Donna Bauman

Senior MBA Counsellor

Stratus Admissions Counseling

North Carolina

United States

Net Promoter Score: 9.84

Consultant Bio

I have a competitive, sports-driven mindset that I use to help my clients win on the MBA admissions field. The tools I leverage are my admissions knowledge (15 years in MBA admissions at UNC Kenan-Flagler), compelling storytelling/brand positioning experience (from account management roles working on the national advertising campaigns for brands including Maxwell House Coffee, CorningWare, Pyrex, Corelle and Hanes), and empathy (my clients need to know I care before they care what I know). I use all this knowledge to help my clients leave no stone unturned in presenting their most compelling narrative. My clients have been named Forte and Consortium Fellows and have been offered scholarships totaling over $1.2 million in the past 2 years. Additional experience working for two start-up food ventures has given me insight into the challenges entrepreneurs face and new ideas about building strong partnerships with my clients. I graduated from Kellogg for my MBA so I believe in the importance of collaboration and growth at every life stage. I received my undergraduate degree from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and I am a big Tar Heel sports fan. I look forward to coaching you to great results.

Company Information

With Stratus Admissions Counseling, you don’t just work closely with an experienced MBA admissions consultant to optimize every part of your application.

You work with an entire team of specialists who provide extensive feedback throughout the process.

From crafting your essays to conducting mock interviews, this team-based approach ensures you stand out and get accepted into your dream business school.

We’ve successfully worked with applicants on Harvard Business School admissions, Stanford MBA admissions, and Wharton MBA admissions, among others.

Menu of Services and Associated Costs

Comprehensive MBA admissions consulting services with a team of dedicated MBA consultants, primarily from top schools with a minimum of two years admissions experience. The team is made up of a Primary MBA Consultant, Senior Strategist, Secondary Reviewer, Qualified Proofreader, and Account Manager. Comprehensive guidance is offered per school to maximize chances of admission.
Consulting Includes:

School selection
Strategy Building
Profile & Resume Evaluation/Suggestions
Recommender Selection/Coaching
Essay Outlining
Essay Drafting
Essay Feedback
Essay Proofreading
Application
Interview Prep
Scholarship Negotiation and Waitlist Strategy (if needed)

