Stratus Admissions Counseling | MBA Admissions Consultants

Working with Melisa was one of the best decisions I made during the MBA application process. Applying to MBA programs is no walk in the park, and I truly appreciated her guidance every step of the way, from helping me identify the right schools for my goals, crafting an authentic yet compelling story in my essays, to deciding which school to attend.

She provided thoughtful, strategic advice throughout my application process, yet always empowered me to make the final decision, never pressuring me towards a choice I wasn’t comfortable with. While the process felt long and, at times, overwhelming, Melisa was a constant source of support and encouragement. I always felt she genuinely cared about me and was invested in my success.

Thanks to her support, I was accepted to multiple programs with scholarships, including my top choice. I’m incredibly grateful for her help and wholeheartedly recommend working with her!

Susan went above and beyond my expectations of an MBA consultant going into this process. She is a true professional, and her and the team at Stratus are exceptional. She added so much value to my application, helping me explore my past experiences to shape my key themes, create a strategy for my application, brainstorm essay content, update and refine my resume, and prepare for my interview. She also encouraged me to submit a late application to my top school, and I ended up getting into my top MBA program a year earlier than I thought I would! I am so grateful for Susan and all the help she gave me in helping me achieve my MBA goals.

Working with Donna was by far one of the most enjoyable and most valuable parts of my MBA application journey!

Donna was extremely helpful from day one! We started with her self-discovery phase, which helped me more deeply understand myself, my needs, and my aspirations. She has a very well-structured process that guides you to reflect on what drives you and why you really want to do an MBA. The learnings I gained from that part of the process were actually valuable beyond the MBA applications, helping me think more broadly about my career and long-term goals.

In terms of essay writing, Donna again has a structured process that really works (you can tell she is extremely experienced and has been doing it for years). She starts with an essay outline that is thoroughly reviewed and discussed before moving into writing drafts. Donna’s use of Stratus’s broader network of school experts was also incredibly valuable. She connected me with people who knew my target programs inside out, which helped me tailor my essays and give them that extra edge – that was a game changer for me!

Donna and Stratus’s resume update support was also extremely valuable. They are incredibly thorough, paying attention to even the smallest details and when all those refinements come together, I truly believe they make a big difference in the final result. Again, I came away with many broader learnings that I’ll carry forward when updating my resume in the future.

Be aware that this whole process is hard work. But this is another area where Donna really adds value as she keeps you on track with well-thought-out deadlines and an easy way to manage and track progress. She also properly holds you accountable, which really helps keep momentum. I always felt like there was a solid plan in place, and that made a big difference.

I can say without a doubt that hiring Susan was one of the best investments I have ever made in my own success. Susan expertly guided me through the decision to apply on a condensed timeline using test waivers and her thorough knowledge of the culture, fit, and points of differentiation between top business schools expanded the range of schools I applied to and was ultimately accepted to. From narrative and strategy crafting to in-depth resumé and essay guidance to school specific interview prep, Susan added tremendous value every step of the MBA admissions journey. If you come ready to work, Susan will help you achieve incredible results.

Working with Susan was one of the best decisions I made during my deferred MBA application journey. From day one, she brought warmth, structure, and unwavering encouragement to a process that often felt intimidating and uncertain.

What stood out to me most was how deeply Susan believed in my story and potential. She never let me lose sight of my strengths, even when I doubted whether my profile could stand out. She helped me craft a compelling and authentic narrative by drawing out meaningful insights from my past experiences, and pushed me to think more strategically and introspectively at every stage.

Susan’s emotional support and consistent reassurance were game-changers. I was able to walk away with an admit to a top M7 program. I can’t recommend Susan highly enough.

Working with Donna through Stratus on a four-school package was the best decision I made during the MBA application process. From day one, she helped me navigate every aspect of the journey — from refining my resume and building a thoughtful school selection strategy to tackling essays and preparing for interviews. Her guidance made the process far more manageable, especially when it came to understanding the unknowns of the application and interview process.

For the essays, Donna pushed me to reflect deeply on my experiences and helped shape them into compelling, cohesive narratives aligned with my goals. We went through six or more drafts for all four schools I worked on with Donna, and her detailed feedback helped me elevate each version.

It was also extremely reassuring to know that the four-school package included Round 2 support if needed. Having that safety net gave me the confidence to give my all in Round 1.

In the end, I was fortunate to have strong options, and Donna was a steady, supportive sounding board as I weighed my final decision. When I visited one of the schools I was accepted to, Donna went above and beyond — giving me a personalized tour of the town and even offering me a ride to the airport. That experience highlights the level of care and commitment she brings to her work.

I’m truly grateful for her insight, responsiveness, and unwavering support throughout the process — it made all the difference.

As someone with a more traditional background in consulting / audit, I knew that I needed a consultant who would help me craft a unique story in order to stand out. Donna helped me reflect on some of my life and work experiences in a way that helped me showcase my own individuality. When the dust settled, I was admitted into one of my top programs with a full-ride scholarship. However, I know that some of the lessons I learned working with Donna such as how to sell myself, how to craft a resume, and how to tailor my past experiences to where I want to be in the future, are all things that I will continue to take with me throughout the rest of my career.

