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

MBA
932

Hi Mr Menon,

This is a fabulous platform you have provided to prospective students. I really appreciate this effort. This will go long way in creating a good image for ISB.

I have total of around 7 years of experience in different fields.

I played professional tennis for around 1 1/4 years in 1994-1995 (however I do not have any thing to prove it as I was not able to make it past second round in any of the tournament I entered. I can take a practical test to prove it)

I did my engineering (comp sc) in 2000 with 67%
Was sports secretary of the college. Good exposure to extra curricular activities.
I did certificate course in 3D animation.
Have around 2 years of experience in field of animation. 14 months as employee and rest as freelancer.

Started and ran my own speciality restaurants (two in total) for 2 years but had to abandon them due to financial difficulties and dispute with brother.

Working in an IT company (joined because of various reasons) for last two years in Quality Control (Testing). Promotion due next month. Will be test lead.
Won two prestigeous awards in these two years in the company for excellent performance.

I have always wanted to do things on my own and even tried thrice. However, I was only partially succesful.

I have a score of 620 in GMAT taken in DEC 2003. I hope it will be valid at least for this year.

After MBA I would like to start on my own. Have some ideas on which I have already done some research.

Could you advise whether I have any chance of breaking into ISB or getting an interview call at first place ?



-Anirudh Singh

933

Hi Mr. Menon,

First of all,thanks for providing such a great platform for ISB aspirants.

Coming to my situation, the following is my profile:
GMAT - 710(2nd attempt)
- 690(1st attempt)
Xth - 82.2% (CBSE)
XIIth - 96.9%
B.Tech(CSE) - 7.66(from one of the top 5 institutes in India)
Work Exp. - 27 months in a reputed MNC

Extra Curricular - Can rate myself as an above an average in this field.

Recommendations - Can get good recommendations from my employers as they have been witnesses for my career growth.

Due to some unavoidable circumstances, I could not apply for the 1st round this year. I'm planning to apply for the second round though. I wanted to know how my prospects are for the second round. Have I missed an opportunity by not applying for the first round?

Regards,
Carl.

934

Dear Dr.Menon


Thanks a lot for taking out time.I have gone through this thread and got a lot of information regarding ISB. But i still have a couple of questions in my mind which might be pertaining for my profile.Will be really glad if you can answer these -

My profile is :-
-M.S in Computer Engineering from Syracuse University,NY (Year of graduation 2008
-Currently working with Intel Corporation(Sept 2008

I want to apply to class of 2010.

I have two specific questions :-

1) Does master's student also have to show two years work experience prior to be eligible for application into ISB?

2) Also one of the eligibility criteria's for admission is "A minimum of two years' full-time post qualification work experience is preferred ".I have a Query regarding this.Prior to joining Intel as a regular employee I have worked with Intel (July 2007-May 2008 as a Full time employee(working 40 hours/week) but my designation was that of an Intern.So,now my question is that -Can i show the intern work experience as a full time Work experience, as otherwise my work experience will be 1.5 year till April 2010..as supposed to approx 2.5 years if I include my intern experience. So can i include this intern experience as a part of my full time
experience.



If this is yes ,then here's a sub query :- During the internships i have worked with two teams and I have a feedback from both my managers stating that i have worked for them for specific times.Will this certificate be good enough to be shown as sort of proof for employment during those periods?

3)According to you,should i target class of 2010 or class of 2011?


Thanks
Vikram

935

Hi Mr.Menon,

1> Since the number of interview locations has been cut down this year, requesting you to release the interview shortlist atleast 7 to 10 days in advance for each location, to allow applicants extra time to take care of the travel & stay logistics.

2> If ISB will allow applicants to stay on campus to attend the the interviews in Hyderabad, please let us know the contact details of the ISB facilities team who can assist with the accomodation reservations.

Thanks!








.

936
Dear ISB Team,

About ME:

I have done my graduation (BTech in Chemical Engineering) from a top institute in India with 8.2 CGPA (2nd rank in class of 55). I got 85% in Class X(CBSE) and 76% in Class XII(UP Board).

I dropped for three years after 12th to qualify IIT-JEE (gave 3 consecutive mains) as it was my dream to study at the best institutes of India and I was determined to achieve it. This drop helped in understanding the values of good preparations, hard work, resource optimization and planning, and of course to learn from mistakes.

I had an exceptional stint at my institute during graduation. I was instrumental in forming many successful extracurricular ventures which went on to win a lot of prizes and praise from people (both intra-institute and inter-institute events) and also have left my permanent mark as an individual. I took a lead in restructuring the event organization (both co-curricular and extracurricular) in institute and helped the system becoming more efficient and inclusive (as Joint Secretory of Theater and Astronomy clubs in Student Gymkhana). Beside this I encouraged and actively took part in social services (like performing street plays to gather funds to help Tsunami victims).

I am currently working as a Technologist in Oil Refining industry for one of the largest companies in the world. My responsibilities include helping our clients identifying their performance gaps and developing an optimized mitigating strategy to close the gaps. I am also the benchmarking and D&I; focal points for my group for whole Asia pacific region.

I strongly feel that at ISB, I can add sufficient value to the community both at interpersonal front, but also on the understanding the different economic aspects and challenges of oil industry.

My Concerns:

My quarry is about the probable impact of my three years drop after 12th. Even though that experience guided me to close my personality gaps effectively, but I am still anxious about the considerations ISB Admission panel may give to that. Also please advise if my profile do require some other considerations.

