Interested in hearing what past Stratus clients have to say about working with us? Watch and read just a few Stratus reviews below and visit GMAT Club, Poets&Quants, and our YouTube channel for hundreds more.
I can confidently say that my journey to Harvard Business School and a spot on the waitlist at Stanford wouldn’t have been possible without Jennifer’s invaluable guidance.
From our very first interaction, it was clear that was an incredible listener. Throughout the entire process, she took the time to understand not only my academic and professional background but also my personal aspirations. This personalized approach made all the difference, as she helped me articulate my story in a way that truly reflected who I am.
One of her standout qualities is her exceptional brainstorming skills. Instead of merely providing answers, Jennifer guided me through thought-provoking discussions, enabling me to generate my own ideas and insights.
Moreover, I was consistently impressed by her responsiveness. Not once did I experience a delayed response; she was always quick to provide feedback, answer questions, and offer support. This level of dedication and efficiency greatly eased the stress of the application process, allowing me to focus on presenting my best self.
Her honesty was a refreshing aspect of our collaboration. She wasn’t afraid to tell me when certain details were unnecessary or when a particular approach might be more effective. This candid feedback was instrumental in refining my application to its strongest possible version.
One standout feature of working with her and the Stratus team was the access to other admissions officers. I had the chance to bounce ideas off and interview prep with various coaches.
In essence, having Jennifer as my coach was like having a steadfast supporter and mentor throughout the entire process. I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone embarking on the challenging journey of MBA admissions. Thank you Jennifer for being an integral part of my success!
I highly recommend Joe Farr to anyone aspiring to get into a top business school. Thanks to his guidance and expertise, I was admitted to Wharton received a $40,000 fellowship.
Joe’s assistance went beyond navigating the Stratus process; he provided invaluable insights into what I truly wanted out of life and business school. Through thoughtful discussions and probing questions, Joe helped me clarify my goals and aspirations.
Joe played a crucial role in helping me overcome the obstacle of a low undergraduate GPA. His expertise in helping me present my strengths and weaknesses was instrumental in securing my acceptance to Ross, Tuck, Tepper, Kellogg, and Wharton. He guided me in showcasing my growth, leadership skills, and unique attributes that demonstrated my readiness for business school.
Overall, Joe Farr’s guidance and expertise were crucial to my success in the admissions process.
Melisa played an instrumental role in my MBA application journey. From our very first meeting, it was clear that she was committed to providing an exceptionally thorough and personalized approach. Her deep understanding of the admissions process at the school I was applying to, as well as her up-to-date knowledge about the testing industry were invaluable and made me trust her implicitly.
What truly set Melisa apart from other counselors I’d met with was that she encouraged me to be my most authentic self. She didn’t just help me navigate the application; she guided me in uncovering and showcasing my most unique strengths and experiences. This focus on authenticity was both refreshing and empowering, and it definitely helped me stand out to the admissions committee.
Overall, Melisa was a source of unwavering support and confidence during what for many is an extremely stressful process. Her constructive feedback and encouraging words provided me with the assurance I needed to put my best foot forward. I wholeheartedly recommend Melisa to anyone seeking a compassionate and highly knowledgeable MBA admissions counselor.
Jennifer was such a fantastic partner on the MBA application journey. As a first-gen student, I was looking for guidance on the process from start to finish. I was also seeking help in bolstering certain parts of my application to balance out potential weak spots. Jennifer not only kept me on track but also instilled confidence along the way (especially when my confidence in myself was wavering!). Stratus’s process of having multiple eyes on each part of your application was invaluable, as it ensures your story and goals are cohesive. I ended up with several admits, all with scholarship - the investment in Stratus was certainly worth it!
I truly could not be happier with my experience working with Melisa to prepare my MBA applications. For me, the most difficult part of the process was telling my story in the most compelling way. In this area, Melisa was an absolutely invaluable teammate, and I was amazed to see that by following her lead through the grueling but rewarding Stratus method, we arrived at a narrative that I was really proud to present. Melisa always followed up on my questions in a timely fashion and with insightful responses. And on the rare occasion that she wasn’t certain about an answer to a question, she’d do the homework to track down the person who did have the answer, always making sure that I had all the information I needed.
Apart from her incredibly valuable expertise, Melisa was an abolute joy to work with! Without fail, she showed up to all of our interactions with infectious optimism and a big smile.
Thank you so much, Melisa!
Melisa’s is a true testament and exceptional blend of personalized support and genuine encouragement. From the very first call I had with Melisa about my MBA application, I could truly feel that the person on the other side knows her stuff and really wants the best outcome for you. From the outset, Melisa prioritizes getting to know you better on a personal level, fostering an environment of trust and openness. This approach made me feel that the application process is not just about ticking boxes but about authentically representing one’s personality and strengths. With Melisa’s guidance, I was able to confidently put my best foot forward, knowing that my application is a true reflection of who I am. Throughout the journey, Melisa remains consistently supportive and cheering, demonstrating her sincere desire for nothing but the best, making the whole application process very enjoyable. I would highly recommend working with Melisa if you are in the process of submitting your application for an MBA program.
