TL;DR: ISB does not publish a GRE cutoff. The Class of 2026 average GRE is 327 (range 306-336). A score of 320+ is considered competitive; 325+ puts you in a strong position. Verbal 160+ and Quant 165+ are the section-level targets. ISB accepts GMAT and GRE equally, requires test-centre scores only, and evaluates applications holistically. […]
TL;DR: Over 100 Indian institutions accept GMAT scores for their management programs. The top 30 include ISB, all major IIM executive programs, XLRI, SPJIMR, Great Lakes, NMIMS, FMS Delhi, and BITS. All GMAT scores on this page reflect the GMAT Focus Edition scale (205-805), which is the only active GMAT format as of 2024. Most […]
TL;DR: Most people who search for courses after MBA are not really looking for courses. They are looking for direction. This guide skips the list of 27 options and instead helps you identify which category you fall into, what gap you are actually trying to close, and which programs, certifications, or degrees are worth pursuing […]
TL;DR: The MBA is one of the most expensive and time-intensive investments you can make in your career. The wrong reasons to pursue one are also the most common: peer pressure, vague career dissatisfaction, prestige-seeking, the belief that it fixes a weak profile, and treating it as a default option when nothing better comes to […]
TL;DR: Tech MBA programs in 2026 place graduates in product management, technology consulting, and leadership roles at a median base salary of $150,000–$185,000. Tuition has crossed $80,000/year at most top US programs, the GMAT has a new Focus Edition scoring scale, and which programs actually deliver strong tech outcomes has shifted. This guide covers all […]
TL;DR: ISB admits candidates below the class average GMAT every cycle. The Class of 2026 average is GMAT Focus ~665 (classic equivalent ~710), and the admitted range extends well below that. A lower GMAT is a disadvantage that requires compensation, not a disqualification. The compensation framework covers three areas: academic profile strength, professional narrative quality, […]
TL;DR: Top MBA programmes including Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, MIT Sloan, Kellogg, Chicago Booth, Columbia, Yale, and Berkeley Haas all offer deferred admission programmes that let college seniors or final-year master’s students secure an MBA place before graduating. You apply now, work for 2-5 years, then enrol. All require GMAT or GRE. April is the primary […]
TL;DR: One-year MBA programs in the US are not a shortcut. They are accelerated versions of the two-year program, designed for applicants who already have a business foundation and clear post-MBA goals. Kellogg, Cornell Johnson, and NYU Stern are the strongest options for Indian applicants. GMAT Focus scores in the 645–695 range are competitive at […]
TL;DR: There is no single ideal ISB profile. The Class of 2026 included 826 students from backgrounds ranging from space scientists to army officers to dentists. What they shared: 2+ years of work experience (average 4 years), a competitive GMAT Focus score (average 669, range 555–765), strong academics, and a clear story about why the […]
“Communication” is a key skill that top hirers look for in applicants nowadays. GMAC recently conducted a survey of nearly 600 employers and they ranked communications skills, on average, twice as important as managerial skills. Therefore the selection procedure to the top B-schools across the world is designed such that they are able to […]
Top B-schools that admit through the GMAT decided that to see potential and future leadership, they could look at 3 broad things: Academic Potential: 1. What are your GMAT Scores – including your split in Quant & Verbal? 2. What is the reputation of your Undergrad school & the course that […]
In a conversation with IIM Lucknow IPMX professor Dr. Anita Goyal about the admissions process, Noida campus, placements and more. 1. What makes the IIM Lucknow IPMX different from other Indian 1 year MBAs? What are the unique aspects/ highlights of the program? We are the only IIM with an exclusive campus […]
Arun Jagannathan, the Founder & CEO of CrackVerbal has devised a simple test to assess your need for an MBA if you are an entrepreneur by nature. Take the test now and tell us your scores! 🙂 Entrepreneurship – A Rising Trend In almost every MBA batch of any reputed B-School, one […]
If you are planning an MS abroad, an additional requirement apart from the GRE will be an English Language Test. The most popular ones are the IELTS and TOEFL. Understand that both TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and the IELTS (International English Language Testing Services) are intended for students planning to […]
Hello and welcome to this session of Wednesday Wisdom. Since the CAT results are out, a lot of students have come and asked me, “I didn’t do as well on CAT, is there anything else that I can do?”. One thing that I advise to students and that I would be advising to […]
This week’s edition of Wednesday Wisdoms talks about application strategies for the Round1, Round 2 & Round 3 MBA application deadlines. So one question that we keep getting asked is whether the 1st round, the 2nd round and the 3rd round of the applications – do they really matter? First let me […]
When it comes to ISB (and more generally MBA) admissions, getting an interview short-list is only the first step. While there is no guaranteed formula to convert an interview call into an admit, there are a few things that are guaranteed to not get you the admit. In this post, I want to elaborate on […]
This is the month of the year when most of you are thinking, “I have taken the GRE and I have another ten days for the TOEFL. Is it really enough?” You are also asking, “I have prepared for the GRE. Will that help for the TOEFL?” The TOEFL is an acronym for […]
Duke University’s MBA program at the Fuqua School of Business is consistently ranked among the best in the world, recently coming in the 6th position in Business Week Rankings. Boasting of famous alumni including Apple CEO Tim Cook, it is a fiercely competitive school with average GMAT scores touching 700. We got in touch with Fuqua’s […]
B-school rankings are more than just an annual ritual undertaken by various media groups. If taken with a pinch of salt, B-school rankings can help MBA aspirants, companies and others to assess the reputation and credentials of a B-school in comparison to others. But rankings should not be considered as the sole criteria to judge […]
TL;DR: A 2-year MBA (18-24 months, primarily US programs) gives you more time for career switching, networking, internships, and exploration. A 1-year MBA (10-14 months, primarily European and Indian programs) costs less, requires less time out of work, and suits candidates who know their post-MBA direction. The right choice depends on your career goals, work […]
Profile fitment simply means whether your profile is apt for the B-school(s) you are applying to. For instance, say you are a 32 year old MBA aspirant with 9+ years of banking experience. Given your age and work experience, what would be a good MBA program for you? The one-year IIMA-PGPX program, where […]
TL;DR: The most damaging ISB application myths are: that you need 700+ GMAT to be considered, that engineers or IT profiles are disadvantaged, that social work is mandatory, that applying in Round 1 gives no advantage, and that the interview is a formality. All of these are false. ISB evaluates holistically and the application errors […]
