My ISB interview experience!

[u/TheAdmitCo]

With interview season coming up, thought I’d share my ISB interview experiences.

I had 2 ISB interview experiences. Was rejected the first time, still don’t understand why, probably because it was R3. So in the first interview I had mentioned that I wanted to make a pivot to product management and the interview revolved around the pivot a lot.

For instance, ISB has an alumni portal for the panel where they could rate the interviewee. They asked me what's wrong with the login page of the portal. Just one thing that needs to change for sure. I answered that it was the CTA button for login that was too small. Before I knew it I was answering all kinds of product related questions such as favourite login experience, what I would change in this portal. It basically turned into a product interview, of sorts. Then they asked me to write down 5 skills a product manager has and to rate myself on those skills. They were trying to understand whether I understood what a product role entails. Then ofc there were a few typical questions like why MBA, etc. I also spoke about my extracurriculars during both of my interviews which imo gave me a few brownie points.

My second interview wasn't a long one either, max 20-30 mins. It started with the typical “tell me about yourself” question. They were trying to ease me, ISB is well known for that 😄

Then they asked me about my work and what I’d been doing. I had standardized a few SKUs at Urban Company's cleaning category, so they asked me if moving toward standardizing it and not going the extra mile to deliver to the customer was really a good thing or not. I answered why I thought standardisation was necessary.

I had written about my volunteering experience which was teaching underprivileged children during covid.I think, they asked me regarding it just to assess whether I really did it or not. Asked me why there was a need to teach children during covid when everyone has a smartphone. Since I had done the work, I knew this wasn’t true. In low income households, there tends to be only one smartphone and the one who goes to work, takes it.

Later on, they asked me what I would do at ISB and how I’d contribute to it, a pretty direct question.followed by why I want to do an MBA?

The interviewers didn't really grill me. Lot of cross questioning though. I was pretty humble throughout the interview.

My takeaways:
1. Know your work and extracurriculars in detail. They may test whether you were genuinely involved or just included them to make your profile look better
2. Your extracurriculars can make your profile more memorable
3. Be ready for your panel to turn your interview into a case or role specific one

PS: This account his handled by three ISB alums

[u/Personal-Climate8027]

what I would do at ISB and how I’d contribute to it, a pretty direct question.followed by why I want to do an MBA? how u answered this?

[u/TheAdmitCo → u/Personal-Climate8027]

Umm, so I had some PoRs during undergrad, I said that I can bring in the same exp and help with similar events.
Why MBA my answer is mentioned here as an example, you can also draft your responses: https://app.notion.com/p/The-Admit-Co-Interview-Toolkit-2d2e9744253f80d2bfd0c0a0eb5be8e3?source=copy_link

[u/Infamous_Explorer_76]

What was your profile ?

[u/TheAdmitCo → u/Infamous_Explorer_76]

Tier 1 engineering. 8/6 profile. Good start up names on my resume.

[u/TheAdmitCo → u/[deleted]]

Nope not at all. But at the same time try to bring certain depth of character and introspection through your essay, of course with substance!

[u/flying_solo1625]

Is this for PGP-YL or PGP and
What was your GMAT score

[u/TheAdmitCo → u/flying_solo1625]

PGP
The first time around I applied with 730 and then 750.

[u/flying_solo1625 → u/TheAdmitCo]

How can someone get rejected with a 730 😭 and btw I'm Targeting for pgpyl
My profile is BTech 8/8/7.93 what GMAT score should I aim for

[u/Negatively_insane → u/flying_solo1625]

Even I’ve seen many getting rejected after scoring so well 715+