Making the decision to work with Susan at Stratus Admissions was by far the best decision I made in my MBA application journey. From our first conversation, I could tell Susan was deeply invested in my success and that she would be my biggest cheerleader – all of which proved to be true. Her expert guidance, tailored advice, and unwavering support were instrumental throughout the process. Susan’s personalized approach instilled confidence in me, ensuring that my application authentically represented my story & aspirations while aligning with the values of my target schools. Susan is honest and helped me to address any potential red flags with my application head on. She was by my side for every step of the process from learning about me and my story on a deep level to essays, resume updates, interviews, and even in my decision making process & scholarship negotiation. I am immensely grateful for Susan’s expertise and genuine investment in my success. With Susan’s help, I was able to gain admission into multiple schools with generous scholarship packages and will be attending my dream school in the fall – a school that was a major stretch and was more of a dream before I met Susan who helped to make it a reality. If you’re applying for MBA programs, Susan is without a doubt THE one to work with!
I highly recommend Susan Cera to anyone looking to boost their chances of getting into a top business school. From the start, she took the time to understand my academic background, work experience, and community involvement to build a strong foundation for my applications. As my story evolved, she helped me craft a tailored strategy for each of the three schools I applied to.
Susan was incredibly patient as I refined my resume, guiding me on how to shape it for business school admissions rather than just a future employer. She was also instrumental in helping me push through writer’s block during the essay process. When it came time for interviews, she offered to arrange Zoom mock sessions for each school.
With her guidance, I was accepted to all three M7 schools I applied to. Beyond her expertise, Susan genuinely cares about her clients and is a true professional. I can’t recommend her enough!
I had the privilege of working with Joe Farr and the Stratus team for R2 applications to the Class of 2026 intake, earning acceptance to my dream MBA program, as well as admittance to multiple other Top 10/15 business schools. This is truly a feat I could not have dreamed of prior to beginning my collaboration with Joe. Working with Joe was a massive blessing, and I am truly grateful I decided to do so.
From the onset and throughout the entire process, Joe demonstrated genuine, unwavering support and belief in my MBA aspirations. Before we worked together, I was anxiety-ridden over the entire MBA application process – so much information about applications exists online, that I found it difficult to discern fact from fiction. Joe was attuned to this, and helped me develop the confidence and motivation to work through any prevailing uncertainty by providing exceptional guidance through every question I had (and I had many!).
Joe was more than a consultant – he was the best mentor I could have asked for throughout the MBA application journey. We worked through an extremely holistic approach together, a process that included identifying crucial lived experiences and developing a genuine sense of career goal direction. Joe is a strategist at heart, tremendously gifted at asking the right thought-provoking questions that help you consider and reflect on your sense of self – I truly believe that this was critical to crafting meaningful responses to application essay questions.
Joe is also undoubtedly a master communicator. In MBA applications, every word used counts – and Joe truly challenged me to extract meaning from every sentence and every word to ensure that I communicated my ambitions and fit for programs with passion, meaning, and purpose.
Balancing work demands with MBA applications is inherently challenging, yet I wholeheartedly believe that working with Joe not only made it possible, but also made it enjoyable. I learned so much throughout the process, and always felt as though I had a very strong support team in Joe and Stratus. Joe is amazingly responsive to emails and Zoom call invites – he always made me feel like a priority, and was always available to ensure that I had the resources and perspectives to keep moving forward with my applications.
Joe is a top professional and an absolute expert in the MBA applications space. To anyone who is serious and motivated to pursue a top MBA program, I highly recommend working with him and the Stratus team to ensure that you put your very best foot forward for these highly competitive programs.
Working with Jennifer Jackson at Stratus was crucial as an older, non-traditional MBA candidate planning a significant career pivot. The most helpful part of working with Jennifer, and the Stratus approach more broadly, was all the preparation we did before starting the application. Stratus understands that MBA applications require significant introspection; Jennifer really helped me dig deep, and it was clear she was genuinely invested in my success. Without Jennifer’s help, I firmly believe my outcome would have been different. I highly recommend Jennifer and Stratus to anyone considering pursuing an MBA—well worth the investment!
I could not have been as successful as I was in my MBA application journey without Lisa’s help! From the very beginning of the process, Lisa provided me with helpful and much needed guidance on all aspects of my application.
What most impressed me was that she took the time to get to know me as a person and fully understand my future goals before ever putting pen to paper on any of my essays. This helped me polish my overall story, and built trust that enabled Lisa to provide very direct feedback whenever my work was not hitting the mark.
Stratus also provided second readers for my essays, which was invaluable. These second opinions mirrored the way applications get read in real life by the admissions officers, and challenged me to address any blind spots within my work.
With Lisa’s help throughout the busy application season, I ultimately gained admission to 7 MBA programs, many of them with scholarship offers! I am certain I would not have been as successful without her advice along the way.
