r/ISB_Aspirants

It would be extremely helpful if someone can advice me:-

1. I’m currently preparing for GMAT and yet to give my first attempt in August end. Since this will be very close to the ISB R1 deadlines plus everything depends on the score first so, is it better if i wait and apply in R2 or do the chances of selection reduce in R2 (including IIMs)? Even if I go for R2 - what would be your suggestion on the last month that i should target to have the GMAT final score?

2. I’m very skeptical about working with a consultant (mainly because they are expensive af) and planning to do applications on my own - for folks who didn’t go for one, can you tell me how you managed and planned everything ? Like how and by what time did you get your essays ready and when did you appear for the GMAT?

My profile:

->26F
-> 10th - 91% ; 12th - 90% ; College: 7.8 CGPA
->Cleared CA intermediate along with full time college (didn’t go further for CA finals and started working full time right after college)
-> graduated in 2021 from Gargi, DU [Bcom (Hons)]
->4.6 yrs of experience as of now (Macquarie + Blackrock)

Hey everyone, I'm targeting ISB's PGP program this year. Now, the primary question that I have is - whether I should do it in R1 or R2, depends on constructive feedback that I'm seeking from this community. So here are a few details about me:

• I've taken both the GMAT & GRE multiple times. My best score so far is in GRE: 325 (167Q, 158V, 4.5 AWA).
• I did my engineering from a tier 2 college (commonly ranked ~15-20 in NIRF and other frameworks) in CSE.
• I've a 9/9/8 profile (10th, 12th & uni respectively) in terms of academics.
• Presently completed 3 YOE in a Fortune 100 agri-tech MNC.
• My role in my present company has primarily been as a data engineer working in the robotics domain, but I've led initiatives proactively to build data & AI products and enterprise platform tooling. Have quantifiable work impact to back this up. So, a bit of PM-adjacent work experience.
• Have been part of NGOs in my uni and various CSR initiatives in my present company.
• Core team member of a creative community and was responsible for scaling its presence on social media and hosting live events (can't cover all details here).
• I'm an avid writer and have had an online presence writing creative and technical blogs for a long time now.
• Won awards at the national and state levels (back in school & uni) and in my present company as well for some innovation measures.
• Held PoRs (positions of responsibility) back at school & uni at some clubs I've been a part of.

Keeping all these in mind, I want one piece of feedback: should I reattempt my GRE and take a shot at trying to get my score to 330+ (would this increase meaningfully bolster my chances based on my profile)?

If this is the recommendation, then I would have to apply in R2. If not, I can go for R1. I'm also open to other observations and recommendations on my profile other than just the test score aspect.

I want to pivot to a career in PM (reason for MBA).

(PS: I'm kind of tired having taken multiple exams over the past 1.5 years, and am not very inclined to take one more attempt - unless absolutely essential. If need be, I can take a shot at GRE again, because I find GMAT to be too stressful. Also, I'd applied for 2025 PGP-YL with a score of GRE: 314 and had gotten rejected for obvious reasons).

Hi. I am non engineering general female with 4 years of experience in marketing, most of it I have spent at an IT services US startup.

Acads: 8/7/5 + I also have an MA in English lit with 7 CGPA. Is this a very weak profile for ISB? What GMAT score should I aim for? TIA.

Hello , I 25m gen eng male having around 3yoe aiming for isb for r3 most probably.

My profile sde 2 rn aiming for prod man roles

Clg -DTU(DCE)

10th -10cgpa

12th -90%

Clg -8.9 cgpa

What should be my GMAT aim most people say 700+

Apart from essays what else should I focus on ?

I don't have any outstanding extra curricular activities so will working as volunteer be fine?

Also what does 'leadership quality' means does that mean presenting leadership qualities in ur work??

And last question will isb give a valid salary jump?? Like currently I am earning 25ish lpa.

Hi everyone,

I’m considering pursuing gmat for ISB and wanted honest advice from students/alumni.

My profile:

NIT grad, non-CS branch

5.5 years in backend/platform engineering

Around 6 YOE by the time I join

Currently at J.P. Morgan India

Current compensation is around ISB’s reported median package

Work mostly on backend systems, internal platforms, and data processing

I’m considering ISB to move into PM/TPM, program management, tech transformation, BFSI/fintech product, or eventually SPM-track roles.

My concern is ROI because of the high fees plus one year of opportunity cost. I had earlier heard people usually enter through GMAT, but I’m now looking at GRE as well.

Questions:

Is ISB worth it for my profile?

Do 6 YOE tech profiles realistically get PM/TPM/SPM-track roles?

Is direct SPM realistic, or should I expect PM first?

Does ISB reduce career risk in this tech layoff era, or does the same anxiety continue after MBA too?

Is GRE viewed any differently from GMAT for ISB?