Standard Package

1 School: $6900

2 Schools: $9150

3 Schools: $11300

Feature 4+ School Guarantee*

4 Schools: $13350

5 Schools: $15000

6 Schools: $16450

7 Schools: $17700

School Add-On: $2550

Location: North Carolina, United States

Email: consult@stratusadmissions.com

Website: http://stratusadmissionscounseling.com/

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P&Q Consultant Reviews

  • Highly Recommend Partnering With Donna!
    6 months ago
    As a younger applicant who does not come from a quantitative background, Donna helped me find ways to market myself to my chosen schools and believed in me through the process. Beyond just the Stratus protocol, Donna's empathy and thoughtfulness helped me reflect on my background and really hone in on my reasons for pursuing an MBA. Her guidance helped when I was waitlisted and has led to me being accepted to my top choices with scholarships as well. I would highly recommend partnering with Donna. It truly is a partnership!
    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Donna Is Absolutely Amazing! Highly Recommended :)
    8 months ago
    Coming from an Indian male engineering background, I was not sure if my story would really stand out in an uber competitive applicant pool. Donna was very reassuring and first off made me believe in myself. Donna has a lot of experience with respect to Indian applicants, having screened thousands of Indian applicants resumes. She helped me understand my motivation for doing an MBA much better which gave me a different perspective and helped me narrate my story with a lot more conviction. From helping build my essays to preparing for interviews, Donna was a pillar of support throughout the process. With Donna's help, I was able to get admits to multiple M7 schools, most importantly, my dream school - HBS!! Thank you for everything Donna, ...
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    Kshiteej Prasad
    MBA Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Storytelling
    9 months ago
    From my perspective, my background was unexceptional and common among applicants. I wasn't sure how to make my application stand out among a sea of other consulting applications. Donna helped me identify the underlying narrative connecting all of my life, academic, and professional experiences to this point. I could not have crafted such a thoughtful and compelling application on my own. In addition, my work schedule demanded much of my attention. Donna was great at keeping me focused and ensuring I was consistently progressing towards application milestones in spite of this. I fully recommend Donna to anyone intimidated by the MBA application process.
    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Fantastic Consultant!
    9 months ago
    Donna was a fantastic and helpful resource during the entirety of my MBA application journey. She provided thoughtful, highly personalized guidance and was very generous with her time, and it was absolutely worth the money to utilize her great insights. I thoroughly enjoyed working with her and would recommend her to anyone looking to make sense of an often difficult and opaque process.
    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Great Experience Working With Donna
    10 months ago
    I had the distinct pleasure of working with Donna as my admissions consultant throughout the MBA application process, and I cannot speak highly enough of her invaluable guidance. Donna's expertise, professionalism, and dedication were evident from our initial interactions. She possesses a deep understanding of the intricacies of MBA admissions, and her insights proved instrumental in shaping a compelling and authentic narrative for my application. Donna's commitment was evident in her meticulous approach to every aspect of the application, from refining essays to providing strategic advice on recommendation letters. What truly sets Donna apart is her ability to draw out the unique aspects of an applicant's experiences and aspirations. She not only helped me articulate my achievements but also encouraged me to reflect on my journey, resulting ...
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    Class of 2026 Admit
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  • Donna Is The Best!
    1 year ago
    Donna is a fantastic resource to anyone seeking guidance and support in their MBA application journey. With her expertise, dedication, and personalized approach, Donna helped me secure an offer from one of the top MBA programs despite a below average GPA and test scores for those schools. From our very first interaction, Donna displayed a genuine interest in helping me understand my aspirations, strengths, and weaknesses. Before starting any school-specific applications, we went through a rigorous process of understanding key aspects of my profile that I could highlight and organizing those components into an arsenal that I could draw from. Thanks to this kind of preparation, when it came time to writing essays, I was able to spend less time on coming up with ideas and ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Stratus Consulting Review - Donna Was Great!
    1 year ago
    I had a really positive experience with Stratus admissions consultants. One of the key aspects was the availability of multiple experts to engage with throughout the process, in addition to my primary consultant. I was able to connect with Stratus team members and Donna used her team to support us throughout the process. This added level of expertise and diverse perspectives enhanced guidance received and Stratus made sure to introduce me to an expert on their team that had experience with my target schools. I found Stratus to be flexible and accommodating, making their services not only valuable but also affordable. If you're seeking a dedicated team that genuinely invests in your success, I would definitely recommend considering Stratus for your admissions consulting needs.
    Class of 2017 Admit
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  • Thank You, Donna!
    1 year ago