I really enjoyed working with Melisa and would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an MBA admissions consultant. She made the whole application process so much more approachable and pleasant. I felt at ease knowing I had her support and guidance throughout this journey: I felt like she was truly in my corner and wanted what was best for me. She was very generous with her time, patiently answering my (many!) questions, and taking the time to really get to know me, my values, and my goals, so that we could ensure my application was as strong and authentic as possible.
Melisa helped me with everything from my resume to preparing my recommenders to essays to interview prep. It was clear that she is incredibly knowledgeable about all things MBA admissions, and she was always very timely and thoughtful in her comments and guidance. I also really appreciated that Melisa went above and beyond, providing holistic mentorship beyond the application itself, such as by pointing me towards career opportunities for post-MBA and connecting me with others with shared interests.
In the end, with Melisa’s help I was able to get into both of my dream schools, and had a very difficult decision to make! I am really grateful for all of her support, and would choose to work with her again in a heartbeat.
In transparency, I shopped around by taking free 30-minute consultations with about a dozen shops, but I ultimately ranked Susan as my first choice and decided to work with her. Susan is a seasoned professional and has several years of real MBA adcom experience, having reviewed thousands of applications. These credentials were important considerations for me as I was deciding who I wanted to work with. Moreover, she seemed to be the most knowledgeable and she knew exactly what she was talking about. From career planning to EC recommendations to application strategy to essay writing, she did it all. The introspection exercises were also really helpful – she helped me craft the unique stories, narratives, and themes that I showcased in my application. None of this would have been possible without her. I got into multiple of the M7s I applied to, and I’m pleased to say I will be attending HBS! All because of Susan.
Your MBA tuition, living, and other related costs will likely exceed $200K over 2 years – not to mention, the opportunity cost of being out of the workforce. This is one of the most important life decisions you’ll make. You need to put your best foot forward, otherwise you’re starting off with a handicap. Work with Susan!
Coming from an Indian male engineering background, I was not sure if my story would really stand out in an uber competitive applicant pool. Donna was very reassuring and first off made me believe in myself. Donna has a lot of experience with respect to Indian applicants, having screened thousands of Indian applicants resumes. She helped me understand my motivation for doing an MBA much better which gave me a different perspective and helped me narrate my story with a lot more conviction. From helping build my essays to preparing for interviews, Donna was a pillar of support throughout the process. With Donna’s help, I was able to get admits to multiple M7 schools, most importantly, my dream school – HBS!!
Thank you for everything Donna, and for anyone reading this and trying to make a decision on selecting an MBA consultant, I can confidently say that you can trust Donna. This is an important decision, and you cannot go wrong with Donna, no matter what your background is.
Jennifer was an outstanding resource during my admissions process. Beyond being a friendly face during a stressful time, Jennifer provided invaluable admissions knowledge, strategy, and assistance during the essay writing process. Stratus’ tools for extracting and shaping my story were extremely helpful, and Jennifer’s ability to quickly understand my background and goals was incredible. She provided great feedback throughout the essay writing process as well as concise and thoughtful edits to ensure that I was communicating most effectively and within the word limit. Jennifer was also extremely responsive and always replied quickly to my countless emails, no matter how small the question. I was super excited to be admitted to my top two choices of the deferred MBA programs I applied to and could certainly not have done it without the help of Jennifer and the Stratus team.
I can’t recommend Jennifer Jackson enough as an MBA admissions consultant. Thanks to her guidance I was accepted to 3 M7 schools + scholarships. I felt that Jennifer’s greatest strength was her empathy - she really cares and takes time to understand your unique story/circumstances. I was reassured by the critiques/constructive feedback I received from her because I knew she was challenging me to do better and create the best application possible. I used an hourly package with Stratus and I felt it was a great mix of structured activities, while still giving me the flexibility to pay for the pieces I needed most. I can’t recommend Jennifer enough and think she is among the best MBA admissions consultants.
I have a nontraditional background that to me, just seemed like life. Donna helped me see that each step I took was the best step I could’ve taken, and helped me reflect that across my essays. From brainstorming on strong points from my childhood to capturing my professional accomplishments, Donna helped me show the highlights of 20+ years. Not only that, Donna helped me refine points in my resume to better shape the narrative the reader got from the bullets.
Her partnership didn’t conclude when I submitted my applications. I shared with her my interview invites and she offered to help me prep. Her years of experience being an Admissions Officer and helping applicants similar to myself helped me connect on a deeper level with my interviewers. We had so much success together, that I had the great problem of weighing multiple offers with scholarships. Donna also helped me view my options from a different lense and ask key questions to different offices to fully grasp what each institution could offer me throughout the 2-year MBA program.
I would recommend Donna 11 times out of 10.
I absolutely loved working with Donna as my admissions consultant throughout my MBA application process. I did a free consultation with a number of consultants/organizations before speaking with Donna, and I couldn’t be happier that I chose to proceed with Stratus and specifically Donna. I was really impressed with Stratus’s team based approach and excited that my school choices, essays, etc. would be reviewed by Donna, a secondary strategist, school-specific reviewers, and proofreaders, allowing me to consolidate multiple perspectives before making decisions. I also knew that I would likely be spending hours with my admissions consultant and Donna’s positivity, knowledge, and commitment to her client’s made this an easy decision.