Looking for brutally honest advice.

Hey everyone,

Did my PGP at ISB a few years back, and since then I've been called to serve on the admissions interview panel three times. So I've seen this process from both sides now, as an applicant and as an interviewer.

No secret formula; don't trust anyone who claims otherwise. But after sitting through that many interviews, you start noticing patterns: what makes a panel actually lean in, and where strong candidates quietly trip themselves up.

Quick background: I went through the PGP, then years in strategy consulting and industry before starting my own venture. I've also worked one-on-one with a bunch of applicants on their essays and interview prep, mostly through word of mouth, and a good number of them got in. So this isn't just panel-side theory.

Ask me about:

• What the panel is really evaluating
• Non-obvious mistakes in essays and interviews
• How much weight interview vs profile vs academics actually carries
• What a genuine "why MBA" answer sounds like vs a rehearsed one
• Life at ISB once you're in
• Whether the ROI holds up

I'll check back through the day and answer everything. If you are applying in R1, share your profile, and I'll give you real feedback.

Hi everyone,

I’m planning to apply to ISB and would really appreciate an honest evaluation of my profile along with advice on what GMAT score I should target.

Academics:
Class 10: 6.8 CGPA
Class 12 (Commerce): 89.75% (Best of 5)
B.Com (Hons.): 7.1 CGPA

Work Experience:
Around 4 years of work experience in Brand Management, Marketing Campaigns, and Digital Marketing across three companies.
Most of my experience has been with startups and marketing agencies, not MNCs. My work involved brand strategy, campaign execution, client management, and marketing.

Entrepreneurship:
For the past year, I’ve been running my own corporate and personalized gifting business.
To be completely honest, the business hasn’t achieved significant revenue or scale yet, so I’m unsure whether this is something I should highlight in my ISB application and interview, or if it might actually weaken my profile.

Background:
Non-engineer
Non-IT Female
Commerce background (Class 12 Commerce + B.Com Hons.)

I’m currently preparing for the GMAT and plan to take the exam on 31st August.

I have a few questions:

1. Based on this profile, what GMAT score should I realistically target to have a strong chance of getting into ISB?
2. What score would make me competitive for merit-based scholarships?
3. Does coming from a non-IT/non-engineering background work in my favor?
4. Will my experience at startups and agencies be viewed positively, or is the lack of MNC experience a disadvantage?
5. Should I include my entrepreneurship experience even if the business hasn’t scaled much yet? Does ISB value the learning journey more than the numbers?

I’d really appreciate honest feedback, even if it’s critical. If there are any weaknesses in my profile that I should work on before applying, I’d love to hear your suggestions.

Thanks in advance!

I am 25, F, 9/9/9, 4 years consulting work ex, client facing role, postgrad econ

How do i kickstart my gmat prep? Have an extremely hectic schedule with frequent travel, what resources do you guys follow for gmat prep? Any coaching ?

I am also planning for international programs, is there any institute that you are following for your prep? How is the top one percent gmat prep stuff ? Really clueless. Have looked up reviews online and i am confused.

Would appreciate any lead please!

Hi everyone,

I'm a 27-year-old female with 4 years of work experience, 2 years at Google and 2 years in B2B SaaS startups, primarily in Product Marketing.

Studying at ISB has been a dream of mine since 2019. I even visited the campus in 2022, and honestly, I still remember getting goosebumps walking around. Ever since then, I've wanted to apply, but I've always held myself back because I wasn't sure if my profile would be competitive enough.

Here's a quick overview of my profile:

10th:9.0 CGPA

12th:84.4%

B.Tech:7.13 CGPA , Dec 2021 passout(not from a Tier 1 college)

Work Experience:4 years (2 years at Google + 2 years at startups

Extracurricular: Im into NGO volunteering including animal rescue , adoption and fostering. I have mentored more than 40+ students in school and college Also I was the publicity head and core member of the college tech fest

I'm currently preparing for the GRE. Before starting my preparation, I took a diagnostic test and scored 290, so I'm working on improving that significantly before applying.

I had a few questions:

1. Based on my profile, do I have a realistic chance of getting into ISB ?

2. What aspects of my profile should I focus on strengthening before I apply?

3. My long-term goal is to build a career in Product Marketing and eventually move into marketing leadership. Is ISB the right school for that, or would you recommend looking at other programs instead?

I'd really appreciate any honest feedback or suggestions. Thanks in advance!

Slight self-promo with the "About me", but I figured I'd share a quick intro about myself. I'm fairly free today, so feel free to ask me anything about ISB: admissions, life on campus, the cohort, whatever you're curious about.

Male 27 years old, currently working as a senior product analyst in Bangalore in an MNC.

Bachelor’s - tier 3 college 60% BBA
Class 12th 59%
Class 10th 9.4 CGPA

Im a state level badminton player as well.

