Profile evaluation for ISB

Hello,

When did you complete your engineering and when did you pursue the MBA?

In terms of a profile evaluation, here are some pointers.

First, a higher GMAT score will always support your application. You could consider writing the GMAT again. Do ensure that your GMAT score is an in centre test score. ISB won't accept online/ at home test scores for the next cycle.

Now, coming to the second aspect - Why the second MBA? It's an important question for your profile. 

Third, you have not mentioned about your years of work experience or the industry etc. That would also be an important aspect for the profile evaluation. 

Fourth, accomplishments and volunteering engagements are important to strengthen your leadership story. You can consider enhancing your engagements in extracurricular pursuits that you may have been a part of previously.

These are the questions and suggestions based on the information you have provided. Feel free to reach out for a detailed discussion.

All the best!

­

Curious to know why you did not apply in the just concluded ISB Admissions cycle?
--
Ashish.

Total ­4 years of experience.
1.5 in analytics & 2.5 in Data science with a Banking organisation

 

­akhil247 hope this finds you well. 

On the surface, Akhil, you will have to work very hard to create an application strategy that gets you noticed. ISB evaluates applicants on these 4 aspects: Academic history, GMAT/GRE, Career Trajectory and experience, Interview. It would be naive to think that an average score and great storytelling alone can get you through. While you still have time, take proactive steps to hit the mark on as many aspects as possible. You can't really control your academic history, but GMAT, you can surely improve. Put high-quality work into your applications to extract relevant themes from your professional experiences, making you a strong candidate for ISB and the organizations you will target in the future.

For example, if you have spent some time in a banking company in the field of data science, you should reflect on your projects and present the big picture. What did you really do to achieve the bank's goals? What meaningful insights did you present to your superiors that were used to make important business decisions? What have you learned about this business that has shaped your perspective? How are you better equipped to assess the nuances of the business than other candidates with similar experience? How has working as a data scientist enabled you to present ideas and conclusions to senior management? Never underestimate the impact of your work, this may be the first time you think about the value you add to your employer. But this exercise is crucial to presenting a convincing application to ISB.

The most successful applicants in B-school applications are those who are committed to putting in the time and effort to really get to know themselves better. Only then will you be able to present yourself in a strong light to the admissions committees.

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 alumna, former INSEAD MBA admissions interviewer)
Founder, MBAGuideConsulting (former MBA admissions coach at top global firm)
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA for fast reverts): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com­
 

 

­Hi Akhil,

Your academic credentials, including your commendable CGPA in 10th and 12th, along with your impressive GMAT score of 720, demonstrate your strong academic aptitude and will pretty much cover the MBA%. Also, we believe you can highlight the MBA% in a positive way by highlighting the highest awarded % (or maybe if you were amongst the top 5 students in the class). Additionally, your research papers published in the data science domain showcase your expertise and dedication to your field. 

Also, your academic achievements and professional experience in analytics and data science with a banking organization will certainly strengthen your profile. And your total experience of 4 years, including 1.5 years in analytics and 2.5 years in data science, aligns well with the focus areas of ISB's curriculum (plus these are the booming domains in the industry).

On the outset, we believe you have a genuine strong chance at ISB, provided your essays are well-drafted and you are able to drive your ISB interview strategically. You can always choose to retake GMAT, but we won't recommend it at this stage since you already have a 720 and the other aspects of your application are very strong.

All the best for the applications! If you have any further questions or need assistance with your application process, please feel free to reach out.

Note: IvyCrackers has 40+ ISB mentors (from recent graduates to experienced alumni) and you can choose to get pointed feedback or have a detailed discussion with any of them. Checkout our ISB mentors (https://ivycrackers.com/our-mentors/)

Hello,

I'm planning to apply for ISB in Sep'24. Kindly evaluate my profile.

10th- 10 CGPA (2015)
12th- 95.4% (2017)
B.Tech- 9.18 CGPA (Mechanical Engineering, VIT University, 2021)
GMAT Focus - 615

Work Experience:
Operations Management Intern at Amazon India (Jan 2021 -July 2021)
Operations Manager at Amazon India(August 2021 - Present)

Posted from my mobile device

Hi,

  Your academic credentials are great. However, a stronger GMAT score would no doubt strengthen your application. I would recommend a retake on the GMAT.