I started the MBA application process relatively early, so it was amazing to work with Donna well before essay questions were released, as she helped me explore my past experiences to determine my key goals and how those aligned with different MBA programs. I wouldn’t have thought to relate one of my college internships to my dream job post-MBA without her, in order to articulate a strong story in my applications. Together, we created a strategy, refined ‘my story’, worked on multiple iterations of my essays/resume, and prepared for interviews. Throughout this process, Donna was extremely responsive, shared amazing guidance but allowed all words/stories to remain authentically ‘me’, and answered the many, many questions that I had with deep expertise and knowledge in all things MBA. Donna also encouraged me to apply to top-tier programs that I thought were beyond my reach and provided consistent encouragement when I felt worried/stressed.
With Donna’s guidance from an end-to-end perspective, I got into 3 M7 programs (Booth, Kellogg, and Columbia) and all 5 of the other schools that I interviewed for (Yale, Tuck, Fuqua, Stern, and Cornell), including multiple scholarships, and I couldn’t be happier. If you are looking for an admissions consultant, you cannot go wrong with Donna and Stratus.
I would recommend Joe to anyone if they are feeling overwhelmed with the overall MBA admissions process and have concerns over their candidacy (I had low test scores). I immediately felt at ease with Joe as he outlined all of the steps, helped with school selection, provided additional testing options/ guidance and reviewed all my application materials. I think the most useful exercise was the comprehensive introspection we did that really helped me craft my story and I think is the reason my essays and interviews went so well. I’ve gotten into 5 out of the 8 programs I applied to with hefty scholarships. Joe gave me the confidence to apply to these top schools in the first place!
Donna made a huge difference in my application journey. She was very thorough with her suggestions and straightforward when she felt like my story wasn’t strong enough. She pushed me to think deeper in my past experiences and made personalized suggestions on which schools/programs are the best fit for me and my career goals. I ended up getting into a very unique M7 program that I am thrilled to be attending in a few months!!
The team-based approach Stratus has was also very unique and I feel supported throughout my experience. While Donna had been with me every step of my application journey, I was advised and motivated by Susan and a few other experienced consultants based on the schools I applied to.
Susan absolutely lives up to her legendary reputation! I started the business school application process feeling unsure about the real reasons I was applying. Through Susan’s methodical approach of introspection and reflection – I was able to craft a compelling and honest vision regarding what I hoped to gain from an MBA. Seriously, I can’t believe how useful these exercises have been even outside of the application process. These reflection activities allowed me to tackle the applications with confidence!
As daunting and stressful as the application process seemed (especially for someone as type A as myself), Susan made it feel remarkably easy. She created a detailed timeline of tasks for each of my target schools, allowing me to feel comfortable at every step of the way. More than that, Susan provided the necessary feedback and encouragement I needed throughout the entire process. With Susan’s help I was able to gain multiple full ride scholarship offers from T10 schools (something I previously did not think was possible)! I have to credit Susan’s guidance and support for getting me into an amazing MBA program!!
I cannot recommend Melisa highly enough! Over the past year, she was an absolute game-changer in helping me achieve my dream of getting into Columbia Business School. From the very first conversation, it was clear that she was deeply invested in my success. Melisa took the time to understand my unique background, experiences, and aspirations, and she worked tirelessly with me to craft an application that truly reflected who I am.
Her expertise and knowledge of the MBA admissions process are unparalleled. Melisa provided insightful feedback on every aspect of my application, from my essays to my resume to my interview preparation. She pushed me to dig deeper and tell my story in a way that was authentic and impactful. Her guidance not only strengthened my application but also gave me the confidence to present the best version of myself.
What really sets Melisa apart is her personal touch. She genuinely cared about my journey and was always available to answer questions, provide encouragement, and offer support. I never felt like just another client—she made me feel like a priority every step of the way.
If you are looking for an admissions consultant who will go above and beyond to help you achieve your goals, look no further than Melisa!
After doing a free consultation with several MBA admissions consulting firms, I was immediately sold on working with Stratus because of their unique team approach using a primary consultant, a secondary strategist, school specific reviewers, and proofreaders in their comprehensive package.
Donna, my primary consultant, was absolutely wonderful. She encouraged my desire to apply to several M7 dream schools despite my lackluster GRE scores, and she guided me on how to handle some very difficult roadblocks that occurred during my application process including getting laid off. What sets Donna apart is her unwavering commitment to her clients’ success. She was always available to answer questions, provide encouragement during stressful moments, and offer strategic advice, even with my 6-hour time zone difference.
The results speak for themselves – with Donna’s guidance, I received offers from multiple top-tier MBA programs, including one with a scholarship. For anyone considering MBA admissions consulting, I wholeheartedly recommend Donna Bauman and Stratus Admissions Counseling. The investment in their services is truly an investment in your future, providing you with not just expert guidance, but also a supportive partner committed to your success.