I came into the MBA experience late and overwhelmed. Donna and the Stratus team took off a great deal of this stress from making a personalized timeline to detailing the steps I need to do. She was great at pulling out my experiences and seeing how it all tied together in ways I couldn’t see. Working with Donna definitely increased my application material quality and I loved the team-based approach where I got brutally honest feedback from multiple perspectives. I was able to land at multiple M7 schools including one of my top choices and couldn’t be happier with the outcome!

I worked with Donna on my applications to top MFE programs, and the experience was truly exceptional. She helped me craft a narrative that was not only authentic and personal but also strategically framed to show admissions committees who I really am — beyond just numbers and credentials.

I was facing extremely tight deadlines — for my top-choice school, I started writing essays just 36 hours before the deadline. Donna edited my drafts multiple times, on a Saturday when she had other commitments, ensuring everything was polished and submitted on time.

Most importantly, we got great results: I applied to two top U.S. programs and was accepted to both. Grad admissions can be stressful, especially when you’re constantly comparing yourself to others. Donna helped me tune that out and gave me the confidence to present my own story — not someone else’s. I’m really grateful for her support.

When prepping for my MBA, there were so many people telling me to do 10,000 things, but a friend said to forget all of that and just work with Jennifer (she had helped him get into Wharton). I took his advice and don’t regret it one bit. Jennifer worked with me to develop my narrative and edit my essays, prepare for interviews, and even negotiate scholarships. I ended up with a full ride to Columbia and admission into Wharton.

Jennifer was the perfect support and sounding board during my MBA journey that yielded 3 M7 acceptances + scholarships. Jennifer has a knack for empathizing with her counselees and I felt that she really cared about my story/my goals. Jennifer was a joy to work with, always responded within 1-2 days, and was not afraid to challenge/question for the sake of constructive feedback. I purchased an hourly package with Stratus and thought the process was very comprehensive. I have no regrets from working with Jennifer and I don’t think I could have done this without her!

Working with Jennifer Jackson at Stratus was crucial as an older, non-traditional MBA candidate planning a significant career pivot. The most helpful part of working with Jennifer, and the Stratus approach more broadly, was all the preparation we did before starting the application. Stratus understands that MBA applications require significant introspection; Jennifer really helped me dig deep, and it was clear she was genuinely invested in my success. Without Jennifer’s help, I firmly believe my outcome would have been different. I highly recommend Jennifer and Stratus to anyone considering pursuing an MBA—well worth the investment!

Donna made a huge difference in my application journey. She was very thorough with her suggestions and straightforward when she felt like my story wasn’t strong enough. She pushed me to think deeper in my past experiences and made personalized suggestions on which schools/programs are the best fit for me and my career goals. I ended up getting into a very unique M7 program that I am thrilled to be attending in a few months!!
The team-based approach Stratus has was also very unique and I feel supported throughout my experience. While Donna had been with me every step of my application journey, I was advised and motivated by Susan and a few other experienced consultants based on the schools I applied to.

Working with Sophie made the whole process feel like more than just an application. Her background as a veteran and outdoor enthusiast created our initial connection, but her supportive and positive attitude solidified my desire to work with her. Sophie went above and beyond – coaching and mentoring me through not only the applications, but also helping me refine my life goals. I have no doubt working with her directly contributed to my success admission and scholarship offers.

Melisa was incredibly helpful in providing the support and guidance I needed through my application process. Her thoughtfulness and knowledge of the admissions process (and individual schools) helped me to shape my own preferences, as well as provide me with excellent advice on essays, interviews, etc.. I was very grateful to be admitted to several of my top choice schools — a position I would not have been in without Melisa!

Sophie and Stratus as a whole were great and super helpful throughout the entire process. Sophie was always available, even on weekends or late at night during crunch time for applications. Stratus’ process driven approach from introspection to writing essays helped me best craft my applications and pitch myself to these schools. If you’re like me and into sports, fitness, activelife, hiking, etc..then Sophie will be the perfect fit for you. She understood my point of view when crafting essays, which was important later for applications and essays. One small detail about Sophie was that I never had to remind her about my schools, interests, goals, and concerns – working with her felt like I was her only client. I ended up overachieving my goal with some scholarship money to my original target school and getting into a very prestigious top 10 MBA that I never thought I could get into with my background. Other top MBA consulting firms told me I had no shot!

Like many candidates, prior to working with Susan, I engaged with the big name shops in admissions consulting (Fortuna, mbaMission, Stacy Blackman etc). While Susan’s credentials of being a former Adcom stood out, what made me ultimately choose Susan was the feeling I had after our first call. For context, I come from a non-traditional background and even hold a title that may be perceived as lacking leadership experience – Executive Assistant. As I rattled off my target school list, Susan left me feeling confident that although I would need to work hard to get there, it was possible. From the first minute, you can tell she deeply cares about understanding who you are and the why behind your actions.

