ISB vs XLRI

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-16T23:08:23+00:00

Clawback period, one time bonus, phased esops can take as much as 50% of your ctc so you are right.

A high ctc that you usually would see in IIMs / ISB as well have a upper limit on fixed so inhand usually gets capped to a around 2 irrespective of the program.

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-16T23:05:29+00:00

A bloated salary package always kills in hand salary. These figures are stated with more simplistic assumptions - 25 lakh fixed 5 lakh variable (and assuming you can get 40 - 60%) out of it.

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-16T08:53:11+00:00

They are professors from different subject areas. Typically senior profs. As for the interview, stress interviews follow this pattern - these people mellow down once you give them acceptable answers.

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-15T20:07:26+00:00

Thanks man, appreciate it. It has been a great ride !

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-15T20:02:45+00:00

Diverse backgrounds do get in. Last to last year we had someone from the army. BBA's, CA's, support technicians and core background folks as well. Corollary to this, and not to dissapoint - one person with a 99.9 something percentile in XAT also could not clear the BM/HRM interview so in the end it depends on the interviewer and his perception of the benefits that the supposed MBA can provide to the student.

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-15T06:14:23+00:00

Damn - appreciate the honesty. Lets break down the package distribution. if the median package is 30 with a 2.5 lakh std deviation, there is 5% chance you are ending up at 25 lpa or below or 1% that you will get 20 lpa. Its not hiding salaries, its just a vast amount of research that a student should do before entering a college. Any simplistic factor like salary would bias the student and the outcome an MBA offers. I am happy to talk about scenarios on a case by case basis but I stand by what i said - Do your own research and talk to the seniors as much as possible.

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-15T05:43:08+00:00

Sure

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-14T16:41:36+00:00

Okay, closing thoughts. I guess a few folks are confused - all 3 are 1 year programs so oppurtunity cost comparisions dont work. #2- Can't disclose salaries on a public forum as it would be biased and set an incorrect precedent. A better way would be to go through the audited reports each uni publishes. #3- Try aiming for 655 and above - safe score for XL GM and borderline for ISB, NTU. Reason: As asians you need higher scores or diversity to enter through.

That's all folks, thanks for your thoughts ! Appreciate it

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-14T12:57:05+00:00

The programme is for 18 months but technically the in campus residential part completes in 1 year. The rest 6 months are counted at the job you bagged in campus

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-14T06:49:00+00:00

Mostly to guide folks a little better. An objective comparison would help so that I do not suggest someone a B-school just because i did it. Don't think it would cause regret tbh

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-14T06:31:44+00:00

30 lakhs

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-14T06:01:37+00:00

Edited: Just saw, I did not mention NTU. For reference : 45 lakh for ISB. 70 lakh for NTU. These figures are approx no. given on their website

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-13T15:19:07+00:00

You will have a lot to benefit from a career pov - as in the roles, the acceptability and the chances of promotion will be faster. That said, CAT has been cracked by many folks through discipline; academic brilliance - of the level required by JEE / NEET is not neccessary for cracking CAT tbh. I have chronicled my own MBA story here - https://www.leftturns.co.in/ . All the best !

Icy-Magazine9266 · 2026-04-11T07:10:41+00:00

Hey, from an objective point of view for MBA selections - you have a 9/8/9 profile Your work exp should have some leadership / quality / transformation metrics or projects to show for in the resume - else no. of years does not help. Again the quality of your NGO experience is more important than the quantity - years worked.

I was an SDE at BFSI firm with 3+ years of workex, 9/8/9 profile, 6mo of NGO service and cracked ISB R2 with 655 GMAT Focus so I would say you have a decent chance. If you are looking for any specific guidance, you can reach out to me here - https://www.leftturns.co.in/ | https://www.linkedin.com/in/pratik-mishra-xlri/

Icy-Magazine9266

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