As an applicant to ISB, you need to do a lot of introspection to gather insights about yourself
your goals and the plan of action you would evolve to achieve them. While you apply,
ISB essay provides you a highly powerful tool to narrate your story. It is all about how you present the information about yourself cogently and convincingly. Reviewers pay a great amount of attention to this part and therefore this segment is deemed highly important in the application.
If you are already ahead with the application process, then you would have probably noticed that the form records the data pertaining to your academic record, work experience, awards and achievements. In this regard, ISB essay gives a context to this raw data thereby giving you an opportunity to highlight the most important information and present a convincing argument as to why you should be part of the ISB PGB.
At the outset, remember that while writing ISB essay, you must answer the question completely. The specific information you present will enable the reviewers evaluate you. The candidacy will be affected significantly if you are to present irrelevant or incomplete information.
ISB essay #1: Attitude, skills and knowledge differentiate people. Elaborate with two examples on how you would differentiate yourself from other applicants to the PGP. (300 words max). Present about three examples to prove how you stand out from the multitude of applicants. The reviewers intend to select a best mix of the applicants to ensure that the composition consists of diverse, experienced and highly accomplished candidates facilitating the most effective peer group that would maximise sharing and learning. Therefore, highlight your best qualities that distinguish you apart.
ISB essay #2: How does the ISB PGP tie-in with your career goals? (300 words max). This essay is meant to know about your career goals and the factors that hold you back from achieving them. List out short, medium and long term goals and narrate how you would make use of the ISB learning resources to achieve them.
ISB essay #3: Pick the most significant achievement (professional or personal) you have had and elaborate on the key learning you took away from it. (300 words max). This part is important to highlight the learning that you gained from the challenges you faced. Therefore, pick one challenge, the actions you made and the learning outcome telling how it influenced your thoughts and actions.
ISB essay #4 (Optional): Please provide additional information, if any, that will improve your chances of being considered by ISB. (300 words max). You can make use of this essay to cover the points that are not narrated elsewhere in the application. Talk about your unique experiences and justify the gaps in education or employment. If you do not have something impressive to present in this, it is not advisable to use this space.
ISB essay #5 (for Re-applicants): How has your profile changed from the last time that you applied to the ISB? (300 words max). This is meant for the reviewers to note how you have improved your candidature following your previous interaction.
The most important thing about ISB essays is you must present sufficient but only the necessary information since the admission committee has a limited time to go through them.
ISB interview questions will revolve around explaining your profile, reasons to choose MBA and ISB, your aspirations and goals, and why ISB must take you. The other questions will pertain to your education, work experience and current affairs in addition to guesstimate questions.
