ISB
This review was written by Nirvan Gandhi on 6th April, 2025
ISB: The Roller Coaster Ride That Shapes You
Everyone told me ISB would be a roller coaster.
They lied.
It wasn’t a roller coaster.
It was a freaking cyclone.
I joined ISB Hyderabad thinking it’d be intense. But nothing prepares you for that intensity.
There’s no slow ramp-up. No time to breathe. From day one, you’re thrown into the deep end.
Classes. Clubs. Competitions. Cases. Career treks. Cold calls.
Everything hits you at once.
And honestly?
I hated it at first.
The Pressure Cooker
There’s something about ISB that constantly keeps you on your toes. (or makes you so tired that sleep and work become one and same - exhibit A - me on the image on your right :p)
It’s a 1-year MBA, but it compresses two years of content into it—on steroids.
You're surrounded by 900+ high achievers. Consultants, bankers, army veterans, startup founders, IITians, UPSC rankers.
It’s overwhelming.
Everyone is chasing something.
Some want I-banking. Some want PM roles. Some want to “figure it out.”
And if you're not clear about your own path, you'll feel like you're drowning.
You learn the hard way that time is your most scarce resource.
You can’t attend every speaker session.
You can’t be in 6 clubs.
You can’t sleep 4 hours a night and expect to function.
ISB forces you to pick your battles.
And in hindsight, I think that’s exactly the point.
Because life post-MBA is no different.
Where I Became a Storyteller
Most people think I learned storytelling from my media job.
True, that helped polish it.
But the foundation?
That was laid at ISB.
I met some of the most brilliant storytellers of my life in those SV lounges.
Late-night group discussions. Debate prep. Pitches. Peer reviews.
You learn how to think sharply and speak with clarity.
You learn how to own the room, even when you're unsure.
When i first joined ISB, i never would have thought that Storytelling would be my biggest takeaway from ISB. But that's why they say be prepared to be surprised at what you will find and what you will learn.
Today, storytelling is my strength. It’s what drives Applicant-X.
And that seed was planted in ISB’s chaotic classrooms.
The Network That Moves Mountains (And Medicines)
ISB’s network is mad powerful.
You don’t fully get it while you’re in school. But the day you need something — really need something — you’ll see it in action.
Flashback to 2020.
My dad was in the hospital during COVID
We needed Remdesivir injections. Urgently. If you remember those days in India, remdesivir was always out of stock. And I was really panicked.
But then, a friend of mine asked me to put a message on the ISB alumni group. And I did that, just one message. And?
Within 12 hours, I had the vials in hand.
No questions asked. No favours owed.
Just one of us helping another.
ISB churns out 900 people every year. That’s 900 more soldiers added to your army.
Across consulting firms, startups, unicorns, family businesses, government roles—you name it.
They’ve got your back.
Even when you don’t know you need it.
Who Should Choose ISB?
If you’re planning to work in India, Southeast Asia, or the Middle East—ISB is one of the best decisions you can make.
It has reach. Respect. And results.
But if you’re looking at jobs in the US, UK, Europe, or Canada…
The ISB brand won’t carry the same weight.
It’s not a global passport like INSEAD or LBS.
So know your geography before you sign up.
Academics at ISB: Welcome to The Deep End
Let me break it to you straight—academics at ISB are no joke.
The program is just one year. Which means everything is condensed.
Core terms are brutal—Quant, Economics, Marketing, Stats, Accounting—slammed into back-to-back terms.
You barely recover from one before the next tsunami hits.
Classes start at 8:15 AM. You’ll sleep at 3 AM. And you’ll have three assignments, two quizzes, and a group project in between.
There’s a reason why terms like “Term 2 Hell” exist in ISB folklore.
But it prepares you.
You learn to analyse, present, defend, and survive—at the same time.
By the time placements come, you’re battle-ready.
One of the Most Beautiful Campuses You'll Ever See
I’ve visited a lot of campuses — in India and abroad.
Very few come close to how ISB Hyderabad looks and feels.
The moment you enter the gates, it hits you.
Clean lines. Open spaces. That quiet, calm vibe.
It’s not flashy. It’s not trying too hard. It’s just... grounded.
You stay in Student Villages (SVs).
Each one is a 4BHK flat. You share it with 3 others.
You’ve got your own room, a shared kitchen, decent furniture — and yeah, you can hire a cook. There’s no mess on campus (Hyderabad one). That’s one thing Mohali has — a central dining space.
You’ll find people walking to 8 a.m. lectures in pajamas.
You’ll see groups huddled on benches outside SVs, debating cases at midnight.
And there’s this one long ring road connecting the academic blocks to the SVs — that becomes your runway for all deep life conversations.
No noise. No distractions.
Just a beautifully built space that lets you breathe while the chaos of ISB runs around you.
ISB is Not Competitive. It’s Relentless.
I’ve seen hyper-competitive places.
But ISB was different.
It wasn’t just the “I want a better job” kind of ambition. It was “I need to do everything” FOMO.
There’s an event every week. A speaker every other day. 50 clubs. Study groups. Case competitions.
It’s like being thrown into a buffet where everything looks good—but eat too much and you’ll crash.
The people? Sharp. Driven. Some of the smartest I’ve met.
You walk into a class thinking you’ve got a unique POV…
…and then someone casually drops a game-theory-backed insight with a real-world example and walks off like it’s nothing.
If you don’t have clarity before coming in, this place will chew you up.
Hyderabad vs Mohali: What’s the Real Difference?
This one’s asked all the time.
Short answer? Not much.
ISB runs on a “one school, two campuses” model.
Same curriculum. Same faculty. Same placements. Same degree.
You’ll be asked your campus preference during the application — but there’s no guarantee you’ll get it.
Companies are not allowed to ask which campus you’re from during placements.
The entire process is common.
In fact, ISB even flies one batch to the other campus during placement season — usually Mohali folks come to Hyderabad.
Now, some real talk:
-
Hyderabad is the original campus. Bigger. Older. Better infrastructure.
(I studied here — and I’ve walked across both. It shows.) -
Mohali is newer, a little smaller, but honestly quite well-built too.
Has a mess, unlike Hyderabad. And yes, that can be a factor if you don’t want to manage food on your own.
Beyond that, it’s about mindset.
Final Take: The ISB Effect
ISB doesn’t hold your hand. It throws you into the fire.
You come out—burnt, shaken, wiser.
But also sharper. Faster. Hungrier.
You’ll build your tribe.
You’ll get lost and find yourself again.
You’ll stare at pre-reads at 3 AM and question your life choices.
You’ll be in a room full of 900 people and still feel lonely—and then, suddenly, find your people.
It’s intense. It’s imperfect.
But it will change you in ways you won’t even realise until much later.
And when it does—you’ll look back and say what I say now:
“It was all meant to be like that.”
