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Welcome to the Stacy Blackman Consulting Resource Center: THE VAULT

THE VAULT is SBC's Resource Center, exclusively for Stacy Blackman Consulting All-In clients. Contents include more than two decades worth of data, intelligence and research.

• 1 SBC Application Journey
• 2 Deadlines
• 3 Sample Essays from Successful Clients
• 4.1.1 Anderson (UCLA)
• 4.1.2 Chicago Booth
• 4.1.3 Columbia
• 4.1.4 The Consortium
• 4.1.5 Cox (SMU)
• 4.1.6 Darden (UVA)
• 4.1.7 Fuqua (Duke)
• 4.1.8 Haas (UC Berkeley)
• 4.1.9 Harvard Business School
• 4.1.10 Johnson (Cornell)
• 4.1.11 Kelley (Indiana)
• 4.1.12 Kellogg (Northwestern)
• 4.1.13 Kenan-Flagler (UNC Chapel Hill)
• 4.1.14 Marshall (USC)
• 4.1.15 McCombs (UT Austin)
• 4.1.16 McDonough (Georgetown)
• 4.1.17 Rice
• 4.1.18 Ross (Michigan)
• 4.1.19 Sloan (MIT)
• 4.1.20 Stanford
• 4.1.21 Stern (NYU)
• 4.1.22 Tepper (Carnegie Mellon)
• 4.1.23 Tuck (Dartmouth)
• 4.1.24 Wharton (U Penn)
• 4.1.25 Yale
• 4.1.26 Vanderbilt (Owen)
• 4.2.1 ESADE
• 4.2.2 HEC Paris
• 4.2.4 INSEAD
• 4.2.6 London Business School
• 4.2.7 Oxford Said Business School
• 4.3.1 Chicago Booth
• 4.3.2 Columbia
• 4.3.3 Fuqua
• 4.3.5 Kellogg
• 4.3.6 Michigan
• 4.3.9 Wharton
• 4.4 Consortium

SBC Application Journey

• Suggested Reading
• Planning Ahead: Volunteer Opportunities
• Alternate tests - GRE and EA
• Ancillary Courses
• Social Media
• School Selection
• School Visits
• Resume: Samples
• Recommendations: Samples
• Side Letters
• Side Letters: Samples
• See "school specific data" and "sample essays" on the Main Page
• Tips on how to approach common essay questions
• Adhering to Word Count
• Disclosing Use of a Consultant
• Adcomm Flight Test review
• SBC's Interview Prep Framework: 3 Core Areas
• Should You interview On-Campus?
• What Should I Wear?
• Online Interview Practice
• Interview Reports By School
• Waitlist: Sample Letters
• Sample HBS Waitlist Update
• Financial Aid
• Feedback Sessions
• SBC Online Guides- Check your email for the link for all the guides. Toni or Tina email this link upon commencement of SBC engagement.
• Upcoming Deadlines for Top MBA Programs
• Anderson: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Cambridge Judge: Essay Tips
• Chicago Booth: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Columbia: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Darden: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Fuqua: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Georgetown: Essay Tips
• Goizueta: Essay Tips
• Haas: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Harvard Business School: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Johnson: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Kelley School: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Kellogg: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Marshall: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Ross: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Sloan: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Stanford: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Stern: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Tepper School of Business: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Tuck: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• UNC: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• UT Austin McCombs: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Wharton: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Yale SOM: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• HEC Paris: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• IESE: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• INSEAD: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• LBS: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025
• Oxford Said Business School: Essay Questions & Deadlines 2024-2025

