Strengths:

- Incredibly thorough
- Highly knowledgeable about nuances of the application process and school specific processes
- Very personal - always felt like a priority and never felt as though they took on too many clients
- Proofreader and school specific readers were very helpful

I cannot recommend Donna and Stratus enough. When starting my application, I was really in the dark, and knew very little of how the process worked and I had a good, but not spectacular profile so I was really looking for somebody who primarily could lead me through the process and help me put together the best application.

Not only did Donna serve as the perfect guide, she really helped me flesh out my story, but she actually strengthened my interest in attending business school in general. When I started out, I knew I was interested in the MBA experience and wanted to change career paths, but wouldn't have been able to succinctly explain why; however, by the time I was through my introspection and strategy exercises, I felt not only prepared, be more excited about the opportunity than ever.

The piece of my application Donna most improved was the essays. Her story writing ability is incredible and she was very patient as we wrote and rewrote, edited, and revised, over and over, creating dozens of iterations of my essays in the process. If I am being honest, there is no chance the essays I initially wrote would have gotten an acceptance at any of the schools I applied to.

Above all else though, the thing about Donna that I believe truly sets her apart from any other consultant is how much she cares. I first noticed it when she would casually remember aspects of my life totally separate from my application or her connecting me with former clients, but it carried over throughout the whole process, right to the end when she pulled in favors on a day off to get an essay and resume proofread so that I could still apply on time after I had misunderstood a deadline.

I would not have had the successful admissions results that I did without Donna and I cannot thank her enough for her guidance and support.

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Strengths:

Personalized service

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 arranged Zoom mock sessions for each school, which made a huge difference in my confidence and preparation.

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!

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Strengths:

Susan Cera was remarkable in helping me reflect on the exercises, helping me work through essays, and providing ad hoc advice throughout the process.

Would make the product better:

Maybe I should be more direct about asking for candid feedback, I think sometimes Susan was very accomodating to what I wanted versus what I needed.

Working with Susan Cera at Stratus for admissions consulting was one of the best decisions I made. From our very first interaction, her kindness and genuine care stood out. Navigating the admissions process can be overwhelming, but Susan had an incredible ability to break everything down into manageable steps, making the experience far less stressful.

Her expertise in admissions consulting was evident throughout. Susan not only helped me craft a compelling narrative but also provided insightful feedback that elevated my application to the next level. She had a remarkable way of understanding my unique strengths and helping me present them in the best possible light.

Beyond her professional expertise, Susan’s warmth and encouragement were truly invaluable. She believed in me even when I had moments of doubt, and her support kept me motivated and confident. I felt like I had a true partner in the process who was genuinely invested in my success.

I can’t recommend Susan highly enough. Her combination of kindness, strategic insight, and unwavering support made all the difference for me. She was truly fantastic, and I’m so grateful for her guidance!

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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.

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Strengths:

Flexibility, structure, and consultants' expertise

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.

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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!

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Strengths:

timely feedback, encouraging me to dig deep on my why and not change my story, above and beyond with help on essays

Would make the product better:

cost is cheaper compared to other services but still a steep price tag

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.

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Strengths:

See review

Would make the product better:

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.

Review:

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.


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.

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Strengths:

Stratus cared deeply about my MBA journey and provided invaluable guidance that significantly improved the strength of my applications.

Would make the product better:

Nothing

Stratus was phenomenal, I worked with Sophie and I couldn't be happier with her work as my consultant. I did numerous free consultations and was not comfortable with other companies. I trusted that Stratus actually cared about me as an applicant and was interested in helping me. The relationship did not feel transactional, and I legitimately believed that my team cared much more about my outcomes than they did simply making a paycheck. I cannot recommend this firm or my consultant highly enough. My results were exceptional because of this team and I certainly attribute a portion of my success to their support. Amazing working with them!

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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 absolute 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!

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