Embarking on the thrilling journey towards joining the prestigious Indian School of Business (ISB) is a dream shared by many aspiring MBA candidates. However, with fierce competition, it is vital to conquer the ISB Essays 2024, which acts as the gateway to your admission into this esteemed institution.

This blog stands as a beacon of guidance, unlocking unique insights, storytelling prowess, and strategic positioning to empower you in crafting extraordinary essays that leave an indelible impression on the discerning admissions committee. 

ISB application deadline for 2024 is 10 September 2023. It’s time to get started with your ISB essays! And we have brought you the latest updates and essay analysis for ISB Essays 2024.

As seasoned ISB admission consultants, with a team of accomplished ISB alumni, we have meticulously analyzed the essay topics for the year 2023-2024, enabling us to provide you with unparalleled advice and support throughout your application journey.

ISB ESSAYS 2024

 TOPICWORD LIMIT
ISB ESSAY TOPIC 1Provide an honest portrayal of yourself, emphasizing your strengths and weaknesses. Highlight the key elements that have shaped your personal journey. Give relevant illustrations as needed.(400 words)
ISB ESSAY TOPIC 2Contemplate two distinct situations—one where you experienced success and another where you faced failure. Delve into the personal & interpersonal lessons you learned from these instances.(400 words)
ISB ESSAY TOPIC 3 (OPTIONAL)Given your previous experience and future aspirations, how do you plan to use the PGP at ISB to fulfill your professional goals? (250 words)
ISB REAPPLICANTESSAYPlease use this space to explain significant improvements in your profile since your last application to the ISB PGP. (200 words)

UNDERSTANDING THE ISB ESSAY QUESTIONS

ISB Essay 1 Topic, 2024 – Provide an honest portrayal of yourself, emphasizing your strengths and weaknesses. Highlight the key elements that have shaped your personal journey. Give relevant illustrations as needed. (400 words)

ANALYSIS – The topic calls for a genuine portrayal of yourself, emphasizing both your strengths and weaknesses. It encourages you to highlight the key elements that have played a pivotal role in shaping your personal journey. 

This essay offers an opportunity to reflect on your experiences, values, and character traits, providing a multidimensional understanding of who you are. By honestly presenting your strengths, you showcase unique qualities and skills that have driven your success. 

Simultaneously, acknowledging your weaknesses demonstrates self-awareness and a commitment to personal growth. Supporting your claims with relevant illustrations or examples further strengthens your narrative, providing tangible evidence of your journey and the lessons learned. This essay allows you to craft an authentic and comprehensive picture of yourself, revealing resilience, adaptability, and the transformative experiences that have contributed to your personal and professional development.

Below are a few points to keep in mind while writing Essay 1 –

Unveil Your Strengths

– Begin by presenting a holistic view of yourself by identifying three core strengths that define you as an individual. These strengths should align with the qualities valued at ISB.

– Use vivid storytelling techniques to provide personal examples or instances where these strengths were instrumental in achieving notable successes or making a positive impact.

– Demonstrate the versatility of these strengths by highlighting how they can be applied to various scenarios, showcasing your adaptability and versatility.

– Show a deep understanding of ISB’s community and culture by explaining how these strengths will contribute to the classroom dynamics, group projects, and extracurricular activities, fostering a collaborative and enriching environment.

Embrace Vulnerability: Address Your Weaknesses

– Reflect on self-awareness and honesty by openly acknowledging key weaknesses that you have identified and actively strive to overcome.

– Share personal anecdotes or experiences that showcase moments when these weaknesses presented challenges or hindered your progress.

– Display a growth mindset by discussing the proactive steps you have taken or intend to take to address these weaknesses, such as seeking relevant opportunities or seeking guidance from mentors.

– Discuss how the dynamic and diverse environment at ISB will provide the ideal platform for you to further develop these areas, emphasizing your commitment to personal growth and improvement.

– Highlight specific resources, courses, or clubs at ISB that will help you tackle these weaknesses head-on.

The Tapestry of Your Personal Journey

– Articulate the unique elements that have played a pivotal role in shaping your personal journeys, such as cultural background, transformative experiences, or life-changing encounters.

– Weave personal anecdotes or stories that vividly depict the impact of these elements, showing the growth, resilience, and adaptability you have developed as a result.

– Discuss how these experiences have broadened your perspectives, strengthened your values, and ignited your desire to contribute meaningfully to the ISB community.

