GMAT Club

Hourly Services Reviews

With Stratus Admissions Counseling, you don’t just work closely with one experienced MBA admissions counselor to optimize every part of your application. You work with an entire team of specialists who provide extensive feedback throughout the application process.

From reflecting on your past experiences and identifying programs that will move you towards your goals to crafting your essays and conducting mock interviews, Stratus’ team-based approach ensures you stand out and get accepted into your dream business school. We guarantee it.*

We have clients who have been admitted to every top MBA program year after year since 2006.
5.0 /5 Average Rating
5 star
36
4 star
0
3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
0
Based on 36 reviews

AI Super-Summary of Customer Reviews for Hourly Services*

The reviews reflect overwhelmingly positive experiences with the MBA consulting services provided by Stratus consultants, highlighting their expertise, responsiveness, and tailored strategies that helped applicants successfully gain admission to top MBA programs. The consultants like Jennifer, Erik, Sophie, Melisa, and Susan received high praise for their insightful feedback, personalized support, and commitment to understanding each client's unique background and application goals. Clients appreciated the clear guidance and effective tools that enhanced their essays and resumes, with many noting the consultants' role as pivotal to their application success.
5 users mention "Full Service (end-to-end assistance)"
  • "huge help at every stage of the process..." Read more
  • "outstanding resource during my admissions process..." Read more
  • "my consultant, Sophie, helped me build my application from the bottom up..." Read more
  • "guiding me through the entire application process..." Read more
  • "made the process straightforward and exciting..." Read more
4 users mention "Essay Editing"
  • "expert to review all essays..." Read more
  • "invaluable admissions knowledge, strategy, and assistance during the essay writing process..." Read more
  • "help me tighten up that story and tailor it to specific schools..." Read more
  • "offer to provide input and guidance to my recommenders..." Read more
4 users mention "Responsive"
  • "quick turnaround time as we were approaching deadlines..." Read more
  • "very responsive throughout and always responded quickly..." Read more
  • "extremely responsive and always replied quickly to my countless emails..." Read more
  • "checking in frequently..." Read more
2 users mention "Admitted"
  • "Getting in to my first choice school wouldn’t have been possible without his advice and support...." Read more
  • "super excited to be admitted to my top two choices of the early MBA programs I applied to..." Read more
2 users mention "Supportive"
  • "very supportive throughout the process..." Read more
  • "felt supported throughout the entire process..." Read more
1 users mention "Scholarship Awarded"
  • "applied to 3 M7 schools, one top 15 school, and was accepted to all with scholarship (one with a full-ride)..." Read more
1 users mention "Career Transition"
  • "deep expertise on the application process..." Read more
1 users mention "Top-Tier School Focus"
  • "deep understanding of the MBA application process is unparalleled..." Read more
1 users mention "Non-traditional Backgrounds"
  • "helped me draw out the best qualities in me and showcase my unique background..." Read more
1 users mention "Industry Specialist"
  • "insightful suggestions and tweaks..." Read more
1 users mention "Resume Review"
1 users mention "Time Management"
  • "she was fair with her use of time and directed her time to the most important parts of my application..." Read more
1 users mention "Impersonal"
*Review summaries are AI generated from 25 latest reviews in the past 2 years.
November 06, 2018
patsfan417

Joined: Nov 06, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
750 Q49 V44

High praise for Stratus and Melisa

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I bought a 10-hour package with Stratus, and Melisa Prevost was assigned as my consultant. I cannot say enough good things about working with Melisa. In the 10 hours, I was able to chat with Melisa to help choose and craft my stories, work through the essays for 6 schools, and even do a mock interview. Melisa was able to help pick out my strengths and guide me on which story to use for each essay, and her help in structuring and then editing the essays was invaluable. She was also incredibly responsive to my emails and often reviewed my essays in well under the 48 hours promised by Stratus (often turning things around in just a couple of hours). Not to mention, Melisa was incredibly kind and encouraged me throughout the process. Prior to purchasing the package, I had consultations with two Stratus consultants and found even those conversations to be very insightful, so I am sure that the other consultants are just as helpful as Melisa was for me. I recommend Melisa and Stratus very enthusiastically!

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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.
September 24, 2018
smartarvinz

Joined: Sep 16, 2015

Posts: 5

Kudos: 4

a pleasure working with her

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by membership [?]

I worked with Donna on my US MBA applications. Donna exemplified the most essential quality needed in a consultant – being invested in 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 “career-resume” to an “MBA-resume”, which I felt was an important piece of constructive feedback.

Overall I highly recommend Donna and it was a pleasure working with her.

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August 17, 2018
Mai2020

Joined: Aug 17, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Fantastic experience with Melisa @ Stratus

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I worked with Melisa Prevost through the hourly package and she was fantastic. Extremely responsive and supportive, she went above and beyond to provide helpful feedback on both essays and interview preparation. She is a pleasure to work with and I would highly recommend her. Even though we worked together on the hourly package, she really came to know my background and narrative extremely well. Her turnaround time was always incredibly efficient, usually within 24 hours. She is genuinely committed to seeing you do well, and she understands the application process deeply, as well as what different programs are looking for. The Stratus team in general is responsive and invested in your success.

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March 28, 2018
shrpra

Joined: Dec 19, 2017

Posts: 2

Kudos: 5

Self-reported Score:
750 Q49 V42

Melisa Prevost review

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I had a great experience working with Melisa. I purchased the hourly package and we used the time to work on my resume and essays. I was very much a non-traditional applicant and had no idea about the business school application process, but her guidance made the whole thing a breeze. She had extensive knowledge of every school on my list and made sure each application fit its respective school perfectly.

When it came to actually editing my resume and essays, Melisa was very efficient with her time, which I really appreciated considering I was paying by the hour. She sent back all her edits within a day, and every single suggestion was valuable. I applied in Round 2 so all the deadlines were right after the holidays, but she made herself available even then.

Most importantly, she genuinely cares about your success! She asked for and appreciated updates well past the application phase. She even introduced me to another one of her clients attending the same program as me so I could start connecting with future classmates right away. I would highly recommend Melisa to anyone looking for an application consultant.

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April 23, 2017
pallavvyas

Joined: Feb 02, 2015

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Great feedback on essays and resume!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by membership [?]

Melisa was wonderful to work with! She provided great feedback on resume and essays, was always willing to help, and go above and beyond. She was always prompt at responding, and would check-in anytime I fell off the wagon due to work deadlines. I worked with her mostly over email, except for the first skype call. The communication was great (even when I was traveling with a 10+hr time difference) and timely. She really helped me stay on track and submit a stellar application. I got into the school of my choice (Berkeley Haas) and Melisa's help played a huge role.

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March 27, 2017
bamclell

Joined: Jul 04, 2015

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
690 Q48 V36

Stratus Prep Review

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I had a rudimentary idea of what I wanted to write about, but working with my Stratus Prep Counselor elevated my essays to a higher level and helped me craft a unique story that wove together my passions, experiences and goals. Beyond the technical aspects, my Counselor helped me maintain sanity through the stressful MBA admissions process and gave me invaluable advice and inspiration when I needed it most. Ultimately, I was invited to interview at 7 of 8 schools and was accepted into my preferred program. I firmly believe that Stratus Prep strengthened my candidacy tremendously. I highly recommend that others consider their services!

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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.