[hardikmangal]

hey guys,
<snipped>


Cheers
Hardik...

[amshah]

Hi all,

A little late to this forum but wondering what the process is for recieving interview calls for R1 applicants. I noticed there were a few re-applicants from prior years so they must be aware of the process. I am applying from Mumbai.

Also, is there anyone who can share their interview experiences with ISB. What sort of questions are asked, how do you prepare for them, etc. What is their main goal in the interviews besides verifying what you mention in your apps.

My sense is ISB has a non-traditional style of an application process (based on essay topics compared to other global B-schools) including their interviews and was hoping to get some colour on that.

Thx in advance,
amshah.

[the.underdog]

Originally Posted by amshah

Hi all,

A little late to this forum but wondering what the process is for recieving interview calls for R1 applicants. I noticed there were a few re-applicants from prior years so they must be aware of the process. I am applying from Mumbai.

Also, is there anyone who can share their interview experiences with ISB. What sort of questions are asked, how do you prepare for them, etc. What is their main goal in the interviews besides verifying what you mention in your apps.

My sense is ISB has a non-traditional style of an application process (based on essay topics compared to other global B-schools) including their interviews and was hoping to get some colour on that.

Thx in advance,
amshah.

They will give iV calls a week before the iV date of the city u r from.

These are some links I could find for last yr's iV experiences etc.... u can find more:

http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/intern...nd-admits.html (ISB 2008 - Interviews and Admits)

http://www.pagalguy.com/forum/intern...04-2005-a.html (ISB Interview Experiences 2004-2005)

[desperately pag]

Originally Posted by loosecontrol

but how does one ensure that all the applications are ethically parallel .. i mean there can be different grades of ethical applications.. for example some one may forge some certificates which is certainly not ethical .. where as some one may get a recommendation where the recommendor is a friend of the applicant.. and in some cases (i gues in many cases) the evaluator himself asks the applicant to write the essays for him and he just submits them online ..
dunno how will the adcom distinguish between such cases.. ?

Exactly. You have pinned the question. And the answer to that from a student's perspective is ethics again. However, it can naturally be a far greater dilemma for the adcom. And hence the interview sessions. I believe the panelists are trained in such a way (because of both enormous experience and specific training) that they are able to read between the lines. In fact I read somewhere and I will endorse it a long way that in the interview session only those people can hold on to their own who are speaking the truth. Even if people were bluffing, I would put a very very marginal figure on their chances of getting selected. The moral of the story. Speak the truth and increase your chances of getting selected ..

[saketverma24]

The 560 seats in ISB should decrease the competition overall bcz total number of people applying to ISB is 4000. and when u add the seats of IIMA PGPX, IIMC PGPEX, IIMB, IIML, XLRI, ISB the competition seems to have decreased this year because of higher number of seats. and almost everybody with a good work ex and a good GMAT score should be assured of a seat in top 5 .

also some people choose US and Europe B schools. so I think nobody should be disappointed this year.

[mgmtby2010]

I am not sure how realistic/unrealistic these numbers are...however it sounds very positive!!

[mission_mba2009]

Agreed - its risky. My question still remains - what should one do in this case?

Originally Posted by p_jez

Saying that "I've applied to XYZ school for backup" sounds risky to me... However, if you substantiate with reasoning, that might do the trick.

Cheers

[durgesh28]

Originally Posted by mission_mba2009

Agreed - its risky. My question still remains - what should one do in this case?

Originally Posted by p_jez
Saying that "I've applied to XYZ school for backup" sounds risky to me... However, if you substantiate with reasoning, that might do the trick.

Cheers

What is the objective of this question…

“What other schools you plan to apply ?”

Are adcoms trying to evaluate the yield in applicant’s case … I mean if an ISB admit is offered what are the chances that he/she’ll take it….

I don’t think this is the main objective … because, a) even if the applicant doesn’t take it, ISB has an equally capable person in waitlist and b) adcoms very well know that the person may lie and say that he/she is not applying to anyother schools and still doesn’t join ISB after admit.

Then what is the reason they are asking this question….

IMO, adcoms are trying to see the truth in your answers to the question Why MBA, Why ISB and why now by asking this….

For example, if you’ve said that the main reason for ISB is that you want to stay in India… and then you go on and say that you are applying to 4 other US schools, then its clear that your “why ISB” answer was a bluff…

Similarly, while answering why MBA and why Now, you are certain that MBA is absolutely necessary for you at this point of time … and you go on and say that ISB is the only school you are applying …. Again gives contradicting reason…. No one puts all the eggs in one basket…

So how one should answer this question… my two cents.. follow these steps

Make a list of schools and rank them as per your preference …. You should have solid reasons for the ranks ….

While answering the question.. just tell them all the schools which are below ISB and STOP … don’t justify ….

If they ask further, tell one or two reasons… and relate those reasons to why MBA, why now and why ISB answers….

[loosecontrol]

Originally Posted by saketverma24

The 560 seats in ISB should decrease the competition overall bcz total number of people applying to ISB is 4000. and when u add the seats of IIMA PGPX, IIMC PGPEX, IIMB, IIML, XLRI, ISB the competition seems to have decreased this year because of higher number of seats. and almost everybody with a good work ex and a good GMAT score should be assured of a seat in top 5 .

also some people choose US and Europe B schools. so I think nobody should be disappointed this year.

i think that the competition for ISB is tougher this year if not at par with last year.. its certainly not less than that coz one can find that the applicants with <=5yrs work exp. can apply only at ISB. and this group will be more than 2500 out of 4000 (if thats the figure that we are expecting) i.e. more than 60-65%.. and we can expect greater number of applications due to the hype generated by the top20 rank of ISB..
certainly the increased number of seats will ease the pressure but not enough to nullify the above factors.. specially for the <= 5yrs exp guys .. so guys be ready for some cut throat competition:death:

[p_jez]

Originally Posted by durgesh28

Make a list of schools and rank them as per your preference …. You should have solid reasons for the ranks ….

While answering the question.. just tell them all the schools which are below ISB and STOP … don’t justify ….

If they ask further, tell one or two reasons… and relate those reasons to why MBA, why now and why ISB answers….

Just one part of this that I don't agree with - not justifying.

I would rather say "these are my career goals, and apart from ISB, XYZ and PQR schools will also help me get along the way. But due to ABC reasons I give a higher preference to the ISB".

Cheers