[kamal_dude]

hey all you PUYs there.../. how did you all manage the 750's the 760's and the 770's

[vsbadri]

Hi,
It would be great if some isb alumni or the likes could guide me:
This is the first message that i am posting and am also new to this site. My profile:

Acads - 10&12th around 75%
B.tech- Civil, IIT Delhi(5.81/10)
GMAT : 680
Age: 26
Work ex: 2 years in an IT firm and then
Self employed(for around a year now) working as a business/operations consultant. I predominantly work with startups and help them expand. Working with a IT consulting startup and devised strategy to solve their receivables issues, helped their revenues expand,with effective strategies,from 1lakh for 07-08 to target of 18 lakh for 08-09(around 6L worth deals closed) and channelized the company's operations to help them manage the receivables issue better.
Also working with a management consulting startup and developed their operations from scratch in hyderabad(the startup is based in Delhi) have followed and closed deals with few leads here in the areas of corporate valuation, business plan reports etc. Am responsible for getting these projects, executing and delivering it.

Extra curricular: National level sub-junior TT player, as a captain of the IIT Delhi team lead the team to win gold in the inter iit and few other inter college tt events in Delhi.
Received medals in fund raising for Unicef while in school.
NCC 'A' Certificate holder.

Questions:
1)Should i retake my GMAT or is that score ok considering the profile.
2)My college acads are too low(in fact it also look me an additional semester to complete B.tech), is significant weightage given to that in ISB admission.
2)Who can write my reference letter, I was thinking one from the IT firm where I worked and the other from the IT startup whose operations i am building now(but the promoter of this company is a friend of mine) is that ok?
3) Also advice me about the chances of people who work in the areas of operations consulting with startups.

Please let me know your views and comments, especially people like badri, others are also welcome.

Thanks
Nikil

@nikil,

1) Tricky , GMAT scores are always tricky and sensitive to comment on, but do remember if the profile is good ISB doesnt reject a candidate based on the gmat score (unless its very bad). But that said I believe you will be safer with a higher gmat score.

2) Yes acads are important, but perhaps you can make up for low acads with experience and essays.

3) Ya you can get the reference letters from the two people you have mentioned above.

4) Write to ISB, I believe there is an option on the site that allows you to get in touch with an alum or a current student, once u mail ISB they will put you in contact with an alum or a current student who matches your profile. That person can better comment on your chances . But my gut feeling is that chances are brighter for entrepreneurs from any background as compared to salaried employees.

--Badri--

[vsbadri]

Hey Puys,

Could you please let me know for ISB 09 applications Recos are to be submitted online or via letterheads.

And what is the funda if its online a link would have to be sent to the person making the recommendation?

Thanks a ton!!

Cheers
Anuj

Anuj you are applying to 10 and not 09

Anyways either way is fine , i used the online option, if you choose the same ISB sends a link to your raters and the link has a few questions. They are expected to reply to these questions and then submit the form in the link.

My 2C , The catch of course is that you cant change your raters at a later date and if the raters click submit by mistake out of carelessness(without filling complete details) you are screwed, so use the option only if you believe that your raters are responsible individuals.

--Badri-

[vsbadri]

HI
Last year (2007) I wrote the GMAT in August. Got a 700 & 4.5 in AWA.
My Profile:
Mechanical Engineer from BITS Pilani. Passed out in 2004.
Good Acads in X & XII
CGPA in college is a bit on the lower side.
Had decent recos .
Well I wasn't even called for the interview.
The feedback given was something like--- there is huge competition in your applicant pool. You can increase your GMAT score if u r planning to reapply.

As of today I have an experience of 4 years.......(If I aim for 2009 admissions , it becomes a 5 year exp case)
Have taken a GMAT date in October...& plan to app in the second cycle(cannot do that for the first cycle as I would be out of station during July,August,& first half of September)

Can any of the PG frnds tell me what kind of GMAT scores I should be looking at to manage an interview call ?....& being are-applicant..what is the realistic chance of my candidature being considered by ISB adcom.

