NORTH STAR ADMISSIONS BLOG

Outstanding Business School Essays
Business school essays are one of your only guaranteed opportunities to connect with the admissions committee in a genuine way. Here are some tips to help you maximize your business school essays. Think Holistically. Before you start writing a draft, think about your...

Will You Get Into Business School?
During my initial conversation with prospective clients, I am usually asked what I think about your chances. Are you targeting the right schools? What are your strengths and weaknesses, from an admissions standpoint? As a former Tuck Admissions Officer and the Founder...

Admissions Advice That Might Surprise You
As you start to work on your business school applications, here is some admissions advice that might surprise you. Don’t start activities just for your applications. Admissions Officers are pretty savvy, and if you suddenly start volunteering at the animal shelter,...

Should You Apply To Business School In The First Round?
The early rounds will be here before you know it – Harvard’s deadline is September 6th, with many other schools due shortly thereafter. Every year I am asked whether or not it’s strategic to apply to business school in the first round. In the vast majority of cases,...

Are You Making These MBA Wait List Mistakes?
Over the next few weeks business schools will start to admit people from their wait lists. I have written before about why you are on the wait list in the first place, and how to maximize your chances of getting off. In addition, it’s important to avoid these MBA wait...

Applying to Business School This Year?
If you are applying to business school this year, here are five things that you should be doing right now. Get your testing under control. GMAT and GRE scores continue to rise. Although both are absolutely coachable exams, it may take longer than you think to reach...

Visiting Colleges? Read This First!
Visiting colleges is a rite of passage. Wondering what to expect and how to maximize your time? Go to the information session. Ok, I know that they can be a little dull. But I strongly suggest that you attend the information session, at least for your top choice...

The Perfect College List
Today is a big day in the college admissions world – it’s Ivy release day. If you are a high school sophomore or junior, or the parent of one, you are likely paying great attention to the results. Getting into the optimal college requires starting early, and creating...

How I Helped My Daughter Get Into Her First Choice Ivy League College
In addition to being a former Dartmouth admissions officer and the founder of North Star admissions consulting, I am also the parent of three kids. My oldest is a senior in high school, and this year I helped her get in early decision to her first choice Ivy League...

Three MBA Admissions Trends That You Need To Know About
As this season draws to a close, it’s worth highlighting three MBA admissions trends that have recently emerged. Early Applications Are More Important Than Ever. The standard admissions advice is to apply as soon as you are ready, in the earliest round that you can...