ISB Essays 2016 - 2017 Admission process

The Post-Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) is the flagship program of Indian School Business (ISB). It is a one-year, full-time residential program that is ranked 33rd by FT in its 2015 MBA rankings. ISB has announced the essay topics for the class of 2018 applications. Unlike previous years, there are only two compulsory essays and an optional essay this year.

ISB Admissions Committee will majorly evaluate your candidature on 3 parameters; namely your leadership potential, your diverse background and how it's going to effect and add value to ISB, and your academic ability, because one year MBA is a rigorous academic program and ISB needs to know that you will be able to handle the intensity of it.

Essay 1:

If we were to admit just one more candidate to the Postgraduate Programme (PGP) at the ISB, why should it be you? (400 words max)

This is one of those ‘Why you?’ essays wherein ISB gives you the opportunity to present your skills and achievements.  It tells the admission committee of your desirability for ISB. The uniqueness that you bring with yourself and the value that you add to ISB is of utmost importance in this question. This type of question has been frequently asked in the previous years with a slight change of words. Some of them are:

2013: Please make a strong case to differentiate yourself from an exceptional set of applicants applying for PGP 

2012: If we were to admit one more student to the class of 2012, make a compelling argument as to why that student should be you? 

2011: Give 3 reasons as to why you should be selected to the class of 2011. These reasons should ideally differentiate you from the applicant pool and should be backed with some data.

Now there are three ways in which this essay question can be tackled with.

First being, your unique post-MBA plans;

second, a weakness in your application;

And third, personal hobby or passion; but tread carefully with this one. For instance, you've been a champion of a particular sport. It surely is worth mentioning somewhere in your essay, it can also be presented in a way which indicates that it will benefit ISB’s club life, but by itself, it won't suffice the demands of the PGP program. 

It is highly likely that more than one of these topics apply to you, but remember that there is a 400-word limit and your writing has to be condensed. Showcase points with significant leadership experience and noteworthy career progression. Prioritize your points according to their dynamicity and develop a full-fledged essay. This essay is part of a bigger package and should at all times compliment the content in the other parts of your application. An admissions counselor can provide feedback and guide you through this delicate process. 

Essay 2:

Describe your short and long term career plans. How does the PGP fit in with those? (300 words max)

The most effective way of getting into the topic other than by announcing your plan straightaway would be to start the discussion with how it all started. Your essay should cover three inherent questions, What are your goals, How a PGP fits in the picture, and why ISB is your choice. 

Try to build up a  credible link between your past, present, and future, throughout the essay. ISB puts weight on your work experience, so your future short term and long term goals should be in regard with your previous work experience. Not only just that, but the way you portray it in the essay should prioritize your motivation for pursuing PGP.

Also, mention the industry you want to work in and the role you are seeking and why. Remember to keep it realistic, if your goals are more than ordinarily ambitious then write about the skills and qualities you have gained from your past work experience that make your goals look realistic. 

Essay 3:

Please use this space to provide any other information not covered elsewhere in the application that could significantly impact your candidature at ISB. Note: It is not necessary for you to write this essay. Please use this space only if there is something really significant that you would like us to know.  (200 words max)

Now this is an optional question. The first question that has to be answered before writing down anything is, should you even answer this question?

Clearly, 700 words limit in the above questions must have restricted your expression of views. This question allows you to write anything that you feel is significant for the admissions committee to know, but couldn't be accommodated anywhere in the application. This can even include a description of factors that could have been detrimental to your candidature, and how you’ve learned and improved because of them. You can narrate personal and professional 

experiences in your life to support the points that you make in your essay, including any significant life changing experience.

About Skill Maestro At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

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4 Common mistakes that people make while preparing for GMAT

“To err is human”

Certainly. But definitely not something that should hold you back. Mistakes should always be something that you should learn from. In GMAT, there's a pattern of mistakes that students usually tend to commit on a frequent basis. While you are in the process of learning from your own mistakes, why not learn from other’s, in the meantime?

Here’s a list of mistakes that you don't wanna commit, while preparing for your GMAT!

Leave out a concept

While preparing for GMAT, you will come across many concepts that are completely new. Some you might find easy, but some really difficult. You might even want to leave that particular concept because leaving just one concept wouldn't make that much of a difference right?

No! The ideal key to dealing with such kind of situations is to at least brush up the subject concerned. You don't want to leave any page unturned. The number of “just one” concepts will gradually increase and will result in poor preparations.

Do tedious calculations

The GMAT reliably uses a set of simple numbers. When it doesn't, you can usually approximate. That means stay clear of tedious calculations. They not only consume too much of your practice time and reduce your speed of solving questions, but also take a toll on your confidence level.