Throughout our time together, Susan was incredible in drawing out a cohesive personal narrative and themes that would pervade each essay. From brainstorming to revisions, she provided timely and transparent feedback (especially when I was off mark!) that allowed me to adjust my storytelling approach and pushed me in the right direction. Her process offers structure, which was critical as someone who was testing and working on applications simultaneously, all while maintaining a full-time job. She is there every step of the way, and I know her help and support were instrumental to my success in admissions outcomes (accepted to 4 of 5 programs). I am so excited to be attending Columbia on a generous scholarship, which was my dream outcome and one which other admissions consultants told me would not be possible given my title. Susan believed in me, and through the confidence she instilled, I eradicated self-doubt and went for my dream.

I couldn’t recommend Susan enough and feel extremely grateful I got to work with her during my MBA process! Choosing Susan is choosing a life-changing coach – the best investment of all-time!

I have many great things to say about Donna!
I started the my MBA application process, in hindsight, very unprepared and quite late, yet eager to apply to the top school despite having some obstacles in my profile.
Though I had some solid work experiences, I came with an average college GPA that I couldn’t do much about, a long GMAT retesting road ahead because I couldn’t reach the score I needed to, and lacking the confidence and clarity to pull my story together for top B-schools. Plus I came from an overprescribed demographic pool and hardly had any MBA folks in my circle to lean on for advice.
Donna encouraged me to apply to my dream schools and worked closely with me to make sure I was making progress and not giving up. Stratus’ introspection and upfront brainstorming strategy session were pivotal here and their school specific reviewers really help polish your essays to the finest detail.
Donna goes above and beyond in preparing you, whether it’s advising on overall application strategy, helping curate/ pressure test essays/ personal story telling, or interview prep. She was patient and empathetic with me while keeping firm accountability on progress- especially in the beginning when I was “stuck” and needed that extra coaching to write and pull my stories together.
I did the all-in consulting packages for a few schools with Status and did the rest on my own- Donna was kind enough to even provide advice on areas that I was not directly working with her on. My interview was scheduled right after a holiday weekend and Donna coached me on her day off.
Just speaks to her commitment to make sure her clients are successful. 
Many many thanks to Donna!!

From my first discussion with Lisa, I could tell that she was a different style of MBA admissions consultant, but I did not yet know the profound impact she would make on my application strategy and results. As someone reeling from multiple rejections despite strong stats and experience, I was nervous at the thought of reapplication and didn’t quite know where to start. I spoke with almost 20 different consultants, but Lisa was the only one that immediately recognized how my background, academic interests, and career vision came together to tell a convincing personal story. She was the optimal choice to help me hone my approach and I am so glad to have worked with her.

Lisa’s greatest strength is teaching the delicate art of how to translate your motivations, achievements, and uniqueness in a way that resonates with admissions committees. She helped me recognize leadership qualities I didn’t know that I have, pare down my stories to communicate the most impactful examples, and become more comfortable with expressing personal experiences that have shaped me. Lisa believes that each applicant has unique aspects that no other applicant shares; she uses this fact to help build your confidence and clearly demonstrate your value to any MBA program.

Lisa is the utmost professional, with excellent availability and quick turnaround on edits. At the same time, she is completely invested in your success and personal well-being. She acknowledges the massive amount of work involved in applying to MBA programs and the difficulty of overcoming roadblocks along the way. She is a true advocate of your potential as an applicant, which helped keep me focused and resilient when the process felt overwhelming.

I am confident that Lisa’s guidance played an instrumental role in my admission to multiple Top 10 MBA programs, including my first choice. I recommend her unequivocally and urge you to reach out to her if you are considering an MBA admissions consultant.

I had an exceptional experience working with Donna and the Stratus team throughout my MBA application journey. One of my favorite aspects of working with Donna was her unwavering support during an unexpected challenge. In the middle of the application process, I was laid off due to tech redundancies, and was worried this would derail the months of work I had put into my applications. Donna immediately reassured me, sharing that she had worked with other clients in similar situations whose MBA journeys were not negatively impacted. Beyond her role as a consultant, she went above and beyond by quickly connecting me with people in my intended post-MBA industry, helping me explore job opportunities and expand my network. Her empathy and proactive approach made a stressful situation feel far more manageable, and her reassurance helped me to land a new job in the tech industry, just 2 months after the layoff in a difficult job market.

From the start, Donna was clear that she would match my working pace. Whether I sent her multiple lengthy school drafts in a day or needed quick feedback, she was always incredibly responsive. Her comments were thoughtful and thorough, demonstrating her ability to understand the bigger picture of what I was trying to communicate. She never made edits just for the sake of it—it was clear she fully read through each draft and provided comments that were appropriate to the stage of the process, whether we were refining core themes or fine-tuning language.

The Stratus framework itself was highly structured and effective. The process moved from broad-strokes brainstorming to increasingly narrow and refined drafts, helping shape my narrative in a clear and compelling way. The team’s collective experience was evident throughout, as they provided insightful guidance and industry knowledge that strengthened my overall application.