Thanks

Tiger since you were rejected on the basis of your gmat and since the avg gmat score of my batch is around 710-720, i would say you have bright chances of an interview call if you score 730+. That said even with 700 u can make it if the last one year you had valuable experience added to your resume.

--Badri--

[vsbadri]

answers inline

disclaimer : answers based on my own understanding and info, may not be correct.

VS Badri..
I like toknow does Ibanks come to ISB.

B: yes they do

.and if not then do IBanks /PVt Equity firms in india/US/Singapore look for ISB ppl (World Top 20-Globally recognised)if we apply from outside( not through placemnets n all)

B: yes

and also since there is increase in seats..ilike to know how many studs genrally ,traditionally been recruted by top Strategic Consulting firms and at Wat roles..Analyst or associates..or wat ??

B: Around 100 odd went into consulting last year, about 40-50 into reputed firms . Mostly the roles are entry level out of mba kinda roles, some with substantial experience manage bigger roles

plz reply to that.. and also for example: MCK recruts from IIM A,B,C but it may be 10-30 in total..not sure may be less..but in comparison to them how many studs gets the oppurtunity..

B: Its the same out of ISB too only 20 odd make it to MCK or BCG

Please it would be great if u could also tell various "ROLES" students gets Post MBA in
1)..IT Consulting(having SAP techno-Functional exp-CRMexperience)..ROLES
2)..Strat. Consulting
3)..Ibanks..
4)..Marketing

B: Depends on experience , depends on the firm that is hiring, In general as far as consulting goes ISB is on par with any other big institute in india, while with IBanks the roles out of ISB arent generally as lucrative as the 2 yr programmes, reason being that in the two year programs the ibanks get the opportunity to select a candidate as an intern , evaluate them and then hire , ISB doesnt have internship as part of the course

IS there any trend been followed by these firms or they keep changing ther requirments every year seeing the candiature of Profiles..

B: No apparent visbile trend, but yes the number of hires has been going up every year .


Thanks..

[bigtiger]

Originally Posted by vsbadri

Tiger since you were rejected on the basis of your gmat and since the avg gmat score of my batch is around 710-720, i would say you have bright chances of an interview call if you score 730+. That said even with 700 u can make it if the last one year you had valuable experience added to your resume.

--Badri--

Thanks a lot Badri for the response.
Gives me a lot of heart.

[arora.nikil]

Hi Badri,
Thanks for your reply, I guess its better to give GMAT again, around 720(which indicates the average) should be a decent score ain't it. I understand that decent is very subjective but wanted to know your opinion.

Thanks
Nikil

[nikdo_19]

Originally Posted by nikdo_19

Hi Guys,

I think this question is ahead of its time but still i will post it.

On the ISB website they have mentioned that for international students they have an option of telephonic interview. My question is, this telephonic interview considered same as personal interview? Is there any preference given to candidats who have given personal interview over candidats who have given telephonic interview? Are there any negatives that one should take note of before going for a telephonic interview?

Thanks.

Hi Pugs,
Does anyone have any info on this questions?

[vsbadri]

Hi Guys,

I think this question is ahead of its time but still i will post it.

On the ISB website they have mentioned that for international students they have an option of telephonic interview. My question is, this telephonic interview considered same as personal interview? Is there any preference given to candidats who have given personal interview over candidats who have given telephonic interview? Are there any negatives that one should take note of before going for a telephonic interview?

Thanks.

@nikdo,

telephonic interview and personal interview are considered the same, unless you are abroad you have to give a personal interview, there are no advantages or disadvantages of either form of interview from ISBs standpoint, but personally my 2C is in personal interview you have to worry about your body language, in telephonic u have to worry about your voice modulation and telephone etiquettes.

--Badri--

[vsbadri]

nikil 720 is good.