Thanks and Regards


Kaps.dazz,

Prima facie I would say your profile would be suitable for admission to the ISB. The drop of three years will not be viewed negatively if you explain it well.

Admissions Team
937
Dear Sir,
Does any kind of gap during Academic Career is considered as inelligible for applying to ISB?

My Career Track:

10th- 90% in 1998
12th- 90% in 2000
Engineering in ECE from one of the most prestigious colleges of India with GPA 8.41 in 2006
2006 onwards- Software Engineer
I took admission into Engineering college in 2002.My primary goal was to get through a Medical college but later on I realised that Engineering attracted me more.I am a Software Engineer in Los Angeles,CA now.So here is my question- Am I elligible for applying into ISB with this void in career graph?


D4Debbie,

You are eligible to apply to ISB.

Admissions Team
938
The ISB site says that " Further update on short-listing will be available approximately 3 to 7 days before the interview date for the interview location you have chosen".
Does this mean that the applicants who are NOT shortlisted will also receive notification along with ones who do get shortlisted?

Thanks


Mission_mba2009,

Yes, both the short listed and not short listed candidates will receive a mail from our end.

Admissions Team
939

Anirudh,

Please note that we are not doing a profile check on this thread.

Admissions Team

940

Carl,

As mentioned earlier, the first cycle offers only a slight advantage over the second one. If you have a strong application then it does not matter which cycle you apply in.

Admissions Team

941

Sir,
In the optional essay, can I write about my motivation to do an MBA from ISB if it is not covered in any of the other essays. I consider this information important for consideration of my application at ISB.Regards,
Arvind

942
Anirudh,

Please note that we are not doing a profile check on this thread.

Admissions Team



Hi,


I just wanted to know whether my profile is good enough to have any chance in breaking into isb if I apply in Cycle 2.

Thanks,
Anirudh Singh
943
Dear Admission@ISB,

I have 8+ years of experience in IT. Currently working as a project manager in leading Indian IT company. My international work ex is 5+ years and GMAT score 780.
I understand that the average years of experience in ISB is

Will anyone with similar experience get any benefit for his/her experience during placements as far as kind of roles offered are concerned? How big a factor is experience in deciding the seniority of profile?
Also if you can let me know what kind of profiles have been offered to people with ~9 years of experience.

Thanks


Dear Admissions@isb,
I think you missed my question by mistake so I am reposting it. An early response will be highly appreciated.

Warm Regards,
Amit
945

Hi ISB-team,

I would like to clarify on the issue of short-list. I called ISB and the lady said that ALL short-listed candidates would be notified around 10th of Oct. But in this forum ISB-team has clarified that shortlist will be released separately for each interview location.

I want to change the interview location in case I'm shortlisted. Can you please let me know what should I do? As I'm outside India now, I need to book tickets well in advance.

Thanks
Deb

946
Sir,
In the optional essay, can I write about my motivation to do an MBA from ISB if it is not covered in any of the other essays. I consider this information important for consideration of my application at ISB.Regards,
Arvind




Arvind,

Yes, you write that in the Optional essay.

Admissions Team
947
Dear Sir,
Now that some of the interview calls are out for Delhi, Can you tell us the approximate number of candidates who have been shortlisted for interview of the total size of 2000, if you are at liberty to disclose this number.

Nikil


Nikil,

No. That is number is confidential.

Admissions Team
948

Sir,

Is final list for interview for Delhi region finally out? My online application portal shows no change from being completed. Please clarify about the application status changes and is thir any possibility of you calling more people for interview for Delhi region.

Thanks

949

Dear Sir,

First of all thanks alot for inviting me for an interview in Delhi on 14th Oct.

well my question is regarding a note mentioned in ISB interview schedule mail.
it says:
"You need to report 15 minutes before the scheduled interview time for another assessment, which precedes the interview."

can you please throw little more light on this "assessment"?

Regards,
Vindhesh

950
Hi ISB-team,

I would like to clarify on the issue of short-list. I called ISB and the lady said that ALL short-listed candidates would be notified around 10th of Oct. But in this forum ISB-team has clarified that shortlist will be released separately for each interview location.

I want to change the interview location in case I'm shortlisted. Can you please let me know what should I do? As I'm outside India now, I need to book tickets well in advance.

Thanks
Deb


Deb,

If you want to opt for a personal interview then you can only choose Hyderabad as your interview location. In case of international applicants, the list of short listed candidates will be sent out around 20 October. We are trying to do the same as soon as possible but then again, we cannot give you a final date as to when the list will be released.

In case you are short listed, please drop in a mail to [email protected] requesting for a change in interview location.

Admissions Team
951
Sir,

Is final list for interview for Delhi region finally out? My online application portal shows no change from being completed. Please clarify about the application status changes and is thir any possibility of you calling more people for interview for Delhi region.

Thanks


Pooja,

Another set of mails will be sent out by today evening.

Admissions Team
952
Dear Sir,

First of all thanks alot for inviting me for an interview in Delhi on 14th Oct.

well my question is regarding a note mentioned in ISB interview schedule mail.
it says:
"You need to report 15 minutes before the scheduled interview time for another assessment, which precedes the interview."

can you please throw little more light on this "assessment"?

Regards,
Vindhesh


Vindhesh,

It all depends upon the interview panel members as to which parameter they want to assess you on. We will not be able to disclose anything on this.

Admissions Team