NORTH STAR ADMISSIONS BLOG
Podcast – Make Your College Admissions Process Better
Thank you to Connie Whitman of Whitman and Associates for hosting me on her Podcast, Enlightenment of Change. I absolutely loved talking to her about how to navigate the college admissions process with joy - and optimal results! Please listen to our conversation here....
MBA Scholarship Negotiations – and, Announcing my New Advice Column!
Welcome to my advice column! Today's topic is MBA scholarship negotiations. My name is Karen Marks, and I am the Founder and President of North Star Admissions Consulting. I have been helping people get into their dream schools since 2012, and prior to that I was the...
North Star Admissions Scholarship Announcement
So excited to announce this MBA Application Scholarship and Webinar Series - Many thanks to Chelsea and Xavier Heredia! "We recognize that women, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, face unique challenges in admission to top graduate business...
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...