Every year, before the start of the new application season, we analyze the previous year’s application process to identify ways in which we can improve it and make it as user-friendly as possible.
For application to the PGP class of 2014-15, we have made some changes that will help you and your evaluators provide all the information that we require to take an informed decision about your candidature. Here is an overview:
- Essays – This year’s essay topics are designed to help us discover more about you
as an individual, your ability to learn, your career goals, and how we can help you achieve them. The essay topics for this year are:
Essay #1: Attitude, skills and knowledge differentiate people. Elaborate with two examples on how you would differentiate yourself from other applicants to the PGP.
Essay #2: How does the ISB PGP tie-in with your career goals?
Essay #3: Pick the most significant achievement (professional or personal) you have had and elaborate on the key learning you took away from it.
Essay #4 (Optional): Please provide additional information, if any, that will improve your chances of being considered by ISB.
Essay #5 (for Re-applicants): How has your profile changed from the last time that you applied to the ISB? - Video essay – We have discontinued the video essay format as we felt it offered only limited incremental value but made the application process more cumbersome.
- Early Entry Option – This year onwards, we are accepting applications from a new category of applicants – those with 0-2 years of fulltime work experience. If they make it through our selection process, we will be making an offer of deferred admission to join the PGP after having worked for 2 years. Learn more about the Early Entry Option.
- Administrative changes – We have also made some changes to simplify the process of applying itself. From reducing the number of documents to be uploaded at the time of submitting the application, to allowing evaluators to upload scans of their recommendation letters, the focus is on enabling you to quickly and easily provide all necessary information. With these changes, we hope you will be able to concentrate on the important elements of the application like the essays, articulating your career achievements, etc.
Later in this blog series, I will revisit some of the above points to share tips on writing impactful essays and facilitating recommendations that work in your favour. As always, we will be taking a holistic look at your application – spanning academic record, work experience, leadership qualities, work and personal achievements, and other strengths you bring to the table – while evaluating your candidacy.
I am confident that you will find this year’s admission process very engaging and thought-provoking. To get started on your application, visit the ISB PGP Application Portal. If you have any questions or need help with the process, feel free to write to the Admissions Team at pgp@isb.edu or call us at +91 40 2318 7474/7484/7494 and we will be glad to assist you.
In the next post, I will present to you a snapshot of the ISB experience – or as we like to call it, “The 51-Week Rollercoaster”!
All the best!
Hello Sir,
This blog certainly is very helpful to give the students an insight as to what all things to consider before submitting the application for PGP course.
There is something I would like to understand, how much weight age do we have for academic performance and how are the chances for students with mediocre academic performance but having an excellent work record with plenty of rewards and recognition to show.
This is purely my personal opinion…and that is I always feel Leadership/entrepreneur skills has nothing to do with the past academic performance and I am not writing this after reading about Steve Job or Bill gates. Then why do we have to have this criteria included in the selection process ?
Would like to hear back from you. thanks.
Cheers!!!
Abhineet
Hi Abhineet,
We take a holistic view of an application, taking into account academic performance, work experience, leadership potential, etc before deciding on whether to make an offer of admission or not. The reason why past academic performance is important is because the PGP course is fairly intensive, and this parameter gives us some indication of the candidate’s ability to learn and thrive in an environment of academic rigor. At the end of the day, there are limited seats, and we hope to fill them with those candidates who can learn most from studying here. Note that we don’t rely only on school or college grades to evaluate “learnability”, but also look at other avenues such as standardised test scores, certifications, interest to learn, etc.
Very informative indeed, and most of the changes will be well accepted within the student community. Thanks for the great blog!
Good Morning Sir,
Thank you for your informative blog post.
I had a question with regards to the Early Option Program. Could you tell me when I should apply for the program ? I am currently studying in USA and will be starting my final year in August 2013 and will be done in May 2014. Do I need to give my GMAT before I apply ?
The Early Entry Option is open to applicants who have already completed their graduation but do not yet have two years of work experience. Since you are yet to start the final year of your undergrad programme, you will be eligible to apply in next year’s application cycle, starting in May 2014.
Yes, you will need to have a valid GMAT score at the time of applying.
Hello Sir
I will complete exactly 2 years working this Spetember. (I joined my firm in Sep 2011)
Am I eligible to apply in Early Entry option?
The eligibility requirement to apply to the PGP directly is that candidates need to have gotten 2 years of work experience by the time they join the programme, which is in April 2014 for the current admission cycle. Since you are already eligible in that respect, you can apply to the PGP directly rather than through the Early Entry Option.
Dear Director,
Do admission process take in to consideration work as a freelancer catering to various industries and academic institutions purely on monetary basis other than working in recognized institutions which would give a work certificate.