    I wholeheartedly recommend Donna as an MBA admissions consultant. Throughout my application journey, Donna's expertise, dedication, and guidance were instrumental in shaping my success. From the very beginning, Donna showcased her profound understanding of the MBA admissions landscape. She took the time to deeply understand my strengths, experiences, and aspirations, allowing her to best help me craft my tailored application strategy that truly highlighted my unique qualities and goals. One of Donna's exceptional strengths is her meticulous attention to detail. She provided invaluable feedback on my approach to applications and essays, helping me refine my thoughts and strengthen my presentation with clarity and impact. I can’t thank Donna enough for her commitment to ensuring that my application best reflected my candidacy and goals. Furthermore, Donna's expertise ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Work With Donna - You Won't Regret It!
    1 year ago
    I was very particular in selecting a consultant to work with. I wanted someone who would realistically evaluate my profile and chances at admission, but would also be encouraging and supportive to ease my self-doubt. Donna struck a perfect balance. Most meaningfully, she was an incredible cheerleader when I was at my most stressed while waiting to hear back from schools. She was always a call away, even on short notice, if I wanted to talk something through with her - whether it be how to phrase an email to an Admissions Committee member or the best tone for an interview thank you note. Donna's guidance was especially helpful when it came to my essays. She provided me with school-specific insights to aid in my ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Donna Is Amazing!! Highly Recommend
    2 years ago
    I am very grateful for Donna's support and guidance. I absolutely could not have done this without her assistance. I truly appreciate Stratus' structured approach to writing essays and ensuring that I am appropriately following the timeline to submit my essays in a timely manner. They made sure that I followed my choice of school's theme so that I had the best shot of getting an admit. And, they helped me save a lot of time when structuring themes to tackle the essay prompts head-on! The editing of my essays was great too! The grammar and spell-checking polished my ideas. I was admitted to an M7 with a healthy merit scholarship!
    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Positive Experience!!
    2 years ago
    When I started my process, I was unsure on if I even wanted to apply, let alone where I should apply or what my post-MBA goals were. Donna helped me tremendously by providing school insight, helping me focus on my professional goals, and curating a cohesive personal story. She was also incredibly flexible with my unpredictable work schedule and was able to tailor a structured deliverable timeline around what worked for me. The process can be incredibly daunting and stressful and having a cheerleader and guiding hand like Donna in your corner is so important! She and the entire Stratus community were incredibly instrumental in my admission to several programs, and I am so grateful. Thank you, Donna!
    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • 2 year long journey comes to an end -- Multiple M7 admits --Thanks Donna!
    2 years ago
    After my first attempt in 2020 to tackle the admission process alone and not securing a single admit, this time, I decided to work with an admissions consultant. Soon after my initial call with Donna, I knew that she would be the perfect fit! We started around 3 months before the R1 deadline and from the get go, Donna would spend hours on call getting to know me and brainstorming ideas to come up with the key strengths we wanted to portray. It felt like Donna was always truly invested in my success. I ended up applying to 5 schools and Donna, unlike other consultants I initially spoke with, encouraged me to apply to my dream schools. Once we started working on the essays, I was ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Helped Me Max Out My Potential
    2 years ago
    I worked with Donna over the past year to prepare for MBA applications. Her advice was invaluable in crafting the right story blending my personal background and career interests. I had a series of difficult life events occur during my application process and she was extremely empathetic and understanding, helping to coach me through this time as it related to even beyond my MBA applications. Donna is extremely caring and will take the time to help you in the process, she often provided career advice and interview help even beyond what was required. She was also able to connect me with some of her former students to help me prep for interviews once invited. Due to working with Donna, I was admitted to two M7 ...
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    Class of 2025 Admit
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  • Was Totally Worth It - Thank You, Donna
    2 years ago
    I was first introduced to Donna, having worked with Charles at GMAT Ninja – and he had only positive things to say about her. I scheduled calls with several other consultants but was instantly drawn to Donna, not only because of our shared athletic backgrounds but also because she didn’t ask the traditional, cookie-cutter questions that every other consultant had asked me. It seemed personalized from the start, and it was her style all the way through. Donna informed me that her process would be very therapeutic, and she was right – I learned more things about myself in my few months working with her than I did for the previous 5 years. Time was not on my side as I had less than 2 months ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Great Experience With Donna!
    2 years ago
    I started off my MBA application with a lot of questions and self-doubt. I have to admit imposter syndrome did affect me in the beginning because of my average GPA and GMAT for the MBA application. But once I went through several 'homework' with Donna, she was able to help me in finding out my uniqueness and special stories from my personal life and career, which in turn supported all the essay writings. Without her prompt replies and personalized approach, I would not have been accepted to my top school with a scholarship, needless to say, I also received acceptance from all other schools I applied to. Thank you Donna it was really nice working with you. I would definitely recommend her as the MBA ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Life Changing Decision
    2 years ago
