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!
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!
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!!
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!
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 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 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!
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!
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!
