It's back! -[2008] Ask ISB-Hyderabad: Admission Director answers your queries!

MBA
445

Dear Sir,
Could you let us know if ISB accepts Marksheets from Indian Institutes instead of transcripts

Thanks,

446

Hi Sir,

First of all thanks so muc that you are helping us by solving our queries.
Well i also have a query-
1. Am i eligilble for the admission as i have done my graduation & intermediate through private not by attending college or university regularly. But i have done my matriculation regular through CBSE board.
2. Also there is a gap of 4 years between my matriculation & intermediate.

Currently I have an 3+ yrs of exp with Hewitt Associates in their BPO.
Sir would like to know that will i face any difficulty while in taking admission due to such academic background.
Thank's in advance...
Please reply..

Thanks

447

Hello Mr.Menon and Adcom

Thanks for all the replies. I went through all the posts and most of my questions were answered.

But I wanted to ask you this question. What is the percentage of applicants who have a Bachelors degree in India, M.S degree in USA, work exp. of 3-4 yrs with a software giant(USA)? Is there a large pool of applicants with this profile?

Also, can an average GMAT score(660/5.5) be offset by pretty good extra curricular activities(community work, leadership roles,etc), acads(X - 85.6, X11- 88%, B-Tech 73%, M.S 3.9/4.0) and a few awards at work.

Is it better to apply in R1 with low GMAT or R2 with an improved GMAT score?

Moderator - if you feel the above questions fall into the category of profile checks, I apologize. You can delete this post if necessary

Thanks
Sai

448

Hello Mr. Menon,

I have a total work experiance of 4 years in various sectors starting from manufacturing - 2.8 yr's, IT - 0.8 yr's and consulting - 0.9 yr's. I am at a manager position in a consulting firm.I have an inernational consulting exposure of working in UK for 6 months. The main problem is my education credentials are weak - 10th - 69%, 12th - 76%, B.Tech - 69%. I am Targetting 700+ GMAT score. I am planning to apply in Dec'08. What are my chances of getting admission in ISB and in which cycle. Another i have a House loan running. Will i be able to get another Education loan to finance my education.

Thanks & regards,
Varun Gulati

449
Dear Sir,
Could you let us know if ISB accepts Marksheets from Indian Institutes instead of transcripts

Thanks,


Bc2008,

You can carry your mark sheets instead of the transcript at the time of interview.

Admissions Team
450

Hi,

As a salaried individual, should I upload both my salary slip and my last IT-return form?
Or only the salary slip should suffice?

Regards,
Applicant

451
Hi Sir,

First of all thanks so muc that you are helping us by solving our queries.
Well i also have a query-
1. Am i eligilble for the admission as i have done my graduation & intermediate through private not by attending college or university regularly. But i have done my matriculation regular through CBSE board.
2. Also there is a gap of 4 years between my matriculation & intermediate.

Currently I have an 3+ yrs of exp with Hewitt Associates in their BPO.
Sir would like to know that will i face any difficulty while in taking admission due to such academic background.
Thank's in advance...
Please reply..

Thanks


Arvind, you are eligible to apply but you will have to explain to the Adcom about the gap years in your education.

Admissions Team
452
Hello Mr.Menon and Adcom

Thanks for all the replies. I went through all the posts and most of my questions were answered.

But I wanted to ask you this question. What is the percentage of applicants who have a Bachelors degree in India, M.S degree in USA, work exp. of 3-4 yrs with a software giant(USA)? Is there a large pool of applicants with this profile?

Also, can an average GMAT score(660/5.5) be offset by pretty good extra curricular activities(community work, leadership roles,etc), acads(X - 85.6, X11- 88%, B-Tech 73%, M.S 3.9/4.0) and a few awards at work.

Is it better to apply in R1 with low GMAT or R2 with an improved GMAT score?

Moderator - if you feel the above questions fall into the category of profile checks, I apologize. You can delete this post if necessary

Thanks
Sai

1) Sai, we do have a few students every year with the profile you mentioned.

2) The competition in the IT applicant pool is very high. The average GMAT score of this pool in the current batch is 730.