    Donna was an amazing admissions consultant and helped me change my life during this process by my acceptance to Columbia Business School. I was one of those students that was right on the "borderline" and doubted if I had what it took to be successful at an M7 program. Like Donna, I played sports in college and we bonded over our shared competitive interests with tennis. Donna took the time to understand me and pushed me to apply and believe in myself. She also, through her deep knowledge of this process, took the time to help me taylor my application towards Columbia and helped me connect the dots with what what I wanted to pursue post-MBA and how Columbia could help me get there. She ...
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    Class of 2022 Admit
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  • Thank You, Donna!
    2 years ago
    Donna’s approach to storytelling, beginning with a systematic review of my personal experiences and followed with introspection on these experiences’ impacts on my life trajectory and goals, struck me immediately after I began working with her. I revisited many memories I hadn’t paid attention to for a while, and with her advice, I tailored my essays to the unique characteristics of each school. Her in-depth feedback and strategies to help me convey as many important aspects of my stories as I could were instrumental to my success. I was also impressed by Donna’s empathy and personal touch – her unbiased evaluation of my strengths and weaknesses and how each school aligned with my long-term goals made me confident that I would thrive anywhere I ended up ...
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    Elaine Fan
    MBA Class of 2022 Admit
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  • Truly Rewarding Experience With Donna!
    2 years ago
    As a mechanical engineer working at a refinery in Singapore, when I decided to pursue an MBA in the US, I was dreading the process of writing application essays to portray my skills and leadership qualities. Working in a single company all my life, I had very little (recent) experience with behavioral interviews as well. I am extremely grateful to Donna for guiding and coaching me through the application process. She was extremely patient with me as we dived deeper into my personal motivations and post-MBA goals. Based on my aspirations, she worked with me to narrow down the schools which were a fit for me based on my preferences. Eventually, I opted to work at 4 schools - out of which I got accepted ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Best Decision!
    3 years ago
    Donna Bauman came highly recommended by my wife who had worked with Donna on her MBA application process a few years back. My wife was able to get into her #1 choice (Duke)! Although I was considering not using a consultant, my wife convinced me otherwise and so I scheduled a call with Donna and within the first few minutes, I knew I wanted to work with her on my application process. Donna helped me structure my thoughts and story so as to make my application as strong as I possibly could. Although the packages that Stratus offers are expensive it is the best decision I could have made. I was able to get into my #1 choice school (Babson) with a full-tuition scholarship. I ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Thank You, Donna!!
    3 years ago
    I started working with Donna just a few weeks before my applications were due and my only regret is not working with her earlier on! I had drafts of my applications ready but wanted guidance to polish them up and prep for interviews. Donna pushed me to improve my essays to make them shine and stand out from the crowd and was absolutely critical in preparing me for interviews. She knew the culture of every school, what would work well vs not, and helped me craft tailored answers that reflected who I am while also being tailored to the schools. She also gave me tips and feedback on each and every answer of mine for the interview which was really helpful..all this in a very ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Great Experience With Donna!
    3 years ago
    Donna was truly instrumental throughout my MBA application process and connecting with her was a fantastic investment for me. I interviewed 7 consultants and was ultimately drawn to Donna - she asked thoughtful questions, listened and was very transparent and honest about what she thought I needed out of a consultant. Once engaged, Donna assisted with every aspect of the application process. Most importantly, she challenged me to take the necessary time to think through my experiences and to hone in on specific examples that best fit the overall narrative of my application. After the initial introspection work, she helped me craft a cohesive story that highlighted my career aspirations in a way that also allowed my personality and voice to come through on paper. ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Heading To Boston In The Fall!
    3 years ago
    Honestly, thank you, Donna! I was admitted to HBS /1 M7, and waitlisted at a T10 with Donna's guidance. I was rejected at 2 other M7s. Here is the thing: I am an international student so I didn't have experience going through such a rigorous admissions process when I was in my undergrad. At the same time, I am also extremely Type A so I wanted someone who would answer the most inane questions. Donna and the Stratus team did exactly that. The package helped me self-reflect on my life goals, and how the MBA would contribute to that trajectory. I think this is the basis for good essays. Then, throughout the writing process, Donna offered me feedback (what kind of tone should I take for ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Thank You, Donna!
    3 years ago
    Donna was beyond instrumental in helping me gain admittance into a top 10 MBA program! While I was definitely a qualified candidate, my "statistics" (GPA, GMAT) did not necessarily jump off the page. Donna helped me craft my narrative through some intense introspection and goal-setting exercises, and we were able to maximize the "intangibles" from my background to put forward strong, competitive applications. Throughout the process, I began to feel increasingly confident in what I can bring to the table for MBA programs and future employers. I would not have rediscovered my corporate "swagger" had it not been for Donna, and our time together was a great investment. Donna was responsive, punctual, insightful, and a powerful advisor to have in my corner.