Regards,
Srinivas Swaroop Kolla
Yes, provided you can substantiate the same in any other way.
Hello Sir,
I will be completing 3 years of work experience in August,wanted to know the exact admission process and the exams that need to attend to be eligible for PGP?
Please see this blog post: http://blogs.isb.edu/admissionsdirector/2013/07/31/applying-to-isb-pgp-2014-15/. It should answer most of your questions. Feel free to get in touch with us for any specific queries that may persist.
Hi
Thank you for providing such an informative blog. This will definitely help us in the admission process.
Dear Sir,
Greetings.
I am working as a Combustion Engineer in an Automotive R&D and having 5 years of experience.I want to shift my career in Strategic Product planning in same sector.
IS there any opportunity in ISB to interact with Automobile industrial experts as well as getting placements in the same industry?
Thks.
There are ample opportunities to interact with people from the auto industry while at ISB. We do have some alumni in the industry and these connections can be used too. As far as placements are concerned, this being a niche field with few students in each class interested in a career in the auto industry, the number of offers are limited, compared to management consulting, IT, marketing, etc roles. So students who are keen on a career in a particular industry of their choice reach out to the companies with support from our Career Advancement Services (CAS).
Dear Sir,
I am a serving defence officer with 20 yrs work experience. Sir, how do we need to prepare to stand a fair chance of admission in ISB as compared to our counterparts in the corporate.
Regards
Cdr M A Makandar
We usually have around 4 to 6 students in the class who have a background that is similar to yours. What each one of them has done is to highlight the major achievements they have had in their application and they have also done well in the interviews. Each one of them has had a great deal of clarity on why they want to pursue the programme at ISB in terms of learning opportunities, career choices, etc. You need to prepare accordingly too. Please write in to pgp@isb.edu if you would like to be connected with a current student from the Armed Forces background.
Thank You Sir.
Hello Sir,
This blog certainly is very helpful to
give the students an insight as to
what all things to consider before
submitting the application for PGP
course.
I am a dental surgeon doing private practice for 2 years.what I wanted to know is how much my previous academic performances matter because my grades from school days till college have been average.but somehow always did well in entrance exams.does that hurt my chances of making it to ibs?
We look at the overall application to evaluate the suitability of a candidate. While past academics do play an important role in our assessment process, we do not have cut off scores for them. What matters is your overall application and how well your strengths are presented. Therefore in your case the “average academic score” can be offset by the GMAT score and strong professional performances. You could also highlight the extracurricular activities along with the awards and achievements to bolster you case.
Dear Sir
I have completed my graduation in 2013 and have started working from August 2013, so while registering on the portal should I fill my work experience till date or the number of months I would have worked till April 2014?
Please enter the number of months you would have worked till March 31, 2014.
Can we change the work exp once we have entered it?
Till such time that you do not submit the application, you can make any change you want. Once you have applied, you cannot make changes. The only change you can make is if the change occurred after you have applied. You may write in to apphelp@isb.edu with the changes that have occurred.
Dear Sir,
I am a prospective applier to the prestigious ISB PG programme, I would like to inquire about the documents being required by a work-ex person, to be submitted while submitting the application and at the commencement of the session. Documents related to financial know how, as in bank statements! If a person is having family business then what documents are required!
Regards
Details of income are required at the time of the application only if you are applying for the need-based scholarship. Else we do not need any documentary proof of your income at the time of application. However, if you are selected, the documents will be required to be produced at the time of registration to the programme. The details of the documents required will be provided in the new-admits website that is available to all new admits to the school.
I understand that an applicant has got no control over the evaluation submitted by his /her evaluators. I would like to know how much weightage is given to language ( i.e. level of english) used by the evaluator. Does ISB negatively view a candidates overall application if the evaluation language is not very good or contains grammatical errors?
We do not evaluate the language of the evaluator. We go by the content only.
Hello sir,
Apologies for multiple emails. I missed to mention one more query:
In terms of extracurricular have been voluntarily been conducting various informatory sessions reg women and child health and education among the deprived sects but thats something i do as an individual. Have never approached any Ngo or anything as i feel they all make it a big deal and dilute the purpose. and hence i dont have a certificate to enclose in the application/ essays. Will that count or i should not mention any such thing in the application.
Thanks
Go ahead and mention this activity in your application. If there are any special achievements in this area, you may also talk about it in essay 4, which is optional.
Hi Sir,
I am Rakesh, one of the ISB aspirant. Please have a look at my profile and tell me what should I do for building my profile suitable for ISB. I’ve a GMAT score 762.