Jennifer helped me discover the beauty in the ordinary. She guided me to uncover hidden gems in my story and answered many of the “so what’s” that I struggled with in my essays. She continuously pushed me to dig deeper and brought out the best in each of my essays. Always available to answer questions, hop on calls, and provide reassurance when things got tough, Jennifer was a constant source of support.
She also played a crucial role in helping me strategically select schools and encouraged me when certain schools seemed out of reach. Without her, I wouldn’t have gotten into many of my top choices. Her work ethic kept me organized and on track throughout the entire process. Additionally, she connected me with students and professionals along the way, further enriching my experience.
Though she rigorously prepared me during mock interviews, she ensured that I walked away from each one feeling confident and ready to ace it. I received interview invites from all the schools we worked on together and was even accepted into schools we hadn’t focused on, all thanks to her guidance.
Jennifer has been a blessing in disguise, and I’m incredibly grateful for her support. She truly is the best!
I could not recommend Joe Farr from Stratus enough!! He was exceptional to work with. I come from a non-traditional background and a very niche industry where people don’t usually get MBAs. I was afraid ad com wouldn’t understand the work/impact from my career. I met with several admission consulting firms. Some of them were not encouraging of my story and wanted me to change it for the essays. Others were fine, but when I spoke with Joe I felt that he understood exactly how to strengthen my story and present it authentically. He helped me be purposeful in my school search. We did a lot of introspection work that made writing my essays much easier. He would take the time to provide detailed feedback for my essays and got that back to me very quickly. When interviews came around he was helpful in providing tips and strategies for answering specific questions. With his help I got interviews to 7/8 schools, and acceptances to Michigan (full ride), UVA (full ride), Duke (full ride), CBS ($$$), Northwestern ($$$), and Yale ($$). Now that I am deciding exactly which offer to accept he has helped with scholarship negotiations and identifying which offers will help me the most in my career moving forward. 10/10 recommend going with Joe.
I had an exceptional experience working with Donna and the Stratus team throughout my MBA application journey. One of my favorite aspects of working with Donna was her unwavering support during an unexpected challenge. In the middle of the application process, I was laid off due to tech redundancies, and was worried this would derail the months of work I had put into my applications. Donna immediately reassured me, sharing that she had worked with other clients in similar situations whose MBA journeys were not negatively impacted. Beyond her role as a consultant, she went above and beyond by quickly connecting me with people in my intended post-MBA industry, helping me explore job opportunities and expand my network. Her empathy and proactive approach made a stressful situation feel far more manageable, and her reassurance helped me to land a new job in the tech industry, just 2 months after the layoff in a difficult job market.
From the start, Donna was clear that she would match my working pace. Whether I sent her multiple lengthy school drafts in a day or needed quick feedback, she was always incredibly responsive. Her comments were thoughtful and thorough, demonstrating her ability to understand the bigger picture of what I was trying to communicate. She never made edits just for the sake of it—it was clear she fully read through each draft and provided comments that were appropriate to the stage of the process, whether we were refining core themes or fine-tuning language.
The Stratus framework itself was highly structured and effective. The process moved from broad-strokes brainstorming to increasingly narrow and refined drafts, helping shape my narrative in a clear and compelling way. The team’s collective experience was evident throughout, as they provided insightful guidance and industry knowledge that strengthened my overall application.
I highly recommend Donna and Stratus to anyone navigating the MBA application process. Their expertise, dedication, and genuine support made all the difference in helping me tell my story authentically and effectively.
I am so grateful for Jennifer’s support throughout the MBA application process. Her guidance helped me get admitted to HBS and several other T10 schools with significant scholarship money.
In September 2022, I connected with a few consultants from other firms, looking for guidance on how to craft my application in time for R2 deadlines. I felt incredibly overwhelmed and stressed out when speaking with consultants from other firms. At the time, I was working diligently to boost my GMAT score and really needed someone to support me and hold me accountable on my applications.
When I met with Jennifer for a consultation, I could immediately tell I was in good hands. I worked on 3 schools with Jennifer and always felt that I could count on her honest, candid feedback. She is incredibly encouraging, knowledgeable, and effective in helping each client reach their goals. Jennifer pushes candidates to dig deep to reflect on what inspires/motivates them, and she provides exceptional support in clarifying your personal mission in a way that highlights your unique attributes and authentic voice. She is incredibly professional and responsive (I got always got a response 48 hours!), and a wealth of knowledge on what adcoms are looking for across MBA programs.
I found Jennifer’s advice to be incredibly candid, encouraging, and growth-oriented. She helped me build confidence in my story throughout the application/interview process. Her deep understanding of the HBS process in particular helped me with the interview and allowed me to be VERY well-prepared for all the types of questions that they can ask.
For anyone who feels unmoored by daunting MBA application process, working with Stratus will provide the structure and support you need. I am so excited to be starting at HBS in the fall — many thanks to Jennifer! 10/10 would recommend investing in yourself and working with Jennifer.