    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Great Investment
    3 years ago
    The MBA application process can be overwhelming, and in hindsight, it’s hard to imagine going through it without Donna’s support. Donna is an expert storyteller, and whenever I felt stumped by an essay prompt, it made a huge difference to be able to consult with Donna to go over the options we had to tell the strongest story to each school. Donna truly made the effort to get to know me through the introspection work we had done together early in the process, and she had advice on areas of my experience to focus on in essays and interviews that I probably wouldn’t have come up with on my own. Donna’s feedback on my work was always honest, constructive, and fast, and motivated me to ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • My 18 Year Journey To Get Into An MBA Program Of My Dreams!
    3 years ago
    Last year (2021), I took the GMAT and scored a 730. I did not want to take any chances with my MBA applications and wanted to work with the absolute best. I must have talked to at least 35 consultants across the globe. In our first conversation from the get-go, Donna blew me away. She was the first consultant who had gone over my resume and other details that I had shared with her before the call. She told me the strengths of my application and how she can help guide me in telling my story. Our call was scheduled for 30 mins. But it lasted almost 60mins. At the end of it, I knew she was the best consultant I had talked to. So ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • 80% Acceptance Rate W/ Scholarships! Thank You, Donna!
    3 years ago
    Donna was instrumental in helping me prepare for my interviews and essays. I felt ready for each of my interviews thanks to her tailored interview preparation techniques. Stratus' essay review process provided excellent feedback and helped me emphasize the elements of my application that would resonate the most with each of the respective MBA programs. Donna's professionalism comes across immediately. She is very timely with her email responses and is always willing to set up a quick call to discuss your application. If you are looking for an MBA tutor I highly recommend you look at Donna and Stratus. They helped me get into the top 3 European MBA programs and a top 10 American MBA program.
    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • Holistic Experience, Top Tier School Results
    3 years ago
    After what I might've called a traumatic undergraduate college admissions experience, I feel confident saying I've finally moved past it after the tremendous success I've now had with getting into business school. I owe most of this success to Donna. Out of the 6 schools where she helped me, I got into 4 (Northwestern Kellogg, UVA Darden, USC Marshall and UNC Kenan-Flagler) and all with significant scholarships. I started working with her in February and feel I was really rewarded with almost a year of advice and mentorship throughout this often very stressful process. My initial drafts for my essays were very rough and Donna helped me refine them through more than 8 drafts sometimes, until we both, plus the additional objective third party reviewer ...
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    Class of 2024 Admit
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  • I Owe My KF Success To Working With Donna
    3 years ago
    After working with Donna, I compared the application material I first wrote on my own to the final product with Donna’s coaching and it’s like it came from a completely different person. At every step of the process of working with Donna, I knew that I was in capable hands. She showed both professionalism and profound empathy when guiding me through the application process. Her experience proved invaluable as many of the assumptions I had about the process were entirely incorrect. My successful application, and the financial aid I received with it, are a testament to her ability as an admission consultant.
    Ian Harten
    MBA Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Couldn't Have Done It Without, Donna
    3 years ago
    Deciding to work with Donna and Stratus admissions was the best decision I could've made in applying to business school. I could not have done it without her and her team. I came into this working relationship with a baseline expectation of what I would receive: guidance on application strategy, essay editing, and a counselor for this process. However, in the best way possible, I could not have been more wrong. I came out with something even greater: someone who made me believe in myself in the toughest moments, someone who took the time to understand and learn my story, and a mentor who cared and was in my corner every single step of the way. It was not always easy, but I'd do it ...
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    Bradley Chee
    MBA Class of 2021 Admit
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  • Donna Is The Best Investment You Can Make For MBA Admissions
    3 years ago
    Working with Donna and Stratus was one of the best decisions I made while applying to business school. Donna came highly recommended by a friend, and I could tell that she was fully committed to my candidacy from the get-go. The Stratus model is vastly different from those of other admissions consultants. I really appreciated the time spent on introspection early on — it helped me delve deep into who I am and what motivates me. Donna provided plenty of additional resources to help me along the introspection process. Stratus also has an external school-specific reviewer for each application, and that allows your application to be judged by an independent reviewer who knows the school well. Over the course of my 4 applications, Donna went ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Amazing Experience With Donna!
    3 years ago
    Working with Donna has been an amazing experience from beginning to end. Right from the start, she helped me identify my story and my goals and we worked closely together along the entire process. Donna is super responsive and always ready to help. Her insights are extremely valuable and she has a very personalized approach. Applying for Round 2, Donna made herself available during the holiday break to support me in my application. The results speak of themselves: 2 acceptances (Anderson with Scholarship! & Tuck) and 4 waitlisted (LBS, Haas, Stern, Fuqua). I highly recommend Donna as a consultant and it was a pleasure working with her!