Careless Mistakes

These are the kind of mistakes that make you wanna bang your head against the wall. Don't worry, we’ve all been there. The mistakes that give you the feeling that the solution could have almost been correct if it weren't for it. Unluckily, there's no step marking in GMAT, if you choose the wrong answer then you completely lose marks. Some very common careless mistakes that you can make are:

• Read too quickly / misread the question: Yes, you're on a time constraint; but reading in a particular pace and not comprehending at the same, can lead to misinterpretation.
• Solved for the wrong variable / question: This can be a consequence of the above mentioned mistake, or could happen because your inattentiveness.
• Made an arithmetic error (got the wrong sum, product, etc): you might make a mistake with calculations that were too easy in the first place. This could happen because of lack of practice or constant habit of using a calculator.
• Performed the wrong operation (multiplied instead of divided) or Skipped a step: Again, a result of inattentiveness.
• Got it right, but clicked the wrong bubble: this kind of mistakes usually happen when you’re under stress or in a hurry.
• Forgetting the unique numbers: let's understand this with the help of an example. A quick question; what number should you square to get 25? Your immediate answer would be 5. But you know that's not the only answer to that question. To get till -5 will take a few seconds of thinking. Its very common for people to completely ignore the possibility of such unique numbers and solutions.

To overcome such careless mistakes, you'll need lots and lots of practice. Regulate your speed of reading and solving problems, try not to get distracted and always stay focused, practice calculations in your head if you're used to a calculator and don't stress too much because stressed brain will never get you better results.

Conceptual Mistakes

These are the kind of mistakes that can be completely overcome by diligent practicing. Types of such mistakes are:  

• didn’t understand what the question was asking
• didn’t rephrase the right way (or thoroughly enough)
• didn’t know/remember the rules
• mixed up rules or applied the wrong rule/formula

These mistakes take time and patience to master over, but it's totally worth it. Afterall, what's better than a dream score? But also, In the end, don't just concentrate on a perfect GMAT score, instead, try going for an overall profile which is competitive in nature.

About Skill Maestro At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

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5 essential GMAT study tips every student must know

To do your best on the GMAT exam, you will not need magic tricks or secrets, but only a study plan and timely preparation. Studying well for GMAT will not only help you secure a good score on the test but also help you in building valuable skills for future studies. After the pre planning as mentioned in the previous post, it's time to costume up and take a deep dive into the ocean!

Time Table

Remember how as kids we used to make a timetable, stick it on the wall and forget its existence? Well this is some what like that, with just a tad bit of difference. Don't stick it to your wall, stick it in your brain! There’s nothing better than having a chart out plan of days left for exam and topics to cover. Plan it in a way that you prioritize chapters and concepts that are your weaknesses. Not only will it help you increase efficiency in your studies but will also give you mind peace. A calm mind yields better results in an examination hall than a chaotic one.

Progress Brick upon Brick

Ever seen someone constructing the 10th floor of the building before even starting with the ground floor? This is the most common mistake that students usually commit, with an attitude of “If i can solve the most difficult question, then my entire concept is clear”. However appealing and short this method sounds, it will not really take you too far.

Start with easier questions in the beginning. But again, the definition of easy and difficult is relative to every individual. Be your own judge for questions according to the results obtained in the practice test that you took in the beginning. Master these questions before you move on to the next difficulty level.

Mix it up!

When you solve questions belonging to the same chapter at one time, you already know what kind of question or what concept type you're gonna face ahead. Questions in GMAT are not so straightforward. They are such that would need multiple concepts to solve. So when you're done with a set of concepts, it is advisable to mix up the questions for further practicing.

Read the questions properly.

Don't just skim through the questions, make it a habit to read the questions thoroughly. At times the language of the question is tricky and you might end up selecting the wrong answer even when you were familiar with the concept.

Overshoot the target score!

Don't overestimate the GMAT prep results. Students have been found experiencing an increase or decrease in their score by an average of 30 marks. Aim for the score that is 50 more than your target score. Keep practicing until you’ve reached your target!

But the most important thing of all is, don't try to cover everything under the sun. Visit those problems that you think you know. You will be surprised by how many concepts we take for granted. Time every Practice session and every question that you solve, because a correct answer is as important as getting it in the right amount of time.

Hope this article helped you in building your confidence and develop a winning approach.

About Skill Maestro At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

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5 tips to start your GMAT preparation on a right note

With GMAT comes loads of career opportunities, given that you score well. The GMAT test has a marked difficulty level that takes diligent practicing over a period of time. But it does not just include practicing, but also expanding and consolidating knowledge over this said period of time that should be ideally dedicated to the preparation for the test. If you are a novice or a stagnant test taker, then you might want to make best utilization of the time at hand and get your best score. To ensure that, a few things are a must before you dip your toe in the water.

