How Did a CA and a Finance Professional Both Convert ISB PGP?
- Aug 5
- 10 min read
Tanu Poddar, a Chartered Accountant, and Shivam Goenka, a finance professional, share their parallel journeys to ISB PGP — revealing why the "optional" essay is never truly optional, how essay introspection took longer than GMAT preparation, and why using ChatGPT for essays is the single biggest risk an applicant can take.
When two professionals from different finance backgrounds independently convert the same programme and then sit down together to discuss their journeys, the convergence in their advice is telling. Tanu and Shivam took different paths to ISB PGP, but their insights align on the fundamentals: introspection matters more than writing skill, authenticity is non-negotiable, and the essays are not standalone documents — they are your interview blueprint.
Their joint conversation offers a uniquely comprehensive view of the ISB application process, with practical insights from both a CA's analytical precision and a finance professional's strategic perspective. For anyone targeting ISB from a finance or accounting background, this is the essential preparation guide.
Current application deadlines for One Year MBA in India:
IIMA PGPX: 2 September 2026, 23 November 2026
ISB PGP: 20 September 2026, 6 December 2026, 17 January 2027
IIMB EPGP: 17 August 2026, 25 November 2026
XLRI GMP: 31 December 2026
SPJIMR PGPM: 31 May 2026, 31 July 2026, 15 September 2026
IIMK PGP BL: 15 July 2026 (extended to 18th July), 31 August 2026, 20 November 2026
For assistance with your MBA applications connect with GOALisB.
Latest ISB MBA Deadlines (2027 Intake):
ISB PGP YL Round 1: 20 December 2026, 21 February 2027
ISB PGPpro: 23 August 2026, 29 November 2026, 14 March 2027
ISB PGPMAX: 20 August 2026, 6 December 2026, 14 March 2027
ISB PGP MFAB Round 1: 29 November 2026, 28 March 2027
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Why Does ISB Essay Introspection Take Longer Than GMAT Preparation?
Shivam's observation challenges the common assumption that GMAT is the hardest part of the process.
"Knowing the story of your life since childhood — what motivates you, what brings you here — the questionnaire was really helpful in introspecting those things. It took me more time than my GMAT preparation to arrive at an essay."
This is not an outlier experience — it is the norm among successful admits. The GMAT tests knowledge and skill, both of which improve predictably with practice. You study concepts, solve problems, take mocks, and watch your score climb. The trajectory is visible and measurable. Essay introspection offers no such comfort. It tests self-awareness — which requires confronting questions you may never have asked yourself in your entire career.
Why did you choose this career path? What drives your decisions when there is no clear analytical answer? What patterns define your professional identity — patterns you have lived but never articulated? For a finance professional or a CA who spends every working day in structured, quantitative problem-solving, this shift from external analysis to internal reflection is genuinely difficult.
"The essays were eventually polished by you to bring out the best in the application — highlighting the various aspects which could add up for one's MBA journey and can also be a good talking point in the interview as well."
The "talking point in the interview" connection is crucial and often underappreciated. Every claim in your essay, every story you tell, every goal you articulate will be probed by the ISB interview panel. Essays written through genuine introspection produce interview answers that are natural and confident — because you are not remembering what you wrote, you are remembering what you experienced. Essays written hastily produce interview answers that are rehearsed and fragile — because you are trying to remember manufactured narratives rather than lived experiences.
For understanding the ISB essay writing process and what makes MBA essays authentic, explore the GOALisB resources.
Why Is the "Optional" ISB Essay Never Actually Optional?
Tanu's philosophy is unambiguous: "If it's an optional one, it's not an option. You still attempt it. You don't want to take any risk. That was the philosophy I had in mind."
The ISB application includes three essay topics, one of which is designated optional. The word "optional" creates a trap: some applicants interpret it as "skip this to save time" or "only strong candidates need to answer this." Both interpretations are wrong.
Submitting only two essays when you could submit three sends a signal to the admissions committee — that you were either unwilling to invest the additional effort or unable to articulate an additional dimension of your candidacy. Neither interpretation helps your application. In a competitive applicant pool where hundreds of candidates are submitting all three essays, choosing to submit two is choosing to compete with a handicap.
The optional essay — typically focused on career goals and how ISB specifically enables them — is arguably the most strategically important of the three. It directly addresses the "why ISB" and "what after ISB" questions that the interview panel will probe extensively. Skipping it means entering the interview without having articulated your goals on paper, which reduces both your preparation depth and the panel's ability to engage with your career vision meaningfully.
"There are three topics out of which one is optional, and it's always recommended to do all three."
For understanding the evolution of ISB essay topics, ISB PGP application strategy, and sample MBA essays, explore the GOALisB resources.
How Should You Structure ISB Essays in 250 Words?
Tanu's essay-craft advice is specific and technique-oriented — valuable for any applicant struggling with ISB's compressed format.
"You have just 250 words. Go one, two, three levels deeper into the question. Keep thinking and really understand who you are, why you want to do a particular thing."
The "levels deeper" concept is powerful. A first-level answer to "why MBA" is "I want career growth." A second-level answer is "I want to transition from execution to strategy." A third-level answer is "I want to lead product development decisions in the consumer goods industry, and my four years in financial analysis have shown me that the analytical skillset alone is insufficient — I need the cross-functional business understanding that an MBA provides, specifically in operations and marketing." Each level adds specificity and self-awareness.