In terms of hobbies i like to play electric guitar and like going on high altitude treks.

Have given GMAT once and got 610 score.

Is there any chance of getting my profile shortlisted ahead if i give GMAT again and aim for atleast 720+ score.

Hi Folks, will keep this short.

I’m 23 right now making 22 lakhs in a strategy role. By the time i hit 25 (1.5 years from now). I think i’ll be close to 30 LPA.

From a financial perspective i think MBA from ISB does not make sense since i’ll already be earning close to 30 LPA by the time i fill my application, but at the same time i’ve always had this dream to study at a top bschool will brightest minds from the country. I’m a commerce grad with 9/9/7 acads. Long term goals are to grow in strat and ops/product or consulting maybe?

Have also thought about starting something on my own but i don’t think that’ll happen anythin jn near future.

How should i be approaching this decision? Can y’all pls help me with a broader perspective on how should i think about this?

Would love to speak with a few folks who’ve done their MBA from ISB coming from a similar boat.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm planning my second GMAT Focus attempt in about 50 days and would really appreciate some guidance from those who've significantly improved their scores.

I already have the Official Guide and Official Question Banks. I'm trying to decide whether I should also invest in Target Test Prep (TTP) or follow another study plan.

A few questions:

1. If you had only 50 days to improve from 565 to ~700, how would you structure your preparation?
2. Is TTP worth it for such a short timeline, or should I stick to the Official material + GMAT Club?
3. Are there any free resources (GMAT Club, YouTube channels, notes, error logs, etc.) that may make a significant difference?
4. Any tips for getting a discount on a TTP subscription (offers, promotions, etc.)?
5. What are the biggest mistakes candidates make during a second attempt that I should avoid?

Background:

• First attempt (few months back): 565 FE
• Target score: 685–705 FE
• Working full-time (11 AM–7 PM)
• I can dedicate around 3–4 hours on weekdays and 6–8 hours on weekends.

I'm targeting ISB Round 1, so I want to make the most of these next 50 days.

Any study plans, resource recommendations, or success stories would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

heyaa, recently found that a batch mate managed to get a studio despite being unmarried. any clues how I can get one too?

I have a BE degree (GEF) and 4 years of experience in one of the MBBs (back end analyst). My acads are 9/9/8. Planning to attempt GMAT in next 3-4 months and then ISB. Ideally I would want to join the batch starting Apr 2027. Is it an ambitious timeline given I have no clue about GMAT prep and have to submit my essays by December if I aim for R2?

Given I have no clue about GMAT prep, any guidance, resources (free or nominal in price) and roadmap on this would be incredibly helpful.

If anyone is willing to sell their books or materials, happy to connect. TIA!

Hi, I need a profile evaluation for ISB R1.

10th Marks - 84%
12th Marks - 90%
B.Sc in Statistics - 9.15 CGPA
M.Sc in Statistics - 6.01 CGPA

Achievements in Academics - Inspire Scholar from 2019 - 2024 by Department of Science and Technology

Work Ex - 2 years working as a Risk Analyst at PwC AC, specialises in Liquidity & Treasury Risk, Credit Risk, Fair Lending and Agentic AI in Risk Domains
(I have developed expertise in several domains and I have worked closely in the Liquidity & Treasury Risk and Agentic AI in Risk Domains). Have managed multiple stakeholders and clients at a time and worked mostly on cross teams projects.

Extracurricular Activities -

1. Worked as an NSS volunteer in my bachelor's program.

2. Head of Photography committee in my college (Have covered 7 events and team of 21 students)

3. Class Representative for 2 years during my Masters degree and placement committee member.

I have these following questions -

1. On high level, does my profile actually stands out compared to other candidates given that I have very dynamic work ex and good quality of extracurricular?
2. What should be my target GMAT score?

Hello folks!
Is there any GEM (Gen/Eng/Male) who got PGP admit with GMAT FE 655.

My profile - 9/9/9, Tier-1 university, 4 years work ex (operations). Thinking to apply for ISB PGP, but current gmat score is 655. Worth giving it a go or no chance?
P.S I am aware that the median score was 675 for 26-27 batch, but not sure of the dynamics.

Hi everyone, I’m kind of at a loss right now. I had my GRE today and I scored 312. I’ve been studying for months but I guess I’ve hit my limit.

I’m 22F with bachelors in mass communication and journalism. My past acads are well above 90%, and I have been working for a global advertising firm in their strategy team for 2 years. I also have plenty of NGO experience and a few awards from national writing competitions.

Will my profile be enough? Should I even try to apply in R1 with such scores and profile, please need guidance.

I'm looking for a good GRE score to target. I know there's no ideal score and a lot depends on the profile. But if I had to keep a target to help with my preparatios, what would it be?