Operations at Amazon is a rich experience which you could highlight appropriately in your application. The school is looking for much more than just the GMAT and academics, and your contribution to the class by means of the rich work experience and extracurricular activities will be equally important. You should also evaluate your engagements on that front and see if you can add anything to your leadership experience.

All the best!

­

Hi all
Wanted to share my profile and understand how I stand as compared to the ISB applicant pool.

25 Year Old Indian Male

Work Experience:
2.5 years consulting internship
5 years of running my own business in consulting (brand/marketing)
2.5 years of working as a transformation program manager in a ship management company across geographies (UK, Philippines, Monaco)

Goal:
Strategy/Consulting (MBB) as a path to be a business leader

Extracurriculars:
Include Toastmasters, Capstone Project, Public Speaking Engagements
Best manager award and Entrepreneur of the Year from college

Academics:
Top 10%ile in College across metrics, resulted in a free international business immersion program from the college

4.0/5.0 GPA+

GMAT FE 635 (85th %ile)
Verbal: 84 (91st)
Data Insights: 82 (94th)
Quant: 78 (52nd)

Would greatly appreciate any inputs.

Posted from my mobile device

­Hi Bhagya!

Acads & GMAT: You have a stellar academic record which positions you as a candidate with strong intellectual capabilities and a solid foundation in quantitative and analytical skills. However, you must try to improve your GMAT score. A perfect score will be 700+, but considering your acads even a score in the 685 range will place you in perfect stead.

Professional Experience: Your experience working with Amazon India, both as an Operations Management Intern and as an Operations Manager, is highly valuable. These roles must have provided you with significant exposure to complex operational challenges, strategic decision-making, and leadership opportunities. (Operations is one of the most important domains for e-commerce considering the requirement of last mile logistics and efficient supply chain management)

Suggestions: In your essays and interviews, it's crucial to leverage this experience. Focus on storytelling that highlights your achievements, the challenges you’ve overcome, and the impact of your work. Discuss specific projects where you drove operational improvements, led teams, or innovated processes. This will not only demonstrate your leadership and analytical skills but also your potential to contribute meaningful perspectives to the ISB community.

Please feel free to reach us if you want to discuss specific points. We can also share an overall strategy for ISB applications if you may need it. 

PS: We have a network of 50+ ISB mentors (alumni, recent graduates, and current students). Visit (https://ivycrackers.com/our-mentors/) to view their profiles. 

­Hi Sarthak!

Acads and GMAT: Your college GPA stands out and indicates a solid foundation for the challenging curriculum at ISB. Your GMAT score is pretty decent but you may try to improve (something round 670-680 will certainly give you an extra edge).

Entrepreneurship Experience: Your journey as an entrepreneur is particularly impressive and you can leverage it to showcase your initiative, problem-solving capabilities, and ability to navigate the uncertainties of the business world.This experience will be highly valued by both corporate recruiters and business school admissions committees, as it exemplifies leadership and a proactive approach to challenges. (which means getting you place will not that big a challenge for ISB - another edge)

International Work Experience: Your unique experience with a ship management company, encompassing international exposure, adds a distinctive edge to your profile. This experience highlights your adaptability, global perspective, and distinguishes you in a pool of candidates. For you, it will be crucial to articulate how these experiences have shaped your understanding of global business practices and cross-cultural teamwork. (that will be a game-changer for you)

To maximize the impact of your application, you need to weave your entrepreneurship and international work experiences into a compelling narrative. Your essays and interviews should capture the lessons learned, the challenges overcome, and the leadership qualities you've honed along the way. Demonstrating how these experiences have prepared you for the future you envision post-MBA will be key to making a strong impression.

Conclusion: Your profile is well-rounded and exhibits a blend of strong academic achievements, significant leadership through entrepreneurship, and unique international exposure. By effectively leveraging these strengths in your ISB application, you should be able to sail through.

IvyCrackers Mentorship 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.

 

­Hello akhil247,

Thanks for writing in.

Your years of experience are ideal for ISB and your GMAT score is very competitive as well.

While you should certainly apply to ISB, your chances will largely depend on how well you draft your essays, including your need for a second MBA; a set of goals that logically sync with your background, and a strong portrayal of your strengths and capabilities.