3) A strong application in Round 2 is better than a weak one in Round 1

Admissions Team
453
Hi,

As a salaried individual, should I upload both my salary slip and my last IT-return form?
Or only the salary slip should suffice?

Regards,
Applicant


Dear Applicant,

We need your salary slip only. IT return is required in case of self -employed applicants.

Admissions Team
454
Hello Mr. Menon,

I have a total work experiance of 4 years in various sectors starting from manufacturing - 2.8 yr's, IT - 0.8 yr's and consulting - 0.9 yr's. I am at a manager position in a consulting firm.I have an inernational consulting exposure of working in UK for 6 months. The main problem is my education credentials are weak - 10th - 69%, 12th - 76%, B.Tech - 69%. I am Targetting 700+ GMAT score. I am planning to apply in Dec'08. What are my chances of getting admission in ISB and in which cycle. Another i have a House loan running. Will i be able to get another Education loan to finance my education.

Thanks & regards,
Varun Gulati


Varun,

You can compensate for low academics by a good GMAT score and a strong application. 1st December is the last date for submitting applications. Please visit the link http://www.isb.edu/pgp/For_Indian_PassportHolders.Shtml to view admissions calendar.

ISB has tie-ups with various banks that provide collateral free loans to all our students. A home loan will not decrease your chance of getting an educational loan. For more details, please visit the link http://www.isb.edu/pgp/Loans.Shtml

Admissions team
455

Dear Sir,

I studied Computer Science, at Northeastern University, Boston, before switching to International Relations, for 3.5 years(I know, hardly related, but some of the Boston/Harvard crowd then teaching Political Science at NEU, impressed me a lot). A part of the International Relations(called International Affairs) at the Undergrad level curriculum included international experience, which meant taking a 2-3 year study/tour, in a foreign country, ie, other than the US.

I decided to go to India, where I ended up spending 6 years. I started my own ISP, wrote a few books, however, instead of going back to Northeastern, I just finished my final year at Middlesex University, UK, Dubai campus, earning a 2.1, overall, in Business Information Systems, with management. I left the US with an easy going attitude, and was very unfocused, but after working in India, and doing social work and seeing the reality of life here, I have become very focused and dedicated, and due to the passing of years, mature as well.

My question is, I have about 6 years worth of experience, till date, but its all before graduation. Im very good at aptitude tests and regularly score 700's on practice GMATs. Question is, will ISB count my workex before graduation? Or only my current ongoing workex, which will only amount to a year? In which case, should I go ahead and apply?

Thanking you kindly,
Prasenjit

456

Hi Menon,

1. How important is the AWA score of GMAT? Will it be a criteria in shortlisting?
2. If my GMAT scores fail to reach ISB by Sep 25th, will my application be considered for the second round?

Thanks,
Rajan

457

Dear Sir
I have 4 years work ex. in a Govt. PSU. after working for the government i have realized that one of the best ways to serve the nation is through the government. I am interested in public policy and administration. Do NGOS/Govts/ or Development organizations hire ISB grads?
How do you view applicants from the government sector. I know it is notorious for being slow and bureaucratic . but its a myth...

Thanks and Regards

Roshan

458

Dear Mr. Menon,

I know being from a Indian Techi Male profile, its a sort of disadvantage for the applicants.
But in the last decade this was one sector that progressed and attracted most of the talent in the country, so I would consider an advantage if I belong to a sector that redefined India on the global stage, dont know what the adcom thinks.

1) What does the Adcom look from candidates in such a pool?

2) Does the admissions committee considers reapplicants? If yes, would it be possible to share the no of reapplicants from Technology Sector to ISB and finally the percentage of them getting converted.

3) For a reapplicant with an avg ISB score(710), would it be advisable to write GMAT again(Work Ex 5 yrs)?
I am asking this because I have heard if you are an Indian,IT,Male applicant with less than 740 scores your applications wont even be read.

