free to reach out if you seek professional assistance wrt to crafting a compelling application.

Cheers and all the best!

Arijit,
CrackAdmission

IVYCRACKERS.COM · Answer

Hey! At an overall level I would say you have a decent chance at ISB. 655 crosses the average score mark at ISB and you have decent undergrads academic performance (I would say the GMAT + Acads) bucket is covered. I am quite intrigued by the Leadership development program you joined at Vedanta and that can be on of the highlights of your profile, but I will have to understand a little bit more about your exact profile, your goals, and how MBA/ISB will help you achieve those coz this will be a deal breaker and this is where a lot of candidates miss out on admits at ISB.

Your patent and promotion are things that you must highlight well in your essays and interviews (especially the patent part isn't that common).

On the outset your score is pretty good and I am pretty sure that ISB or any other B-school will not reject you only on the basis of GMAT scores. But if you genuinely feel that you can get a better score, then do give it a shot.

We have 40+ mentors from ISB on our platform  IvyCrackers  and few of them are on ISB admissions interview panel. You can book a  complimentary 30-mins call  with us and one of the interview panelists will evaluate your profile in detail. In this call, we will delve deep into your profile, help you build an overall strategy for your ISB application, and answer any questions you have about ISB.

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

Hey Team,
I am really confused about my chances of getting ito ISB.

My details are as follows:
 
 I just gave GMAT focus and got 675 and am still targetting more like 685 cuz may be that increases my chances for admission and some scholarships. 
 My grad scores were 86.5% in Bcom(H) from Shoolini University. 
 I am a state level Kudo silver medalist and trying on national gold now. 
 I am a 23 year old Male working in sales for just an year but do not wish to continue in it so shifting to Product Management as seems feasible although it does not seem to align to my ultimate goal i.e. to get into Management Consulting which i solely aspire cuz I wish to be that person who has all the knowledge to help any business.  
 I am confused if i should even choose product maagement or try some other thing which aligns to management consulting and also increases my chances for ISB admissions.

Also let me know if there is a way for me to chooose that helps me to get into ISB MBA and achieve my goals as soon as possible.

sostoic · Answer

Your GMAT and grad scores are not that competitive. Also, your goals are all over the place. I would suggest not leaving the current job in the middle of the application process. Think through your goals pragmatically with the help of a mentor. Try to jump your GMAT more than what you are aiming for currently. Judo stands out and think of any other unique aspects you can highlight. Strong essays will be necessary to portray a good case for ISB.

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Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

I think 675 in Focus edition is good enough but surely not bad or great as it corresponds to 730 in old GMAT but yeah surely am trying for more.
Also  I wish to know if sales BDE role would take me anywhere or do i shift m career to a more relevat path for achievement of my ultimate goal

sostoic · Answer

Choose a trajectory that aligns with your ultimate goal. Sales to PM to Consulting would be an odd story to justify, especially if you are looking to apply in the short term. My advice again would be to stick with your current job and not make a drastic shift in the middle of the application process, or say even if you choose to apply 1-2 years later.

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IVYCRACKERS.COM · Answer

Hey! Product Management and Management Consulting are two very different domains, so you will have to choose one and focus on building your profile for that domain. For ISB, your GMAT is good and your undergrad academic performance is also good. State level Kudo will certainly strengthen your profile as it adds a unique flavour to your profile. You do have a good chance but you will have to bring a lot of clarity in your goals when you start writing your application essays and you will have to demonstrate the same clarity in your interviews.

The best way to choose is to understand the roles and responsibilities in each domain and see which one interests you more. You can book a  complimentary 30-mins call  with us and we will help you understand the two domains and how you can build a profile for that domain and ISB.