My Details:
SSC (X) – 77.5%
HSC (XII)- 67.5%
UG (B.E) – 69.35% (E.E.E- Anna University)
Work Experience: 5 years & 1 month of IT experience
I am currently working at Infosys technologies Ltd for 2 years & 7 months. Working on India Based Project and the client is Department of Income Tax (Centralized Processing Centre).Have worked well here so far and have also received client appreciation in my current project for the impact analysis I have done.
Won a Spot Award appreciation from the organization for Q2,2012-13. Conducted many Team Building activity, Technological Themes to encourage the team members and involved in Client Interactive meetings.
Currently I am handling a team of 8 people and achieving a excellent delivery towards the project.
And have completed quite a few certifications in Java technologies.
Past Experience:
Previously, I was working with OnMobile Global limited as an Application Developer for 1.6 years in Telecom Domain. Directly involved with Client for gathering requirements and developing the Software applications and handling a team of 8 members to co-ordinate the activity. Won 2 Awards (Star Performer & IKON award) for the excellent performance in the Product Development and Implementation.
Extra Curricular Activities:
1. Participated in Inter-College Dance competition.
2. Actively participated in the College NSS(National Social Service) Activities.
3. Part of College and Company Unit Cricket team.
4. Have keen interest towards the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibilities) and participated in the Corporate Blood Donor camps.
And also involved in the field of Short film Directions and story writing.
Please evaluate my profile and let me know what are my chances of getting through ISB.
Thanks,
Rakesh G
Sorry to disappoint you, but we do not provide profile evaluations on a public platform like this one. All I can say is that, based on what you have written, your profile appears competitive. A detailed evaluation will be done only if you apply to the ISB.
Hello,
I am prospective student. The company I was working for announced mass layoffs and shut shop right about the time I took maternity leave to deliver my child. I chose to stay home after childbirth to spend time with my son and did not look for a job immediately with an eventual plan to apply to B-school to change career industry, which is what I am doing now. So, I have been a full-time mom since the company closing in Jan 2013. Is this something I need to talk about in the optional essay? or I can skip this explanation for gap in job?
In the application form’s careers section, after each job there is a question which essentially asks you if there is a gap between jobs. You can give your explanation there and that would be enough. Use essay 4 to highlight some other strengths you have.
Hi Sir,
I am working as a software engineer in an MNC.My current experience is 1 year and 4 months.By April 2014, my experience would be 1 year and 10 months. Can i apply for early entry option? Also , i cannot see online application form for early entry option. Can you please provide the link?
You can apply for the Early Entry Option. Please use the same link as is used for the regular PGP application. When you create a login, you will be asked for the year you started your career. When you enter that, the system will automatically take you to the Early Entry Option.
dear sir,
i belong to a leading EPC Company , my self being in the construction of power plant from 2.5 years.
I am interested in the energy and power sector,i have a consistent academic record and decent achievements in extra curricullars and CSR activites.
I want to know If ISB has a place for people from the construction sector and how can they benefit from The PGP?
Yes, we do have people with your background in the class at ISB. People from these fields have a variety of options once they complete the PGP, such as positions in infrastructure companies, in operations in both infrastructure and manufacturing industries, leadership programmes, etc. The list is just indicative and not exhaustive.
Hello Sir,
After my B.E civil engineering from pune university immediately i pursued my full time PGP in Advance construction Management from National Institute of Construction Management and research.and As on now im having 2 years of work experience. would all these parameters will be an value addition along with my decent GMAT Score and essays.
Please Leave your comment regarding same.
Thanks & Regards
Amardeep Singh
Sir,
I wanted to apply for the Eeo option this year and I have work ex of one year and a break of 2 years now but I have been involved in other employment without salary. The program is for freshers. So wat is my scope of being accepted. I have good academic scores.
Yours sincerely,
Tejaswi rao
Hi,
I am Shruti, currently working in MnC with a work experience of just 6 months since I joined in August 2013. I wanted to know in which month does the PGP classes start and since my two years will be complete by August 2015 will I be eligible for the class of 2015-2016 as normal candidate or I have to apply under EEO ?
Thanks for your time and consideration
sir,
I want to do pgp course at isb for accelerating my career and changing my domain, but my hesitation is that i have 5 years work exp in power plant operations and i am intereated in management/scm consultancy. Is this shift possible by doing 1 year mba and not traditional 2 yrs mba? Looking forward for your guidance.
Aniket – Ideally a two-year MBA has 740 contact hours and a one-year MBA has 680 contact hours. The difference is that at ISB we do not have an internship format. Otherwise, the curriculum and learning is exactly the same as a two-year programme. A career shift is not necessarily dependent on the duration of the programme. You may reach out to our Counselling team at PGP@isb.edu to get further guidance on your queries.