CrackVerbal's Guide to ISB Admissions

The CrackVerbal Guide to your ISB Ticket

CrackVerbal brings you a comprehensive guide to the Indian School of
Business’s MBA application process. Everything you need to know from the
A-to-Z of the 2014 admission process to the recent CrackVerbal ISB success
stories, this e-book is tailor-made for all ISB aspirants

Why CrackVerbal for your ISB Dream?
For professionals who want to advance in their careers, CrackVerbal GMAT
training and MBA Admissions Consulting of superior quality along with
unmatched support. Unlike other test prep companies, CrackVerbal has made a
no-compromise commitment to meeting our students’ MBA needs.
 35+ Crackverbal Students In ISB Since 2012
 Strong Partnership With The ISB Admissions Panel
 Personal Mentorship From ISB Alumni
 Crafting A Personalized Strategy To Enhance Your Chances At
ISB
HIGHLIGHTS

About ISB
Over the last decade of its existence, ISB has evolved
into a prestigious brand. Consistently ranked among
the best B-schools in India and, ISB was ranked #20
globally in the Financial Times B-school Rankings
2012.
ISB has a lot to offer to future leaders: an innovative
research-based curriculum, international outreach,
global best practices and insights into emerging
markets for career growth. ISB is also South-Asia’s
first AACSB accredited school.

A Snapshot of Important Dates
DATES CYCLE 1 CYCLE 2 EARLY
ENTRY
OPTION
CYCLE 1
EARLY
ENTRY
OPTION
CYCLE 2
Application
Date
September
15, 2014
November
30, 2014
September
15, 2014
November
30, 2014
Offer Date
November
15, 2014
February 15,
2015
November
15, 2014
February 15,
2015
Acceptance
Date
15 days from
the date of
the offer
15 days from
the date of
the offer
15 days from
the date of
the offer
15 days from
the date of
the offer
For additional information on the admission procedure you can e-mail ISB.

Everything You Need to Know for Your ISB Application
Process Overview:
Step 1: Create an account here
Step 2: Upload the following documents:
Colour photograph in Formals (Passport size picture
on A-4 size sheet in PDF of 200 or 300 dpi)
Scanned copies of the documents (PDF in 150 or 200
dpi) of
Passport Copy, Proof of Income
GMAT Score Report
TOEFL/IELTS scores
Two evaluations/recommendations in the prescribed
format available on the application portal
Step 3: Fill up the Application with your Personal Details
etc.
Step 4: Payment of Application Fee of INR 3,000 (INR
1,000 only for Re-applicants) + Service Tax

The ISB Selection Process
Application deadlines – Round 1: Sep 15th, 2014
Round 2: Nov 30th, 2014
Shortlisting - Interviews take place in November and
January
Interviews - Conducted in Delhi, Kolkata and Hyderabad.
International Applicants - Interviewed via telephone.
Decision - Accepted applicants will receive an offer.
Acceptance - 15 days to accept or decline the offer. After
accepting, a non-refundable fee of INR 2,00,000 (INR
5,00,000 under the Corporate Leadership Immersion
Programme) will need to be remitted.
Information for New Admits - All new admits will be
provided with a link to guide them through their admission
process.
Course Commencement - Course begins in April and is a
one year residential programme.

Admission Prerequisites
The ISB accepts applicants from diverse backgrounds;
however, there are some minimum requirements for a valid
application:
A Bachelor’s Degree in any discipline. The class of 2014
consists of around 70% of engineering undergraduates.
A minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience. The ISB
however does make an exception for those with an extraordinary
profile with lesser work experience. The mean work experience of
the class of 2014 is 5 years.
Fresh graduates can consider the Early Entry Option.
A valid GMAT score. The mean GMAT score of the class of 2014 is
711.
A valid TOEFL/IELTS/PTE score if the undergraduate degree
was in a language other than English.

Selection Criteria
Re-applicants can use their previous
account for their personal details. It is
advised that you update your application
with any extra experience that you may
have gained and latest scores, wherever
relevant. International applicants (who
possess a passport other than an Indian
passport) can apply anytime before
January 15th, 2014. The pre-requisites are
the same as above.
Leadership Qualities – measured in
terms of the nature of recommendations
Diversity – gauged on the basis of the
quality of work experience
Analytical Capability – the analytical
section score of the GMAT which acts as
the only means for measuring this.
Re-applicants - can use their previous
account for their personal details. It is
advised that you update your application
with any extra experience that you may
have gained and latest scores, wherever
relevant.

