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January 23, 2026
Most applicants we work with at Stratus tend to feel bad asking busy people to spend a lot of time on these letters—to the point where some even limit the number of schools to which they apply. The good news is that people who want to see you succeed (which all your recommenders should) usually…
January 13, 2026
Letters of recommendation understandably tend to give applicants more anxiety than the rest of the MBA application, since it’s the only element out of one’s control. Luckily, this can be one of the more straightforward parts of the application. I encourage applicants to get their recommendations out of the way as soon as they know…
December 15, 2025
MBA letters of support—sometimes called MBA endorsements or informal recommendations—are an optional but valuable part of many business school applications. Applicants often wonder whether they need them, who should write them, and how much weight admissions committees give these submissions. In this blog post, we at Stratus explain what an MBA letter of support is,…
December 10, 2025
If you’ve been placed on an MBA waitlist or offered “further consideration,” you’re not alone. In this blog post, we at Stratus break down what being waitlisted means and share eight actionable MBA waitlist tips to improve your chances of admission. What an MBA Waitlist or “Further Consideration” Email Looks Like Has this email showed…
December 9, 2025
Do MBA programs care about employment gaps? How long is too long for a resume gap? Should I explain an employment gap in the optional essay? Will being laid off hurt my MBA application? How do I talk about caregiving or a personal break in an MBA interview? These are questions that MBA candidates often…
July 8, 2025
In an emergency room, doctors follow predefined protocols and procedures when handling medical emergencies such as suspected heart attacks and strokes. In military situations, standard operating procedures guide soldiers in executing tactical maneuvers and providing logistical support so that soldiers act decisively in combat situations. This same kind of playbook exists for MBA applicants as…
June 5, 2025
Throughout the MBA application process, you’ll effectively put together a campaign based on your personal story making the case for why you should be accepted to your target school(s). Many people find it challenging to tell their personal story in a logical and compelling way within the limits of business school applications. Therefore, recommenders are…
May 13, 2025
MBA letters of recommendation are a critical part of every business school application, but don’t panic! If you haven’t done so already, we at Stratus suggest that you start by reading our “Four Steps to a Five-Star MBA Recommendation.” Although recommendation letters are the part of your application over which you have the least control,…
May 7, 2025
During my 15 years on a business school admissions committee, I read thousands of MBA recommendation letters. Every so often, in the best possible way, an MBA recommendation letter would STOP. ME. IN. MY. TRACKS. This kind of MBA recommendation letter had the power to change the trajectory of an applicant’s business school admissions journey,…
March 12, 2025
Among social media outlets with a professional focus, LinkedIn is the undisputed leader. The platform allows you to showcase thought leadership in your field and to weave in additional details that support your overall MBA narrative. Considering that there are word limits for just about every aspect of the application process, LinkedIn is low-hanging fruit…
November 27, 2024
An excellent resume is an important part of your MBA application because it gives admissions committees (AdComs) a snapshot of your work experience, education, skills, and accomplishments. However, it is more than just an updated version of the resume you used to land your current job. Put in the time to make your resume exceptional!…
May 27, 2022
Your resume is one of the most critical pieces of your business school application: it is the first component that admissions committee members review, and it is often the only information that they provide to interviewers before your interview. Quantifying your value on your resume is worth the extra effort because doing so adds credibility…
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