MBAGuide · Answer

Its_me_aka_ak I am all for you moving into product management (if you can), even if you might want to go into management consulting later. You are only 23, and if there's one thing the admissions committee values in young applicants, it's a willingness to get your hands dirty and try a variety of things before deciding what you really want to do and where your interests lie. Also shows you are highly employable. I am not talking specifically about ISB here, but at top global schools, MBBs like to hire people who have experience in a variety of roles in different industries. This reinforces the idea that a management consultant is someone who has acquired the tools they need to add value to their consulting clients in a variety of roles. I do not know if ISB is for you this year with this surface level information, but I can certainly tell you what it could take (now or later). Feel free to speak. Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) Founder, MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  Shubhp103 ,

Thanks for writing in.

Our suggestion would be that you retake the GMAT, especially, if you have scored higher on the mocks; there is still some time before the ISB R1 deadline and a better score will only improve your chances (with you having nothing to lose).

Hope this helps.

All the best!

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello  Its_me_aka_ak ,

Hope this finds you well.

Thanks for sharing the details with us.

You have a decent GMAT score (if not a stellar one); however, your work experience is all over the place. Justifying the move from Sales -> Product Management -> Management Consulting is not going to be simple; the ideal scenario would be to find a job that better places you to take up a role in management consulting (it will also help build a logical narrative).

Hope this helps.

All the best!

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

Thanks for the response  MBAGuide  I certainly appreciate the perspective you have put just that ISB and then consulting seems like the best choice for me in India
Pm I chose as there is good career hike while Consulting is  harder to get into domain (as per what i have seen I might surely be wrong there so may be able to assist with the perspective considering your experience)

P.S. very shallow but money is a great motivator for me which is why I am shifting my career to PM + thinking that it is a position of power which may increase my admission chances too. 
Consulting was a great idea EVENTUALLY AFTER MBA considering money making capailities as Consultants in my connections have evolved working in this field and now they can are excelling in monetary terms too.
I know i will certainly want to risk everything as long as there is a high reward potential be worth it IF successful so career advice considering this would be godly for me.

Looking forward to hearing from you

Its_me_aka_ak · Answer

Thanks for your response  ExpertsGlobal 
Wouldnt it be hard to get into consulting without top college MBA degree? I saw some 3-4 YT videos which affirmed the same so could you please also help me there?

MBAGuide · Answer

Its_me_aka_ak No, you are absolutely looking in the right direction. You realize you do not come from a target undergrad college or program, and it will be very hard for you to break into an analyst-level position in a top-tier consulting firm. You may be able to get into some firms that have a sectoral focus (for example, healthcare/pharma or those that focus on analytics for FMCG behemoths), but even there, the competition will be tough. And there is no guarantee that after an MBA, a tier 2 consulting experience will get you shortlisted by your dream consulting companies. So, what do you do? If you cannot take giant leaps in your career progression pre-MBA, then it is better to increase the breadth of your experience. Along with this, the monetary increments also serve as strong proof during the admissions process that the candidate has progressed. I tell people they should consider a switch if they can get a significant uptick in 2 of the 3 areas: learning, earning, or growth. This remains valid during the evaluation of your case by the adcoms. Showing an increase in salary to the adcoms is also very important so you don’t sound shallow by saying money is a motivator. It always is! Why would it not be for someone who has only recently started their career and wants to do an MBA from a good B-school? Best wishes Aanchal Sahni (INSEAD MBA alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer) Founder, MBAGuideConsulting LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/ | Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com

ExpertsGlobal · Answer

Hello @ Its_me_aka_ak ,

Thanks for writing in.

Yes; it will not be simple; however, the idea is to find a role that helps build a more logical narrative.

All the best!

ISBeacon · Answer

Please re-attempt  Shubhp103 .

p.s. Not sure why you have not mentioned your discipline/specialization in under-grad.
--
Ashish.

ISBeacon · Answer

I am not really convinced that a 10 point jump that you are looking for, will make a huge difference to your application  Its_me_aka_ak . If you feel that 695 or above seems doable, then a retake is truly worth.

Also, we have seen over the years that people with background in Sales, generally see  Marketing  as a viable path for career progression, post ISB.
--
Ashish.

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