Now that you have a summary of the curriculum let us go back to the tips on answering the goals and how ISB PGP would help you achieve them.
ISB PGP Essay Tip#1: Critically look at your career (choices you have made)
Honesty is rarely seen in MBA Application. So it came as a surprise when one of our clients choose to describe the trend India was bucking in placing the vast majority of teenagers into Engineering and Medicine. Instead of passing the blame onto parents, society or peers, he owned up to the mistake and shared how as a young kid, he didn’t know where his talent lied. This is true for the vast majority of applicants.
Only 20-25% of top applicants are actively involved in extra-curricular at school – an essential part of skill discovery and finding where one’s true talent.
ISB PGP Essay Tip#2: Influences behind the choices
Most teenagers consciously or sub-consciously follow the career path of seniors 3-4 years older than them. On the peripheral, the career path looks enticing. Most don’t research on what it takes to reach the goal or the daily drudge of the job. On reaching the goals, the self-realization that the work required to excel is not as glamorous leads many to MBA. Only 30% of MBA applicants have a business or Finance background. The vast majority are career switchers eagerly finding an opportunity to find an alternative path before the inevitable 30s hit.
The client chose to quote a mentor in school as an influence in his career choice without putting any blame on the person.
ISB PGP Essay Tip#3: Goals for the future
Despite false starts, many applicants find their true talent while working on a cross-functional task/project. The experience becomes the impetus for exploration. Many niche functional experts don’t even get the chance to work outside the scope of the project. Extra-curricular work during weekend and continuous volunteering become an opportunity to understand a problem that is ailing the society. Cross-functional exposure in consulting, marketing or technology leads to new ambitions and often becomes the motivation for an MBA.
ISB PGP Essay Tip#4: How ISB PGP would help
Quoting the generalities of ISB PGP is not what the essay asks. Find that specific course, the specific professor or the customizability of the curriculum structure into the narrative. Offer context. Most mediocre essays quote courses without any background information on how they are valuable for the post-MBA career.
