How to get into ISB in 2022 – The Indian School of Business (ISB) is one of the leading business schools in India and Asia. The school has been consistently ranked as one of the top five B-schools in India by various publications.
ISB is a highly selective business school. ISB offers a one-year full-time MBA program focusing on experiential learning and international exposure. The application process is challenging, but you will be well-equipped to apply successfully if you follow the steps below.
The ISB PGP is one of the best MBA programs in India. It is also one of the most selective universities in the country. ISB admits only a small percentage of applicants and has an acceptance rate of just over 20%, making it more demanding than even many international MBA programs.
The ISB PGP (MBA) program consists of eight terms (a one-year program) and is taught by faculty, including many former business executives and professors from the world’s top business schools. The curriculum consists of leadership, management, marketing, accounting, finance and more.
The focus at ISB is on preparing students for careers in global leadership roles. All students take part in an international experience during their time at ISB. The school offers several opportunities for international partnerships and exchanges with other institutions worldwide (including MIT Sloan and London Business School).
1. Before thinking of how to get into ISB in 2022 understand the school
Before applying to ISB, you must understand what the ISB PGP offers in courses, faculty, and post-MBA jobs. Do not apply to the school-based only on reputation, brand, or ranking.
ISB is a top business school in India and has an excellent reputation. The school has been around for 20 years and has been ranked among the top business schools in India by Business Today and Financial Times for many years. It also consistently ranks among the top 20 global MBA programs by Financial Times.
But before you apply to ISB, make sure that this is what you want out of your MBA experience. It’s not just about getting an MBA from one of India’s premier B-schools; it’s about joining a community that will help shape your future career and personal development.
ISB offers its core curriculum, which combines finance, Marketing and Operations Management, Strategy, and Information Technology (IT) management. The program also includes specialisations in Finance, Marketing, Operations, technology, strategy, and leadership, apart from practicum courses like the Experiential Learning Program.
Apart from these, research student clubs and ISB activities so you understand the school from a student life perspective too.
When you research the program, also research career outcomes for your background. What can the program help you do, and why is it the definite next step?
2. Take tests – is GRE accepted and help you get into ISB in 2022? And, how do I prepare for the GMAT?
ISB accepts both the GRE and GMAT. Prospective students are required to take the GMAT or GRE. The GMAC administers the GMAT, and ETS issues the GRE. It must be valid with the testing agency.
You must choose which test you wish to take and put a strict study schedule to achieve that score. Most students take at least two months for preparation. You should get a decent score with hard work and dedication in this period.
What is a good GMAT score to get into ISB in 2022?
Go through this article to know more about the average GMAT score at ISB and the score you should aim for. While there is no one standard answer to that question, you should generally aim for a score of about 650 and, if possible, 680. Note that if you come from an over-represented profile, you might need a 700 and more.
You can also read stories of people who made it to ISB with a GMAT score of 660 and a GMAT score of 670.
What is a good GRE score for ISB?
What GRE score should you aim for? The number of applicants applying to ISB is over 318, if possible, and to be competitive, a score of 322 and over will help.
Does ISB consider GMAT Integrated Reasoning The number of applicants applying to ISB with a GRE score is lower than the number of applicants with GMAT scores?
This is a question we get often, and the answer is – no. ISB does not consider IR scores. This doesn’t mean you should ignore IR on your GMAT exam, but that you shouldn’t worry too much if you have a low IR score as long as your overall GMAT score is good.
3. Understand the ISB PGP deadlines and work on your application
ISB’s PGP deadlines are not easy to meet. But if you want to be admitted to the program and join the ranks of successful professionals, you will need to work hard on your application. Here are some tips on how to do that:
You should note ISB deadlines and begin working backwards from there. To avoid delays or rejections, you need to start working on your application early. You can submit an incomplete form as long as it reaches ISB by February 1st. It is better to have an almost complete form ready by December 2018 to have enough time for sending off the rest of the required documents.
Far too many people focus just on the recommendations and essays and ignore the online application until they realise that it also needs serious effort. Here is an article on how to fill out the ISB online application.
Before starting work on your application, make sure that all your academic documents are ready in time. You will also have to submit a recommendation letter from your current employer or supervisor, who must be willing to write one for you. It helps if they know about your plans and ambitions to give meaningful recommendations that reflect who you are as an applicant rather than just saying, “this person is good at what she does”, which has no real value in a recommendation.
Also, read this article on how to get an excellent ISB recommendation.
ISB application deadline 2022
ISB usually has three deadlines, and the ones for 2022 are:
ISB Round 1 deadline – September 11, 2022
ISB Round 2 deadline – December 4, 2022
ISB Round 3 deadline – January 29, 2023
4. How to write ISB essays in 2022
ISB requires two essays as part of its application. The essays are undoubtedly the essential part of the ISB application because they tell ISB about your character, qualities, skills, achievements, and future goals.