– Showcase your ability to connect your personal journey to ISB’s values and mission, emphasizing the value and diverse insights you can bring to classroom discussions and group projects.

NoteRemember to tailor the essay to your own experiences and accomplishments. This outline serves as a structural guide to ensure a comprehensive and coherent essay that effectively showcases your strengths, weaknesses, and personal journey.

For profile evaluation/ application assistance/ drafting a compelling essay, email us at [email protected] or dial +91 8808553552 / 9990493487. Benefit from the firsthand knowledge and expertise of ISB Alumni to craft a standout application that sets you apart. 

ISB Essay 2 Topic, 2024: Contemplate two distinct situations—one where you experienced success and another where you faced failure. Delve into the personal and interpersonal lessons you learned from these instances.  (400 words)

ANALYSIS – The prompt urges you to reflect on two contrasting situations: one where you achieved success and another where you encountered failure. It invites you to delve deep into these experiences and extract the personal and interpersonal lessons they taught you. By exploring the nuances of each situation, you gain valuable insights into your own strengths, weaknesses, and character development. 

The successful instance allows you to celebrate your achievements and identify the factors that contributed to your triumph. It helps you recognize your capabilities, resilience, and the strategies that led to positive outcomes. On the other hand, the experience of failure offers an opportunity for growth and self-reflection. It pushes you to analyze the reasons behind the setback, understand your limitations, and learn from any mistakes made. 

Additionally, it reveals your ability to bounce back, adapt, and embrace a growth mindset. Both success and failure provide rich lessons in personal and interpersonal realms, such as the importance of perseverance, teamwork, humility, resilience, and self-awareness. By exploring these contrasting situations, you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and acquire valuable wisdom that will shape your future endeavors.

Below are a few points to keep in consideration while writing Essay 2 :

Sail through your success story

– Begin by narrating a specific success story from your work experience that showcases your achievements and the positive outcome.

– Describe the context, challenges faced, and actions taken to overcome obstacles, emphasizing your role in leading the success.

– Reflect on the personal lessons you learned from this experience, such as the importance of perseverance, adaptability, or effective decision-making.

– Discuss the interpersonal lessons gained, such as the significance of teamwork, effective communication, or leveraging others’ strengths.

– Explain how these personal and interpersonal lessons have contributed to your growth as a professional and positively influenced subsequent endeavors.

Navigate through your Setbacks

– Share a distinct situation where you faced a significant failure or setback, either from work or an experience outside of work. Provide context and explain the factors that contributed to the failure.

– Reflect on the personal lessons you learned from this experience, such as the importance of humility, resilience, or self-reflection.

– Discuss the interpersonal lessons gained, such as the significance of constructive feedback, collaboration, or seeking support from others.

– Highlight how this failure has shaped your perspective, decision-making process, and approach to future challenges, demonstrating resilience and a growth mindset.

Synthesize the Lessons Learned

– Compare and contrast the personal and interpersonal lessons learned from the success story and the failure story.

– Highlight the overarching themes or values that emerged from both experiences, emphasizing the holistic growth achieved.

– Discuss how these lessons have influenced your personal development, shaping your character, values, and leadership style.

– Connect the lessons learned to the MBA experience and the value you can bring to the ISB community.

– Explain how these experiences have prepared you to contribute to class discussions, collaborate effectively, and provide support to your peers.

NoteRemember to incorporate personal examples, and specific details to make the essay engaging and relatable. This outline provides a structured framework for crafting an essay that effectively showcases your ability to learn from success and failure, and highlights your personal and interpersonal growth as a result.

Get Essay assistance from an ISB admission consultant at Strategy4GMAT. Write to us at [email protected] or dial +91 8808553552 / 9990493487.

For the first time ever, the ISB admissions process has embraced an optional essay. Now, it’s your chance to make a decision that truly counts. Is it worth your time and effort? 

ISB ESSAY 3 TOPIC, 2024 (OPTIONAL): “Given your previous experience and future aspirations, how do you plan to use the PGP at ISB to fulfill your professional goals?” 

ANALYSIS – The prompt wants you to consider your past experiences and future aspirations in relation to how you intend to utilize the Post Graduate Programme (PGP) at ISB to achieve your professional goals. It encourages you to critically analyze the alignment between your background, aspirations, and the opportunities offered by the program. To address this, you must first reflect on your past experiences and achievements, identifying the skills, knowledge, and expertise you have acquired thus far. 

