It's back! -[2008] Ask ISB-Hyderabad: Admission Director answers your queries!

Apurv · 06:03 PM

Dear all

,

We are back with an all-new Query thread featuring the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad Admission Director for the 2008 admission season!

This thread is where ISB's Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Mr VK Menon answers all your questions about admissions, scholarships, placements, faculty, infrastructure, culture and student life.

Now since a large number of people are going to be using this thread, there is likely to be chaos and redundancy. We will thus have to lay down a few ground rules for all those who wish to ask their questions here.

The Do's

Go through the thread pages first, most probably your question has already been asked by somebody else and asking it again will be a redundant activity. By reading through the thread, you will also learn a lot of interesting facts about ISB through other users' questions.
Go through the ISB Admission FAQ page for answers to the most commonly asked questions.
If your question or a similar question has NOT been asked before, you can post your questions about ISB Hyderabad or MBA careers here by hitting the 'Post Reply' button on top or by clicking here.

NOTE - Those asking repeat questions without going through the thread first will be BANNED from asking questions here for the entire year.
Dr Menon and his team, who will watch this thread will answer all your queries on a regular basis.
So once you post your question, you can come back to this thread in a couple of days to find your answer or even better, Subscribe to this thread by clicking on the 'Thread tools' link on the top-right side at the top of the thread.

The Don'ts

NO PROFILE CHECK questions allowed - 'The following are my marks and my work experience so What are my chances at ISB?' - such type questions are not allowed and will simply be deleted. This thread is not meant to be a dipstick test to measure your admission feasibility. Those who are looking to find answers to such questions - please read last year's ISB Admission Director thread (Ask ISB-Hyderabad: Official Admission Query thread featuring ISB's Admission Director). Every permutation and combination of 'What are my chances' questions have been answered there.
No asking redundant questions. First read through the thread. If you don't find your question already asked, only then ask.

ISB's eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply to ISB Hyderabad, you need:

A Bachelor’s degree
A valid GMAT Score
2 years full-time work experience after graduation
TOEFL or IELTS score only if language of instruction during undergraduate education was not English

Dr Menon's PG User ID is Admissions@ISB.

Good luck to everyone!

Cheers

abhi_karkera

Hello Sir,

I would like to know the relevance of the Graduate level academic scores in the admission process at ISB and whether the quantity or quality of my work exp. would be able to compensate for an average academic record (60-70%)?

Regards
Abhishek

quartz_thunder

Hello Sir,

Could you please let us know if there is a minimum GMAT score for applicants. Also, if a person has given GMAT twice, then how do you evaluate his score? Do you take the average of both the GMAT tests or just consider the latest test score.

Please advise..

Thanks,
Nataraj

BOSVIN

dear Mr. Menon,

Firstly thanks a ton for taking time out to reply to our queries. WE all appreciate it. I too have some questions and I think you are probably well placed to answer them.

My Profile :

12th - 76%
BCom - 76%

Workex :

12 months - associate in international BPO ( client - American Express )
15 months - lecturer in internationally recognized college
17 months - asst to music director ( music and sound engineering )

I am one of those guys who wanted to make a shift to finance and so I took up a job as an associate in investment servicing. Will complete 13 months in that role by Apr 2009.

Well I wont ask for a profile check here. I know you might be quite fed up of it by now. But here are my queries

1. Does ISB cover good modules for someone wanting to major in finance. At the website they say "Analytical Finance" as a specialization. I presume its good enough for a career in finance. But they dont give a further break up of the topics that will be covered in that specialization. For someone like me what are the modules available in finance that I can opt for?

2. Could you explain the system of bidding for subjects. How does this system work. I've read that some students did not get the subjects of their choice because of this bidding system. Why is it so? I dont want to spend so much money and in the end not get the subjects of my choice.

3. Is there at all any chance of doing an internship. after the 12 month period. Will we miss out on placements if we opt to do so.

4. Pls pls pls try to get this one. What is the lowest domestic and international package offered. Its something not on the website but this information will help to put the placements statistics in perspective.

5. How much will a person end up spending for this course. I am looking at an all inclusive figure. Including your laundries and weekend outings maybe. ISB website puts the figure at around 19 lakhs. Can we manage within that or are there other program related expenses we must make provision for.

Looking forward to your reply,

thanks,

Jose.

forbidden_apple · 02:23 PM

Hi Mr Menon,

I had a few questions related to very specifically to the application process. I would be very glad if you could 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?

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?

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?

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"?

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?

