Yes, GMAT/ISB is a strong plan B especially for candidates with weak 10/12 or work-ex > 3 years. The rant thread commenter Dathinho confirmed: "I went the GMAT - ISB route. Atleast, here I have a chance.
" ISB charges Rs 43L fees for Rs 34 LPA average with GMAT 710+ cutoff - it's the most expensive but arguably most profile-friendly top B-school in India. ISB advantages over CAT-based IIMs: no board weightage (ignores 10/12), emphasis on work-ex and leadership, one-year programme (vs 2-year at IIMs), older batch demographic (median age 26-28 vs 22-24 at IIMs). GMAT is easier than CAT in absolute difficulty - 90 percentile GMAT equivalent is roughly 80-85 percentile CAT.
Preparation time for GMAT 720+: 3-6 months for most candidates. The costs: GMAT exam fee USD 275, ISB application fees Rs 5,000+, total Rs 45-50L investment for ISB. Placement ROI at ISB: 1-year payback on Rs 34 LPA average package, strong tech/consulting/finance recruiters.
Alternatives via GMAT: US MBA (top 20) with USD 80-150K salary outcomes, UK/Singapore MBAs. If your goal is premium Indian MBA and CAT didn't work despite good acads and work-ex, ISB is the strongest second-best option. Don't settle for Rs 20+ LPA packages from tier 2 colleges when ISB is achievable.
For candidates with weak 10/12 specifically: ISB is essentially your only premium B-school option in India. Check your eligibility at collvera.