Know about the exam

For the beginners, learning everything about the test is the most essential step of all. Get thorough with the basic facts about GMAT and the way it is conducted. The official website for GMAT also provides a lot of resources and can be used for strategizing the preparation for the test.

Weightage to all four sections of the test is unequal for calculating the final score. Even the marks provided for essay writing are reported separately from the GMAT score. So instead of solving endless sample questions, one should prepare for the test in an organised and strategic manner.

Determine the right time to appear for the test

A high portion of deciding this depends on when you plan to attend graduate business school. Explore various programs and check for their application deadlines and required minimum GMAT score. Take such date for the test that is not too close to the application deadlines. Start your preparation keeping in mind the required score and the GMAT test date.

Take a practice test

A practice test before you even begin with your preparations sure is intimidating, but it's the best way to know where you stand and how far you have to travel to reach your desired score. There are a lot of practice tests available, but the one you choose should be a full length computer based test which is timed in the same way the actual GMAT test is. Because of the test, you'll get a clear view of the types of mistakes you make or the types of questions that you make most of the mistakes in. Also you'll know the speed with which you're working on each question, because solving the question in a set period of time is as important as getting the correct answer for it.

Strength and Weaknesses

The practice test will give you an idea of your strength and weaknesses. Analyze your score in verbal and quant and see for areas that might be the reason you're losing out on the score. While you work on the questions that are your weaknesses, make sure that you time it out. As the actual test is timed, practicing questions on the clock will benefit you more.

Study Plan

Plan your studies according to the target score and time available at hand. The most efficient study plan would be the one which is regular and consistent. Remember that quality>quantity, so solve questions that target your weaknesses. Grasping concepts is also more important than just solving the questions, which means cramming your studies in the few weeks before exam will not yield you your best result. 

Try studying on computer based programs so that you get habitual of solving sums over the screen, rather than jotting everything down on the paper which is very time consuming. A structural progression is always better than a haphazard one. Hope this post succeeded to fuel your preparation for the GMAT test.

About Skill Maestro At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

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How to Start Building Your Profile for Applying for MS programs abroad

Is getting into a top notch foreign university for your masters’ program your dream? Well, dreams are easier to achieve when you have a beforehand fair idea about how to prepare yourself for the journey. Most students aspiring for an MS do not have sufficient knowledge of what universities expect in their profiles, and it is quite disheartening when they face multiple rejects from universities. In this post, therefore, we list a few tips on how you can start building your profile for applying for a masters’ program abroad.

Identify your USP and start building relevant achievements

In order to make your application powerful, you can identify your USP/strengths and start towards building relevant achievements in that particular area. This helps give the admissions committee a direction to build an impression of you and provides consistency to your application. At the same time, it also proves that you are passionate about that thing and are determined to perform more and more.

For example, if you have good oratory skills, you can start participating in various MUN Conferences (Model United Nations), parliamentary debates etc. Or say, if you have good leadership skills or an entrepreneurial streak, you could engage yourself in organizing community services or an NGO or initiating a club in your college etc. Whatever you choose upon, make sure you work meticulously on building that particular thing. You can then use these details of your resume in writing powerful Statement of Purpose (SOP) and also ask your professors to highlight the same points in your Letter of Recommendations (LOR)

Internship at a prestigious organization

An internship or any sort of work experience at an organization that has a challenging and competitive process of selection can add on very strongly to your application. This gives the admissions committee an insight that you are dynamic enough to get selected into an organization whose recruitment process was highly competitive.

Certificate Courses

Taking up recognized certificate courses can help in the admissions committee viewing your application in a positive light. It gives the indication that you are committed to learning even outside the classroom and are curious and determined enough to learn more and more. So you can consider taking up relevant certificate courses or even online MOOCs, whenever you have holidays or free time.

Publishing research papers

This can be an extremely strong add on to your profile, and can make your profile look really robust. Publishing research papers in reputed journals is not everyone’s cup of tea and if you manage to publish one, you could strongly increase your chances of being selected. This gives the admissions committee the outlook that you have research interests and are capable of academic writing, and thus, could be a potential asset for their university.

Thus, having listed these four important tips, we are sure that if you start working assiduously on these guidelines, you can create a robust application for applying abroad. And along with this, if you also manage to get a good test score, you are certainly good to go!