I highly recommend Donna and Stratus to anyone navigating the MBA application process. Their expertise, dedication, and genuine support made all the difference in helping me tell my story authentically and effectively.

Donna is an amazing admissions counselor, and went above and beyond to support me as I navigated the MBA application process. From the very beginning, she was warm, kind, and expressed a genuine interest in getting to know me and my career goals.

We spent several sessions on introspection activities that helped me identify and articulate how my past career experiences, skills, and strengths made me a competitive applicant for business school. From these activities, I was able to refine my career goals, and develop a strong application strategy. As well, the exercises helped me brainstorm various experiences I could discuss in my essays and made my writing process much more organized and succinct.

Donna conducted multiple reviews of my essays and short answers responses, providing essential feedback on areas I could improve and significant areas to highlight. She provided a thorough resume review and held mock interview sessions with me to practice and prep. Donna always gave me constructive feedback and was an invaluable resource. She was very responsive, and reviewed my essay drafts and answered any questions I had in a timely manner. Whenever I had doubts or concerns about a weak component of my application, she was empathetic and helped me reframe/strategize how I could address any weaknesses and improve.

Through her guidance, I was accepted to multiple schools with scholarship offers. Thank you Donna, I’m incredibly thankful I had the opportunity to work with you!

I worked with Lisa at Stratus for my MBA applications and couldn’t be happier with the experience. I applied to HBS, Stanford, and Wharton, ultimately getting into Wharton—which I’m absolutely thrilled about!

Lisa’s background as a former admissions officer at Sloan was invaluable. She knew exactly which clichés to avoid and what would resonate most with the admissions committees. Her insights helped me craft a compelling, authentic application that truly reflected my story.

One of the best parts of working with Stratus was the comprehensive support. Beyond Lisa’s guidance, I had other experts stress-test my application, a school-specific reviewer to ensure fit, and mock interviews that prepared me exceptionally well—especially for Wharton’s unique group discussion format.

I was a bit disappointed not to get into Stanford or Harvard (or even get an interview), but I genuinely feel that the application I submitted was the best it could be. The price tag is steep, but relative to the cost of the MBA, it felt important to give it my best shot. If you’re looking for expert guidance and a structured, thorough process, I highly recommend Lisa and Stratus!

I highly recommend Susan Cera to anyone looking to boost their chances of getting into a top business school. From the start, she took the time to understand my academic background, work experience, and community involvement to build a strong foundation for my applications. As my story evolved, she helped me craft a tailored strategy for each of the three schools I applied to.
Susan was incredibly patient as I refined my resume, guiding me on how to shape it for business school admissions rather than just a future employer. She was also instrumental in helping me push through writer’s block during the essay process. When it came time for interviews, she offered to arrange Zoom mock sessions for each school.
With her guidance, I was accepted to all three M7 schools I applied to. Beyond her expertise, Susan genuinely cares about her clients and is a true professional. I can’t recommend her enough!

Jennifer helped me discover the beauty in the ordinary. She guided me to uncover hidden gems in my story and answered many of the “so what’s” that I struggled with in my essays. She continuously pushed me to dig deeper and brought out the best in each of my essays. Always available to answer questions, hop on calls, and provide reassurance when things got tough, Jennifer was a constant source of support.

She also played a crucial role in helping me strategically select schools and encouraged me when certain schools seemed out of reach. Without her, I wouldn’t have gotten into many of my top choices. Her work ethic kept me organized and on track throughout the entire process. Additionally, she connected me with students and professionals along the way, further enriching my experience.

Though she rigorously prepared me during mock interviews, she ensured that I walked away from each one feeling confident and ready to ace it. I received interview invites from all the schools we worked on together and was even accepted into schools we hadn’t focused on, all thanks to her guidance.

Jennifer has been a blessing in disguise, and I’m incredibly grateful for her support. She truly is the best!

Working with Jennifer was a great experience from start to finish. She helped guide me through every step of the application process, making sure my ideas came across clearly and convincingly. Jennifer’s approach was structured yet very personalized, making everything feel smooth and manageable. She was very easy to work with, always available to answer my questions and address my concerns. Her honest and constructive feedback was a game-changer, helping me polish my applications and put my best foot forward. I highly recommend Jennifer to anyone looking to ace the MBA application process with confidence and success.

I did preliminary sessions with 4 consultants. As an unconventional candidate (slightly older, from a background in education) the MBA application process was intimidating, and I wanted a consultant who would speak candidly, possessed expertise, and was enjoyable to work with: Melisa was superbly all three. She spent hours mock interviewing me, so by the time I sat for the real interviews I was both calm and confident. I was accepted at my top choice school and I’m positive that is in great part due to the help Melisa provided. I wish her all the best in her life and earnestly believe you, reader, would be greatly benefitted by having her as a consultant.

Highly recommend Straus, Susan & Joe to anyone looking for expert guidance through the MBA admissions process.