"For a question like 'why you want to study at ISB, what are your goals' — you need to be so clear and so specific about your goals. You have to align those goals with ISB. What are the USPs of ISB? How do they work for you? How?"
The school-specific alignment is where most applicants underperform. Saying "ISB is India's top one-year MBA programme" is not alignment — it is flattery. Alignment means connecting specific ISB features (the peer learning network, the one-year intensive format, specific electives, specific faculty research areas, the placement ecosystem in your target industry) to specific gaps in your profile that those features address.
Her structural approach for the essay itself: "I tried to start with a very catchy introduction and end with a conclusion which whoever is reading it will probably remember. Introduction is what makes people want to read your essay. The body is what people remember."
In 250 words, the structure is: 1-2 sentences of engaging introduction (a specific moment, a vivid observation, or a provocative claim), 150-180 words of substantive content (the story, the insight, the connection), and 1-2 sentences of memorable conclusion (a forward-looking statement or a resonant closing thought).
"Be honest — because at the end of the day, you will have to defend that essay in the interview. All the questions are going to be around those essays. So honesty becomes very important. Introspection becomes quite important."
For MBA essay writing techniques, mastering short-answer MBA essays, and ISB complete guide, explore the GOALisB resources.
Why Is ChatGPT the Biggest Risk in MBA Essay Writing?
Tanu's warning is the most detailed AI-use caution in the GOALisB admit stories series.
"One should not use ChatGPT at all. ChatGPT will give you a lot of jargon. There won't be any personalized touch. The person reading the essay will very clearly make out that you have written using ChatGPT."
The detection issue is real. Admissions committees at top B-schools are increasingly trained to recognise AI-generated content — not just through plagiarism detection tools, but through pattern recognition. AI-generated essays share telltale characteristics: generic phrasing, manufactured-sounding transitions, an absence of specific personal detail, and a polished blandness that reads like it was written by everyone and no one.
"Maybe you can use it to structure your essay, but then you have to edit it 90 to 95%. Make it much more easy to read, easy to understand, and something which people can probably relate to."
The 90-95% edit requirement effectively negates any efficiency gain from using AI. If you have to rewrite almost everything, you would have been better served starting from your own thoughts and using the consultant's feedback to refine them. The AI generates a starting point that often takes you in the wrong direction — using vocabulary and framing that do not sound like you — and the editing process becomes an exercise in stripping away artificiality rather than building toward authenticity.
The strategic risk extends beyond the essay to the interview: "Be honest — because at the end of the day, you will have to defend that essay in the interview." If your essays were AI-generated, the interview panel will ask you to elaborate on claims and insights that you did not originate. The disconnect between the essay's polished articulation and your inability to expand on it spontaneously will be visible within the first two questions.
For understanding the role of authenticity in MBA applications and guidance on ISB essay writing, explore the GOALisB resources.
Watch the full conversation on the GOALisB YouTube channel: Tanu Poddar & Shivam Goenka — ISB PGP Admit Journey
What Are the Key Dos and Don'ts for Future ISB PGP Applicants from Finance?
From both Tanu and Shivam, combined and consolidated:
Do attempt all three essays — including the optional one. There is no strategic advantage to skipping it and significant downside risk. The optional essay is your opportunity to articulate career goals — material that directly feeds interview preparation.
Do spend at least one month on essays. "There are going to be so many iterations and so many levels of introspection." Multiple drafts, deep reflection, and progressive refinement are non-negotiable for quality.
Do go three levels deep on every essay question. Surface-level answers demonstrate neither self-awareness nor strategic thinking. Specificity is what differentiates.
Do use a catchy introduction and memorable conclusion. In 250 words, structure matters more than length. The opening must earn the reader's attention. The closing must leave a lasting impression.
Do not use ChatGPT to write your essays. Detection risk is growing. And even undetected AI content fails in the interview when you cannot defend claims you did not originate.
Do prepare for interviews by re-reading your essays thoroughly. The ISB interview will probe everything you wrote. If you cannot defend it, you should not have written it.
Do get your GMAT done early. Both recommend finishing GMAT well before application deadlines to create mental and calendar space for essay work.
Do take professional help. The consultant does not replace your effort — they help you identify which stories matter and how to frame them for maximum impact within 250 words.
Key Takeaways for CA and Finance Professionals Targeting ISB PGP
Essay introspection is harder and takes longer than GMAT preparation. Budget at least one month of dedicated essay work — more if you are applying to multiple schools.
The optional essay is never optional. Submit all three essays. The goals essay is strategically the most important component of the application.
250 words demand ruthless clarity and three-level depth. Every sentence must carry weight. Go deeper on every question until you reach genuine insight.
ChatGPT is a liability, not an asset, for MBA essays. Detection risk is real, and AI-generated content creates a dangerous disconnect between essay quality and interview performance.
Essays are your interview blueprint. Every claim will be probed. Honesty and introspection in the writing phase produce confidence in the interview phase.
CA and finance backgrounds are strong ISB candidacies — but the application must demonstrate why an MBA adds value beyond the existing credential.
Professional guidance amplifies your effort — it does not replace it. The consultant helps you see which stories matter and how to present them within severe word constraints.
This admit story is part of the GOALisB Admit Stories series, featuring real journeys of professionals who secured admits to ISB PGP, IIM Ahmedabad PGPX, and other top one-year MBA programmes.
GOALisB Higher Education Consulting works with CA, finance, banking, and accounting professionals to build compelling applications for ISB PGP and IIM executive MBA programmes. Connect with GOALisB to discuss your profile and ISB application strategy.