Like many candidates, prior to working with Susan, I engaged with the big name shops in admissions consulting (Fortuna, mbaMission, Stacy Blackman etc). While Susan’s credentials of being a former Adcom stood out, what made me ultimately choose Susan was the feeling I had after our first call. For context, I come from a non-traditional background and even hold a title that may be perceived as lacking leadership experience – Executive Assistant. As I rattled off my target school list, Susan left me feeling confident that although I would need to work hard to get there, it was possible. From the first minute, you can tell she deeply cares about understanding who you are and the why behind your actions.
Throughout our time together, Susan was incredible in drawing out a cohesive personal narrative and themes that would pervade each essay. From brainstorming to revisions, she provided timely and transparent feedback (especially when I was off mark!) that allowed me to adjust my storytelling approach and pushed me in the right direction. Her process offers structure, which was critical as someone who was testing and working on applications simultaneously, all while maintaining a full-time job. She is there every step of the way, and I know her help and support were instrumental to my success in admissions outcomes (accepted to 4 of 5 programs). I am so excited to be attending Columbia on a generous scholarship, which was my dream outcome and one which other admissions consultants told me would not be possible given my title. Susan believed in me, and through the confidence she instilled, I eradicated self-doubt and went for my dream.
I couldn’t recommend Susan enough and feel extremely grateful I got to work with her during my MBA process! Choosing Susan is choosing a life-changing coach – the best investment of all-time!
I had an amazing experience working with Joe as my admission consultant. He truly went above and beyond in every aspect of the application process. Despite the 15-hour time difference between China and the west coast of California where Joe was based, he was always prompt and responsive in answering all my questions, providing feedback on my essays, and guiding me on school selection.
I remember having multiple drafts for my essays, and Joe took the time to provide detailed feedback for every single one of them. He patiently answered all my questions, even though I had a lot of them, and provided valuable insights and suggestions for improvement. As the submission deadline approached, I was amazed and truly grateful for Joe’s quick turn-around time, even sacrificing his sleep to provide feedback during odd hours, sometimes as late as 3 am or 4 am his time in the Pacific time zone.
Joe’s dedication and commitment to his clients were evident in every interaction. He was not only prompt in his responses but also went the extra mile to ensure that I was confident and well-prepared throughout the application process. His encouragement and support were invaluable, especially during times when I felt underconfident.
Overall, Joe is the most responsible and dedicated admission consultant I have ever worked with. His expertise, commitment, and encouragement helped me put forth my best application. I highly recommend Joe Farr to anyone seeking expert guidance and support in their MBA application journey.
Melisa’s is a true testament and exceptional blend of personalized support and genuine encouragement. From the very first call I had with Melisa about my MBA application, I could truly feel that the person on the other side knows her stuff and really wants the best outcome for you. From the outset, Melisa prioritizes getting to know you better on a personal level, fostering an environment of trust and openness. This approach made me feel that the application process is not just about ticking boxes but about authentically representing one’s personality and strengths. With Melisa’s guidance, I was able to confidently put my best foot forward, knowing that my application is a true reflection of who I am. Throughout the journey, Melisa remains consistently supportive and cheering, demonstrating her sincere desire for nothing but the best, making the application process enjoyable. I would highly recommend working with Melisa if you are in the process of submitting your application for an MBA program.
I worked with Susan Cera on my applications and it was the best decision I’ve made. Susan was critical in helping me connect the dots between my life experiences to form a compelling story, which was my biggest worry going into the application. I also loved the frameworks Susan provided for researching my target programs and creating a comprehensive MBA application strategy. Because of the work with Susan, I’m fortunate to receive admissions to multiple M7 programs. You’d be lucky to have Susan in your corner during their application process!
It was an absolute privilege to work with Susan from Day 1 of my MBA application journey. Having been highly recommended by my brother, I knew I was in capable hands, but the experience far exceeded my expectations. The MBA application process, with its inherent highs and lows, can be daunting. However, Susan’s blend of competence and empathy transformed it into a profoundly rewarding experience.
Her technical expertise is nothing short of remarkable, as evidenced by her consistent track record of success. With a deep and nuanced understanding of the application process, Susan helped me shape my personal narratives in a way that resonated really well with admissions committees. Throughout this journey, I experienced tremendous growth both personally and professionally, much of which I attribute to Susan’s insightful guidance. Her thought-provoking questions prompted me to reflect on my aspirations and experiences more deeply, ultimately sharpening my perspective.
Moreover, what truly sets Susan apart is her genuine investment in your success. She cares deeply, and this sincerity is evident in every interaction. I felt an unwavering sense of trust and support throughout the process.
In short, Susan is a remarkable consultant and a trusted advisor, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had her by my side during this pivotal phase of my career.
I received several M7 acceptances with Lisa’s help. Her biggest strength is that she will help you put your best foot forward on each application and every interview you will get.
Lisa understands admissions at b-schools. She has years of experience in admissions at a top business school. She understands what admissions offices look for in b-school candidates.
Lisa is excellent at identifying your strengths, weaknesses, and story. She spends a great deal of time learning about you, your background, what makes you tick, accomplishments you are proud of, and the strengths to highlight and the weaknesses to minimize on your application. This personal touch, tied in with her deep knowledge of b-school admissions, is an excellent combination to create a winning formula to present yourself exactly how b-schools want to see their applicants presented.
