Blog

Ten Things to Consider When Selecting an MBA Admissions Consultant

Ten Things to Consider When Selecting an MBA Admissions Consultant

Getting an MBA is possibly one of the biggest investments of your life. As you ponder this $100K-plus investment, you are likely to realize that you cannot do something as important as this on your own. Although friends or colleagues might be able to help, rarely do they have enough expertise to move the needle…

Read More

Top MBA Programs for Sports

Top MBA Programs for Sports

When I worked at ESPN, the MBA was not yet popular outside of the finance and marketing departments. Some of my colleagues had earned a Master of Science in Sports Management (UMass Amherst was the most popular program at the time) to gain insight on managing the business of sports, but that was about it….

Read More

Top MBA Programs for Social Impact

Top MBA Programs for Social Impact

Social impact has become the cornerstone of many MBA programs. While finance, marketing, operations, and organizational structure will always be the core of an MBA curriculum, many programs have leaned into weaving social impact into their core, while others have developed concentrations, pathways, or majors around social impact. Whether you want to pivot to social…

Read More

Seven Habits of the Most Successful MBA Applicants

Although the world keeps changing at an accelerating pace—and the MBA admissions process continues evolving with test waiver options, program delivery models, and both in-person and virtual recruitment offerings—the habits of the most successful MBA applicants have remained constant.  Here are the core habits that our most successful Stratus MBA clients have followed on their…

Read More

Future Business Leaders: Listen to These Podcasts!

Perhaps the very best podcast I have listened to that offers insight for future business leaders is an HBR IdeaCast episode with Guy Raz. In this episode, Raz discusses the three qualities that hundreds of business founders and leaders of successful organizations have in common: they create a culture of collaboration, encourage risk taking, and allow for…

Read More

Five Considerations When Applying to Wharton’s Lauder Program

Top MBA programs all have elements of international exposure and adventure, but Wharton’s Lauder 24-month dual degree sets itself apart as the first of its kind in the United States: an MBA from Wharton, plus an International Studies MA from the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences. Within the Lauder program, students integrate…

Read More

Eight Steps to Help Engineers Build a Strong MBA Profile

Earning an MBA can be a great way for engineers to expand their technical skills and grow into a management role. Many tech companies prefer MBAs with engineering or computer science backgrounds for product manager roles. Engineers can bring their problem-solving ability to business by breaking down challenges, identifying root-cause issues, and developing innovative solutions….

Read More

Three Things to Consider When Applying to Wharton’s Health Care Management Program

Wharton’s Health Care Management (HCM) MBA concentration offers one of the most prestigious paths into pharmaceuticals, hospital administration, earlier stage ventures, and beyond. Unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the most competitive MBA programs to gain admission to. If health care–related MBAs are on your radar, let’s talk about three things you should consider when applying…

Read More

Six Things to Do in March to Prepare for MBA Applications

Six months may seem like a long lead time for preparing business school applications, but a LOT more needs to be done between now and the September submission deadlines than just writing essays. If you weren’t following along last month, check out our February tips for preparing for your MBA applications. Think back to when you applied…

Read More

Researching MBA Programs from Afar

Thanks to all the new upgrades MBA programs have made to their websites and digital footprints since the COVID-19 pandemic began, prospective students now have so many more options to help them get to know a school from a distance. Even though in-person options are still available, there are a lot of great reasons to…

Read More

What Does a “Best Effort” MBA Application Look Like?

We at Stratus Admissions Counseling are frequently asked what it takes to get into a top-ranked MBA program. Of course, you need a strong GPA and GMAT or GRE score, along with work experience, essays, etc. But gaining acceptance also requires your best effort—meaning that you have done all that you can to create a…

Read More

Can I Get into a Top MBA Program with a Low Test Score?

Here’s a scenario to which many of you can relate: You just took the GMAT or GRE. When you get home, you look at the average scores for your target schools, and you discover that you’re below those averages. You then pop over to Reddit and start doom scrolling as everyone tells you that your…

Read More