10 Insider Tips for ISB Admissions - Collmission

How to get admitted into ISB Hyderabad/Mohali (All the insider tips you need) Okay, so you have attained gigantic GPA and earned superlative GMAT scores.

Is that enough to get into one of the most coveted MBA programs of ISB Hyderabad/Mohali?

Far from it. Of course these scores are necessary – as an important first step. But what would you do when your competitors also have identical scores? It then becomes a level playing field where, again, you need to do something extraordinary to stand out and leave the rest behind. That is where your application should carry more than just the strength of your scoring. And this is precisely where an insider view from the ISB admissions office at ISB becomes invaluable. It could make or break your ISB admission efforts.

Insider Tip 1: There is more to ISB than ‘consulting’ and ‘technology’ The Indian School of Business is one of the finest business schools in the country and one that enjoys global repute. But that reputation is not limited to it being strong in just ‘consulting’ or ‘technology’. On the contrary, ISB hates to be slotted as a niche player in any one or two sectors, preferring to be seen as an all-rounder b-school instead.

ISB’s full time MBA program offers a flexible curriculum in which you, as a student, design your own academic experience. You could be strong in economics and finance, but you need to be extremely good with the other academic specializations as well.

You will be required to look beyond your immediate core concentrations. Find out about the department heads or important professors in each department and familiarize yourself with their research work. Understand that the ISB MBA could be ‘life-changing’ – emphasize that in your application. Make it clear to the ISB admissions office that you are fully aware of what the MBA can bring to your life, and how you plan to make the most of the opportunities it would offer you. From this point of view, let the admissions committee know that you fully understand and appreciate their flexi-curriculum, and that you value the contribution of their well-rounded MBA.

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Insider Tip 2: Apply early and be ‘more’ visible for better chances of ISB admission ISB’s admission process is based on a ‘rolling process’ for both early and regular decisions. This means all applications are reviewed even as they are received. It straightaway gives you the benefit of applying early rather than later as your application will be part of a smaller universe and you are more likely to stand out. Applying early – in cycle one – is a great opportunity to show your commitment to the School.

In case your GMAT scores at not exactly great, again, cycle one is the best time to apply.

At the initial stage, ISB Hyderabad admissions/Mohali admissions tend to be flexible (the admissions office knows that they can account for the shortfall, if any, from the regular pool).

And there are even more benefits: Only cycle one applicants are eligible for full tuition fee wavers. And half of all merit- and need-based waivers are set aside for them. Prepare early, apply early, and gain more by applying in cycle one.

Insider Tip 3: The more you sharpen your resume, the better your chances Your resume is like an arrow that reaches the target before you do. Hence the sharper it is, the better its penetration. Also remember that it is your spokesperson in your absence – till you present yourself at the interview anyway. All the more reason why it should not just stand out in the clutter, but also shout about your strengths loudly enough.

For this you need a crisp, fat-free resume that is strong on your credentials. Make sure that your plusses are highlighted, your achievements emphasized and your impact given its due. When possible, measure that impact in terms of figures and numbers – quantified results can be your best testimony.

Why is a tight resume crucial for your ISB admission process? To answer this question, first understand that ISB Hyderabad/Mohali are keen on applicants that are rising fast through their ranks. They need achievers who jump two rungs of the ladder at a time – so ensure that your journey up is described in detail. This includes your increasing responsibilities, promotions and awards at work. Highlight cross-functional action and achievements. Underline work experience abroad, if any. Make it a strong resume that represents your case with impact.

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When reviewing your resume, avoid all jargon. Your evaluators may not be familiar with your industry, so keep it simple and to the point. All the same, they can spot brilliance in any sphere of business.

Insider Tip 4: Avoid the ‘common profile’.

What happens to a common profile? Simple, it gets lost in the pile. This happens to a lot of profiles sent by management consultants or IT professionals from India. If you are in these lines of work, make sure that there is something ‘uncommon’ about your so-called common profile.

It is obvious that during ISB Hyderabad admissions and ISB Mohali admissions diversity is encouraged in their classrooms, and common profiles are not going to help that cause. The trick is, as always, to stand apart from the common folk. Is there a way you can bring your strengths out across every aspect of your application? From your academic achievements, your track record to work experience abroad to extraspecialization activities or achievements – there must be something that makes the common uncommon. Perhaps it is your hobby outside your work sphere, or it is your entrepreneurial side. Identify some such factor and highlight it.

Insider Tip 5: Culture matters – even more so at both ISB Hyderabad and ISB Mohali ISB takes its culture seriously. It was created consciously over the School’s formative years, and now it is guarded with care across the board. It is, in other words, what makes the institution unique.

This is reflected in the application. If you study it carefully, you will notice that there are aspects to it that probe you to know if you are the right fit.

But what precisely is this ‘culture’ at ISB Hyderabad/Mohali? It is a ‘culture of collaboration’. How collaborative are you? And is it a sustained phenomenon with you, or something that changes over time? For instance, are you a responsive and sympathetic peer at the end of the day as you were at the beginning of it? To cite another example, are you flexible enough to switch roles for the larger cause of getting things done? If everyone in the room pretends to be the leader, can you become the facilitator and take the meeting forward? The operative word is ‘collaboration’ and it requires maturity of a higher order to be able to work with others freely and deliver results as a group.