Lisa holds no punches and drills into your story, essays, and interview answers. She isn’t going to let you slide with anything that isn’t your best. She’s going to point it out, and work with you to make it your best. However, she communicates in a very effective way. She conveys her critiques less as criticisms and more as opportunities. You feel empowered and excited when she tells you that you can make something better.
Lisa is always available to you. She responds to emails quickly and always makes time for calls to explain the nuances of some of her ideas and the business school requirements.
Stratus has excellent resources, including experts on all of the major b-schools. Lisa routinely shared my essays and ideas with school experts who were able to provide valuable feedback to tweak a few things to capture the spirit of the individual programs.
The most difficult aspect of the interviews is the unknowns. What questions will they ask? What answers do they want to hear? How much of the school should I discuss? Lisa provided me with school-specific questions and completed a mock interview with me and offered to continue doing mock interviews for each school. I walked into each of my interviews having already heard each question they could ask, practiced answering them, and received feedback on what I did well and what I could improve. I knocked my interviews out of the park because of that.
The best investment is an investment in yourself. Get into the best b-school you can. Use Lisa to help you achieve that.
Highly recommend Straus, Susan & Joe to anyone looking for expert guidance through the MBA admissions process. From the very first ’free consultation’ call, they diligently heard my stories, dilemma, goals, and provided a balanced, rational feedback, outlined a clear roadmap, and helped me navigate the full process - through multiple T10 interviews, offers, and beyond. This was especially valuable having a unique career path + a percieved fatal flaw in my background. Be it during the application process, or interview prep, or even brainstorming school selection, Joe always went the extra mile to ensure that I was confident and well-prepared in my decisions - which was invaluable during times when I was confused/overwhelmed. Overall - 10/10 recommend
Working with Lisa was nothing short of a revelation. From the very beginning, she did more than just guide me—she unlocked the story within me, helping me see strengths I hadn’t fully realized. Her approach wasn’t about plugging details into templates; it was about digging deep, understanding who I am, and turning that into a compelling narrative that stood out.
Lisa was relentless in her pursuit of excellence. Whether it was brainstorming hidden gems from my past, refining my resume to make it sharp and concise, or giving precise, honest feedback on my essays, she always knew how to push me just hard enough to get the best out of me. And she did all this while being a constant source of support, calm, and clarity. Her dedication to my success was palpable, and it made all the difference.
If you’re looking for someone to just check the boxes, move along. But if you want a partner who’ll get in the trenches with you, challenge your thinking, and help you present the best version of yourself, Lisa is the one. Thanks to her, I not only got accepted, but I walked away from the process with a clearer sense of who I am and where I’m headed.
From our very first call, I knew that working with Susan would be the right choice for my MBA applications, and I am so glad I did! Coming from a non-traditional background, I wasn’t sure how to position myself and share my story in the best way possible. One of my personal goals was to make the daunting application process a positive experience, and I strongly believe Susan was crucial in making it so.
Susan immediately put my worries at ease and was a constant source of comfort throughout the application process. I needed the most support during the strategy development phase, and Susan helped me analyze all aspects of my background to ensure I was putting my best foot forward. It was also great to have someone who I could talk candidly about the process or any concerns I had. Susan was always honest, approachable, understanding, and knowledgeable.
In the end, I was admitted to one of my top schools and will be starting in the fall! I am so excited to start my MBA journey, and I cannot thank Susan and the Stratus team enough for helping me get there!
I had the distinct pleasure of working with Donna as my admissions consultant throughout the MBA application process, and I cannot speak highly enough of her invaluable guidance.
Donna’s expertise, professionalism, and dedication were evident from our initial interactions. She possesses a deep understanding of the intricacies of MBA admissions, and her insights proved instrumental in shaping a compelling and authentic narrative for my application. Donna’s commitment was evident in her meticulous approach to every aspect of the application, from refining essays to providing strategic advice on recommendation letters.
What truly sets Donna apart is her ability to draw out the unique aspects of an applicant’s experiences and aspirations. She not only helped me articulate my achievements but also encouraged me to reflect on my journey, resulting in a more authentic and impactful application. Donna’s keen eye for detail ensured that my application presented a cohesive and compelling story, a critical element in the competitive landscape of MBA admissions.
Her support extended beyond the technicalities of the application. Donna provided insightful advice on school selection, helping me tailor my choices to align with my career goals and personal aspirations. Her personalized approach, genuine enthusiasm, and unwavering support created a collaborative and motivating environment that made the challenging process more manageable.
I am thrilled to share that, with Donna’s guidance, I received an acceptance offer from Wharton’s MBA program. This outcome is a testament to Donna’s exceptional abilities as an admissions consultant. I wholeheartedly recommend Donna Bauman to anyone embarking on the MBA application journey. Her dedication makes her an invaluable partner in achieving one’s academic and professional aspirations.
