The Application Process

Has anyone used Stratus prep? I just want to check if anyone has used them and can give an honest opinion about their experience.
Thanks!

Absolutely. I am currently in my second year at HBS, and am still aware that I may have not been here without the help of Stratus. To qualify that, I think finding a comfortable fit with a consultant is important, so while there is a bit of subjectivity that should be understood, I found Stratus' process most clear, thorough, and methodological. When I interviewed other consultants, I found some really smart engaging people, but they didn't really have the process clearly defined, and that concerned me. So I would have to say that their clearly defined process, which seemed to make a lot of sense, and cover all bases was the main reason I decided to work with them. Also, I have a bit of strategy in my pre-MBA life, and really valued the emphasis Stratus put on the early stages of the application in creating the most effective strategy. Other firms I spoke with had a much looser style which I wasn't as comfortable with. Also, the opportunity to get multiple perspectives from experts rather than just one was a huge value add. The other thing I would give them is that I was a little high strung throughout the process (I'm sure you get the pressure too), and my counselor never felt bound by the amount of hours spent with me, and looked over what felt like a dozen drafts of my essays, and was really gracious about it.

One hint - If you do go with Stratus, I would definitely make sure you explain your personality style to them. They assign their counselors, which I found helpful as they made personality matches you otherwise wouldn't be aware of. I think different people have different relationships with their counselors. I actually referred a couple of my buddies. One of them started at Yale this fall (his top choice, as he is interested in non-profit), and he stays in touch with his counselor and meets for lunch in NYC occasionally. Also feel free to PM me. I am not constantly in here anymore, so it may take me a bit to respond, but I like to check in occasionally. Also, I'm a little out of the loop, but they used to do free consultations with the founder, Shawn, who is also involved in the process. I actually saw him on campus last spring when he was one of the Field 3 Judges last year! You might want to look into that free consult (or specially request it if it isn't overtly offered anymore) and go from there. Good luck in your decision.- MJ

Hey,

I used Stratus Prep as well - really happy with the results.

They helped me get into HBS as a non-diversity male candidate with a finance background and a GMAT score below the median.

They go out of their way to understand you as a candidate and really help you craft an application which highlights your authentic personality in a way that is most differentiated.

They were very knowledgeable about the nuances of applying to each of the top schools and went out of their way to help me whenever I needed help (e.g. nights, weekends, odd hours during the week, etc.) I had a very unpredictable and busy schedule during applications and they were always available to help, answer questions, and turn drafts around quickly.

I really had a fantastic experience and am happy to give most specific comments over email, etc. LMK.

So,

I used Shawn and Vanessa, and got interviews at pretty much every school (I only applied to top 10 schools... HBS, Wharton, MIT, Tuck, NYU, etc). I ended up at Wharton. 710 GMAT, top 50 undergrad.

If you read my previous post, you'll see that I highly recommend the stratus team.

PM me if you have some specific concerns or questions. Happy to talk.

Benjiboo