From the very first ‘free consultation’ call, they diligently heard my stories, dilemma, goals, and provided a balanced, rational feedback, outlined a clear roadmap, and helped me navigate the full process – through multiple T10 interviews, offers, and beyond. This was especially valuable having a unique career path + a percieved fatal flaw in my background.

Be it during the application process, or interview prep, or even brainstorming school selection, Joe always went the extra mile to ensure that I was confident and well-prepared in my decisions – which was invaluable during times when I was confused/overwhelmed.

Overall – 10/10 recommend.

I highly recommend working with Melisa. She made the entire MBA application process so much less stressful and more manageable. I had relatively unique objectives, and Melisa was fantastic at adapting her approach to align with my specific career goals and needs. Throughout the process, and even after it, she remained incredibly supportive and responsive to any questions I had. She consistently provided detailed, thoughtful advice that was invaluable. Working with Melisa made a huge difference, and because of her help, I was able to get into my top school and receive even more scholarship funding than I had hoped.

Navigating the MBA process was really stressful for me and felt like a black box, and I had a very low Q score to compensate for in writing all my essays. My budget meant that I couldn’t commit to buying a full package, so signed up on the hourly rate. Joe was super helpful in brainstorming, proofing, and editing all my essays, all the while mitigating the stress of the MBA application process by offering clear and concise feedback that always made for a better essay. He also was genuinely invested in my process, and was there to help calm any nerves that came up. I gained admission to several of my top schools and am very appreciative for the role that Joe played in helping me do so.

I worked with Joe on an hourly basis for essay and general application support, as well as for mock interviews. My GMAT score was not amazing (at or slightly below the average for my schools), and I came to him with very limited time before round 1 deadlines. Joe was immensely helpful from the earliest stages through even helping with scholarship negotiation discussions post-acceptance.

During the application process, I was already confident in my general story that I wanted to tell, but Joe really helped me refine it and pull out what is most important to discuss in the essays (with very limited space when you start writing!). I also consider interviewing a weakness of mine, so he helped tailor my responses, live reactions, and gave me more confidence. Very grateful to have worked with him!

I would recommend Joe to anyone if they are feeling overwhelmed with the overall MBA admissions process and have concerns over their candidacy (I had low test scores). I immediately felt at ease with Joe as he outlined all of the steps, helped with school selection, provided additional testing options/ guidance and reviewed all my application materials. I think the most useful exercise was the comprehensive introspection we did that really helped me craft my story and I think is the reason my essays and interviews went so well. I’ve gotten into 5 out of the 8 programs I applied to with hefty scholarships. Joe gave me the confidence to apply to these top schools in the first place!

I could not recommend Joe Farr from Stratus enough!! He was exceptional to work with. I come from a non-traditional background and a very niche industry where people don’t usually get MBAs. I was afraid ad com wouldn’t understand the work/impact from my career. I met with several admission consulting firms. Some of them were not encouraging of my story and wanted me to change it for the essays. Others were fine, but when I spoke with Joe I felt that he understood exactly how to strengthen my story and present it authentically. He helped me be purposeful in my school search. We did a lot of introspection work that made writing my essays much easier. He would take the time to provide detailed feedback for my essays and got that back to me very quickly. When interviews came around he was helpful in providing tips and strategies for answering specific questions. With his help I got interviews to 7/8 schools, and acceptances to Michigan (full ride), UVA (full ride), Duke (full ride), CBS ($$$), Northwestern ($$$), and Yale ($$). Now that I am deciding exactly which offer to accept he has helped with scholarship negotiations and identifying which offers will help me the most in my career moving forward. 10/10 recommend going with Joe.

I worked with Susan Cera on my applications and it was the best decision I’ve made. Susan was critical in helping me connect the dots between my life experiences to form a compelling story, which was my biggest worry going into the application. I also loved the frameworks Susan provided for researching my target programs and creating a comprehensive MBA application strategy. Because of the work with Susan, I’m fortunate to receive admissions to multiple M7 programs. You’d be lucky to have Susan in your corner during their application process!

Susan is the person to work with if you want a consultant who truly cares about your MBA journey. After countless introductory calls with admissions consultants, Susan truly shined with her authenticity, charisma, experience, and kindness. Working with her truly exemplified all of those and more. She works deeply with you to reflect on your WHY, WHO, and WHAT. Regarding the hard work, she is there every step of the way, thinking strategically through essay questions, short answers, resumes, and more.

If I ever had any doubts or concerns, Susan immediately supported me — helping me address them and find ways to alleviate them. Despite the short notice, multiple revisions, and numerous questions, she works incredibly hard to position my application to the best of my ability.

I could not recommend Susan more; she is truly a great asset to this MBA journey!

I worked with Sophie Hilaire throughout my MBA admissions process, and I can honestly say that I made the right choice in selecting her as my counselor. I had explored a number of different counselors and services, but Sophie stood out for a few key reasons.

