 Reasons for selecting ISB
In a short span of time, ISB has managed a reputation that most other universities have taken decades in building. Also I had interacted with an alumnus who had given me a very positive feedback about ISB, the quality of students, professors and the course curriculum. I was looking for a school with a global outlook, yet in the Asian subcontinent as I believe that this is where the maximum growth will be in the years to come. I was also looking for a fast track, yet a full time MBA, and the 1 year programme fit in perfectly with my needs. Last but definitely not the least, ISB’s reputation in placements is not a hidden fact at all. All this lured me to ISB.
Did ISB meet your expectations?
I was a little sceptical of the quality of students at ISB as I was under the impression that the fee structure would attract only the “rich kids” and the more experienced crowd as opposed to IIM’s where in the students are very bright, have high aptitude and are young. As I had not much experience (3 years) I thought I might get overshadowed by the students here because of their experience. But I was surprised in two ways. Firstly, I was pleasantly surprised as the general aptitude of the students here is on par with IIMs and to add to it, they have very strong experience also to back up their profiles with. Secondly, once I realised this, it worried me as it meant a lot more competition and a lot more hard work to put in as it is difficult, if not impossible to compete in such an environment. Lastly, I truly think that the most differentiating factor of ISB is its focus on entrepreneurship.
On ISB’s learning model and faculty
The case based approach is extremely useful in learning. It’s a lot easier to understand and apply concepts that way than just to read about theory. It also enhances your general knowledge about companies that you read about. The concepts being taught are fresh out of the oven, and sometimes we are given material which the professor is currently in the process of researching. A look at the syllabus of the last couple of years proves this beyond doubt. Visiting faculty is world-class, from the best universities and the resident faculty is also very good. Especially the interaction with professors is very useful. What I liked best about ISB are these 3 courses: the Experiential Learning Programme (ELP) which is a short internship for a company, the Planning an Entrepreneurial Venture (PAEV) elective and the Independent Study Programme, which can be taken up under the guidance of a professor. One can develop hands on experience in a short span of 1 year through these.
On the infrastructure and other resources at ISB
It would be a crime to call the Learning Resource Centre as a library, especially with the range of books, materials and even movie DVDs and TVs for entertainment! The swimming pool, gym, snooker, squash courts, to name a few of the facilities are very helpful for relaxing and unwinding. The residential facilities are addictive. It’s going to be tough living without housekeeping facilities everyday. It’s like bringing everything to your doorstep so that all you need to concentrate on is the learning. I hardly get out of campus-maybe, once or twice a month.
On your learning experiences outside the classroom and with the student clubs
The learning outside the classroom is probably the biggest learning source of ISB. With the diverse profiles, each study group and each assignment teaches you something new and not the course curriculum. Student clubs are very active in organising events and interfacing with the industry to make the learning a lot more richer experience. There are speaker sessions by key personalities almost every week. So much so that sometimes we need to prioritise and attend only some as we can’t attend all. The energy and enthusiasm that ISB has created will hopefully last a lifetime. |
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