Going with Veritas Prep is one of the best decisions I made during the MBA apps process. Coming from a nontraditional background, I didn't realize how immersive and time-consuming applying would be. Veritas helped me set a game plan and easily extracted what the strengths and weaknesses were in my profile. From there it was an exercise in speaking to my strengths while doing what I could to improve in other areas, notably, everything to do with quantitative materials.

Joe was an amazing consultant: great listener, great mentor, and I knew he had my back throughout the whole process. Joe & the Veritas team wanted me to succeed, so they certainly didn't sugarcoat it when they needed to give me tough love. But that was the best thing they could have done in order to manage my expectations and to show where exactly I needed to push harder.

Veritas goes the extra mile for you. Your success is their success so you know they are giving you premium advice and attention.

Though I am still waiting to hear back from one more school, I have been accepted to a dream school, and I have Veritas to thank for that.

Read More

I had already used Veritas Prep during my preparation for the GMAT (mock exam package), and while I had completed my MBA applications without using any consulting service, I decided to purchase Veritas Prep's Mock Interview Package costing $600.

The package included two mock interview sessions (an hour each). Veritas Prep assigned an admission consultant who used to interview applicants on behalf of the very business school that invited me for an interview. First, I sent all relevant information about myself (resume, application essays, and any other specific demands), to which the consultant replied with very minute and specific replies and comments regarding how I should prepare the first mock interview. After the first mock interview, the consultant sent me a very detailed feedback with suggestions on how to improve and how to craft the answers in a more impactful way. The second mock interview went the same way as the first one, followed by a very minute feedback as well.

The sessions were very helpful. In my particular case, as a government worker, I had a rather non-traditional profile for business schools, and I was particularly concerned by my relative youth (graduated college just a little bit over a year ago). The consultant showed very clearly what was expected of me as well as which points I should emphasize the most. The sessions also made me a lot less stressed about the real interview, since the two hours of mock interview made me familiarized with the admission interview environment. Another positive aspect was that before, during and after the consulting period, I could ask any question by mail and a reply would soon land in my mailbox within 24 to at most 36 hours.

I wholeheartedly recommend Veritas Prep's mock interview sessions to anyone who requires an optimal preparation for his or her MBA admission interviews.

Read More

I thoroughly enjoyed working with Stratus Prep. I'll admit that I did not know that using an admissions counseling service was so popular when I first decided to pursue my MBA. After attending fairs and doing some online research, it became clear to me that I only had one shot at this and I should be sure I'm putting the strongest application forward. I currently work in media/advertising, and not many of my colleagues have their MBA or were considering pursuing one. It was clear to me that I needed the advice and expertise of a seasoned counselor to help me make my application shine.

Beyond being professional, responsive, and pleasant to work with, the most valuable part about working with Stratus Prep was that they encouraged me to broaden my target school list, and made me think critically about what was most important to me in an MBA program. I was initially set on staying in my home state of California, and did not want to move. My counselor told me that I should seriously consider a program on the east coast, and recommended why I would be such a great fit given my strong interest in the culture and community of a school. She ended up being right in the end, and I am so glad I followed her advice as I will be attending a top ranked program next fall.

Read More

My overall experience with Stratus Prep was extremely positive, and while there are definitely flaws in the process, the company gets five stars from me because I absolutely would not be in the same place I am now without them.

A bit of background - I signed up for the 4 school MBA package (I chose 4 schools because they guaranteed that if I was rejected from all 4, they would work with me in Round 2 to re-apply). Before applying, my main reason for choosing to have a company guide me through the app process was my low GPA - I wanted guidance as to how to alleviate that. Stratus Prep, and specifically my counselor Temi, did a whole lot more than tell me how to make a good application with one less-than-stellar piece of the puzzle.

The beginning of the process for me with Stratus Prep was stressful. My initial assigned counselor told me during my first call that I would not get into a top tier school and should look at 'B level' programs. She told me I was over a year out from applying, and to get in touch with her in 6 months. I shrugged her off, and luckily, a month later, was told she was no longer with the company and was assigned a new counselor.

The second counselor I was assigned to was an older gentlemen who, while nice and helpful, seemed a bit out of touch with the application process. We had two initial phone calls and then planned a face-to-face meeting. I was skeptical about his ability to really get me where I wanted to be. Two weeks later, I received yet another email that my counselor was no longer with the company and a new one would be assigned to me.

My frustration grew and I complained to Shawn directly. He promised he would assign me a third, and final, counselor - Temi. She turned out to be heaven-sent. She was encouraging, thoughtful, helpful, and responsive. She offered advice without being pushy, and supported me both when I wanted to laugh and wanted to cry. The thought exercises and all the stuff they make you fill out that you don't want to will be worth it at the end of the day, no matter how inconsequential it may seem at the getgo. Trust me on this. Temi guided me in the right direction without putting words in my mouth, led me to write essays that I was proud of, and, at the end of the day, helped me turn in outstanding applications that I would have never been able to put together on my own.

I ended up applying to three schools, all Top Ten programs, and was accepted to two and waitlisted at one.

A final word - The most integral part of the whole package is definitely the consultant you are paired with. My biggest piece of advice to you, should you choose Stratus Prep, is to be vocal about finding a good counselor. If you don't vibe with someone, ask for someone else. If your counselor isn't responsive, ask for someone else. Once you find the right person to work with, Stratus Prep will prove itself to be more than worth its price.

Read More

It was a pleasure of working with Shawn O'Connor and Jeff Mroz. From start to finish both Shawn and Jeff provided me with both support and advice. Although their process is rigorous, at the end if you want to get into a good business school it is definitely worth it. Through multiple iterations my initial drafts were changed considerably in order to put together the best application possible. Jeff was also very helpful with the interview process, as well as making a final decision on what school to go. I would highly recommend Stratus Prep to anyone who wants to get into a great school.

Read More

I engaged Stratus Prep way back in 2013 when I was applying for the 2014 MBA season. They were flexible enough to allow me to “defer” to the 2015 application season if I, together with my counselor, felt that it would be in my best interest to do so because of my relatively low GMAT score. I couldn’t get my score up in time to apply and decided to defer to the 2015 season. My Stratus Prep counselor Jeff was really patient with me guiding me every step of the way and encouraging me to work harder on my application. Shawn O’Connor was also instrumental in his feedback in the entire process, from selecting schools to final preparation for my interviews. While I didn’t get into my top school choice, Stratus Prep helped me get into a top-15 school even with my low GPA and below average GMAT score. Would definitely recommend these guys!

Read More