Finance & Fees
The ISB course fee amounts to USD 50,000,
which is about INR 30,00,000 which is far less
in comparison to it’s global counterparts. For
this reason, it is a great value-for-money
option as you get the best facilities for a
reduced price.
Scholarships are available for deserving
applicants. Take a look at the list here.
Loans are made available and is a great
option for those with an admit. Get an
overview of the loan coverage here. Most of
the premier banks like SBI etc, offer loans to
students.
Want to know
whether your profile
fits ISB? Simply fill
out this form!

ISB Essay Analysis - 2014
ISB’s application essay questions have been pretty much consistent for the past 2-3
years with their focus mainly on 3 aspects: career goals, differentiating factors and
accomplishments.
This year, however, when we did the ISB Essay Analysis, we observed 3 major
changes:
There is a lot more room for applicants to express their personality and creativity.
The focus of the essays has expanded to include areas as interesting as
 Innovation
 Perspective change
 Out-of-the-Box Thinking that Backfired!
 Team-based learning
Of course, the usual questions on career goals and the value you bring to the
ISB class are also there.
The essays offer more choices and seem to cater to a wider range of applicants.
The total word count has been reduced to 800 from 900 last year. This is in keeping
with the trend of B-schools world-wide.
Read the complete Analysis here:
http://applications.crackverbal.com/isb-essay-analysis/

Top 5 Myths About ISB Applications Busted!
The internet is a double-edged sword – there is so much
information available, that you are often confused what to
believe. For instance, you may have read that without a
GMAT score of 700, it is impossible to get an admit to ISB;
then you come across an interview with someone who has
gained admission to ISB with a modest 630! Perplexing, isn’t
it?
In this section, CrackVerbal will bust the top 5 myths about
ISB admissions.
Read on!

Myth 1: You Are Bound To Get Rejected With A Sub-700
Score!
GMAT is important, very important! This is because this concrete 3 digit
number is of great help to B-schools world over to select among
thousands of applicants. GMAT provides a good indication of a
student’s logical ability in a business context that will make him an
effective future leader.
But do not forget that GMAT is just a part of the selection process and
not the core of the selection process itself. According to official ISB
statistics around 25% of the entering class had a sub-700 score. In fact
over the last few years we have had several of our own students get
through with a sub-700 score! There is a reason why ISB accepts
applications with a lower GMAT score. Else they could have just put up
on the website “Applicants with only a GMAT score higher than 700
need apply”. Any reputed B-School, including ISB, looks for a complete
package to fit in their MBA program and not just one aspect in isolation.
This myth is perhaps propagated by those who got rejected because of
other intangible factors such as weak essays or poor interviews. These
are points no one wants to admit. We, at CrackVerbal have NEVER so far
heard an applicant confess “I got dinged because my post-MBA goals
were perhaps a bit fuzzy”. While a more ‘solid’ reason – “I got dinged
because I had a 690” makes the excuse a bit more palatable.

Myth 2: You Shouldn’t Apply With More Than 10 Years Of
Work Experience!
Till date, ISB has created 4000+ global leaders spread across 25
countries. Though the average experience in the class is still a
“young” 3-6 years, more and more mid-career professionals are
seeking an ISB PGP to catapult their careers to the next level.
ISB PGP admissions committee understands the unique
background such senior people bring in, and works hard with the
industry to ensure that they are rewarded with a position that is
commensurate with their talents and experience. While the usual
career progression is into a managerial position (“LEAD”), the
students with more than 8-10 years of experience are provided
with opportunities to interview for senior management roles such
as Country Head (“LEAP”).
However, a caveat over here is that ISB (or any B-school in the
world) cannot guarantee placements. This is a known fact that
there are fewer positions at such a level and that an MBA is not a
“placement agency”. It is important that applicants with rich
experience bring with them their own network, as well as
understanding of their domain. ISB placement committee can
ensure that the required groundwork is done to help facilitate the
process.