Next, you should envision your future career path, setting clear and ambitious professional goals. The prompt then challenges you to articulate how the PGP at ISB specifically fits into this trajectory. You should highlight the unique resources, networks, and learning opportunities provided by ISB that align with your aspirations. Consider specific courses, concentrations, electives, and experiential learning opportunities that resonate with your desired career path. 

Additionally, demonstrate your research and understanding of ISB’s faculty, alumni network, industry connections, and career services, explaining how you plan to leverage these resources to enhance your professional growth. By presenting a compelling and well-thought-out plan, you can convey to the admissions committee how the PGP at ISB will serve as a catalyst for your future success and enable you to achieve your professional goals.

Below are a few points to keep in consideration while writing Essay 2 :

Previous experience

– Explain how your previous experience and skills have prepared you for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in your desired field.

Future Aspirations

– Articulate your long-term career goals with clarity and specificity, demonstrating a deep understanding of your desired industry or function.

– Explain how your future aspirations align with the mission, values, and strengths of ISB.

– Connect your aspirations to the specific knowledge, skills, and network you seek to acquire during the PGP program.

– Express your enthusiasm by stating strong points about contributing to the ISB community and leveraging your experiences and learnings to make a lasting impact in your chosen field.

Note – Consider the value and relevance of the optional essay before deciding to write it, avoiding any unnecessary burden on the admissions committee. Focus on being specific and providing clear insights that enhance your application. When discussing the benefits of attending ISB, emphasize the alignment between your goals and the opportunities offered by the institution. Make a well-informed decision about writing the optional essay by carefully evaluating these factors.

To find out how you can best tell your story to the ISB adcom, reach out to us at [email protected]

ISB REAPPLICANT ESSAY: Please use this space to explain significant improvements in your profile since your last application to the ISB PGP. Note: It is mandatory for you to write this essay. (200 words max)

The prompt invites you to reflect on the significant improvements in your profile since your last application to the ISB PGP. It emphasizes the importance of demonstrating growth and progress in your personal and professional journey. 

This essay is a mandatory requirement, providing you with an opportunity to showcase the strides you have made and the positive changes that have occurred since your previous application. It is crucial to carefully evaluate the areas where you have improved, such as acquiring new skills, taking up challenging projects, expanding your responsibilities, or engaging in impactful initiatives. 

Moreover, you should highlight any notable achievements, accolades, or recognition you have received during this period. Additionally, consider discussing how you have overcome previous shortcomings or addressed any weaknesses identified in your prior application. 

By showcasing your commitment to self-improvement and your dedication to personal and professional growth, you can demonstrate to the admissions committee that you are an even stronger and more qualified candidate for the ISB PGP. 

This essay allows you to present a compelling narrative of progress and transformation, reinforcing your suitability for the program and reaffirming your determination to make a lasting impact in the world.

TO GAIN MORE INSIGHTS ON THE RE-APPLICANT ESSAY READ THE BLOG WRITTEN BY ISB ALUMNI from Team S4G.

Remember, your narrative is extraordinary, and this blog acts as your trusted companion to chart an exceptional course towards a remarkable application that stands out amidst the crowd. So, embrace your accomplishments, leverage your unique experiences, and embark on an extraordinary adventure to claim your well-deserved place at the illustrious Indian School of Business.

As you embark on this transformative journey, fully embrace the breadth of your accomplishments, and recognize the immense value of your unique experiences. Let this be an opportunity to unearth the depths of your potential and showcase the multifaceted aspects that make you an exceptional candidate for the prestigious Indian School of Business. 

With the insights, strategies, and expertise provided within this blog, you possess the tools to weave your narrative into a captivating masterpiece that leaves a lasting impression on the admissions committee. 

So, with unwavering confidence, embark on this extraordinary adventure, fueled by your determination and unwavering commitment to claim your well-deserved place among the esteemed community at the Indian School of Business. Your future awaits, and this blog is here to empower you as you chart your path towards success. Together, let’s transform your aspirations into reality and create an indelible mark in the business world.

For profile evaluation/ application assistance/ drafting a compelling essay, email us at [email protected] or dial +91 8808553552 / 9990493487. Benefit from the firsthand knowledge and expertise of ISB Alumni to craft a standout application that sets you apart.

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To know more about ISB PGP applications, refer to the ISB website

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