MasterPlan
For ambitious professionals and students navigating the world of master's-level business admissions. MasterPlan delivers sharp, honest insights on programs, applications, and strategy — so you can make better decisions, faster.
The scholarship money that never makes it to the website
My students have won over $1 million in scholarships over the years, and I can tell you the biggest reason most applicants get nothing. It usually isn't a weak profile. It's that they never found out the money existed in the first place.
Here is what you need to know:
Most merit scholarships are ...
Aug 18, 2026
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The MBA isn't dying. The part critics attack was never the product.
Everywhere you look, someone is declaring the MBA dead. The newest version: AI is automating the analytical work business graduates were trained to do, so why pay six figures for it?
Here's what that argument misses.
The education was never the primary value of the MBA.
Business knowledge has bee...
Aug 04, 2026
admissions committee
admissions consulting
admissions strategy
application mistakes
application strategy
auxilium
b-school admissions
business school admissions
business school finance
caitlin andersen
finance career mba
finance graduate degree
finance masters degree
graduate admissions
graduate school admissions
international students
investment banking masters
master in finance vs mba
master of finance
master of finance worth it
master's degree
masterplan by auxilium
mba admissions
mba applicants
mba application process
mba application timeline
mba application tips
mba essays
mba fit
mba for finance career
mba narrative
mba network leadership
mba or master of finance
mba portfolio
mba recommenders
mba vs master of finance
mba vs mfin
mba vs mfin timing
mba vs mfin which is better
mfin degree
mfin vs mba salary
mfin work experience
oxford mba
personal narrative
quant finance degree
recommendation letters
school list
should i do an mba or mfin
top business schools
MBA or Master of Finance? It's often a timing question, not a choice
If you want a career in finance, you've probably wrestled with this: the MBA, or the shorter, cheaper Master of Finance built specifically for finance?
Here's what most people get wrong. These two aren't really competitors.
The Master of Finance goes deep. It's built for people early in their car...
Jul 21, 2026
admissions committee
admissions consulting
admissions strategy
application mistakes
application strategy
auxilium
b-school admissions
business school admissions
business school finance
caitlin andersen
finance career mba
finance graduate degree
finance masters degree
graduate admissions
graduate school admissions
international students
investment banking masters
master in finance vs mba
master of finance
master of finance worth it
master's degree
masterplan by auxilium
mba admissions
mba applicants
mba application process
mba application timeline
mba application tips
mba essays
mba fit
mba for finance career
mba narrative
mba network leadership
mba or master of finance
mba portfolio
mba recommenders
mba vs master of finance
mba vs mfin
mba vs mfin timing
mba vs mfin which is better
mfin degree
mfin vs mba salary
mfin work experience
oxford mba
personal narrative
quant finance degree
recommendation letters
school list
should i do an mba or mfin
top business schools
The Framework I Use to Build a School List That Actually Works
Most applicants build their school list by starting with rankings, adding the brand names they recognize, and then trying to bend themselves to fit the schools.
That is not how you get in. The way you do it is to build your school list as you develop your narrative, because the two inform each ot...
by Caitlin Andersen —
Jul 07, 2026
academic fit
admissions consulting
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auxilium
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caitlin andersen
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top business schools
What Is the Timeline for Everything? The 4 Scenarios I Use With Every Student
"What is the timeline for everything?" is one of the most common questions I get from prospective students, and honestly, it is the right question to ask.
Timeline is what determines whether you end up with a strong application or a rushed one. Here is the truth most applicants do not want to hea...
by Caitlin Andersen —
Jun 23, 2026
admissions consulting
admissions strategy
application planning
application rounds
auxilium
b-school admissions
business school timeline
caitlin andersen
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5 Things I Wish Every MBA Applicant Knew Before They Started
After working with hundreds of MBA applicants over the past eight years, I have noticed a pattern that almost no one sees.
The applicants who get into the top business schools are not the ones with the highest GPAs or the most prestigious jobs. They are the ones who understood the process before ...
by Caitlin Andersen —
Jun 09, 2026
admissions committee
admissions consulting
admissions strategy
application mistakes
application strategy
auxilium
b-school admissions
business school admissions
caitlin andersen
graduate admissions
graduate school admissions
international students
master's degree
masterplan by auxilium
mba admissions
mba applicants
mba application process
mba application timeline
mba application tips
mba essays
mba fit
mba narrative
mba portfolio
mba recommenders
oxford mba
personal narrative
recommendation letters
school list
top business schools
Is a Master's Degree Still Worth It in 2026?
If you have typed that question into Google recently, you are not being dramatic, and you are not alone.
The honest answer is: it depends. But rather than leaving it there, my latest video walks you through exactly what it depends on. Here are the highlights:
The deal that graduate school once of...
by Caitlin Andersen —
Apr 28, 2026
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Student from Japan
Harvard Business School, MBA
Looking back, working with Caitlin was the best decision I made. I truly appreciate how she listened to me with patience and compassion. She always showed me different options and guided me along the way. I can’t imagine reaching this big milestone without her help.
Student from Saudi Arabia
London Business School, MBA
Thank you, Caitlin, for the excellent service and support you’ve provided. I truly enjoyed the process and journey, and you made everything so much clearer and more enlightening.
Student from the U.K.
Columbia Business School, MSFE
One of my close friends asked me to reach out to you to check whether you would be willing to help him. I gave him excellent reviews of my experience getting help from you with master’s applications. He asked me to check whether you would be willing to advise him.