Myth 3: The Details In The Application Form Are Not That
Important
ISB has an online application form that asks for details
regarding the applicant’s profile such as educational details,
work-experience details, essays, video, and
recommendations. There are some other details such as
extra-curriculars, awards, languages known etc., which many
applicants consider “minor”.
However the admissions committee gets to review a file
which contains these very details before it even gets to see
your essays. Thus, these details on the application form
become the initial point of contact between you and ISB. A
first impression may not be the best one, but it will indeed
take you to the next level - the interview!
Thus, every aspirant should ensure that he/she reserves
enough time to fill out all the details in the application form
completely so that it comes across as convincing,
interesting and unique. It is very easy to create a login to see
what details are required. Do not leave filling the form to the
last date of application, when you will be hurried and might
end up making mistakes.

Myth 4: Showing NGO/Not-for-profit Work Is A Must On
Your Application
ISB is in search for people who bring varied perspectives to
classroom discussions. That is why you will come across
many interesting yet “unconventional” profiles at ISB. Many
of these are people who have been involved in the society
around us through various NGOs.
However, it is a myth that ISB wants everyone who applies
to have contributed to a social cause. Though, it is true that
such an association does impact the applications in a
positive way, it should only be added if the applicant has
genuinely done so. Association with an NGO just for the sake
of embellishing your application will actually reduce your
chances of an admission! And trust us, it is ridiculously easy
to identify whether an applicant is faking something.
Integrity is a quality that is highly regarded in Bschools.
Culturally, Indians tend to use their time constructively in
many other different ways – not just in social causes. So,
candidates should look at creative ways of revealing their
managerial or leadership qualities. For instance, playing a
sport or being a part of rock-band.

Myth 5: The Essays Are The Crucial Aspects, The Interviews Can
Be Handled!
Applicants place a lot of emphasis on the application essays – a
correct thing to do because it is through essays that B-Schools
will actually get to know who you are as a person, and what you
bring to the table.
However, it is also equally important that you focus on the
interview process, through which the admissions committee
tries to see if the person behind the essays is interesting in real-
life. Those 20-40 minutes are crucial because it is an opportunity
for you to bring out real-life examples to convey your strengths
and managerial traits. There is more to you than an application
form and the ISB interview panel wants to see that. Don’t deny
them the opportunity by trying to play safe and telling them what
you think they want to hear. Or still worse talking something
tangential to what you have mentioned in your application
essays.
Here is what we suggest to applicants facing an MBA interview –
treat it like a conversation, not a quiz. The panel wants to know
you better, and the only person who can help them is you. Just
ensure you are able to articulate the main questions well – why
you want to do an MBA, why specifically ISB, why is now the right
time in your career, and why should they select you.
The rest of the questions should be about what *you* have done
in *your* life – something you should definitely not worry about!

TOP 3 Mistakes ISB Applicants Make
When it comes to ISB (and more generally MBA)
admissions, getting an interview short-list is only
the first step. While there is no guaranteed
formula to convert an interview call into an
admit, there are a few things that are guaranteed
to not get you the admit.
In this post, we will elaborate on 3 common
mistakes we’ve observed aspirants make during
the interview.
1. Under Preparation
2. Unrealistic Goals
3. Lack of Demonstrated Interest in the School
Read the complete post here: http://applications.crackverbal.com/3-
mistakes-isb-applicants-make-tips-isb-alumnus-admissions-panelist-
pradyot-anand/

Eight Post-MBA Career Questions that ISB Answers
ISB’s PGP Director for Admissions and Financial Aid, Mr. A. M. Kannan, along with
Associate Director Mr. Deepak Agarwal interacted with CrackVerbal students and
answered some pressing questions on post-MBA career options after ISB. Read on to
find what ISB has to say from this one-on-one Q and A session.

1. What are the specializations available at ISB and their
salary prospects?
Currently ISB has Finance, Consulting, Strategic
Management, Leadership, Marketing, Entrepreneurship and
Global Supply Chain specializations. The four new
specializations that they have introduced recently are -
Manufacturing, Healthcare, Public Policy and Education. At
present, HR is not a specialization that ISB offers, nor are we
planning to introduce it in the near future. The
reason behind this is that there are very few applicants that
approach ISB with HR background. In fact, I would say that
there are better B-schools in India for those who want to
pursue a career in HR.
As far as salary is concerned, every industry has band-
related salary. So, it depends upon which band you fit into.
Any day, the best performer already working in that
company will get more salary than you even after your MBA.
Don’t go after numbers alone – believe in the median salary
given in our website or in websites like Glassdoor or even
Monster.