Thanks
AS

459

Hello Mr. Menon, Thanks for taking out time to do this. I'm just a little unsure if I should re-take the GMAT as I scored a lowly 4.5 in the AWA, (720 overall). Retaking GMAT would mean I'll be able to apply only in R2, hence the uncertainty. Regarding other aspects, I'm an electronic engineer working at a prominent semiconductor firm in Ireland for the past 2.5 years. I've grown up in six countries and can (just about!) speak six languages. I'm also a keen sportsman, and have won tournaments at the university and county level, both as a junior and senior, including a year long captaincy stint. I have a passion for writing, and served as the chief editor of my university magazine a few years back. I realize electronic engineers also fall into the 'Indian IT Male' pool, thus driving up the GMAT average. Just wondering if a 4.5 on the AWA is a bit too low ? Would you say it's worth retaking the GMAT, and hopefully presenting a stronger application in R2, with an improved AWA score ? Thanks a lot.

460

Hello Sir,

Thank you for sparing your time for us.

I have two queries.

1. I have been working in a company as their first employee. This is my sixth year in the company. Due to the challenges of setting up the business, my roles and positions are not as well defined as that of a candidate from an established firm. Would this handicap me in any manner?

2. It is obvious that ISB seeks various qualities including work experience. What exactly is a quality work experience? What are the parameters over which a candidate's experience is evaluated?

Thank you for you valuable inputs,

Asish Jose

461

--- Deleted ---

After going thru all the previous pages, saw that queries similar to mine have been answered in other posts. So deleting my question.

Thanks!

462

Hello Sir,

Thanks for sharing your valuable time & considering our queries.

I have a query regarding English proficiency test.

I am a Chartered Accountant - where the language of instruction during the education was English.

In my graduation & Higher Secondary Education also language of instruction was English.

But during my schooling (Till 10th Standard) the language of instruction was vernacular.

So, my query is :
Do I need to give TOEFL ?

Regards

Mita

463
Dear Mr. Menon,

Thank you for your time on this forum.

I am a graduate from IIT. I have 5 years for work exp. ( 4 years in a manufacturing establishment of a navratna PSU and 1 year in a leading Research and analytics firm.

I am a reapplicant - last year I had applied in the 2nd cycle but was rejected after the interview. I have few queries:

1) I have a subpar undergraduate GPA, and I had explained it in the optional essay last year. But, since I am a reapplicant this year I am required to explain what has changed in my profile since last year. Please let me know if my last year's optional application essay , in which my GPA is explained, will be surely read and evaluated for this year's evaluation ? I understand that if I include only 'what has changed in my profile' in my optional essay, leaving my GPA unexplained, this may go against me. On the other hand, explaination for my GPA remains the same. Please help.

2) As per my application feedback last year - I had presented a good application but things that went against me included my GMAT score which is slightly below ISB's average and energy level at the time of interview. I have improved my GMAT score by 10 points, increasing AWA score to 5. As far as my profile is concerned my work experience is quite diverse ( Manufacturing est. and Service industry ) and I was the first female ever to have worked in the capacity of a manager in my department of the PSU. My profile has not changed drasticallyover last year, but I feel that the admissions committee liked my application last year also for the diversity I can bring to the classroom. My question is 'explain what has changed in your profile' refers to only those applicants who were not called for the interview or also to those who had presented a good application and were called for the interview?

3) Will the two applications (last year's and this year's) be evaluated in combination ? what will be the weightage of each application?

4) Last year one of my references was submitted offline ( from my previous reporting manager ). Since, he will evaluate me based on my work in my previous organisation which will be similar to how he did last year, I wish to retain this reference. Since it was submitted offline, please let me know the procedure for retaining it.

Looking forward to a reply from your side,

Thanks and regards,
Ms. Target_09
464

Hello Mr. Menon,

I have worked in IT industry for past 2 years and wish to move out towards social entrepreneurial field. I have two concerns:

1. I request your brutally honest opinion on if ISB is a cultural fit that would help me realize my ambitions.

2. I wish to tailor myself a course to understand finance and entrepreneur and i opine that having no background in finance will make a 1 year course unsuitable for me. Request you to comment based on your past student profile experience.