Blog:
Eight MBA Waitlist Tips
December 10, 2024
Has this email showed up in your inbox? Thank you for submitting an application to YOUR DREAM MBA PROGRAM. Your application has been selected for further evaluation as part of our Round 2 applicant pool. This means that the Committee has identified key strengths in your application and requires additional time to review your candidacy….
What If I Have an Employment Gap on My Resume?
December 9, 2024
One question that MBA candidates often ask is how admissions committees will view employment gaps on their resume. Given that the value of an MBA program lies largely in the opportunity to learn from your peers, admissions committees favor candidates with strong and unique work experiences. Therefore, committees will first focus on the quality and…
December Tips for Round 2 MBA Applicants
December 4, 2024
At Stratus, we use a team-based approach when supporting our clients as they prepare their MBA applications. Going into the last month before Round 2 submission deadlines, I decided to have some of my talented colleagues share their insights on how you should approach various components of your business school applications. But first, a few…
How to Find the Best Business Schools for You
November 27, 2024
Every year, media outlets such as U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, Bloomberg Businessweek, and Financial Times publish lists of top MBA programs. Not surprisingly, this year’s top ten schools are basically the same ones as in previous rankings. You can dig into the methodologies to understand why the lists don’t change dramatically year after year. Business school applicants often…
Plan B for Your MBA Applications: Six Things to Think About Now
November 22, 2024
As Round 1 MBA decisions start rolling in for both interview invitations and acceptances, now is the time to think about a Plan B—including which MBA programs you might wish to target for Round 2. Remember that to land a seat at your dream business school, you need to be a strong applicant AND submit…
CPA to MBA: Conduct a Pre–Business School Audit
November 14, 2024
Every year, thousands of young accounting and audit professionals apply to top MBA programs. However, having a CPA or having been promoted multiple times after successful client engagements is not sufficient to secure a seat in a top business school program. Here are eight areas for assessment and potential repositioning as you prepare to apply…
14 Tips to Enhance Your Business School Profile
November 4, 2024
If getting an MBA is in your future, every day counts as you build your business school profile. Whether you intend to apply to MBA programs next year or several years from now, you should take time NOW to plan your next steps so your profile will be competitive. Here are 14 tips to guide…
November Pre-MBA Checklist for Round 2
November 1, 2024
If you are considering submitting MBA applications in Round 2, will you be ready in time for early-January deadlines? Will your application be the strongest application you can submit? Or might you be a substantially more compelling candidate in September of 2025? As you contemplate your next steps, here are six questions you should be…
Build Your MBA Leadership Profile Through Community Involvement
October 31, 2024
Although giving blood, participating in charity runs, and making financial contributions to worthy causes are noble endeavors, they are not viewed as leadership or community engagement by admissions committees at top MBA programs. Similarly, you do not have to start a nonprofit or sit on the junior boards of multiple organizations to demonstrate your leadership…
Am I Too Old for an MBA? Reasons to Consider Alternative MBAs
October 18, 2024
The average age of a first-year MBA student is less than 28. If you are more than five years older than the average student in a top MBA program, you might be wondering, “How does the admissions committee think about me as an older candidate?” or “Will it be impossible for me to gain admission as an older…
Doppelgänger MBA Programs: If You Like X, You May Like Y
October 17, 2024
How do you “fit” into an MBA program? Whether the issue is you liking a school or a school liking you (to the point that it accepts you), the question of fit is one that should always be top of mind for any applicant. Do you like a program’s teaching style? The focus of the…
October Tips to Get You Ready for Round 2 MBA Application Deadlines
October 1, 2024
As many aspiring MBA students are wrapping up Round 1 applications or anxiously awaiting a coveted interview invite, perhaps you are wondering where to begin! Do not worry. If you use your time wisely, you can complete several applications to submit before Round 2 MBA deadlines this January. Here is what you need to be doing in…