{"id":18217,"date":"2025-08-04T08:46:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-04T12:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/?p=18217"},"modified":"2026-03-09T12:46:39","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T16:46:39","slug":"your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/","title":{"rendered":"Your August To-do List for Round 1"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">August is one of my busiest months as an MBA admissions counselor, which means it\u2019s definitely busy for my clients! For most folks, it\u2019s the last full month before Round 1 applications are due. To make the most of this final sprint to the finish line, let\u2019s talk about some of the things you should be focusing on in August.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>1. Draft and share your essays with others to gain feedback.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the final stretch of the MBA application process, one of the most impactful actions you can take in August is to draft and share your essays with trusted individuals and ask for their feedback. Whether it\u2019s mentors, colleagues, or friends, gaining different perspectives can help you refine your narrative, ensure clarity, and highlight your strengths effectively. Fresh eyes can catch inconsistencies, suggest improvements, and help you articulate your goals more convincingly. This collaborative approach not only polishes your essays but also boosts your confidence, as you\u2019ll know that your personal story resonates well with others before you submit it to admissions committees. That said, don\u2019t feel pressured to incorporate every piece of feedback; everyone will have an opinion, and they won\u2019t all align. Stay true to your story, and don\u2019t let the process become overwhelming.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>2. Have conversations with current students or alumni to add a personal touch to your essays.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Engaging with current students or alumni of your target MBA programs can provide invaluable insights that enrich your application essays. These conversations offer a deeper understanding of the program\u2019s culture, values, and unique opportunities, which you can then reflect in your writing. By incorporating specific anecdotes or experiences shared by these insiders, you demonstrate genuine interest and a well-informed perspective, making your application stand out. Additionally, these interactions can help you articulate how the program aligns with your career aspirations and personal growth, adding a compelling, personal touch to your essays. If you don\u2019t already know anyone personally, start by reaching out to professional or affinity groups you\u2019re interested in, as many have dedicated websites or active social media pages where members are open to connecting. Cold messaging on LinkedIn is also an effective approach, but be prepared to send several personalized messages to get responses. Don\u2019t be discouraged by silence; one good conversation is all you need to make a huge difference in your essays.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>3. Finalize your online applications within the business school\u2019s portal.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the deadline approaches, it\u2019s crucial to ensure that all components of your online application are complete and accurate. August is the ideal time to meticulously review each section of the application portal, from your personal information to your academic and professional history. Double-check for any errors or omissions, and make sure that all required documents<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">such as your transcripts and test scores<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2014<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">have been uploaded correctly. A thorough review process helps prevent last-minute issues and ensures that your application is as strong and polished as possible before hitting the \u201cSubmit\u201d button.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>4. Gently remind your recommenders of their upcoming deadlines.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your recommenders play a pivotal role in your MBA application, and their timely submissions are essential. August is a good time to send gentle reminders about the upcoming deadlines and provide them with any additional information or context they might need. Offer to meet with them to discuss your application goals, and highlight specific achievements you\u2019d like them to emphasize. Express your gratitude for their support and understanding while acknowledging their busy schedules. This proactive approach ensures that your recommendations are submitted on time and that they present a well-rounded picture of your qualifications. That being said, don\u2019t be surprised if your recommenders wait until the night before recommendations are due to complete them.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>5. Take your final GMAT\/GRE\/EA test.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re planning to take your GMAT, GRE, or EA for the first time\u2014or to retake them\u2014August is a critical month to complete this step. By now, you should have a solid understanding of your strengths and areas for improvement, and a focused study plan can help you achieve your target score. Ensure you\u2019re familiar with the test format and timing, and consider taking a few more practice tests under realistic conditions. Adequate preparation and a calm, confident mindset on test day can significantly impact your performance, giving you one last boost to strengthen your application.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>6. Consider a reprieve from your social life to get your apps submitted on time.<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The final push to complete your MBA applications may require some temporary sacrifices, including cutting back on social activities. August is a month to prioritize your application process, including dedicating focused, uninterrupted time to perfecting your essays, reviewing your application materials, and preparing for any remaining tests. Although it\u2019s important to maintain a healthy balance and avoid burnout, reducing the number of social engagements you attend can help you stay on track and meet deadlines. Remember, this is a short-term commitment with long-term benefits, and your social life will be there to enjoy once your applications are submitted.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Despite August being a busy month for most MBA applicants, you\u2019ll be glad you focused on all the right things when you hit \u201cSubmit\u201d and know you left nothing to chance. If you need any support with your applications as you near the end of Round 1, feel free to reach out to Stratus for a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/free-consultation\/\"><b>free 30-minute consultation<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Good luck!<\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>August is one of my busiest months as an MBA admissions counselor, which means it\u2019s definitely busy for my clients! For most folks, it\u2019s the last full month before Round 1 applications are due. To make the most of this final sprint to the finish line, let\u2019s talk about some of the things you should&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":19430,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[378,1150],"tags":[1115,933,558,607,1113,1112,1114],"class_list":["post-18217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mba","category-monthly-admissions-tips","tag-deadlines","tag-ea","tag-gmat","tag-gre","tag-mba-application","tag-mba-essay","tag-recommenders"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Your August To-do List for Round 1 | Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Despite August being a busy month, you\u2019ll be glad you focused on all the right things when you hit submit and know you left nothing to chance.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Your August To-do List for Round 1 | Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Despite August being a busy month, you\u2019ll be glad you focused on all the right things when you hit submit and know you left nothing to chance.