ISB Essay analysis 2013-14

The ISB application for 2013-14 (Class of 2015) is now live.

Most people ask me what is a good GMAT score to get through to ISB. I tell them ANY score. The range at ISB is from 640 to 800. And among those rejected the range is ZERO to 800. Huh ? Confused eh?

To put it simply, it doesn't matter much what score you get. Its only a hygiene parameter. Unlike a CAT score which IIMs use as cut-off.

The parameters that has the highest weightage - which is the difference between a Interview Call and  a Regret letter - is the Essays.

This year's Essay topics are as below:

Essay 1. Attitude, skills and knowledge differentiate people. Elaborate with two examples on how you would differentiate yourself. (300 words max)

This essay measures your sense of maturity and suitability to do an MBA. This is the essay where you need to convince the Adcom how you are different and what value you bring to the table. 

Points of differentiation could be 

• Knowledge: Uniqueness of your Work experience (not unique projects at work) which has given you lot of exposure to situations that other candidates might not have. This exposure has given you a different perspective that can add value to discussions with peers in/out of the classroom. Example needs to elaborate on what your typical day is (meet customers of different backgrounds etc) and how the situations you face gives you different perspective (varied customers -> varied needs -> different sense of values)
• Attitude: Demonstration of leadership ability even under adverse situations. Need to elaborate with an example from recent workplace experience where you might have dragged your team out of the mud in a project. Start with context (what position you hold, where it is on the hierarchy) then elaborate on the problem (Delayed project, major Faux pass etc), your diagnostic on the issues (lack of role clarity within the team, lack of problem understanding) and how you resolved/tackled/acted as enabler for each issue.
• Skills: Skills led differentiation needs to be backed up with an example where you demonstrated relatively rare skills to resolve issues at work/personal life (e.g sense of detailing -> broke a customer requirement into 7 buckets at the lowest possible denominator (at end user level) -> envisaged entire approach in absolute detail and resolution to each road bump you might encounter etc)

Pick any two of the above and give examples. Balance crispiness & detailing. Additional pointers in the below link

http://roadtoisb.blogspot.in/2009/01/how-to-play-diversity-card.html

2. How does the ISB PGP tie-in with your career goals? (300 words max)

This essay evaluates an individual's clarity to know if he/she understands why they are doing an MBA and how it fits into the big picture. In this essay you need to tell them where you are in your career (e.g. Product developer) and what is the ultimate long term goal (Global Product manager). 

• What skills does your ultimate long term goal need? 
• Why do you need MBA for that? Can't progression in your existing take you there? 
• What skills/knowledge you lack that is likely to hamper your progression (e.g. lack of theoretical grounding of Marketing, Economics & Finance which is required to perform the  role of a Global Product manager)? How will MBA help you bridge that gap? 
• What career path will you take post MBA (mid-term goal) and it would act as a stepping stone to your ultimate goal? 
• Why ISB - reasons need to such that you can find only in ISB. How do I check? If in your essay you replace ISB with XYZ college and it still makes sense then the reasons are not good enough. 

3. Pick the most significant achievement (professional or personal) you have had and elaborate on the key learning you took away from it. (300 words max)

`Pick the one that stretched you as an individual both personally and professionally. Needs to be from recent times (last 2-3 years). Set context (your current profile, hierarchy, calendar year) then the issue faced, your diagnostics and then execution details, pitfalls if any, resolution of those pitfalls and finally what learning you picked up from the whole experience that you'll apply in future endeavors that'll keep you on the path of success. Needs to be as specific as possible.

4. (optional) Please provide additional information, if any, that will significantly affect the consideration of your application to the ISB. (300 words max)

Use this to answer all shortfalls in your application. Some typical shortfalls are:

• Poor GMAT/education grades
• Education or professional time gaps
• Frequent changes in jobs

In addition, you need to follow precautions when writing your essays. You'll find it in the link below:

http://roadtoisb.blogspot.in/2009/01/certain-precautions-while-writing.html