[vsbadri]

inline

Hi all,

I had a few questions related to very specifically to the application process. I would be very glad if any of you 2009ers can answer it for me -

1) Recos - There is an option called HOD in the relation - is that good enough for describing my boss' boss or is it only for college HODs?

For boss use supervisor , or HOD either is fine.

2) Also, I know my HOD for 6 months (January, that is when he took over), is it good enough for him to recommend me?

Ya its ok, but its preferable to get recos from folks who know u for longer

3) Coming to Awards and Activities - For awards it is mentioned that "You may submit certificates to corroborate these significant awards mentioned by you, at the time of interview, if short-listed". What if I do not have any certificates to prove this? How are these certificates verified? Is the verification process detailed or cursory?

tricky question , in answering this i might end up telling u how u can con ISB.so let me just stick to saying, dont mention awards or activities for which you dont have certificates to corroborate. And leave it to ISB on how the certificates are verified,

4) In the awards can I list Professional awards and letters to my parents stating my "brilliant" work? If so, The Area of Award should be "Others"?

Ya you can list that too, but I would give that lesser weightage, The area can be employment (or the equivalent if there is one)

5) In the case of Activities, I helped a social club in charity and collection of money and have a letter of appreciation from them. Should it go as an activity or as an Award? Also, do I require to have a proof for Activities section?

Proofs are preferable but not mandatory for activities, I would put that as an activity.

6) I worked as a child actor on small screen - Should it go into Activities? Are they looking for proofs?

Hmm.. Mention it in your essays, avoid it from the activities and awards section. Or is your essays are packed, just make a mention of this in activities, dont worry about proofs.

Sorry if some questions sound repetitive

Thanks,

--Badri--

[RamD_gadiyaram]

Dear Badri!
Keep up the work you are doing. Now that you have got into ISB, you are helping others. Great!
I welcome to my foundation's blog Aakrithi Foundation
where I'm trying to build self-sustainable social model. Looking forward collaborate, with knowledgeable and responsible individuals like you.

Also, i need some guidance regarding b-school

My case:
I have quite a unsual case.
I have many dimensions to my profile.

Social Entrepreneur:
I started off my endeavor to make a difference to where I belonged, a small town in interiors of AP. But I didn't knew when I started that it would shape into a social organisation. I realized on need basis that I need a brand and a company. Then I was only a 2nd year BE grad Student. For last four years I have brought about a great transformation. Out of 90 rural engg. students I trained in various areas, 24 have already have earned a job from the same town(they have just passed out). They now help me in my activities. It is called Aakrithi Foundation.
I have been sometimes covered my media: Let me share its blog with kind permission of >moderators: Aakrithi Foundation
My sessions are professionally designed and delivered by me and volunteers who are keen to contribute back.

IT: I by chance got into Cognizant and worked there for 8 months to realize I can be better at something else. It was my failure I couldn't stick there. Then, I joined Pro Soft Resources as Manager, Client Services as employee no: 3. I do a lot of Designing, culture building, program management in my role. I have got our first three customers in recent months.

MIB: I have admit from MIB(Masters in International business)+CFA course in London School of Business & Finance.
I paid 8 lacs towards it but UK VISA rejected.

Now questions:
1. Do I directly go for MBA? or go for MIB if I get VISA and some time later do MBA in life. My dream is to bring the world to India..I need the network which I feel only MBA can give

i) if yes how do you see chances for ISB 2009?

2. What will be basic core competency i project? IT/ Social entrepreneur or something else. But I like to be with people feel their problems and build sustainable models to tackle them.

3. Frankly speaking I'm bad at acads: just first class throughout but I have extremely good extracurrics, terrific work ex coz I have seen everything in an organisation right from day one, and above all commitment to community. I have created a self-sustainable social model for my flagship NGO

4. What career I should choose, I somehow love UNO, IMF, World Bank etc. But will I be able to go for strategic consulting or Financial advisory, in fact.......I would prefer a role in Corporate Social Responsibility domain.
Where I make good career as well as i do what i love to do?



GMAT: I can't expect more than a 700(it would be a stretch). I'm taking August end.
Waiting for your kind response.

[vsbadri]

reply inline

Dear Badri!
Keep up the work you are doing. Now that you have got into ISB, you are helping others. Great!
I welcome to my foundation's blog Aakrithi Foundation
where I'm trying to build self-sustainable social model. Looking forward collaborate, with knowledgeable and responsible individuals like you.

