Blog:
How to Use an MBA to Transition into CPG
March 17, 2025
Although MBA grads are more likely to seek employment in the consulting, finance, health care, and tech industries, many recruiting options exist for those seeking employment in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Employment reports from top MBA programs for 2024 noted that MBA students were recruited to CPG companies including The Kraft Heinz Company,…
Full Time, Part Time, or EMBA: Four Steps to Choosing Your B-School Journey
March 14, 2025
“What MBA programs are a good fit for me?” Many prospective MBA applicants ask us this question, and occasionally there are some obvious answers. But the truth is, it takes introspection, research, and dialogue to find the best-fit program(s) for any individual. Before even looking at specific programs, many people should consider what type of…
Researching MBA Programs from Afar
March 13, 2025
Thanks to all the new upgrades MBA programs have made to their websites and digital footprints over the past several years, MBA applicants now have so many more options to help them get to know a school from a distance. While in-person options are also quite valuable, there are a lot of great reasons to…
Ten Tips to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile Before Applying to Business School
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…
The Dynamic Duo: The MBA Degree and Six Sigma Certification
March 11, 2025
In today’s environment, earning advanced degrees and certifications has become increasingly important and often is required to remain competitive and advance your career. Gaining the best mix of complementary skills is also important and can be a great selling point to potential employers. Let’s break down the nuts and bolts of the MBA degree and…
Do Business Schools Have “Types”?
March 10, 2025
Do business schools have “types”—meaning, are shared characteristics common among all students? The short answer is yes, but it is more nuanced than that. What you think is a school’s type may not be its type at all. So, how does this play itself out? The most mundane way is that most people who gain…
Ten Things to Consider When Selecting an MBA Admissions Consultant
March 6, 2025
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…
The Macroeconomics of MBA Programs in the Post-COVID Boom
March 5, 2025
The world of graduate business education has changed in many ways since the pandemic, and these shifts are continuing into 2025. They include hiring changes in the job market, revised expectations of job seekers, and continued efforts by schools to attract a more diverse student body. The Demand Side During the pandemic, there was initially…
How the Admissions Committee Builds an MBA Class
March 4, 2025
Find out who you are really competing against! One of the most popular questions that I get from MBA applicants is “How do admissions committees create a class?” The answer to this question is most easily explained through one of my favorite hobbies, cooking, and one of my favorite meals, jambalaya. For those of you who don’t…
Six Things to Do in March to Prepare for MBA Applications
March 3, 2025
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…
What Does a “Best Effort” MBA Application Look Like?
February 28, 2025
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…
Can I Get into a Top MBA Program with a Low Test Score?
February 26, 2025
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…