Going into the MBA application process, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. A colleague recommended I speak to Susan for an introductory conversation, and I immediately knew that she was the right person to guide me through this journey.

I can honestly say that it was solely through Susan's guidance that I could display my best, truest, authentic self in my applications. Right from the get-go, Susan worked tirelessly to draw out my essence. Her approach to do so was very unique- we spent months together on the early introspection exercises, peeling through the layers to understand my core personality. We then strengthened my narrative to create a strategy and brainstormed essays, while simultaneously working on other parts of the application (updating the resume, recommender memos, etc.).

Susan's commitment to her clients is unwavering. She was with me every single step of the way- right from the early discussions, to preparing for interviews, to writing waitlist updates, to negotiating scholarships and ultimately making a decision on which the right school for me would be.

Not only was Susan's guidance instrumental in getting me admitted into a dream MBA program, but she was also my biggest cheerleader throughout this process. She is a remarkable person, who is deeply invested in your success. As said, I simply cannot recommend Susan highly enough for anyone that is considering an MBA. Bringing her on board for your MBA applications is the BEST decision you will make!

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I highly recommend Stratus and their consultants, especially Susan, who was instrumental in my success. Susan's guidance was invaluable, helping me secure admissions to several M7 schools. Her expertise and personalized approach made a significant difference in my application process. If you're considering deferred admission, Susan is the consultant you want. Her insights and support were crucial, and I couldn't recommend her more highly. Stratus, with Susan's help, exceeded my expectations and played a pivotal role in achieving my academic goals. Trust Stratus and Susan for a seamless and successful admission journey and especially if you are looking for deferred admissions help.

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Susan was a wonderful consultant who clearly cared about my story and application process. Applying to MBA programs can be quite hectic, stressful and overwhelming. Susan made the process straightforward and exciting.

Even from our first conversation, it was clear that Susan has deep expertise on the application process and that she takes time to help you understand your own strengths, weaknesses and story. Applying to MBA programs calls for introspection and for salient communication of your background. Susan is an excellent guide who helps you pull at the threads that make you, you. Without a doubt choosing Susan was the best choice I made in the application process.

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Making the decision to work with Susan at Stratus Admissions was by far the best decision I made in my MBA application journey. From our first conversation, I could tell Susan was deeply invested in my success and that she would be my biggest cheerleader - all of which proved to be true. Her expert guidance, tailored advice, and unwavering support were instrumental throughout the process. Susan's personalized approach instilled confidence in me, ensuring that my application authentically represented my story & aspirations while aligning with the values of my target schools. Susan is honest and helped me to address any potential red flags with my application head on. She was by my side for every step of the process from learning about me and my story on a deep level to essays, resume updates, interviews, and even in my decision making process & scholarship negotiation. I am immensely grateful for Susan's expertise and genuine investment in my success. With Susan's help, I was able to gain admission into multiple schools with generous scholarship packages and will be attending my dream school in the fall - a school that was a major stretch and was more of a dream before I met Susan who helped to make it a reality. If you're applying for MBA programs, Susan is without a doubt THE one to work with!

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Choosing Stratus, and specifically Susan Cera, has proven to be a life-changing decision. Initially torn between two options, resounding recommendations from Susan's previous clients gave me the confidence to move forward with her - a decision that exceeded all expectations.

We started off by delving into the intricacies of my past experiences, meticulously exploring every detail relevant to my business school application. What initially felt like a chaotic stream of stories and reflections was expertly curated by Susan, weaving together pertinent details to create a narrative that not only showcased my breadth as an applicant but also articulated a coherent story of my journey and distinctive qualities that set me apart from the crowd.

Her guidance was instrumental in forming a cohesive strategy, pinpointing areas of development to address through an MBA and identifying key themes that authentically portrayed my character and career trajectory. Throughout numerous iterations and feedback sessions, Susan remained steadfast in her commitment to refining and polishing each aspect, steering me back on course even when I veered off track.

We also completely remade my resume, with each word meticulously selected under her guidance, drawing from her extensive experience as an admissions committee member at Duke Fuqua. Further, once I got to the interview stage at my first choice school, Wharton, Susan arranged for a mock interview with a colleague—a Wharton graduate—who provided invaluable insights and tailored guidance specific to Wharton's interview process. Each step of this journey, from brainstorming sessions to interview preparations, was marked by Susan's dedication to excellence, ensuring that the final product was nothing short of exceptional, which in turn led to my being accepted to Wharton. I cannot overstate the impact of her guidance, and I am immensely grateful for her role in helping me achieve my aspirations.