Also, i need some guidance regarding b-school

My case:
I have quite a unsual case.
I have many dimensions to my profile.

Social Entrepreneur:
I started off my endeavor to make a difference to where I belonged, a small town in interiors of AP. But I didn't knew when I started that it would shape into a social organisation. I realized on need basis that I need a brand and a company. Then I was only a 2nd year BE grad Student. For last four years I have brought about a great transformation. Out of 90 rural engg. students I trained in various areas, 24 have already have earned a job from the same town(they have just passed out). They now help me in my activities. It is called Aakrithi Foundation.
I have been sometimes covered my media: Let me share its blog with kind permission of >moderators: Aakrithi Foundation
My sessions are professionally designed and delivered by me and volunteers who are keen to contribute back.

IT: I by chance got into Cognizant and worked there for 8 months to realize I can be better at something else. It was my failure I couldn't stick there. Then, I joined Pro Soft Resources as Manager, Client Services as employee no: 3. I do a lot of Designing, culture building, program management in my role. I have got our first three customers in recent months.

MIB: I have admit from MIB(Masters in International business)+CFA course in London School of Business & Finance.
I paid 8 lacs towards it but UK VISA rejected.

Now questions:
1. Do I directly go for MBA? or go for MIB if I get VISA and some time later do MBA in life. My dream is to bring the world to India..I need the network which I feel only MBA can give

i) if yes how do you see chances for ISB 2009?

No, LBS is a good school, if u get a VISA go for it , also since it was ur first choice makes more sense.

2. What will be basic core competency i project? IT/ Social entrepreneur or something else. But I like to be with people feel their problems and build sustainable models to tackle them.

Depends on what u think ur strongest feature is, I believe aakruthi would be a big plus.

3. Frankly speaking I'm bad at acads: just first class throughout but I have extremely good extracurrics, terrific work ex coz I have seen everything in an organisation right from day one, and above all commitment to community. I have created a self-sustainable social model for my flagship NGO

Acads are important, but they arent everything, given your profile I dont think ISB would worry much about acads

4. What career I should choose, I somehow love UNO, IMF, World Bank etc. But will I be able to go for strategic consulting or Financial advisory, in fact.......I would prefer a role in Corporate Social Responsibility domain.
Where I make good career as well as i do what i love to do?

Totally depends on you, I know not of any NGO or social service organization where u can have a "career" as well as do service

GMAT: I can't expect more than a 700(it would be a stretch). I'm taking August end.
Waiting for your kind response.

P.S: Apply to TISS that school will better suit you than ISB.

--Badri--

[ananduthaman]

Dear Cryonerve,

I have done a lot of reading through many threads in pagal, but this is my first post and a very deciding one too since a reply to this post would signal me a go or no go (but it is the same old profile check). I would like to target only for ISB / IIM-A PGPX, but not sure whether my profile would/can be good enough for one. If it is not a reasonable target then I don't want to waste my time and money by going further. So your expert comments about my profile and any suggestions for improvement are highly valued.

My profile in short:

> 29 yrs, 7 years work ex.
> 3 years in India (before PG), 2 Years in Taiwan (after PG: with the world's largest semiconductor foundry: TSMC), 2 Years in UK (as a technical lead managing around 10 guys), have on site international work experiences also - in dubai, singapore etc for around 1 month each.
> GMAT: 770/ 800
> 10th - 88.3 %
> 12th - 84.5 %
> B.Tech Computer Science & Engg - 73% (CET: College of Engg Thiruvananthapuram - had got admit to NIT Calicut also)
> M.Tech CSE - 7.3/10 (IIT Bombay)

> Have got above average records with the national and state level examinations. I will quote a few here.
# 39th rank (99.85 percentile) in All India GATE 2002 Computer Science for graduate admissions in India.
# 90th rank (99.75 percentile) in Kerala State Engineering Common Entrance Test CEE 1995.
# 99.8 %ile in the IQ test conducted by International High-IQ Community and is currently a member.
# 94th Rank in All India Management Entrance Test 2003 conducted by Symbiosis Center for Management & HRD, Pune.
# 130th Rank in National Talent Search Examination by United Council for Edu. Research & Scientific Learning, 1994.
# 126th Rank in All India M.Tech Entrance 2000 conducted by Indian Institute of Information Technology Bangalore.