About Skill Maestro At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

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4 Biggest Mistakes that people make while preparing for the GRE

Are you aiming for a really high GRE score? A critical factor in ensuring your success on the GRE is knowing what not to do. Skill Maestro lists 4 common mistakes that most people commit while preparing for the GRE. Avoiding these mistakes can help you streamline your time and efforts more judiciously, which can be a significant score booster.

Last minute preparation

Many GRE aspirants slack most of their early preparation time and try becoming a ‘samurai’ in the last few weeks. Most of them think that working under pressure might increase their productivity. This is, however, a common fallacy. That’s because GRE is an aptitude based exam and not some undergraduate college exam where full swing last minute prep can help you ace the exam. GRE requires tacts and tricks to crack it. You cannot expect last minute prep to help you crack the GRE. Preparing for the GRE is a process.  If you want to crack it, you need to be methodical right from the beginning. Remember, cracking the GRE is a skill that you can acquire if you give yourself sufficient time. 

Focusing only on one section

It is quite common for students to underestimate either quant or verbal section of the GRE, thinking that they have the natural ability for a particular section, which leads them to systematically neglect their preparation for that section. This can be deadly. For example, many students underestimate the quant section of the GRE and take it too lightly. This can prove to be lethal because GRE is a tricky examination and building familiarity with the common traps that the test throws you with is important. And only practice can help you with that. Thus, no matter what it is always advisable to have a balanced study plan.

Not charting your performance after practice tests

Practice tests allow you to monitor your performance for patterns, weaknesses and strengths. Therefore, just seeing your score on the practice test and not charting the mistake patterns you have committed can be a blunder. Understanding your mistakes, weak areas and strong areas can help you quantify your progress and accordingly help you create a study plan for yourself. This can make a significant difference in your performance. 

Reviewing only the questions that you got wrong

It is essential to review each and every question that you practice, because getting the right answer is just not enough - how you got the right answer is more important. You might get an answer correct with a lot of drudgery that can eat up your energy and time, leaving you with less of it for other questions. Thus, knowing the most efficient way to approach questions is extremely important. Thus, review all the questions that you practice and look out for the solution process given in the answer sheet and ask yourself what’s the most cost efficient way of approaching this question.

We hope this article would make you more methodical in your GRE prep plan. After all, knowing what not to do is also crucial! 

About Skill Maestro At Skill Maestro, We guide prospective students about the entire application process as well as suitable universities as per their profile/test scores. We have consulted dozens of prospective students for MIS across the globe. We have a physical presence in Indore where we also help students prepare for GRE, GMAT & SAT Follow Us  on Google+!

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How important are extra-curricular activities in your application?

Do you think having just a good GPA or a good test score enough to get into a top ranking university? The answer is no! Extra-curricular activities might just be as important for your application to be accepted.  In this post, we try to answer why.

Almost all applicants at top ranking colleges have excellent academic record!

At highly selective schools, almost all applicants have a reasonably good GPA as well as good test score. The university obviously can’t admit all of those applicants who are equally good academically. It is here that extra-curricular activities can help draw a distinguishing bar. Selective colleges are attracted to students who are curious, active and eager relative to their peers.

Universities want to build diversity in their classrooms

Many a times, universities look for other details beyond a strong academic record so that they can create diversity in class. Thus, you would at times see some applicants who might not be academically extremely stellar being selected to top ranking universities – it is the right mix of their extra- curricular activities and beyond classroom engagements in a relevant area that gets the ball rolling for such applicants. Therefore, if you have got the right mix of extra curricular activities to showcase, that might just cover up your not so stellar grades.

Extra-curricular activities speak a lot of things about you!

Admissions committee get to know a lot about your personality with the kind of extra curricular activities you have on your profile. For example, if you have initiated a club in your college, it conveys the admissions committee of your confidence, leadership, initiative, team work and networking skills. Universities specifically value activities wherein you have showed leadership and created an impact. After all, they want that their campuses give birth to future leaders in business, academia or research.

Finally - It’s not about quantity, but about quality!

This is a word of caution. While extra- curricular activities are important, they are not the by all and end all for your admission. Scores do matter, and of this, there is no doubt. Extra-curricular activities act like the icing on the cake of your application and make your application look appealing to the admissions committee. So, rather than flooding your profile with a deluge of different extra-curricular activities, it is better to narrow down your domain to 2-3 areas (say, community service, or, literary club, or soccer club , or research club, or anything that you are passionate about) and have your extra curricular activities revolve around those areas. This will help you convey a ‘narrative’ about yourself to the college admissions committee.

Thus, to conclude, while your GPA and test scores, do matter, extra curricular activities are the cherry on the top of the cake, and they complement your academic profile. The catch is maintaining the right, relevant mix of extra curricular activities on your application which can convey a robust, dynamic impression of your personality to the admissions committee.

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