How much preference is given to past academics inorder to get into ISB

To get in? Doesnt matter too much if something else on your profile makes up for it. The companies that come to recuit? They care a lot.

I don't know much so make sure you dyor. "It's not that the IIMs prefer past acads, it's just what the companies ask for. So they do accordingly." I think if you want to work in consulting or finance then they definitely matter. Don't know s&m.