> Have certifications in SCJP (90%), SCWCD (88%), SCBCD (82%), SCEA, MCP (94%), PMP, Typing speed (expert level: 90 wpm), Technical support expert etc.
> Have received "Best Performer award" from the company I working now and excellence certificate from DNATA, Emirates Airlines, Dubai.
> Have published a research paper in the area of Semiconductors and Image Processing.
> Extra curricular: Average with some competitions and prizes but never got involved with NGO's or community service.

Could you please share your views on how reasonable my targets are? I am particularly worried about my GPA part. I guess it is at the lower end(7.3) as for the names I have mentioned, but the fact that it is from a more competitive institute (IIT-B) would help? or would my varied international work exp. would help? or if it is too poor for the colleges I have mentioned above and cannot be compensated by anything else then please tell me frankly.

Thank you so much for your time...Expecting your earliest reply...

Best Regards
Anand

[debashishsamal]

Hi Guys,

I would like to know whether I can manage to get an interview call from ISB.

GMAT: 700
Age: 28
Work Ex: 7 Years with 5.5 years of international experience
Engineer with 65% mark
Working in top consulting company
I've a lot of team lead experience
I've decent social work, NGO involvement and extracurricular activities

Thanks
Deb

[thakkartejas]

Hi Badri,

thanks for all the help.
m planning to apply for 2009 batch

heres my profile ..

electronics n telecomm engineer .. batch topper
worked for about a year at reliance comm as a network planning enginner for mumbai circle ..
wanted to shift to finance (investments industry) so switched to a small investments company .. started as an equity dealer and hav graudually moved into an adivsory and portfolio mgmt profile .. wil complete two years in august 2008.. so by mar 2009 i should hav 3.5yrs work-ex ..
simultaneously i m also pursuing international cfa n hav completed two levels .. results for the third level wil b out in august 2008..
took gmat last year .. scored 610 .. took it again n scored 660
i think my low gmat could b a problem ..
my extra-curriculars are ok ..
please let me know ur opinion about my application.

[nikdo_19]

Originally Posted by ananduthaman

Dear Cryonerve,

I have done a lot of reading through many threads in pagal, but this is my first post and a very deciding one too since a reply to this post would signal me a go or no go (but it is the same old profile check). I would like to target only for ISB / IIM-A PGPX, but not sure whether my profile would/can be good enough for one. If it is not a reasonable target then I don't want to waste my time and money by going further. So your expert comments about my profile and any suggestions for improvement are highly valued.

My profile in short:

> 29 yrs, 7 years work ex.
> 3 years in India (before PG), 2 Years in Taiwan (after PG: with the world's largest semiconductor foundry: TSMC), 2 Years in UK (as a technical lead managing around 10 guys), have on site international work experiences also - in dubai, singapore etc for around 1 month each.
> GMAT: 770/ 800
> 10th - 88.3 %
> 12th - 84.5 %
> B.Tech Computer Science & Engg - 73% (CET: College of Engg Thiruvananthapuram - had got admit to NIT Calicut also)
> M.Tech CSE - 7.3/10 (IIT Bombay)

> Have got above average records with the national and state level examinations. I will quote a few here.
# 39th rank (99.85 percentile) in All India GATE 2002 Computer Science for graduate admissions in India.
# 90th rank (99.75 percentile) in Kerala State Engineering Common Entrance Test CEE 1995.
# 99.8 %ile in the IQ test conducted by International High-IQ Community and is currently a member.
# 94th Rank in All India Management Entrance Test 2003 conducted by Symbiosis Center for Management & HRD, Pune.
# 130th Rank in National Talent Search Examination by United Council for Edu. Research & Scientific Learning, 1994.
# 126th Rank in All India M.Tech Entrance 2000 conducted by Indian Institute of Information Technology Bangalore.

> Have certifications in SCJP (90%), SCWCD (88%), SCBCD (82%), SCEA, MCP (94%), PMP, Typing speed (expert level: 90 wpm), Technical support expert etc.
> Have received "Best Performer award" from the company I working now and excellence certificate from DNATA, Emirates Airlines, Dubai.
> Have published a research paper in the area of Semiconductors and Image Processing.
> Extra curricular: Average with some competitions and prizes but never got involved with NGO's or community service.

Could you please share your views on how reasonable my targets are? I am particularly worried about my GPA part. I guess it is at the lower end(7.3) as for the names I have mentioned, but the fact that it is from a more competitive institute (IIT-B) would help? or would my varied international work exp. would help? or if it is too poor for the colleges I have mentioned above and cannot be compensated by anything else then please tell me frankly.