2. Are there any areas of improvement for the ISB PGP?
Yes certainly! Firstly, the ISB strongly believes that they
need to work upon the design of the course content such
as the case-studies. They generally do a detailed review
of our course curriculum every 5 years and individual
courses get updated each year. The curriculum needs to
be more research-based.
Secondly, as the ISB realized the need for new
specializations, they are working into the 4 new areas as
mentioned earlier. Thirdly, they feel they need to
constantly recruit and train faculty that will be required
down the line.

3. Is there any structure based on which I can identify my
true calling? Should I follow my passion or should I do
something that gives good returns?
This is a very interesting question! Always remember one
thing: Career means something that generates an
economic value. Your passion cannot become your career if
it does not bring in a good return on investment of your time
and other resources. You need to plan for your children’s
education and marriage down the line. So, choose a career
accordingly. Think for yourself what that particular career
means to you? Whether it is music or being a people’s
person! If still confused, find a mentor who is in a similar job
or role and seek his/her advice.
Thus, my take on choosing a career is that you need to ask
yourself what you are good at. Your skill sets will help you to
identify a rewarding career. As far as your passion or
interests are concerned, they can always become
extracurricular activities for you, so that you don’t regret
letting them disappear completely from your lives.

4. I have a good number of years of experience (close to 10)
in a very technical domain. Does it make sense for me to do
an MBA?
Once you have a good number of years of experience in a
certain industry, it is generally advisable to explore a related
industry and enhance your career instead of getting into a
totally new one. Thus, to answer your question, an MBA in a
related field will definitely widen your job prospects and
vertical growth. For instance, if you have worked in VLSI, you
should look at a role that involves managing life cycle of the
chip or managing the product itself or moving up to
Accounts Management roles, which can be very satisfying!
There are three aspects to a person’s career - the Industry,
Function and Role.
Choose an MBA program that will help you find a similar role
in a related industry. The mantra is to shift across any one of
these as a first step and then take small steps to enhance
your career growth.

5. How many entrepreneurs has ISB created in the last few
years? Do entrepreneurs even need an MBA?
Entrepreneurship is a very personal issue as many factors
need to be considered such as finances, family and most
importantly – how passionate you are about your business
idea! At ISB, the number of entrepreneurs is increasing
tremendously. Entrepreneurship does not necessarily
happen straight out of the B-school. It happens only when
all the parameters fall into place. And this usually happens
after 30s, as at this stage people are more mature, vigilant
with some years of work experience.
Thus, rate of success as an entrepreneur tends to be
higher after 30s than before. Many ISB alumni have
entered entrepreneurship after their 30s, and are doing
extremely well!
Psst: Check out our founder Arun’s take on entrepreneurship
and an MBA!

6. I am an engineer but very keen on switching to luxury
retailing. How can ISB help me make this transition?
Today, retail is a very promising industry with abundant
career options. If you are truly passionate about luxury retail
in India, you could do some internships or small projects to
gain some relevant experience. There are quite a few
companies who hire luxury retailers from ISB based on your
skills. Thus, before you decide to get into luxury retailing,
you need to think: Do you have the required skill sets for a
successful career in luxury retailing? Always remember that
the recruiters look at 3 aspects:
Whether you can fit into their organizational culture
Whether you can deliver efficient results every quarter
Do you have future potential?
The thumb rule to choose and grow in your career is that, you
require two essential traits:
Certain skill sets
A certain level of knowledge
So, if you make a shift in your role, your skill sets should
match the new role you are looking forward to and gradually
you can acquire the necessary knowledge.

7. I am unsure whether I want to get into a Consulting role or
a Strategy role. How can ISB help me in this?
Consulting is interacting with people and getting the
relevant information. But Strategic roles are more broad-
based. You need very strong analytical and managerial skills,
a good
understanding of the economic scenario, learning from other
industries, and applying it successfully in strategic roles.
Usually, a fresher does not get those roles immediately.
For strategic roles, the recruiters are biased towards those
who have done well right from their beginning. These are
dream jobs as well as very difficult and focused! Thus, you
need to
match your skill sets and knowledge with the demanding
consulting or strategic roles and make a wise decision.

