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MBA Admissions Blog

Five Considerations When Applying to Wharton’s Lauder Program

Top MBA programs all have elements of international exposure and adventure, but Wharton’s Lauder 24-month dual degree sets itself apart as the first of its kind in the United States: an MBA from Wharton, plus an International Studies MA from the University of Pennsylvania School of Arts & Sciences. Within the Lauder program, students integrate…

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Eight Steps to Help Engineers Build a Strong MBA Profile

Earning an MBA can be a great way for engineers to expand their technical skills and grow into a management role. Many tech companies prefer MBAs with engineering or computer science backgrounds for product manager roles. Engineers can bring their problem-solving ability to business by breaking down challenges, identifying root-cause issues, and developing innovative solutions….

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Three Things to Consider When Applying to Wharton’s Health Care Management Program

Wharton’s Health Care Management (HCM) MBA concentration offers one of the most prestigious paths into pharmaceuticals, hospital administration, earlier stage ventures, and beyond. Unsurprisingly, it’s also one of the most competitive MBA programs to gain admission to. If health care–related MBAs are on your radar, let’s talk about three things you should consider when applying…

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Six Things to Do in March to Prepare for MBA Applications

Six months may seem like a long lead time for preparing business school applications, but a LOT more needs to be done between now and the September submission deadlines than just writing essays. If you weren’t following along last month, check out our February tips for preparing for your MBA applications. Think back to when you applied…

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Researching MBA Programs from Afar

Thanks to all the new upgrades MBA programs have made to their websites and digital footprints since the COVID-19 pandemic began, prospective students now have so many more options to help them get to know a school from a distance. Even though in-person options are still available, there are a lot of great reasons to…

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What Does a “Best Effort” MBA Application Look Like?

We at Stratus Admissions Counseling are frequently asked what it takes to get into a top-ranked MBA program. Of course, you need a strong GPA and GMAT or GRE score, along with work experience, essays, etc. But gaining acceptance also requires your best effort—meaning that you have done all that you can to create a…

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Can I Get into a Top MBA Program with a Low Test Score?

Here’s a scenario to which many of you can relate: You just took the GMAT or GRE. When you get home, you look at the average scores for your target schools, and you discover that you’re below those averages. You then pop over to Reddit and start doom scrolling as everyone tells you that your…

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Nine Tips for Learning More About MBA Programs Through Students and Alumni

Reaching out to students and alumni of your top-choice programs is an important part of your MBA journey, and you have many options to do so. First, schools have invested a lot of effort to make a wealth of information available online. Frankly, this levels the playing field for applicants who cannot travel to visit…

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Four Tips for Dealing with Imposter Syndrome When Applying to Business School

Applying to an MBA program can be daunting. As you polish up your resume, wrack your brain for application essay ideas, and obsess over your standardized test score, feelings of self-doubt and imposter syndrome often creep in. You might start questioning if you really deserve a spot in your target MBA program or if you…

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How to Use an MBA to Transition into CPG

Although MBA grads are more likely to seek employment in the consulting, finance, health care, and tech industries, many recruiting options exist for those seeking employment in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry. Employment reports from top MBA programs for 2023 noted that MBA students were recruited to CPG companies including The Kraft Heinz Company,…

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Six Tips for the Wharton Team Based Discussion Interview

Six Tips for the Wharton Team Based Discussion Interview

Congratulations on being invited to interview at Wharton! Making it this far in the business school application process is a huge win (fewer than half of applicants are invited), but preparing for the Wharton Team Based Discussion (TBD) presents new challenges. As you likely know by now, Wharton’s interview process is unlike that of any…

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Five Tips for Couples Applying Jointly to MBA Programs 

Applying to an MBA program can feel like an American Ninja Warrior competition. There are obstacles at every turn, such as conducting school research, introspecting about your goals, preparing your essays, and interviewing. However, when you apply along with your partner, the degree of difficulty increases! You must prepare for two obstacle courses instead of…

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