Thank you so much for your time...Expecting your earliest reply...

Best Regards
Anand

Anand,

I am not an expert but IMHO, you have an awesome profile. if you put in decent essays and reccomendation i dont see a reason why you shouldnt be called for the interview. ATB.

[ananduthaman]

Dear Nikdo

Thank you so much for your encouragement. But my GPA is way below the average GPA of ISB/IIMA batch right? I wonder how could I compensate for this fact! Do they really take ppl at my GPA level ?

I have gone to this link and gave my gmat/gpa and the top insti's shows - less competitive - status !
Are your GMAT scores competitive? Business School Finder

Do you have any idea about the formula they use ? I heard something like, Total points = your GMAT score + (GPA out of 4) * 200. Logically it is correct (if the weightage is same for GMAT/GPA) but not sure whether they are using the same.

@other expert pagal guys: could anyone please comment on my chances after seeing the profile please?

Anand

[BOSVIN]

Originally Posted by ananduthaman

Dear Cryonerve,

I have done a lot of reading through many threads in pagal, but this is my first post and a very deciding one too since a reply to this post would signal me a go or no go (but it is the same old profile check). I would like to target only for ISB / IIM-A PGPX, but not sure whether my profile would/can be good enough for one. If it is not a reasonable target then I don't want to waste my time and money by going further. So your expert comments about my profile and any suggestions for improvement are highly valued.

My profile in short:

> 29 yrs, 7 years work ex.
> 3 years in India (before PG), 2 Years in Taiwan (after PG: with the world's largest semiconductor foundry: TSMC), 2 Years in UK (as a technical lead managing around 10 guys), have on site international work experiences also - in dubai, singapore etc for around 1 month each.
> GMAT: 770/ 800
> 10th - 88.3 %
> 12th - 84.5 %
> B.Tech Computer Science & Engg - 73% (CET: College of Engg Thiruvananthapuram - had got admit to NIT Calicut also)
> M.Tech CSE - 7.3/10 (IIT Bombay)

> Have got above average records with the national and state level examinations. I will quote a few here.
# 39th rank (99.85 percentile) in All India GATE 2002 Computer Science for graduate admissions in India.
# 90th rank (99.75 percentile) in Kerala State Engineering Common Entrance Test CEE 1995.
# 99.8 %ile in the IQ test conducted by International High-IQ Community and is currently a member.
# 94th Rank in All India Management Entrance Test 2003 conducted by Symbiosis Center for Management & HRD, Pune.
# 130th Rank in National Talent Search Examination by United Council for Edu. Research & Scientific Learning, 1994.
# 126th Rank in All India M.Tech Entrance 2000 conducted by Indian Institute of Information Technology Bangalore.

> Have certifications in SCJP (90%), SCWCD (88%), SCBCD (82%), SCEA, MCP (94%), PMP, Typing speed (expert level: 90 wpm), Technical support expert etc.
> Have received "Best Performer award" from the company I working now and excellence certificate from DNATA, Emirates Airlines, Dubai.
> Have published a research paper in the area of Semiconductors and Image Processing.
> Extra curricular: Average with some competitions and prizes but never got involved with NGO's or community service.

Could you please share your views on how reasonable my targets are? I am particularly worried about my GPA part. I guess it is at the lower end(7.3) as for the names I have mentioned, but the fact that it is from a more competitive institute (IIT-B) would help? or would my varied international work exp. would help? or if it is too poor for the colleges I have mentioned above and cannot be compensated by anything else then please tell me frankly.

Thank you so much for your time...Expecting your earliest reply...

Best Regards
Anand

Anand, are you kiddin us. with a profile like that even a harvard would gun for you. Just make a good application and be good in the interview. I dont see anything stopping you from making it to ISB

[nikdo_19]

Hi Anand,
Honestly i dunno of any formula which ISB or for that matter any other institute uses for considering the GPA score, but i do know that they look at an applicant's holistic profile. What i have learnt from these forums is that if you have an average or a slightly low acad's you can compensate by displaying strength in your other areas like GMAT score, work ex or extra curricular activity. Also on your point of the formula, what happens in cases of applicants from other streams where we donot have any GPA, people like me who are from Commerce / Economics background?

My suggestion is dont worry about your GPA too much, you cannot do too much abt that. What you can do now is put in best of your essays in your applications and get the best of reccomendations. I am pretty sure you will get the interview call.

ATB.