Here is how you should write the ISB essays for 2022.
ISB essay 1: Peer Learning is a major building block of PGP at ISB. Help us in understanding how will you be able to add value to the PGP peer group through your personal and professional qualities/capabilities? (400 words)
The essay is on your personal and professional qualities and capabilities. The answer should be grounded in a concrete example of how you have added value to a peer group or team in the past.
The first sentence must be an engaging introduction that draws the reader in and gives them a sense of what the essay will cover.
Think about what you can contribute to your peers in terms of knowledge, experience, skills and/or insights that they do not have. You want them to learn something new from you during peer sessions, so think about what exactly that can be. Think about what you have done differently from others or what skills you possess that others may not have (e.g., leadership qualities). Your essay should reflect your personality and values. It should be based on experiences or ideas that are meaningful to you personally or professionally. You also need to tell us what sets you apart from other candidates and why we should choose you over others. The goal of this question is not just to see how well someone can write but also how they think!
Next, explain your ability to add value to your peer group by relating it to an experience you have had. For example, let’s say that you were on a team that was working on a project together. You could write: I was able to contribute my expertise in marketing strategy development to help my colleagues create a better product by creating a marketing plan for them based on their needs and goals. Don’t try too hard to create a story out of nothing because it will come out as forced and unnatural. Just give examples from your life that can explain what kind of person you are and why you think ISB will benefit from having you as part of their program.
In the last paragraph, summarize why this experience makes you uniquely qualified for PGP at ISB.
ISB Essay 2: What are your short term and long-term career goals? How will Post Graduate Program at ISB assist you in achieving your goals? (400 words max)
If you are a first-time candidate for the program, it is essential to know that you can answer this question in two ways:
- You can talk about your current career goals and how the PGP will help you achieve those goals. This makes sense if you have already made a significant decision about what you want to do with your life.
- You can describe your ideal career as it exists in your head, but not necessarily in reality. For example, if you want to be an entrepreneur or CEO of a company eventually, but don’t have any experience yet. It makes sense to talk about that ideal future job and how the program will help get there.
This essay needs to show that you have a clear idea of what you want to do in life. It is not enough to say that you want to be a leader in your chosen field. You need to clarify how you plan to get there, what kind of education and experience will help you achieve your goals, and why the ISB PGP fits with those plans.
The question asks you to describe your long-term and short-term goals and how the PGP will help you achieve them.
You may have heard other students talk about their goal of starting their own company or becoming a consultant after graduation. But those are not necessarily realistic goals for everyone. The first thing to do is decide your long-term and short-term goals.
Start by thinking about what kind of work you want to do after business school. Do you want to work in a large corporation? Or do you want to be an entrepreneur?
If you want to go into consulting or investment banking, the PGP will help you because it exposes you to many different industries and companies. If you’re going to start your own company, the PGP will help with all your entrepreneurial queries and give answers.
You can also think about what type of companies interest you most: large multinationals or smaller local businesses? If your interests are more towards multinationals, then again, the PGP will help because it will give you exposure to those kinds of companies through classes and elective courses.
You can further discuss how the PGP will help develop the interpersonal skills required by many companies when they hire new employees. This can be accomplished by discussing how the PGP will help build teamwork skills and leadership capabilities through group projects and networking events organised by ISB faculty members. Finally, another way to approach this question is to discuss how the PGP will help develop soft skills such as communication skills through presentations made during class meetings and other activities organised by ISB faculty members.
How to answer the ISB reapplicant essay
If you are a reapplicant, you will need to answer one additional essay question of 200 words. Here is an article that covers this in detail.
5. Prepare for Interviews
Note that ISB is looking for leaders with strong analytical skills, problem-solving capabilities, and communication skills. If you have been involved in many leadership positions during college or work experience, then highlight these points in your application so that they are considered when shortlisting.
The interview can be rigorous and combative, and your assumptions and assertions can be challenged. You are expected to think on your feet during the interview, but you should not be afraid to ask questions about anything that does not make sense to you.
The first step in preparing for an ISB PGP interview is knowing what kind of questions will be asked so that you can prepare well for them beforehand. The next step is to practice answering those questions until you feel comfortable answering them without hesitation or having to refer back to notes.
You should be prepared to discuss why you want an MBA in general and why you want one from ISB specifically and discuss your professional background and any other relevant aspects of your life experience that may help you succeed in the classroom and lab or community projects.
Looking for high-quality ISB admissions consulting?
With over 14 years of experience helping hundreds of ISB applicants (and ISB reapplicants) make it to the school, we have a close to 100% success rate with ISB admissions. Contact us today to know how we can help you.
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