First, my background was non-traditional, and I was proud of that. I had a unique blend of management consulting experience and service as a Peace Corps volunteer. I needed someone who would help me craft a narrative that authentically captured my story without sounding too polished or formulaic. I wanted essays that felt personal and alive, rather than structured or cookie-cutter. From the very beginning, I knew Sophie was the right fit. She immediately understood the balance I sought—helping me express my experiences in a way that was both genuine and compelling.

The MBA application process, to me, requires deep introspection. You need to be able to clearly explain the motivations behind your career choices and future aspirations. That’s why I was drawn to Sophie: not only did she have the expertise, but her personal journey also reflected the kind of introspection I was hoping to achieve. Sophie’s life story is incredibly inspiring—she served in Afghanistan, summited Mount Everest, and eventually retired to a farm in rural Kentucky. Her experiences are a testament to a life lived with purpose and reflection.

In an introspective exercise, Sophie shared an example of how her sabbatical from McKinsey to hike Mount Everest changed her perspective on life. She described how reaching the summit gave her a profound realization—that true success wasn’t about climbing the corporate ladder, but about finding peace and fulfillment. Sophie’s ability to reflect so deeply on her own journey made me trust her even more as a coach. To guide someone through the introspection required for MBA applications, you need a coach who has already done that work themselves. Sophie is that person. She will not let anything but the most authentic version of yourself shine through in your application.

About Stratus’s Process and Package:

The Stratus admissions process worked well for me. While Sophie was my main counselor, I also received additional support from another expert who helped me with career pathing and school selection. After writing each essay, Sophie would review a few drafts with me, and then the essay would be passed on to a school-specific reviewer and a proofreader. This process ensured that each essay received thoughtful feedback without becoming overly scrutinized.

Drawbacks:

While this didn’t affect me personally, it’s worth noting that Stratus’s process can feel a bit more hands-off compared to other services. Some peers of mine who used different consulting services received more hands-on support, such as counselors calling reviewers, drafting letters of recommendation for them, and offering more consistent guidance. For me, this wasn’t necessary as I am a Type A, structured planner, but if you are someone who needs more hand-holding or a higher level of support to stay on top of deadlines, it’s something to consider.

Final Outcome:

Thanks to Sophie’s guidance and the Stratus process, I was accepted to five MBA programs (Yale, Tuck, Wharton, Kellogg, and Haas), with full-ride scholarships to three of them. I’m incredibly grateful for the support I received throughout this journey.

I cannot recommend Melisa highly enough! Over the past year, she was an absolute game-changer in helping me achieve my dream of getting into Columbia Business School. From the very first conversation, it was clear that she was deeply invested in my success. Melisa took the time to understand my unique background, experiences, and aspirations, and she worked tirelessly with me to craft an application that truly reflected who I am.

Her expertise and knowledge of the MBA admissions process are unparalleled. Melisa provided insightful feedback on every aspect of my application, from my essays to my resume to my interview preparation. She pushed me to dig deeper and tell my story in a way that was authentic and impactful. Her guidance not only strengthened my application but also gave me the confidence to present the best version of myself.

What really sets Melisa apart is her personal touch. She genuinely cared about my journey and was always available to answer questions, provide encouragement, and offer support. I never felt like just another client—she made me feel like a priority every step of the way.

If you are looking for an admissions consultant who will go above and beyond to help you achieve your goals, look no further than Melisa!

I started this process with almost no business experience, almost no math or econ classes under my belt, and a 40th percentile GRE quant score. I got into Columbia; what more can you say?

I worked with Jennifer on an hourly basis and her feedback was helpful. She always responded within 2-3 business days and provided clear feedback where requested. Most importantly, she was comforting and supportive to have during this process.

I absolutely loved working with Donna as my admissions consultant throughout my MBA application process. I did a free consultation with a number of consultants/organizations before speaking with Donna, and I couldn’t be happier that I chose to proceed with Stratus and specifically Donna. I was really impressed with Stratus’s team based approach and excited that my school choices, essays, etc. would be reviewed by Donna, a secondary strategist, school-specific reviewers, and proofreaders, allowing me to consolidate multiple perspectives before making decisions. I also knew that I would likely be spending hours with my admissions consultant and Donna’s positivity, knowledge, and commitment to her client’s made this an easy decision.

I started the MBA application process relatively early, so it was amazing to work with Donna well before essay questions were released, as she helped me explore my past experiences to determine my key goals and how those aligned with different MBA programs. I wouldn’t have thought to relate one of my college internships to my dream job post-MBA without her, in order to articulate a strong story in my applications. Together, we created a strategy, refined ‘my story’, worked on multiple iterations of my essays/resume, and prepared for interviews. Throughout this process, Donna was extremely responsive, shared amazing guidance but allowed all words/stories to remain authentically ‘me’, and answered the many, many questions that I had with deep expertise and knowledge in all things MBA. Donna also encouraged me to apply to top-tier programs that I thought were beyond my reach and provided consistent encouragement when I felt worried/stressed.