Joe and I worked together for almost a year crafting my story as a transitioning teacher. I had a very unique story to tell and he helped me learn more about myself and help shine myself in the best light possible to MBA schools. I had a very low GRE score which put me on the waitlist at many top-ranked schools. Joe was able to work with me to provide meaningful updates to those schools I was on the waitlist for and helped me with other schools I was applying to. Joe went the extra mile by providing meaningful advice on all the schools that I applied to, not just the ones I paid to work with him on! If you want someone who is caring, considerate, timely, and (most importantly) informative, Joe is the right person for you!
As a whole, Stratus Consulting has provided me with a plethora of resources that not only help with the MBA application process but carry on into recruiting and pre-MBA events! I cannot say enough that hiring Joe and working with Stratus was one of the best investments I’ve made!
I HIGHLY recommend Lisa for your MBA application journey. I did significant due diligence with ALL of the admissions consulting firms/consultants, and knew right away that Lisa & the whole Stratus Admissions team was the real deal. Lisa’s greatest strength is that she’s not afraid to tell you what you NEED to hear. I personally attest to the outstanding coaching & mentorship Lisa provided.
Donna is an amazing admissions counselor, and went above and beyond to support me as I navigated the MBA application process. From the very beginning, she was warm, kind, and expressed a genuine interest in getting to know me and my career goals.
We spent several sessions on introspection activities that helped me identify and articulate how my past career experiences, skills, and strengths made me a competitive applicant for business school. From these activities, I was able to refine my career goals, and develop a strong application strategy. As well, the exercises helped me brainstorm various experiences I could discuss in my essays and made my writing process much more organized and succinct.
Donna conducted multiple reviews of my essays and short answers responses, providing essential feedback on areas I could improve and significant areas to highlight. She provided a thorough resume review and held mock interview sessions with me to practice and prep. Donna always gave me constructive feedback and was an invaluable resource. She was very responsive, and reviewed my essay drafts and answered any questions I had in a timely manner. Whenever I had doubts or concerns about a weak component of my application, she was empathetic and helped me reframe/strategize how I could address any weaknesses and improve.
Through her guidance, I was accepted to multiple schools with scholarship offers. Thank you Donna, I’m incredibly thankful I had the opportunity to work with you!
I have been wanting to get an MBA for several years, and even after participating in Forte, I still felt unsure about my prospects during the process. Melisa was extremely helpful and in no way made me feel pressured to use a consultant or even apply to business school. When I was trying to decide between not applying at all, waiting 6 months or applying this year, we decided to do the strategy package. I 100% believe EVERYONE SHOULD DO THIS! Even if you don’t use a consultant for anything else, or if you don’t end up going, this helped me really consolidate my entire profile and career goals into a comprehensive one-pager. It’s cheaper than the comprehensive packages and focuses on your general profile. If you do pay for the comprehensive package you still get this. Through this 4 week exercise, I felt extremely confident to continue on. Melisa helped me with 4 M7 schools. I applied to total of 8 schools (all T15). I received a full ride and several half scholarships, and was admitted to 2 of my 4 M7s. Melisa helped me stay organized through the entire process, not just for the 4 schools I asked for help. She was a cheerleader and went ABOVE and BEYOND to help me, even when I was waitlisted from several schools initially. I am so excited to be in Boston this fall going to my TOP SCHOOL! None of this would have been possible without Melisa and the stratus team.
From my first discussion with Lisa, I could tell that she was a different style of MBA admissions consultant, but I did not yet know the profound impact she would make on my application strategy and results. As someone reeling from multiple rejections despite strong stats and experience, I was nervous at the thought of reapplication and didn’t quite know where to start. I spoke with almost 20 different consultants, but Lisa was the only one that immediately recognized how my background, academic interests, and career vision came together to tell a convincing personal story. She was the optimal choice to help me hone my approach and I am so glad to have worked with her.
Lisa’s greatest strength is teaching the delicate art of how to translate your motivations, achievements, and uniqueness in a way that resonates with admissions committees. She helped me recognize leadership qualities I didn’t know that I have, pare down my stories to communicate the most impactful examples, and become more comfortable with expressing personal experiences that have shaped me. Lisa believes that each applicant has unique aspects that no other applicant shares; she uses this fact to help build your confidence and clearly demonstrate your value to any MBA program.
Lisa is the utmost professional, with excellent availability and quick turnaround on edits. At the same time, she is completely invested in your success and personal well-being. She acknowledges the massive amount of work involved in applying to MBA programs and the difficulty of overcoming roadblocks along the way. She is a true advocate of your potential as an applicant, which helped keep me focused and resilient when the process felt overwhelming.
I am confident that Lisa’s guidance played an instrumental role in my admission to multiple Top 10 MBA programs, including my first choice. I recommend her unequivocally and urge you to reach out to her if you are considering an MBA admissions consultant.
Learn how Stratus’s team approach can help you get accepted to your top-choice business schools. Start with a FREE consultation with one of our Admissions Counselors. Our team is ready to dive into your goals, answer your questions about your profile and the application process, and help you boost your appeal to admissions committees!