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Admitted With scholarship!
    3 years ago
    I had a somewhat unconventional application being an international student with an average-ish undergraduate GPA, a decent GRE score, and 4 jobs in 5 years due to traveling around the world. Donna motivated me to get a higher GRE score and guided me from the ground up in terms of my career direction and school alignment. The discovery exercises were very beneficial to help you explore what you want to do and how that matches up to each school. In a competitive COVID year I managed to get three round 2 responses; including a scholarship. I am very excited and thankful for Donna's help which definitely lifted my applications. The essay team was amazing!!
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Donna Is Simply AMAZING To Work With
    3 years ago
    TLDR version: Donna and Stratus are just incredible to work with and I could not be happier with my outcome of being admitted to Yale SOM. Now the longer version: I have to admit, mostly due to the high price of a typical multi-school package, I was seriously considering not using a consultant at all (in hindsight, that would have been devastating!!). Once I talked myself into hiring a consultant, I spent more time than I would like to admit reading these very reviews and obsessing over ’top consultant lists.’ I finally came up with a shortlist of ~5 consultants to have intro meetings with and quite frankly was underwhelmed with most as they were much less personal and much more transactional than I had ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Donna Is One Of A Kind
    4 years ago
    Donna and the rest of the Stratus team were a joy to work with. Donna's assistance was crucial in making sure that I submitted the best possible application and helped me find tutors to increase my quantitative GMAT score. Her honesty, organizational prowess, and experience within the field were what helped me get into my target schools and set clear goals for myself. I will not hesitate to recommend their services to anybody that is going through the MBA application process as I know she is the best available consultant on the market.
    Hamilton Connors
    MBA Class of 2023 Admit
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  • A True Partner Making You Shine
    4 years ago
    First, I worked with Donna for two schools and got 1 admitted (Darden) and 1 invited to the interview (Wharton) all thanks to her help (given my low test score, you could tell how she was great to make my application shine) When it comes to my decision making, I wasn't sure whether I really needed to get some help from a consultant (specifically when it has a high price tag per hour). But now I can 100% assure that working with Donna is absolutely worth the investment. She's super responsive all the time during the process and you will see how this is important given a tight timeline with the MBA application process. Also, she made herself available whenever I need her help so ...
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    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Awesome Experience With Donna!
    4 years ago
    Donna is an excellent consultant and I would highly recommend her to anyone thinking about getting their MBA! She was an incredible resource and added significant value to my applications. I bought the comprehensive package and would absolutely say it was the right move. Donna helped guide me through the full process, from my introspection exercises to thoughtfully creating a story around my MBA journey and finally helping me prepare for interviews. She was extremely responsive and went above and beyond to make sure she got back to me quickly when we were bumping up against application deadlines. Most importantly, I could tell that she was genuinely excited for me when I finally got the call that I had been accepted at Columbia!
    Class of 2023 Admit
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  • Best Investment!
    4 years ago
    Working with Donna was an excellent decision and helped me get into my dream school, Kellogg! From our initial consultation, I knew she was going to give me the push I needed to get my application ready. I came to her less than 1 month before my application was due and she kept me on track, motivated, and calm through a normally very stressful process! She provided amazing advice on crafting my resume and essays - really challenging me to dig deep. Her experience as a Kellogg alum allowed her to provide spot-on information about the program and what they seek in applicants. She was extremely quick, providing feedback within hours, even on weekends. I can honestly say I would not have been successful without ...
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    Class of 2022 Admit
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  • Best Decision I Ever Made
    4 years ago
    When I decided I was ready to apply to business school, I knew I was going to need some help navigating the process. From our initial call, I knew I had made the right decision. She was incredibly thoughtful, sharp, and eager to get started. She carefully listened to my ideas and brought her professional perspective that gave us a great road map. Alone, the insight she brought to the table was worth the cost. Throughout the process, I felt her commitment to my success, and genuinely knew she was rooting for me. I was confident that I put my best applications forward. Although I remain waitlisted, I have been pleasantly surprised by how willing she is to respond to emails with quick questions. Even ...
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    Class of 2022 Waitlist
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  • Amazing Experience
    4 years ago
    I was accepted into Kellogg Round 3 and without Donna, it would not have happened. I chose the hourly package, as I was in a few MBA prep programs, but without Donna, I would not have been accepted. Donna truly cared about me as an individual and not just a number. She was very candid, but warm at the same time. Her adcom experience is invaluable and she will give you the insights you need to improve your application. I felt very prepared for the video essay and my interview because of my time with her. She was so positive and encouraging it really helped to calm my nerves. I am forever thankful I chose to work with Donna.
