Blog:
How Does the U.S. Supreme Court Decision on Affirmative Action Affect Your Application?
July 12, 2023
The term “affirmative action” was first coined by President John F. Kennedy on March 6, 1961, when he signed to establish the President’s Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity. Among other things, the order states, “The contractor will not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, or national origin. The…
Thinking of Earning an MPP or MPA Along with an MBA? Questions to Consider
June 26, 2023
For MBA applicants who want to supplement their business education with either an MPP (master of public policy) or MPA (master of public administration), here are some questions to consider: Do I need an MPP or an MPA along with the MBA? An MPP trains students in policy analysis and program evaluation. In other words, students learn to think…
Do I Need an MBA for a Career in Cryptocurrency or Blockchain?
March 29, 2023
Traditionally, MBA programs were breeding grounds for Wall Street bankers and economists, littered with other candidates interested in marketing, operations, strategy consulting, entrepreneurship, and general business education. Over the past few decades, the growing interest in such fields as technology, health care, and entertainment has led to the creation of specialty programs with a trade…
Business School Acceptance Rates: What Are My Chances?
March 23, 2023
When talking with someone who is considering applying to business school, we at Stratus often hear the question, “What are my chances?” You can find the acceptance rates of the top 50 US business schools in this Poets&Quants article, but keep in mind that these numbers are averages, and there’s a lot more to you…
Tips for College (and Pro) Athletes Applying to MBA Programs
November 25, 2022
The phrase “An athlete will die twice, the first time at retirement” will ring true for many athletes. After years of investing so much time and energy to the sport, they’ve created lasting memories, built lifelong friendships, and developed personality traits during the peaks and troughs of their career. The extensive personal sacrifice required often…
You Submitted Your MBA Application in Round 1 – Now What? Prepare For Interviews!
October 14, 2022
Kudos to all of you who successfully submitted your Round 1 MBA applications on time! For some of you, that might have meant some late nights polishing your essays, fumbling through the online applications, and bugging your recommenders. For others, it might have been more of a leisurely stroll to the finish line. In any…
Six MBA Admissions Tips for HR Professionals
August 12, 2022
More than ever, top MBA programs want students who have work experience in the broadest possible range of industries, functions, and geographies. Human resources (HR) professionals historically have not pursued MBAs. But if you currently work in HR, whether you want to stay in the field or not, you can make a strong case for…
How Many Business Schools Should I Apply To?
June 17, 2022
At this stage of your MBA journey, you might be interested in a long list of schools. However, as MBA programs release their application essays, you’ll want to whittle your list down to a manageable number. What that number should be is a personal decision—there isn’t a “right” number for everyone. But before we discuss…
Four Ways to Use an MBA to Transition into Media/Entertainment
June 13, 2022
While working in series development at a television network, one of the main reasons I decided to apply to business school was my desire to understand and better anticipate the factors contributing to major shifts in the media and entertainment landscape. Ultimately, I ended up using my MBA from Columbia Business School (CBS) to transition…
Eight Ways to Quantify Your Business School Resume
May 27, 2022
Your resume is one of the most critical pieces of your business school application: it is the first component that admissions committee members review, and it is often the only information that they provide to interviewers before your interview. Quantifying your value on your resume is worth the extra effort because doing so adds credibility…
PR Professional to MBA: Five Secrets to Success
April 11, 2022
Many people working in public relations (PR) or other communications roles do not realize an MBA could be a helpful step in their professional path because they don’t know anyone who has gotten one. Here are five tips for PR professionals who want to pursue an MBA: 1. Do your research. Find out as much…
Five Tips for Media and Entertainment MBA Applicants
March 31, 2022
My decision to apply to business school was a long time coming. I had been working in entertainment for almost six years—first as an assistant at a talent agency, then at television networks, and eventually as a development executive for comedy and drama series at MTV. Meanwhile, I was tracking the growing power of major…