8. What if I am unable to decide what career to opt for,
even after joining ISB?
Each year ISB is blessed with a diverse classroom. So,
even after joining ISB, if you aren’t able to figure out
exactly which career path to get into, your classmates
will be the best people to help you understand your
strengths, weaknesses, passion and aspirations.
Secondly, at ISB, a very strong career counselling team
of industry experts is available, to show you the best
path based on the current market scenario. Thirdly, ISB
info sessions are very useful to clear your career-related
doubts. However, always remember one thing –
ultimately it will be your decision.

ISB Insights
Don’t miss the ISB info sessions held for
prospective students, in your city. Sign – up
to gain more insights.
Alternatively, you can bring the virtual info
sessions home.

GMAT and Application Tips from Three Successful ISB
Candidates
Harsh Fadnavis, GMAT 740, ISB Class of 2013
Undergraduation - IIT Guwahati
Pre-MBA Experience - 3.5 years as a Consultant with PwC
Consulting
Post-MBA Goals - Technology based role such as Product
Management or Program Management
The ISB Experience
It is essential that you speak to students of the schools you are considering before
you decide as websites provide generic information. Recommendations are vital
and I had taken mine from two managers. Since they were a part of my work, they
could write specific recommendations thus making your choice of
recommendations important. You must also ensure that you educate your
managers on what needs to be provided in the recommendation without
manipulating it. The interview is simply a follow-up on what you have written. It is
crucial that your answers reflect what you have written. The reason you are called
for the interview is because they already like what you have written, so be sure to
stick to it.
The CrackVerbal Advantage
CrackVerbal’s method taught me how to effectively approach the GMAT
questions and was instrumental in me achieving a 740 in my GMAT. Their
guidelines for my interview questions helped me crack my final interview and has
added a lot of value to my journey to ISB.

Candidates
Rachit Raj, GMAT 670, ISB Class of 2014
Undergraduation - Graduated from Hindu College, Delhi University in Economics
Pre-MBA Experience - 3.5 years as Territory Sales Manager with Maruti Suzuki India
Ltd.
Post-MBA Goals - Aiming at a Marketing position post ISB
The ISB Experience
The essays are as important as the GMAT score. It helps highlight your
achievements, beyond your grades. The ISB interview lasted 20-30 minutes and
was conducted by ISB alumni. It was more a casual discussion than a stress
interview. The strategy I employed was citing specific examples of my
achievements rather than a generic overview.
CrackVerbal helped me balance my studies with work, which I felt was the
toughest part for me. The structured study pattern provided by CrackVerbal was
crucial to my preparation. I continued preparing for my interview with
CrackVerbal’s mock interviews, which surprisingly consisted of questions similar
to my final interview. CrackVerbal’s guidance truly made a difference to my
preparation and was an integral part of my journey into ISB.

Candidates
Gautham Muthukumar, GMAT 710, ISB Class of 2015
Undergraduation - NIT, Trichy
Pre-MBA Experience - 4 years as an Engineer in Telecom
Space
Post-MBA Goals - Product Management
The ISB Experience
Writing essays is as exhausting as GMAT. Give ample time to write essays. Do enough
soul-searching to understand why you need an MBA. The ISB interview was a fantastic
experience. I had 3 people in my panel including Ankur Warikoo, head of Groupon,
India. It was a great experience interacting with such market leaders. Apart from the
regular questions, I was asked questions specific to my profile. The panel was very
pleasant and we shared a few laughs. It was a stress-free process.
Arun is an amazing coach. His classes are not only filled with English fundas, but also
with some very cool strategies for GMAT. Applying his strategies guarantees an
increase in the GMAT score. Crackverbal’s adMission workshop is an eye opener for
anyone who has no clue about MBA admission process. It was purely because of
CrackVerbal that I wrote GMAT on time for ISB R1. CrackVerbal team never gives up on
their lazy students.

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CrackVerbal's Guide to ISB Admissions

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