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Before meeting Susan, I truly believed there was no way I could get into a top 20 business school. However, Susan not only had a clear and structured process to help identify key and unique traits but she also helped me to regain my confidence and pride in my accomplishments to date. She helped to dig up all my accomplishments including ones that I never thought were significant. She patiently helped me revise my CV 10 times with no complaints but the mere justification that she wanted it to be absolutely perfect. She helped me navigate standardized testing anxiety and reminded me that scores are just a small part of the entire application. Susan made navigating the tricky application process easier by providing tips & tricks that someone completing an application on their own would never know. It is no question that part of the reason I got into the schools I did was thanks to Susan and her team! If you are applying to grad school working with Susan and stratus is worth every penny.

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I had the privilege of working closely with Susan for my 2+2 MBA applications with a deadline in April 2023. Susan played a pivotal role in guiding me through the entire application process, from the initial ideation phase to crafting a compelling MBA narrative and presenting it convincingly. Her support was marked by thoughtfulness, honesty, and unwavering availability whenever I needed assistance.

One standout aspect of Susan's support was her offer to provide input and guidance to my recommenders. This was a significant help in ensuring that my recommendations aligned perfectly with my application goals. Susan also helped me to differentiate between a standard job resume and an MBA-focused resume. She made several subtle but impactful adjustments to my application that I would have easily overlooked on my own.

I cannot recommend Susan highly enough. Her deep understanding of the MBA application process is unparalleled, and her dedication to her clients is truly commendable. Even after the application process concluded, Susan has maintained regular contact and offered to meet in person, demonstrating her genuine care and commitment. Susan is not only a remarkable coach but also a wonderful person, and anyone fortunate enough to have her as a coach is truly lucky.

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I had the privilege of getting to work with Susan as my MBA Admissions consultant. Susan was recommended to me by a friend who worked with her last year and spoke so highly of her that I knew she was someone I could trust to get my MBA applications across the finish line. Prior to working with Susan, I had written my MBA essays on my own the previous year with the plan to submit my applications without an MBA consultant. I had doubts about my ability to get my story across in my applications and I ultimately decided that working with an MBA consultant and waiting another year would give me the confidence I needed to put my best foot forward. Susan was living proof that I had made the right decision.

During my time with Susan, I had the chance to start over with my MBA applications and use the Introspection exercises to really reflect on who I was, what my passions were, and why I ultimately wanted to get an MBA. She helped me identify themes that represented who I was and channeled these themes throughout my application, essays, and recommendations. There were certain experiences I shared with her that I had not considered highlighting in my application but she saw those experiences differently, which allowed me to share a unique perspective of myself. Susan also leveraged her network and her Stratus teammates, such as Melisa Prevost (huge shoutout!), to help connect me with the right resources and chat with previous clients about their MBA admissions journey.

When it came to feedback, whether it was my essays, my resume, or interview preparation, Susan was thorough and upfront, which made such an impact for me to not be afraid to change my content entirely or start over. She pushed me to go beyond my comfort zone with conveying my emotions in my essays and helped me to refine my resume bullet points and my interview responses to be succinct.

Overall, I can say that Susan was one of the best investments I could have made with my MBA admissions journey. Because of her, I was able to get into multiple M7 schools, including Wharton, my dream school, where I will be matriculating at this year! Susan walks the walk and talks the talk and I could not be more thrilled to give her the highest of recommendations.

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I am immensely grateful for Susan’s guidance, which helped me get admitted to my dream MBA program at Stanford!

Susan was instrumental in working with me to sift through essay ideas and find my “voice.” Susan prepared me thoroughly for my MBA interview, providing critical feedback on how my responses would be perceived from an interviewer’s point of view and helping me to gain the confidence to succeed. As a former admissions officer who has also coached so many other candidates, Susan brings a level of insight and judgement that friends, family, and colleagues cannot replicate. Furthermore, Susan encouraged me to apply for a merit scholarship, which I would not have considered on my own. Susan has helped me better understand myself even beyond the MBA application.

Looking back, I remember browsing these forums when trying to decide whether to work with Susan and her team at Stratus. I would say to my old self without hesitation to work with Susan – see it as a worthwhile investment in yourself!

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As the header says, I would not have succeeded without Susan. I came into the process with a good GMAT score, my heart set on one M7 program, zero preparation, no backup plan, and a 4-week deadline. Luckily, I found Susan who took me on as a client and righted the ship immediately. Not only did I get accepted, but Susan helped me articulate my character and personal narrative in ways that I still use today. I owe a huge part of my admissions success to Susan and recommend her to anyone who wants to maximize their business school application.

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