With Donna’s guidance from an end-to-end perspective, I got into 3 M7 programs (Booth, Kellogg, and Columbia) and all 5 of the other schools that I interviewed for (Yale, Tuck, Fuqua, Stern, and Cornell), including multiple scholarships, and I couldn’t be happier. If you are looking for an admissions consultant, you cannot go wrong with Donna and Stratus.

I truly don’t know if I could have achieved my phenomenal results without Sophie’s support. She cared deeply about my journey and did an amazing job supporting me throughout this process. I cannot recommend her enough.

I truly could not be happier with my experience working with Melisa to prepare my MBA applications. For me, the most difficult part of the process was telling my story in the most compelling way. In this area, Melisa was an absolutely invaluable teammate, and I was amazed to see that by following her lead through the grueling but rewarding Stratus method, we arrived at a narrative that I was really proud to present. Melisa always followed up on my questions in a timely fashion and with insightful responses. And on the rare occasion that she wasn’t certain about an answer to a question, she’d do the homework to track down the person who did have the answer, always making sure that I had all the information I needed.

Apart from her incredibly valuable expertise, Melisa was an abolute joy to work with! Without fail, she showed up to all of our interactions with infectious optimism and a big smile.

Thank you so much, Melisa!

In transparency, I shopped around by taking free 30-minute consultations with about a dozen shops, but I ultimately ranked Susan as my first choice and decided to work with her. Susan is a seasoned professional and has several years of real MBA adcom experience, having reviewed thousands of applications. These credentials were important considerations for me as I was deciding who I wanted to work with. Moreover, she seemed to be the most knowledgeable and she knew exactly what she was talking about. From career planning to EC recommendations to application strategy to essay writing, she did it all. The introspection exercises were also really helpful – she helped me craft the unique stories, narratives, and themes that I showcased in my application. None of this would have been possible without her. I got into multiple of the M7s I applied to, and I’m pleased to say I will be attending HBS! All because of Susan.

Your MBA tuition, living, and other related costs will likely exceed $200K over 2 years – not to mention, the opportunity cost of being out of the workforce. This is one of the most important life decisions you’ll make. You need to put your best foot forward, otherwise you’re starting off with a handicap. Work with Susan!

I have a nontraditional background that to me, just seemed like life. Donna helped me see that each step I took was the best step I could’ve taken, and helped me reflect that across my essays. From brainstorming on strong points from my childhood to capturing my professional accomplishments, Donna helped me show the highlights of 20+ years. Not only that, Donna helped me refine points in my resume to better shape the narrative the reader got from the bullets.

Her partnership didn’t conclude when I submitted my applications. I shared with her my interview invites and she offered to help me prep. Her years of experience being an Admissions Officer and helping applicants similar to myself helped me connect on a deeper level with my interviewers. We had so much success together, that I had the great problem of weighing multiple offers with scholarships. Donna also helped me view my options from a different lense and ask key questions to different offices to fully grasp what each institution could offer me throughout the 2-year MBA program.

I would recommend Donna 11 times out of 10.

After doing a free consultation with several MBA admissions consulting firms, I was immediately sold on working with Stratus because of their unique team approach using a primary consultant, a secondary strategist, school specific reviewers, and proofreaders in their comprehensive package.

Donna, my primary consultant, was absolutely wonderful. She encouraged my desire to apply to several M7 dream schools despite my lackluster GRE scores, and she guided me on how to handle some very difficult roadblocks that occurred during my application process including getting laid off. What sets Donna apart is her unwavering commitment to her clients’ success. She was always available to answer questions, provide encouragement during stressful moments, and offer strategic advice, even with my 6-hour time zone difference.

The results speak for themselves – with Donna’s guidance, I received offers from multiple top-tier MBA programs, including one with a scholarship. For anyone considering MBA admissions consulting, I wholeheartedly recommend Donna Bauman and Stratus Admissions Counseling. The investment in their services is truly an investment in your future, providing you with not just expert guidance, but also a supportive partner committed to your success.

It was an absolute privilege to work with Susan from Day 1 of my MBA application journey. Having been highly recommended by my brother, I knew I was in capable hands, but the experience far exceeded my expectations. The MBA application process, with its inherent highs and lows, can be daunting. However, Susan’s blend of competence and empathy transformed it into a profoundly rewarding experience.

Her technical expertise is nothing short of remarkable, as evidenced by her consistent track record of success. With a deep and nuanced understanding of the application process, Susan helped me shape my personal narratives in a way that resonated really well with admissions committees. Throughout this journey, I experienced tremendous growth both personally and professionally, much of which I attribute to Susan’s insightful guidance. Her thought-provoking questions prompted me to reflect on my aspirations and experiences more deeply, ultimately sharpening my perspective.

Moreover, what truly sets Susan apart is her genuine investment in your success. She cares deeply, and this sincerity is evident in every interaction. I felt an unwavering sense of trust and support throughout the process.

In short, Susan is a remarkable consultant and a trusted advisor, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had her by my side during this pivotal phase of my career.