Sorry if some questions sound repetitive

Regards,

the.underdog · **Career Switch -** 24-06-2008, 02:36 PM

Hi,
I went to the ISB information session at Bangalore on the 22nd of this month. And while interacting with one of the alumni present, I was given to understand that it is very difficult to manage a career switch after ISB. Now this is very important to me so it would be very useful at least to me if I can get your view on this.
Basically I am a IIT --> GMAT 770 --> 2 yrs of IT work ex guy who wants to get into Investment Banking post MBA. Can ISB help me achieve this? It would also be very useful if you could tell how many people on an average manage to switch from non Finance backgrounds into Investment Banking kind of profiles every yr.
The alumnus made it sound as if this kind of switch was more or less a Herculean task and he said that most IT guys would get placed in IT companies. He even went to the extent of saying that if you absolutely want to get into IBanking why dont you pursue Financial Engineering MS from some USA Univ or some other 2 yr MBA where you will get the chance to intern. So basically I am pretty dispirited now.
Would be glad if you can comment.
Thanks

pawanjain19

Hi Sir

I have a very basic question regarding the "work experience requirement" mentioned as a part of the eligibility criteria. Does that mean 2 years work experience is required at the time of applying, or 2 years work experience by the time I join ISB?
I joined my first job (Lehman Brothers Mumbai) in July 2007. If I apply this year, it will be only 14 months experience, but if I get selected, I will have almost 2 years (22 months) of work experience by the time I join.

Please clarify.

Regards
Pawan Jain

Admissions@ISB

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apurv

Dear all

,

We are back with an all-new Query thread featuring the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad Admission Director for the 2008 admission season!

This thread is where ISB's Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Dr VK Menon answers all your questions about admissions, scholarships, placements, faculty, infrastructure, culture and student life.

Now since a large number of people are going to be using this thread, there is likely to be chaos and redundancy. We will thus have to lay down a few ground rules for all those who wish to ask their questions here.

The Do's

Go through the thread pages first, most probably your question has already been asked by somebody else and asking it again will be a redundant activity. By reading through the thread, you will also learn a lot of interesting facts about ISB through other users' questions.
If your question or a similar question has NOT been asked before, you can post your questions about ISB Hyderabad or MBA careers here by hitting the 'Post Reply' button on top or by clicking here.

NOTE - Those asking repeat questions without going through the thread first will be BANNED from asking questions here for the entire year.
Dr Menon and his team, who will watch this thread will answer all your queries on a regular basis.
So once you post your question, you can come back to this thread in a couple of days to find your answer or even better, Subscribe to this thread by clicking on the 'Thread tools' link on the top-right side at the top of the thread.

The Don'ts

NO PROFILE CHECK questions allowed - 'The following are my marks and my work experience so What are my chances at ISB?' - such type questions are not allowed and will simply be deleted. This thread is not meant to be a dipstick test to measure your admission feasibility. Those who are looking to find answers to such questions - please read last year's ISB Admission Director thread (Ask ISB-Hyderabad: Official Admission Query thread featuring ISB's Admission Director). Every permutation and combination of 'What are my chances' questions have been answered there.
No asking redundant questions. First read through the thread. If you don't find your question already asked, only then ask.

ISB's eligibility criteria

To be eligible to apply to ISB Hyderabad, you need:

A Bachelor’s degree
A valid GMAT Score
2 years full-time work experience after graduation
TOEFL or IELTS score only if language of instruction during undergraduate education was not English

Dr Menon's PG User ID is Admissions@ISB.

Good luck to everyone!

Cheers

Our thanks to the PG team for facilitating this discussion thread. It will be my pleaure to respond to your queries. My colleagues in the admissions team will help me in responding to these queries as well.

Menon

prez_bbe

Hello Sir,

Thanks for your support to our endeavors at PG. Sir i have a simple question although the admission page states that however i still wish to gain absolute clarity over the same.

Is 2 years of experience an essential pre-requisite for admission consideration at ISB, irrespective of the candidate's profile and background.

Admissions@ISB

Quote:

Originally Posted by abhi_karkera

Hello Sir,

I would like to know the relevance of the Graduate level academic scores in the admission process at ISB and whether the quantity or quality of my work exp. would be able to compensate for an average academic record (60-70%)?

Regards
Abhishek

Dear Abhishek,

Definitely. Since we do a holistic evaluation of your application, an average performance can be compensated by a spectacular performance in another arena. In your case you should aim for a very good GMAT score and provide instances of accomplishments in your job which signal the quality of your work experience.

Menon