    Class of 2021 Admit
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  • 10x'd My Application
    4 years ago
    Donna sincerely _cared_ about me and my application for B-school. From the first 30-minute free "introductory" call, I started learning more than I had in hours of online research. She was very knowledgable of all the schools I was looking at and had suggestions for others that matched my interests. Yes, she is expensive (the package deal worked out to about $380/hour) which is quite the sticker shock. But when I considered that my application improved so much that I increased my chances at merit scholarships, this service will pay for itself. She is incredibly efficient and fair with her time tracking. In the five hour package I bought, we covered every aspect of my application and interview preparation so that I went from still drafting ...
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    Class of 2022 Applicant
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  • Donna Is Supportive & Cares. Worth the investment!
    5 years ago
    I was able to get accepted to McCombs with Donna's help! She talked me through my goals and really cared about my story. She was willing to answer any questions and was very prompt in all her responses. She gave succinct edits to my application essays. She provided recorded mock interviews and her feedback was extremely helpful. I was able to ace all my interviews. She prepared me with the exact questions the schools asked me! Most importantly, I felt supported and she calmed my worries. Donna truly cares about her client’s outcome and that is what sets her apart from most.
    Ashley Brooks
    MBA Class of 2022 Admit
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  • Don’t Think Twice - Donna is Truly The Best!
    5 years ago
    When Donna and I started working together, I expected this to be a typical consultant-client relationship where I am provided with guidance and feedback on my applications. What I didn't expect was for me to learn so much about myself and gain significant clarity through our conversations. Overall experience: It was evident to me that Donna has a breadth of knowledge on MBA schools and programs, and that she is committed to keeping herself up-to-date with school-specific information. I particularly appreciated her nuanced inputs and notes on outlines and essays, and the support I received at least very stage of the process, including brainstorming, mock video essay and interview sessions. Donna not only encouraged and helped me reflect deeply and think critically about my strengths and goals ...
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    Class of 2022 Admit
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  • Donna helped me put my best self forward
    5 years ago
    Donna was exactly what I needed during the grueling application process. She really challenged me to dive deep into introspection while taking me through the right exercises and questions that helped me create my MBA story. Not only was this incredibly helpful for crafting strong applications, but it's also helped me hone in on areas I actually want to pursue in my career post-MBA. I had a general idea when I met Donna, but her guidance helped me gain clarity on my story and the path I want to take. Background: Donna is a former MBA admissions officer at UNC Keenan-Flagler and MBA grad of Kellogg. Those two pieces of experience combined helps her give an invaluable insight into the MBA experience and a unique perspective ...
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    Class of 2022 Admit
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  • Going with Donna is a No-Brainer!
    5 years ago
    Before deciding to go with Donna, I spoke with 10 different admissions consultants. Through these conversations I realized that I needed to work with someone who really believed in my story and who could help me overcome some of the weaker parts of my application. After my initial chat with Donna, I could tell that she really cared about all her clients and I could trust her to guide me through my application process. Here are some of my takeaways from working with Donna: Experience: Donna was able to leverage her admissions knowledge (from her time working as an MBA admissions officer) as she gave me feedback and comments on my essay. It helped me understand who my audience was and what their expectations are for ...
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    Class of 2021 Admit
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  • Donna + Stratus = Admitted to M7
    5 years ago
    The admission process is complex, long, and has lots of hidden, unevident aspects - getting some help from professionals would be a wise move for many prospective applicants. I would strongly recommend Stratus to anyone who needs help in applying to top-tier business schools. When it comes to succeeding in getting accepted to M7 there is simply no other company that would go above and beyond in supporting you as much as would Stratus. Before choosing this company I have done quite a selection process of different admission consultants - Stratus stood out among all due to their sharp focus on helping me as their client and their extensive expertise. During the whole process, I have never second-guessed my decision to go with them as Donna Bauman ...
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    Oleg Galperin
    MBA Class of 2021 Admit
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  • Thank you, Donna & Stratus
    5 years ago
    Before writing about Donna, I’ll say it’s important to know what you’re looking to get out of an MBA consultant. I began the process with Donna with only 40 days until round 2 submission, so not only was I looking for guidance on school selection, application strategy, resume and essay review, and interview prep, I also needed a project manager of sorts to clearly lay out deadlines and allow me to use the little non-working time I had most efficiently. I had talked to several consultants and it was clear that Stratus had the full package. When I first talked to Donna I knew we would work well together (while the Stratus process is great, your relationship and ability to work with your individual consultant ...