The following video will help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jvy7qxUKX7Q

Further, should you wish to discuss your prospects in greater detail, please feel free to get in touch with us.

Hope this helps.

All the best!

 

­akhil247 - some thoughts/ clarifications on your profile:

1. It'd be good to have a higher GMAT score, given the competitive pool. Since there's time, a retake is worth giving a shot.

2. Your work-ex across consulting roles is interesting. Have there been any promotions? And what are your career goals post MBA? It'd be crucial to have a strong narrative highlighting the need for a second MBA, and how the school will help achieve your goals.

3. The EC's would need to be stronger. Perhaps the Jiu-Jitsu angle can help, but aim to have a consistent involvement in some activities which showcase your personality beyond work/ academics. This doesn't necessarily have to be NGO association.

Hope this helps a bit. Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat.

Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | Schedule a free chat
W: https://admitstreet.com | LinkedIn | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com­
 

@Bhagyaaggarwal - the acads and work-ex are interesting, but the GMAT is a bit on the lower side. Would suggest a retake (or switching to GRE) to improve your odds. Also make sure to have a strong narrative highlighting your professional arc, skillsets picked up, post-MBA goals, and how/ why an MBA (and particularly ISB) can help.

While you haven't mentioned Extracurriculars, that's also an important angle to bake into the application.

Feel free to reach out for a deeper chat.

Regards,
Arvind
Founder, admitStreet | Schedule a free chat
W: https://admitstreet.com | LinkedIn | E: consultingteam@admitstreet.com­

­Hello akhil247.

At the outset, looking at an ISB Aspirant, we feel these are the strengths in your application - 
1. Good GMAT Score: Your GMAT score would not be the deal breaker in your application.
2. Research Papers: Exhibits your intellectual prowess and to a certain extent, your language skills.
3. Jiu-Jitsu: Could be a unique hook that helps capture attention - can help during the interview.

There are things that we feel could be where things could be better:
1. Academics and scores: Not so great CGPA in both B.Tech and MBA.
2. Second MBA: Having a proper justification would be extremely crucial, which should also tie up with your post ISB goals.
3. Lack of spikes: There's not a lot going on with what little has been shared. We are sure there's more to you than the few lines written.

Your work-ex is an advantage - booming domains in the industry, and a disadvantage - the connect between the two. Overall, your profile seems balanced. Given that you have an experience of 4 years, you fall in the sweet spot as far as the applicant spread is for ISB. Therefore, our recommendation would be to focus on what you have in control - LOR, essays, resume and interview. You haven't mentioned anything about your post ISB goals. It is essential to have strong aspirations and have a storyline that weaves through your experience.

Hope this was helpful!

Team FLY is bunch of ISB alums who help potential ISB candidates with profile positioning, essay reviews and interview mocks. Feel free to book a 15 min free session for more discussion- https://calendly.com/reachusfly/15min

With warm regards,
Team Fly
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reachusfly/­

 

­Hi @Bhagyaaggarwal You have a good profile, albeit with a less-than-impressive GMAT score. ISB will evaluate your profile based on your academic history, GMAT score, quality of work experience, and your interview performance. Make sure you strategize well to achieve maximum scores in these respective areas before you begin your application.

I have over a decade of experience in operations design and management, and I have helped many individuals including those  with just 2 years of experience in operations background secure ISB admits (non-YLP and direct PGPs). Feel free to discuss your case directly.


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

Can someone please evaluate my profile

10th : 9.4 CGPA
12th : 95%
B.Tech : Mechanical from NIT Dgp - 8.79 CGPA
Work Experience :
1 Year - Metal & mining based company as a maintenance engineer
5 years - Military Officer
GMAT FE : 655 (Q81 V81 DI86)

I'm planning for 2025 intake of ISB, IIM ABC, LBS & INSEAD.

 

­gmatacer2023333

Your military service experience could be quite influential from the applications point of view. Would you mind elaborating on that aspect( where were you deployed, nature of assignments, people managed, etc)?

There is certainly room for improvement on the GMAT. I would say IIM A is a more likely convert and then ISB > INSEAD=LBS

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 
LinkedIn |WEBSITE: https://mbaguideconsulting.com/| Message(WA): +91 9971200927| email- mbaguideconsulting@gmail.com­
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