Meet Barbara
An internationally-recognized and trusted expert in Graduate Management Admissions
Barbara Coward holds over two decades of experience from a variety of viewpoints within the industry, including her work as an admissions director, an MBA recruiter, and marketing consultant for business schools across the globe.
Her unique 360-degree perspective of the industry is what allows her clients’ applications to stand out.
In the past twenty years, Barbara has evaluated hundreds of applications for full-time MBA, part-time MBA, executive MBA and specialized business master’s programs in U.S. and abroad; she has represented schools at recruitment fairs such as the QS World MBA Tour, The MBA Tour, and Forte Forums; and, she has written articles for prominent outlets such as Poets & Quants, BusinessBecause, and AACSB’s Best Business Schools Blog.
Barbara offers an exceptionally agile perspective for her clients’ candidacy as a result of her combined experience as a former MBA admissions gatekeeper, a media contributor covering influential business school stories, a marketing consultant for domestic and international business schools, and an ongoing conference presenter to admissions officers at top business schools.
Her unique and in-depth knowledge of the industry, coupled with her skills as an effective storyteller and strategic marketer, allows Barbara to give her clients a distinct advantage when it comes to creating a strong application and making informed decisions in school selection and acceptance.
Barbara holds a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.B.A. from the University of Bath School of Management in England. She was a part-time MBA student at Boston College and an undergraduate exchange student at Wellesley College with coursework at M.I.T. Barbara spent her earlier career in corporate finance in Boston and London for globally-renowned brands such as American Express and Laura Ashley.
“I believe that everyone deserves a shot at their dream school and a chance at increasing their opportunities in life.
My goal is to help my clients realize all their options, select the right programs for their professional goals, and put their best foot forward with a solid application strategy.”
Barbara has been a member of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) since 2014, and she has held both membership committee and communications committee chair positions. The mission of the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants (AIGAC) is to support the educational goals of clients and prospective clients with the upmost integrity.
Meet Alexandra
As a storyteller by trade, Alexandra Stratton provides invaluable writing and editing prowess to MBA360.
Alexandra thoughtfully and thoroughly analyzes clients’ essays and resumes, offering perceptive guidance for how to best convey their narrative to admissions committees. Her forte is reviewing a long winded essay or a cluttered resume and offering tips for brevity, without sacrificing valuable content.
Alexandra is currently pursuing her Masters in political reporting from Columbia Journalism School in New York City. In Fall 2021, she will begin pursuing her Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, as a U.S. Latino Leadership Fellow.
During college, Alexandra worked as a coach in the Writing Center at The University of Oklahoma's Honors College. She also worked as a TA for journalism courses. Both experiences entailed meeting with students individually and helping them improve their writing skills. After graduating, she worked for The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News as a business journalist prior to pursuing graduate studies.