Working with Lisa was nothing short of a revelation. From the very beginning, she did more than just guide me—she unlocked the story within me, helping me see strengths I hadn’t fully realized. Her approach wasn’t about plugging details into templates; it was about digging deep, understanding who I am, and turning that into a compelling narrative that stood out.

Lisa was relentless in her pursuit of excellence. Whether it was brainstorming hidden gems from my past, refining my resume to make it sharp and concise, or giving precise, honest feedback on my essays, she always knew how to push me just hard enough to get the best out of me. And she did all this while being a constant source of support, calm, and clarity. Her dedication to my success was palpable, and it made all the difference.

If you’re looking for someone to just check the boxes, move along. But if you want a partner who’ll get in the trenches with you, challenge your thinking, and help you present the best version of yourself, Lisa is the one. Thanks to her, I not only got accepted, but I walked away from the process with a clearer sense of who I am and where I’m headed.

Jennifer was such a fantastic partner on the MBA application journey. As a first-gen student, I was looking for guidance on the process from start to finish. I was also seeking help in bolstering certain parts of my application to balance out potential weak spots. Jennifer not only kept me on track but also instilled confidence along the way (especially when my confidence in myself was wavering!). Stratus’s process of having multiple eyes on each part of your application was invaluable, as it ensures your story and goals are cohesive. I ended up with several admits, all with scholarship – the investment in Stratus was certainly worth it!

Susan is by far the choice you can and should make if your goal is to get into the best school possible. I only applied to 2 schools (Kellogg and Fuqua as a non-traditional applicant towards the end of R3 with a bad undergrad GPA, good GMAT, interesting work profile but not much extracurricular involvement outside of work) and got into both, which I HEAVILY CREDIT SUSAN for.

Here are the main points that stuck out about my wonderful experience working with her:
1) Incredible at drawing out the stories that matter and helping you understand your experiences to craft a profile. She doesn’t just make things up – she’s phenomenal at asking the follow-up, probing questions that make you realize the value and connection in your experiences. She really armed me with all of the “tools” I needed to write interesting essays by not only drawing the best experiences out of me, but also curating the ones that could cohesively tell the story that mattered most to the profile I was trying to create for my specific schools.
2) Absolutely zero judgement. I came in with a lot of concerns about my profile, and Susan was phenomenal at making me feel comfortable enough to truly go deep on those concerns to figure out how to address them. You can’t work with someone who you can’t be honest with and Susan was amazing here.
3) Her prep work pays dividends. She has a system for preparing the information needed to get you through applications, interviews, and negotiations. TRUST IT! All of the work she had me do in her process made actually writing the essays a smooth process. It wasn’t just for essay writing though – all those efforts paid it forward in the interview prep and follow-up processes as well. I was applying while still working full time and she was incredibly understanding of that, while still being that nudge to keep me on pace that I needed. You still have to put in the work, but if you’re not willing to do that then why are you applying and looking for an MBA consultant?
4) She will be honest with you. There were things I didn’t need to be as worried about as I thought, and things I needed to take into consideration that I wasn’t. It won’t always be the answers you want to hear, but it’ll be honest and in your best interests. I think one of the hardest things in finding a good MBA consultant is feeling like they are maximizing your chances at what is achievable without giving false promises. Susan told me what I needed to hear, and clearly it worked.
5) She genuinely cares. I really cannot emphasize this enough. Throughout the process, she really tried to get to know me as a person. We shared laughs on calls, she connected me to admits she had worked with who could help me with questions or even meet in person on visits, and even dropped me off at the airport once. If that’s not important to you, consider what you would do for a friend you care about and if that makes for a more trusting and genuine relationship.

All in all, you can’t go wrong working with Susan. If you have any chance of getting into a school, she’ll find it and make it the smoothest process imaginable!

As someone who was applying a bit later in the game, I really appreciated that Jennifer provided me the proper focus and schedule to complete every single aspect of the MBA application process. She was able to cut through the noise and make sure that I was focusing on the most important parts. Unlike other consultancies, I enjoyed that other members of the Stratus team were involved in my application – it made me feel that the entire team was invested in my success.

I was referred to her from a friend and 10/10 would recommend to anyone pursuing an MBA!

Melisa played an instrumental role in my MBA application journey. From our very first meeting, it was clear that she was committed to providing an exceptionally thorough and personalized approach. Her deep understanding of the admissions process at the school I was applying to, as well as her up-to-date knowledge about the testing industry were invaluable and made me trust her implicitly.

What truly set Melisa apart from other counselors I’d met with was that she encouraged me to be my most authentic self. She didn’t just help me navigate the application; she guided me in uncovering and showcasing my most unique strengths and experiences. This focus on authenticity was both refreshing and empowering, and it definitely helped me stand out to the admissions committee.

Overall, Melisa was a source of unwavering support and confidence during what for many is an extremely stressful process. Her constructive feedback and encouraging words provided me with the assurance I needed to put my best foot forward. I wholeheartedly recommend Melisa to anyone seeking a compassionate and highly knowledgeable MBA admissions counselor.