ISB YLP : Essay Writing Tips
The prestigious Indian School of Business Young Leaders Programme (ISB YLP) is one of the most sought-after management education programs in India. The ISB YLP application process is rigorous and includes several essays that allow candidates to showcase their strengths. Therefore, writing compelling ISB YLP essays becomes crucial for gaining admission into this prestigious programme.
This blog provides tips and strategies for crafting outstanding essays for the ISB YLP programme.
Understand ISB YLP Essays
The ISB YLP essays are your chance to tell your story to the admissions committee. The essays reveal your thought process, personality, goals and fit for the program. Typically, there are three essays within 2 stages in the ISB YLP application:
- Essay 1) Short-term and long-term career goals
- Essay 2) Key influencers and role models
- Essay 3 (optional)) Challenges or difficulties you have overcome
Through these essays, ISB evaluates your achievements, resilience, interpersonal skills and leadership potential. The essays account for a major portion of your application and must be well-crafted. The prompts and topics are subject to vary for evaluating you as fit for the course.
How to Approach ISB YLP Essays
Follow these key tips when brainstorming and writing your ISB YLP essays:
Understand Prompts
This will help you understand what the admissions committee is looking for.
- Carefully read each essay prompt and instructions before planning your response.
- Underline the keywords and phrases that indicate what the essay is asking you to reveal.
Do Your Research
Research will help you provide informed, relevant responses.
- Learn more about ISB YLP by going through the website, viewing webinars, and connecting with alumni.
- Understand the qualities and values ISB looks for so you can show your fit.
Brainstorm and Outline
This establishes structure and prevents important points from being missed.
- Create a brainstorming sheet for each essay prompt and note down all ideas.
- Then, organise them into an outline that flows logically.
Show, Don’t Tell
- Use stories, anecdotes and examples to showcase your qualities and thought processes.
- Illustrate your leadership skills, collaborative nature or creativity through narratives rather than stating them matter-of-factly. Showing is more powerful than telling.
Consider Word Limits
- Adhere to the strict word limits for each ISB YLP essay.
- Concise writing takes more work but has a greater impact.
- Remove redundancies and focus only on the most salient points.
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Tips for ISB YLP Essay 1 : Career Goals
The career goals essays require you to discuss your short-term and long-term plans after the YLP program. Here are some ISB YLP essay tips:
Do’s | Don’ts |
Mention ISB YLP’s Alignment with Your Goals | Avoid Generic Statements |
Explain why ISB YLP is essential for achieving your career objectives. | Steer clear of vague ambitions like becoming a “business leader” without specifics. |
Show how the program aligns with your strengths and ambitions. | |
Demonstrate Informed Choice | Never Choose Unrelated Goals |
Base your goals on detailed research about roles, companies, or sectors you aim for post-ISB YLP. | Ensure your short-term goals post-ISB YLP logically lead to your 15-year targets or long-term goals. |
Support your choices with logical reasoning. | |
Talk about Realistic Career Progression | Avoid Exceeding Reasonable Periods |
Present a realistic timeline for career growth in 5 and 15 years post-ISB YLP. | Set goals for 5 and 15 years post-program, not overambitious 3 or 10-year plans. |
Indicate how diverse roles will build upon each other for career growth. | Remember, candidates with limited experience are expected to have limited foresight. |
Tips for ISB YLP Essay 2 : Influencers and Role Models
The second ISB YLP essay may require you to write about personalities who have deeply influenced you. Here are some key ISB YLP essay tips:
Do’s | Don’t |
Choose Relevant Role Models | Avoid Skimming Over Their Background |
Select personalities who have significantly influenced your outlook and choices. | Provide context about who these people are, their achievements, and their connection to you. |
They can be famous or from your circle. | |
Showcase Different Relationships | Never Exceed Word Limits |
Discuss one personal influencer (like a family member) and one professional role model (like a former boss or mentor). | Allocate balanced space to both personalities, adhering to individual word limits. |
Illustrate Their Actual Influence | Avoid Neglecting Storytelling |
Share specific anecdotes showing how their words or actions impacted your decisions or mindset. | Move beyond mere praise or generic lessons; use illustrative stories to demonstrate their influence. |
Tips for ISB YLP Essay 3 : Challenges Faced
The third essay is usually optional. This behavioural essay requires you to write about a difficult obstacle or failure you have overcome. The key tips for the ISB YLP essay are as follows:
Do’s | Don’t |
Choose One Key Challenge | Avoid Sensitive Personal Issues |
Focus on a substantial or formative difficulty, providing detailed insights. | Stay mindful of the professional context; avoid overly vulnerable or negative personal matters. |
Keep it Relatable | Never Blame External Factors Entirely |
Discuss realistic challenges that a young student or professional might face without over-dramatising. | Acknowledge difficult circumstances, but avoid playing the victim or excessive finger-pointing. |
Show Personal Accountability | Avoid Ending on a Sour Note |
Use active voice, highlighting specific actions you took in response to the challenge. | Conclude with positive takeaways, emphasising growth and strengths acquired, not just the hardship. |
Final Thoughts
ISB YLP essays require time, self-awareness and strategic thinking. You must start early, get feedback from mentors, and revise multiple times. Showcase your achievements without exaggeration and elucidate your thought process without needless jargon. Authentic, thoughtful stories and clear career plans drive winning ISB YLP essays. Use these tips and your unique voice to craft essays that make you stand out. The time invested will be well worth it!
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Shaifali Bhardwaj
Content Writer
About Author
A people- and story-person, Shaifali enjoys crafting narratives inspired by the life of people she meets. She likes to read autobiographies and fiction, indulge in some YRF drama, and even spin stories inspired by everyday objects (like her work desk). Stories being her oxygen, she began her career with HT Media, where she wrote health and entertainment news stories, and later started helping students write and edit essential application documents like statements of purpose. This fulfilled her desire to uncover unique stories and articulate them in the most compelling manner, while forming lasting bonds with her students. Presently with Career Launcher Study Abroad, she’s expanding her skills in website content and copywriting to advance in her field. On weekends, you may find her at a dance workshop or requesting weekday leaves for trekking adventures.