GMAT Club

Joe Farr Reviews

Company: Stratus Admissions Counseling

Academic Background: Duke University, BA in Economics, minor in Chemistry Yale School of Management, MBA in Marketing and Leadership Professional Background Programming strategy/scheduling and acquisitions at ESPN—overseeing such categories as college football, college basketball, and NCAA tournaments Acquisitions and development at Tennis Channel Owner of a production company, where he has been researching and interviewing subjects for a biography of the first head football coach in NCAA Division I-A Teacher at Sylvan Learning Intern at the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) and Home Team Sports Select Admissions Counseling Accomplishments For more than a decade, Joe has helped applicants gain admission to M7 and top 20 MBA programs including Harvard, Northwestern Kellogg, Stanford, Duke Fuqua, and Yale. Joe has worked with clients around the globe in industries ranging from the standard (e.g., consulting, marketing, accounting, and nonprofit) to the nonstandard (e.g., tourism, video games, television, and academia He has also worked with clients applying to MBA programs in Canada and Europe. As a second-year MBA student at Yale, Joe was an admissions interviewer and student ambassador

5.0 /5 Average Rating
Based on 14 reviews
February 13, 2025
sircasm

Joined: Jul 13, 2023

Posts: 14

Kudos: 20

Verified GMAT Focus score:
645 Q82 V86 DI78

Rewarding experience with Stratus & Joe

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

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.

Read More

January 23, 2025
annapatricios

Joined: Dec 03, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Focus score:
545 Q74 V84 DI73 (Online)

Joe is fantastic!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I would recommend anyone to Stratus if they are looking for a comprehensive package to guide them through the MBA admissions process. I immediately felt at ease with Joe as he outlined all of the steps, helped with school selection, testing options and reviewed all 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 schools in the first place!

Read More

January 23, 2025
nycbball

Joined: Jan 23, 2025

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

the BEST experience with Stratus & Joe Farr

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

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. Now while I am deciding exactly which offer to accept he has helped with scholarship negotiation and identifying which offers will help me the most in my career moving forward. 10/10 recommend going with Joe.

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
July 09, 2024
gfefhgerlghkjh

Joined: May 07, 2019

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

Joe Farr - An Incredibly Capable Admissions Consultant

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

Joe did an excellent job helping me shape my key stories and refine my profile for b-school admissions. I felt like the essays I wrote working with Joe were some of the best pieces of written work I have been able to produce and I think this is a testament to Joe's ability. Joe was incredibly effective at working with me to tease out the key details in my stories to help me draft compelling essays.

Additionally, Joe was able to help me prepare for my interviews by providing insight into the interview process and walking me through the key differences at each school.

With Joe's help I was offered admission to three top schools, two of them being Ivy League schools, and was fortunate enough to be offered scholarship money at all three.

Read More

July 12, 2023
CB13

Joined: Oct 16, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 5

Verified GMAT Classic score:
720 Q47 V42 (Online)

Highly recommend Joe Farr

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I highly recommend Joe Farr to anyone aspiring to get into a top business school. Thanks to his guidance and expertise, I was admitted to Wharton in Round 2 and even received a $40,000 fellowship.

Joe's assistance went beyond navigating the Stratus process; he provided invaluable insights into what I truly wanted out of life and business school. Through thoughtful discussions and probing questions, Joe helped me clarify my goals and aspirations.

Joe played a crucial role in helping me overcome the obstacle of a low undergraduate GPA. His expertise in helping me present my strengths and weaknesses was instrumental in securing my acceptance to Ross, Tuck, Tepper, Kellogg, and Wharton. He guided me in showcasing my growth, leadership skills, and unique attributes that demonstrated my readiness for business school.

Overall, Joe's guidance and expertise were crucial to my success in the admissions process.

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 25, 2023
LattesAndLogic

Joined: Apr 25, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Exceptional Service and Dedication

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

I had a fantastic experience working with Joe as my admission consultant. He truly went above and beyond in every aspect of the application process. Despite the 15-hour time difference between China and the west coast of California where Joe was based, he was always prompt and responsive in answering all my questions, providing feedback on my essays, and guiding me on school selection.

I remember having multiple drafts for my essays, and Joe took the time to provide detailed feedback for every single one of them. He patiently answered all my questions, even though I had a lot of them, and provided valuable insights and suggestions for improvement. As the submission deadline approached, I was amazed and truly grateful for Joe's quick turn-around time, even sacrificing his sleep to provide feedback during odd hours, sometimes as late as 3 am or 4 am his time in the Pacific time zone.