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Insider Tip 6: ‘Global’ – what drives the ISB culture Though it is a misused and much abused term, ‘global’ takes on a whole new meaning at ISB. It is truly the driving force at ISB as far as its culture is concerned. The institution is global at heart, and its curriculum is symbolic of this. The School is constantly refining and reinventing the curriculum to reflect its global nature and stature.

What does this mean to you as an applicant? At the very basic, it means merely mentioning of your ‘global’ work experience is not enough. You will need to explain in detail about what precisely you did in that experience, and what impact it had for the company you worked for. ISB Hyderabad/Mohali are looking at the kind of multicultural flavor you will be able to bring to the table, so give them a glimpse of that flavor.

And what exactly is a fruitful global work experience? Physically working abroad, yes.

Beyond that, it includes but is not limited to: Handling international clients; working on multicultural teams; learning a foreign language or two; and seizing organic opportunities within your current company. If you have been fortunate to say Yes to any of these, do highlight it in your application.

Chances are, you may have been a bit of a globetrotter yourself. You have hopped continents on work, and you have been a backpacker in your spare time. Result: You have done time abroad, and developed a world outlook that is unmatched. Great, you must showcase this aspect about yourself! If you have a passion for experiencing other cultures, it obviously means you thrive in that kind of an environment and enrich the team you are working in. This precisely is what ISB Hyderabad/Mohali is keen on.

You might resign to the fact that you are not that person yet. No sweat – you can begin now. If you plan to apply to IBS in a year or two, you could mold yourself into a world citizen in the meantime. And become a true global professional who can make a difference to any workplace.

Insider Tip 7: Feeling over form ISB Admission offices in all the top b-schools are the same: Just a few officials poring over thousands of applications. And they do it every season, every year, year after year.

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This means they have gone through hundreds of applications that cover more or less the same things: Project details, tasks completed, responsibilities, and experiences. And applications from consultants, financial professionals and software engineers have given them a fairly good idea about their jobs and what an average applicant would be stating.

All the more reason to keep it simple, and avoid complicated jargon.

More than that, avoid sweating over needless detail about the specifics of your job. The ISB admission process team is keener to know about the person behind the application.

Their interests lie in knowing how you reacted to a specific challenge, how you came up with an innovative solution, and how you reconciled between a set of tough decisions.

Make no mistake, the School wants to know about your analytical and problem-solving skills, and to see the right numbers and values. But equally important is the face behind the words, the passion and integrity behind the figures. So ensure that your character and personality shines through it all.

Insider Tip 8: Let your EQ ride alongside your IQ during ISB admissions As an MBA aspirant, it goes without saying that you need a higher IQ. But at ISB, they go further. The School is justly proud of programs that develop well-rounded professionals who are not just smart in their work but also display exceptional interpersonal and people skills.

So while GMAT scores and grades are important, a candidate’s personal characteristics are equally critical for the ISB admission requirements. Are you a team player? And yet, are you leadership material? How do you fare when it comes to people interaction? In other words, how good is your EQ score?

Demonstrate it in your essays. While sharing leadership examples, highlight the team playing side of yours. Also, show keenness to be physically present at the campus if possible, and to interact with staff and students personally. There could be a student lunch you could attend. Or a get-together you could be a part of.

ISB Hyderabad has a heritage of being professional yet friendly. If you can be an excellent fit there and enhance their joyful atmosphere, you could be a prized addition to the School.

Insider Tip 9: Understanding change, and defining it

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In a world where change as a concept has become a cliché, it takes courage to make it integral to your slogan. This is precisely what ISB Hyderabad/Mohali have done.

‘Change lives. Change organizations. Change the world.’ With an ambitious slogan like that, it is clear that they take themselves rather seriously – they live their slogan. And it makes sense for you, as a candidate, to understand their emphasis on change.

Needless to add, with change integral to their culture, that the ISB admissions office would be looking for applicants that have effected such change. This change should of course be in the professional sphere, but if it spills over to the society, it would add a welcome dimension to your personality. Which means, while excellence at work is a coveted quality, ISB Hyderabad/Mohali place a premium on those candidates who look beyond themselves to bring about a positive change in others as well.

Are you a change agent? Is there a way to highlight it in your essays? After your MBA, do you propose to initiate change in your industry in any way? Create a never-before niche in your area of business? Influence social agenda positively? If anything like these is part of your vision, be sure to articulate it in your application.

Of course, any such past actions from you would add more weight than future speculation. If you have already impacted your business, your industry or your world, that would be the best barometer of your intentions and abilities. Make it a point to give details – it could be the deciding factor in your ISB admission.

Insider Tip 10: Be a team player – and showcase it to ISB admissions Team Is ISB a dog-eat-dog institution? Unfortunately, it may have earned this dubious reputation in certain quarters. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Agreed, the School is a highly competitive place – as any b-school worth its salt is bound to be. But at the same time, it is also a highly collaborative world, and there is no contradiction here. ISB Hyderabad/Mohali are well known for their team-driven academic environment, comprising of learning clusters and study teams. It is common to work in a team of fifteen or more people, through a platform of co-creation and thriving in teamwork.

It naturally follows that true team players are at an advantage. If you can convey your strengths as a team member, including your ability to rise to a leader when needed, you stand a better chance at getting admitted. If you can contribute as an equal, follow as a follower and lead as a leader – be flexible as the situation demands – you can flourish in

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any setting and any environment. Your application should reflect these capabilities of yours faithfully, and you will have an edge over the competition.

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