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    Class of 2021 Admit
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  • Highly Recommend
    6 years ago
    As a non-traditional candidate, I was really nervous about making my experience seem relevant to b school admissions committees. After searching around for several different consultancy services, I decided to go with Stratus, both for their competitive price and their clearly structured plan to help candidates achieve their business school goals. I was lucky enough to be placed with Donna, who really made my experience applying to business school eye-opening and interesting. We began with an introductory call where Donna really looked beyond my CV to see what was at the heart of my decision to apply, and made multiple suggestions on schools I previously hadn’t considered. After that, the path was very clear: we had regular deadlines, lots of e-mail communication and several calls ...
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    Class of 2021 Admit
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  • Best investment and truly cares about your success
    6 years ago
    I worked with Donna on a 4-school package and couldn't be happier with the results. Donna knows the ins and outs of the process and so much more. We worked on my key themes (that become building blocks of the application), school selection, a resume revamp, and created a winning strategy. Everything was methodical yet never did I feel that the relationship was "transactional". Donna truly puts herself in your shoes and becomes a mentor. The perk is that you also get a team behind Donna, including other senior consultants and school-specific consultants, to provide a comprehensive impression of your application. Amazing experience with Donna and the Stratus team. Super fast response time and always on top of things. I got into several dream schools ...
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    Nancy Zhong
    MBA Admit
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  • A pleasure working with Donna
    6 years ago
    I worked with Donna on my US MBA applications. Donna exemplified the most essential quality needed in a consultant – being invested in the client’s success. She worked beyond the time limits to give my application the best chance I could possibly get. I worked with Donna on my school selection, essays and resume. Compared to many other consultants that I have met, she showed intimate knowledge of most schools (gained through school visits) and advised me on possibilities of cracking a given school keeping in mind my post-MBA career ambitions. On essays, she helped shape a compelling story in a manner, which only an experienced consultant could have done. But most of all, the killer-punch was the resume. She helped me completely reshape my ...
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    Class of 2020 Applicant
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  • One Of The Best Decision I Have Ever Made!!!
    6 years ago
    I had the unique experience of working with Donna and Stratus for two application seasons. In 2016, Donna helped me get accepted by three elite MBA programs. However, unforeseeable circumstances forced me to postpone my plans to pursue an MBA. Because I had such a great experience in the past, when I was ready to reapply, I contacted Donna immediately to ask her if she was willing to help me again. This had proven to be one of the best decisions that I have ever made, as I was accepted by five elite MBA programs this year with scholarships from four of them. During this journey, Donna was always super responsive, even during weekends and holiday seasons; the average turnaround time was around 12 hours. She ...
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    Class of 2020 Admit
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  • Highly Recommended!
    6 years ago
    I had a really great experience working with Donna Bauman. She was exceptionally encouraging and supportive throughout my application journey. She was always willing to provide helpful, honest, and timely feedback (within 24 hours) and was able to be flexible to accommodate with our time zone differences for interview preparations. Most importantly, she really took the time to understand my unique background and aspirations and was a true advocate to ensure that I conveyed my unique story across my applications. I would highly recommend Donna and Stratus to anyone looking for an admissions consultant!
    - harrison.f.shih@gmail.com
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  • Great Experience, Top Notch Advice, Personal Touch
    7 years ago
    I will be the first to admit that I was skeptical about using an MBA admissions consultant. I went back and forth about the idea for at least six months while I did research and after talking with several consultants I finally went with Stratus. I couldn’t have been happier with my choice. Donna Bauman was the best thing that happened to me along the way to applying to business school. Donna took the time to not only help me with the application process but also to help me make some difficult personal decisions about where to apply, decisions that were greatly assisted by her own personal anecdotes and experiences. Through a clear and concise pipeline we worked together every step of the way, with ...
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    - Zack Hodgin
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  • Top 5 Program Admit
    7 years ago
    I recommend working with Stratus Admissions to anyone who is serious about applying to top MBA programs. I began working with my consultant, Donna, through the MBA Early Edge Package about 18 months before I applied to schools. Through the Early Edge Package, we identified opportunities to strengthen my application profile with enough time to make important improvements. Many of the improvements became core pieces of my essays and interview answers. Since Donna and I had already been working together for a year through the Early Edge Package, we were in a great position to hit the ground running when essays and applications were released. Donna was very responsive, genuinely interested in my success and provided excellent, school-specific feedback. Her experience as as a full-time ...
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    - Andrew Foster
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