NORTH STAR ADMISSIONS BLOG

The Most Important College Application Decision
If you are a high school student or the parent of one, you already know that gaining admission to highly selective colleges is incredibly competitive. For the class of 2027, applications were up more than 20% at the most selective schools – so it’s no surprise that...

Do MBA Rankings Matter?
The latest US News MBA rankings have just been released. As usual, there are surprises. If you’re planning to apply to business school soon, or deciding between offers, you’re likely puzzling over the implications of these fluctuating lists. Hopefully, you’re also...

MBA Applicants: Don’t Worry
This time of year, I have a lot of consult calls with potential MBA applicants who are trying to assess whether or not they are competitive for their dream schools. Frequently, people are overly worried. Even if there are issues that need to be addressed, candidates...

What Non-Traditional MBA Applicants Need to Know
I am frequently contacted by non-traditional MBA applicants, who are concerned that they won’t be competitive for top programs. In fact, the opposite is often the case – business schools want to curate a diverse class, and greatly value different perspectives....

Are you Deciding Between MBA Programs?
This time of year, many of my clients are in the fortunate position of deciding between MBA programs. When you have been admitted to several good fit programs, it can be difficult to weigh the pros and cons. Pre-covid, I wrote about factors to consider. In addition to...

Updated MBA Interview Etiquette
Wondering about MBA interview etiquette? Although a lot has changed since the pandemic, there are some MBA interview guidelines that remain the same. Choose in-person, if possible. In the era of zoom, you will almost always be given the option of having a virtual...

What the MBA Application Decline Means for You
If you’re applying to business school, or thinking about it, you have likely seen the headlines about a recent MBA application decline. In addition to reporting fewer applications, schools including Duke, Tuck and Kellogg are adding additional rounds, and selectively...

What Business School Applicants Need to Know About the GMAT and GRE
Covid has changed the MBA admissions landscape in many ways, including altering standardized testing requirements and options. Here is what business school applicants need to know about the GMAT and GRE. Which test should I take? Candidates have been wondering which...

Why you shouldn’t write your own MBA recommendations
Theoretically, no one should write their own MBA recommendations. However, it’s unfortunately all too common for applicants to be asked to do so. Although it might seem like the easiest path to acquiesce, here are three good reasons not to do so: You risk having your...

Ready for some alarming college admissions news?
Ready for some alarming college admissions news? Tulane University received almost 46,000 applications for undergraduate admission last year. Guess how many people they admitted in the Regular Decision round? 106. That is not a typo, 106. Furthermore, Tulane’s...