ISB essay tips

I know its pretty late, but for those who are fine tuning their essays for the last time here are some tips.

General Tips
1. Do not waste words. Repeating within essays is non-pardonable. But I would suggest don't write things that are directly there in your resume. Hint at them in your essays.

2. Do not write frivolous things - schooling, great academics - Its there in your resume and also almost everyone applying here would have it.
In fact if you do not have great academics or something is amiss in your schooling and you have still succeeded - go ahead mention it. That actually distinguishes you!!

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.ntiate you from the applicant pool and should be backed with some data.

1. Do not try to be too creative. Be real. Write the basic characteristic - like rather than "I am a good leader", mention what characteristic actually makes you that.

2. Try to show all three are linked in some way to your future goal. It helps. Also it actually makes you think very hard about yourself. For me at least it was great fun writing these essays.

Describe a challenging assignment you have handled (at work or outside) to date. What were the challenges and how did you handle them. What were the personal learnings you derived from this assignment.

Describe the key problem. Describe it completely and then your actions that led to the solution. Generally speaking your action leads to some other issues, and you have to adjust again. My take is to describe the chain of events as your characteristics come out completely that way.

In some essays that I have seen the solutions are one liners. That do not tell application readers anything about you.

Briefly assess your career progression till date along with your assessment of your future career goals. Discuss how your career goals will be met by the ISB’s one year program.

Please read about ISB, talk to the students/faulty or alumns before you answer this question. Just skimming through the website and then writing this answer shows that you are not serious. Also, if you do not have a great reason you might actually be dissapointed on coming here.

Trust me on this: although the essay writing seems to be a very painful process - it actually helps you in focussing and finalizing your near future options.

If you are a prospective applicant and have any questions - please leave a comment and I will try my best to get back to you with the answers.