Joe's dedication and commitment to his clients were evident in every interaction. He was not only prompt in his responses but also went the extra mile to ensure that I was confident and well-prepared throughout the application process. His encouragement and support were invaluable, especially during times when I felt underconfident.

Overall, Joe is the most responsible and dedicated admission consultant I have ever worked with. His expertise, commitment, and encouragement helped me put forth my best application. I highly recommend Joe Farr to anyone seeking expert guidance and support in their MBA application journey.

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 25, 2023
mbaapp24

Joined: Apr 25, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Joe Farr Review

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

Joe was a great help in figuring out what should be included in the application and what should be left on the cutting room floor. The applications give so little space that it is not easy to make yourself stand out in so few words, and Joe always reminded me to think of how every word built towards the final product. He was also good about keeping me on track and turning comments on weekends as we got down to crunch time.

Joe was also incredibly calm through the application process, which is great if you are inclined to stress out. Overall, would highly recommend using Joe if you are considering an applications consultant.

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
May 19, 2018
Arjun8

Joined: May 05, 2015

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
700 Q45 V41

Great personal experience with Joe Farr from Veritas Prep

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I'm from Australia and opted for a 3 schools package with Joe Farr as my main consultant. I chose Veritas because of its tailored approach in which I could mix and match my team of consultant to best suit my needs, goals and working style.

Joe was sensational! Despite the fact that I am across the world from him, I have developed a strong relationship with Joe. He took a lot of time upfront to understand my profile, goals and personality. I think that this was key for him to be able to help me successfully craft my story, identify my strengths and weaknesses and how to increase my chances of admission. He dedicated a lot of his personal time to help, and I'm truly appreciative of that. As a finance professional who also has a property development and accounting background, I will be using the MBA to transition into sports management/marketing. Joe shares my passion for sports and marketing and hence, this was a great fit. He really helped bring out my passion whether it was over our hour-long (sometimes 2 hours) Skype calls or lengthy emails.

Despite delays on my end, Joe accommodated my last minute questions and was even promptly responding to my questions via email on the due dates of applications. His customer service levels were exceptional. He also helped me work with the different school specialists to ensure the best final product.

Joe also took the time to meet me when I flew to the US for interviews. If you want a truly personalised approach and someone who will demonstrate a vested interest in your future, you definitely want Joe on your side! Aside from professional help, it was an absolute pleasure to chat with him and hear about his experiences. A great guy!

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
May 13, 2018
laurenharper472

Joined: Jan 05, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
720 Q48 V41

Joe Farr made my year!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Joe Farr, with Veritas Prep, not only helped me get accepted into many top-notch MBA programs but he also suggested I apply to the program I am now enrolled in! Yale SOM wasn't even on my radar. I never imagined being accepted to an Ivy League school! Joe thought it would be a good fit for me, and sure enough... I'll be attending Yale SOM in the fall! Veritas Prep really helps you flush out YOUR story and teaches you how to make sure the school sees your best traits. I was a very unusual candidate. Joe helped me create an application that highlighted my uniqueness while also illustrating why I would make a great fit. I am very thankful for Joe and his team!

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
January 16, 2018
MF1990

Joined: Jan 16, 2018

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
650 Q44 V35

Absolutely worth it

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I knew a lot of people worked with consultants for their application to business schools. I thought, of course, it would be useful, but wasn't entirely sure it was as necessary to have one.

After working with Joe I learnt how important it is to work with someone who has done this before and knows the ins and outs of applying to business schools. There were numerous things that I had never considered and that he pointed out, helping me boost my application. I am doing a career switch, so mine was not an easy application, but he took the challenge and helped me research potential opportunities and try to find the best field for me. He also carried out a super complete initial strengths and weaknesses analysis that was the starting point of our work together.

It was a pleasure to work with Joe for a number of reasons. He provided really constructive feedback that made me substantially improve my resume and my essays. He was also very straightforward, candid and never hesitated in telling me the weaknesses he saw and how we could improve them. This is another quality of him that I really appreciated, as these kind of comments were the ones that made me re-think certain ideas or points until I was satisfied with them.

I was pretty demanding with Joe and asked tons of questions, e-mailed him at any time of the day, even weekends, and always asked for his feedback. He was extremely patient and not one e-mail or question ever went unanswered and it was always in a super timely manner. At first I thought of doing an hourly package, but I'm lucky I did not - I could have never fit all the work I did with Joe in an hourly package.

Finally, getting feedback from school specialists and a final review from a admissions director was absolutely valuable too. After working for months with your Head Consultant, it is very useful to receive feedback from an outsider as they always provide fresh comments and ideas.

I haven't heard from schools yet, but no matter what happens, I absolutely recommend Joe and the Veritas team, especially for their incredible hard work and professionalism.

Read More