My Journey to ISB !!!

Thanks to ISB Class of 2010 to kick off an interesting contest, Blog War. The first topic couldn’t have been better - “My Journey to ISB”. I believe this topic is going to serve two purposes. First, it will make all participants re-live the passionate, nervous, and joyful moments of their ISB pursuit. Second, these posts will serve as a data points for future ISB aspirants. We are going to create database of personal stories of ~10 ISB admitted students –their aspirations, fears, thoughts, and interests. ISB Class of 2010 is already on a song. So, with intentions to live my ISB journey again and to help ISB aspirants, I proceed to my first autobiographical post.

Sachin Tendulkar during his interview after breaking Brian Lara’s world record to become highest Test run scorer said something that touched my heart “It’s the journey of success where stones are thrown at you and you turn them into milestones”. Not to compare my accomplishment with my God’s, yet I can absolutely relate my ISB story with this phrase. I have had a fair share of disappointments before eventually reaching the acme of my journey.

Pre-ISB Mania – How I fell in love

I first heard about ISB in March 2006 when a colleague made it to ISB. She and I took CAT in 2005 but scored way below what was expected of us. She, however, was way more informed that I was. She applied to ISB based on her CAT score, cracked the interviews, and secured an admission after clearing GMAT cut-off set by ISB. I then realized the difference it makes to have educated and well-versed individuals to guide you. I belonged to a small town, with quite ignorant parents and didn’t have the luxury to be guided and coached. I decided then to develop such assets (Buzz work Networking) to gain wider perspective and guidance. As I will explain later, this habit to question, learn, and just talk with even a complete stranger has been my strongest ally during my ISB journey. In mid 2006, I got an opportunity to come to Orlando, US on a project from TCS and that’s when my ISB pursuit formally started.

A Raw and Passionate Attempt – First propose

Since I was all alone during initial stay in US, GMAT books became my ally. I started GMAT prep, unclear of where I am heading. MBA was a black box during those days. It seemed like a magic pill that will heal all my wounds, make me successful forever, and end all my worries. It was a magnet to me – I didn’t know why then, nor had the maturity to explore. I simply had raw passion to crack GMAT and go to ISB. I prepared for around 10 weeks for GMAT and scored an average 690. That was the first stone throw in my journey. Wise from my CAT experience, I choose to just apply to gain exposure. I was always appreciated by my friends for my writing skills. However, ISB essays seemed different ball-game. It wasn’t that simple. I did my best and choose to review essays with an acquaintance in Orlando (Networking was already working here). He completely blasted my essays that shocked and surprised me. All my friends praised but a stranger found them rubbish. What’s wrong? I realized I was comparing myself with wrong peer group. I decided that my college, school, and town friends will continue to be extremely important for me but will no longer be my comparison group. That was an extremely important realization since it helped me shift focus and get out of my comfort zone. Coming back to application, my efforts were not sufficient and ISB send me a rejection without inviting me for interview in Jan 2007. That was an abrupt end to a raw and passionate journey. I didn’t address “What” and “Why” questions then, nor did knew I should address those. However, my response to rejection was quite mature. I accepted that I haven’t done enough to feel disappointed. For the first time, I appreciated the learning irrespective of the results. That realization and reaction in itself is my first milestone.

An Informed Attempt – Second Propose

Before this attempt, I improved my profile by taking additional responsibilities in work and outside. Further, since I found so many gaps in my first attempt that I ruled out all other B-school and thought that if I can address the identified gaps, I can make to ISB itself. I paved my way for an extremely risky path. But that’s how you behave when you are mad in love. By the time ISB applications commenced, I improved my GMAT to a confident 730. I dived deep into essay writing and earned an interview call. It was the second happiest moment of my ISB journey. I knew that there is another mountain to climb- ISB Interview. During preparation, I realized my weakness to answer deep “Why” questions but somehow made up for the gaps. I did well during interview. One of the craziest questions that I cracked was “How many schools should be opened in India so that every child who is not able to go to school today can go to school”. I was confident of a “YES” from ISB. I was in flight to Hyderabad in my dreams. One fine morning, an abrupt “Rejection” email de-boarded me forever. That was the biggest and hardest stone throw I ever faced in my life that later turned into the most significant milestones of my journey.

My ISB rejection was followed by the toughest period of my life. My confidence took a hit, my professional career derailed, and I began to doubt myself. I returned to India without any gifts and chocolates for friends and family. SRK’s dialogue in OSO “Apni filmoin ki tarah, apni zindagi mein bhi end mein sab theek ho hi jata hai” seemed superficial. I became unusually quite that concerned my friends and family. I was at verge of giving it up but some thing kept the hope alive – something kept on telling me “Ek bar aur too banta hai”. The brief dull period followed with a period of intense introspection where I grew and learned most – about MBA, about life, and about myself. I evaluated almost all phases of my personal and professional aspirations, associated “Why”, “When”, “What if not” to everything. Looking outwards, I networked with people from virtually every B-school in the globe. I would simply talk to someone I find on Orkut, Facebook, Blog, B-school websites and learn something. In retrospect, I am thankful to ISB to reject me since I may have never learned so much and become the person I am now, If I were not humbled by ISB rejection despite my best possible attempt.

A Mature Attempt – Third Propose and she said "YES"

By this time, I developed number of unique stories to compliment my profile, excelled professionally, gained deep understanding of MBA applications through my networking, and improved my written and verbal skills significantly. I put my heart, blood, and sweat in my essays and was satisfied with the representation of my professional, personal, background, aspirations, and achievements. Since I had already opened up for International B-schools, I also applied to Duke in Early Action round. A list of back-ups for R-2 was also prepared.

ISB Interview call was more or less expected. The actual interview was, however, not as smooth as I expected. Huge pressure and high expectations brought an element of nervousness. The short 15 minutes interview also concerned me. There is no fun in disclosing it now that I got in this time, since you already know. But let me share that along with ISB I also got admitted to Duke in EA round. Duke news broke earlier and like your first kiss, you enjoy your the first admit more. However, my ISB admit was greeted with amazing responses from my friends – some actually shouted, jumped, and what not!! Maannnnnn for a moment I thought that they made it to ISB. A close friend who didn’t booze, self organized a party and took 6 vodka shots, that too when I was in US and he in India. Can you beat that?

That day, my Gtalk status message read “It was never a question of “if” it was always a question of “when”. That day SRK’s OSO complete dialogue made sense “Apni filmoin ki tarah, apni zindagi mein bhi end mein sab theek ho hi jata hai. Aur agar sab theek na ho, to who the end nahin, picture abhi baki hai mere dost”. That day, the confident Vinit I knew was back.

What it means for what lies ahead

ISB Admission will continue to be important to me because this is a testimony to my persistence and actuation of a dream. I will continue to be motivated by my own efforts (Looking back, I am also surprised by my efforts, by what made me come this far). I will continue to look at positive side of any failures I may face in my life – the learning from experiences, the next opportunities. I completely understand that the journey ahead will perhaps be tougher, harder, and stakes would be higher. MBA and ISB are just bridges, a connection that will complement what I have and supplement what I want. However, I approach what lies ahead after actually living the golden words from my hero: “It’s the journey of success where stones are thrown at you and you turn them into milestones”. This realization is my biggest takeaway from my ISB journey thus far.

P:S: For my ISB Class of 2010, I have already rejected Duke and decided to join ISB since it creates a lot of balance in all aspects of my life(more to come on that). Look forward to meet you all.