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/business.facebook.com\/stratusadmissionscounseling\/?business_id=1549495231831060&amp;amp%3bamp%3bamp%3bref=bookmarks\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-08-04T12:46:52+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-09T16:46:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/August-to-do.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"800\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Sophie Hilaire\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@StratusMBA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@StratusMBA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Sophie Hilaire\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Sophie Hilaire\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8b9faef8dcf8c49d1f60f41c10c6fad1\"},\"headline\":\"Your August To-do List for Round 1\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-04T12:46:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-09T16:46:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":912,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1\",\"keywords\":[\"deadlines\",\"EA\",\"GMAT\",\"GRE\",\"MBA application\",\"MBA essay\",\"Recommenders\"],\"articleSection\":[\"MBA\",\"Monthly Tips\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/\",\"name\":\"Your August To-do List for Round 1 | Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-08-04T12:46:52+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-09T16:46:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"Despite August being a busy month, you\u2019ll be glad you focused on all the right things when you hit submit and know you left nothing to chance.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/08\\\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1\",\"width\":800,\"height\":600},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"MBA\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/mba\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Your August To-do List for Round 1\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog\",\"description\":\"Your MBA Dream Team\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Stratus Admissions Counseling\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/stratus-favicon.png?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/i0.wp.com\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/03\\\/stratus-favicon.png?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"Stratus Admissions Counseling\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/business.facebook.com\\\/stratusadmissionscounseling\\\/?business_id=1549495231831060&amp;amp;amp;ref=bookmarks\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/StratusMBA\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/stratusmba\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/organization\\\/1022842\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCvQwmo9OA-cg_5B1C7z_ExQ\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/8b9faef8dcf8c49d1f60f41c10c6fad1\",\"name\":\"Sophie Hilaire\",\"description\":\"MBA Admissions Counselor Sophie Hilaire is a Wharton MBA and West Point graduate as well as a former US Army captain and McKinsey consultant who has helped applicants earn admission\u2014and scholarships up to full tuition\u2014at top programs worldwide. Drawing on her experience in MBA applicant screening at Wharton and recruitment at McKinsey, in addition to her leadership experience across sectors, Sophie empowers clients to craft authentic, high-impact MBA applications that stand out.\",\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/about\\\/mba-admissions-counselors\\\/sophie-hilaire\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/sophie-hilaire\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Your August To-do List for Round 1 | Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog","description":"Despite August being a busy month, you\u2019ll be glad you focused on all the right things when you hit submit and know you left nothing to chance.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Your August To-do List for Round 1 | Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog","og_description":"Despite August being a busy month, you\u2019ll be glad you focused on all the right things when you hit submit and know you left nothing to chance.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/","og_site_name":"Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/business.facebook.com\/stratusadmissionscounseling\/?business_id=1549495231831060&amp%3bamp%3bamp%3bref=bookmarks","article_published_time":"2025-08-04T12:46:52+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-03-09T16:46:39+00:00","og_image":[{"width":800,"height":600,"url":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/August-to-do.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Sophie Hilaire","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@StratusMBA","twitter_site":"@StratusMBA","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Sophie Hilaire","Est. reading time":"5 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/"},"author":{"name":"Sophie Hilaire","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8b9faef8dcf8c49d1f60f41c10c6fad1"},"headline":"Your August To-do List for Round 1","datePublished":"2025-08-04T12:46:52+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-09T16:46:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/"},"wordCount":912,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1","keywords":["deadlines","EA","GMAT","GRE","MBA application","MBA essay","Recommenders"],"articleSection":["MBA","Monthly Tips"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/","url":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/","name":"Your August To-do List for Round 1 | Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1","datePublished":"2025-08-04T12:46:52+00:00","dateModified":"2026-03-09T16:46:39+00:00","description":"Despite August being a busy month, you\u2019ll be glad you focused on all the right things when you hit submit and know you left nothing to chance.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1","width":800,"height":600},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/your-august-to-do-list-for-round-1\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"MBA","item":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/mba\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Your August To-do List for Round 1"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/","name":"Stratus Admissions Counseling Blog | Admissions Blog","description":"Your MBA Dream Team","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Stratus Admissions Counseling","url":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/stratus-favicon.png?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1","contentUrl":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/stratus-favicon.png?fit=512%2C512&ssl=1","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"Stratus Admissions Counseling"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/business.facebook.com\/stratusadmissionscounseling\/?business_id=1549495231831060&amp;amp;amp;ref=bookmarks","https:\/\/x.com\/StratusMBA","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/stratusmba\/","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/organization\/1022842\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCvQwmo9OA-cg_5B1C7z_ExQ"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8b9faef8dcf8c49d1f60f41c10c6fad1","name":"Sophie Hilaire","description":"MBA Admissions Counselor Sophie Hilaire is a Wharton MBA and West Point graduate as well as a former US Army captain and McKinsey consultant who has helped applicants earn admission\u2014and scholarships up to full tuition\u2014at top programs worldwide. Drawing on her experience in MBA applicant screening at Wharton and recruitment at McKinsey, in addition to her leadership experience across sectors, Sophie empowers clients to craft authentic, high-impact MBA applications that stand out.","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/about\/mba-admissions-counselors\/sophie-hilaire\/"],"url":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/author\/sophie-hilaire\/"}]}},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/August-to-do.png?fit=800%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18217"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19518,"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18217\/revisions\/19518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19430"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}