Sample Essays from Successful Clients

• All Sample Essays
• "Optional" (additional information) Essays for Various Schools
• Reapplicant Essays for Various Schools
• Anderson Sample Essays
• Babson Sample Essays
• Chicago Sample Essays
• Columbia Sample Essays
• Darden Sample Essays
• Emory Sample Essays
• Fuqua Sample Essays
• Haas Sample Essays
• Harvard Sample Essays
• Harvard Kennedy School Sample Essays
• INSEAD Sample Essays
• Johnson Sample Essays
• Kelley Sample Essays
• Kellogg Sample Essays
• Kenan-Flagler Sample Essays
• London Business School Sample Essays
• Marshall Sample Essays
• McCombs Sample Essays
• McDonough Sample Essays
• Rice Sample Essays
• Michigan Sample Essays
• Sloan Sample Essays
• Stanford Sample Essays
• Stern Sample Essays
• Tepper Sample Essays
• Tuck Sample Essays
• Wharton Sample Essays
• Yale Sample Essays
• Consortium Essays

School Specific Data

• Deferred Admissions for College Seniors

Anderson (UCLA)

• Anderson: Mission/Vision/History
• Anderson: Academics
• Anderson: Culture/Student Life
• Anderson: Career Management
• Anderson: Admissions Overview
• Anderson: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Anderson: Essay Tips
• Anderson: Sample Essays
• Anderson: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Anderson: Recommendation Questions
• Anderson: Sample References

Chicago Booth

• Chicago Booth: Mission/Vision/History
• Chicago Booth: Academics
• Chicago Booth: Culture/Student Life
• Chicago Booth: Career Management
• Chicago Booth: Admissions Overview
• Chicago Booth: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Chicago Booth: Essay Tips
• Chicago Booth: Sample Essays
• Chicago Booth: Pre-Interview Invitation Video Topics
• Chicago Booth: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Chicago Booth: Recommendation Questions
• Chicago Booth: Sample References
• Columbia: Mission/Vision/History
• Columbia: Academics
• Columbia: Culture/Student Life
• Columbia: Career Management
• Columbia: Admissions Overview
• Columbia: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Columbia: Essay Tips
• Columbia: Sample Essays 2019
• Columbia: Sample Essays
• Columbia: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Columbia: Recommendation Questions
• Columbia: Sample References
• The Consortium
• Cox: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Cox: Sample Essays
• Cox: Recommendation Questions
• Cox: Essay Tips

Darden (UVA)

• Darden: Mission/Vision/History
• Darden: Academics
• Darden: Culture/Student Life
• Darden: Career Management
• Darden: Admissions Overview
• Darden: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Darden: Essay Tips
• Darden: Sample Essays
• Darden: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Darden: Recommendation Questions
• Darden: Jefferson Fellows

Fuqua (Duke)

• Fuqua: Mission/Vision/History
• Fuqua: Academics
• Fuqua: Culture/Student Life
• Fuqua: Career Management
• Fuqua: Admissions Overview
• Fuqua: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Fuqua: Essay Tips
• Fuqua: Sample Essays
• Fuqua: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Fuqua: Recommendation Questions

Haas (UC Berkeley)

• Haas: Mission/Vision/History
• Haas: Academics
• Haas: Culture/Student Life
• Haas: Career Management
• Haas: Admissions Overview
• Haas: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Haas: Essay Tips
• Haas: Sample Essays
• Haas: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Haas: Recommendation Questions

Harvard Business School

• Harvard: Mission/Vision/History
• Harvard: Academics
• Harvard: Culture/Student Life
• Harvard: Career Management
• Harvard: Admissions Overview
• Harvard: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Harvard: Essay Tips
• Harvard: Samples for Online Application Short-Essays
• Harvard: Sample Essays
• Harvard: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Harvard: Recommendation Questions

Johnson (Cornell)

• Johnson: Mission/Vision/History
• Johnson: Academics
• Johnson: Culture/Student Life
• Johnson: Career Management
• Johnson: Admissions Overview
• Johnson: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Johnson: Essay Tips
• Johnson: Sample Essays
• Johnson: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Johnson: Recommendation Questions

Kelley (Indiana)

• Kelley: Mission/Vision/History
• Kelley: Academics
• Kelley: Culture/Student Life
• Kelley: Career Management
• Kelley: Admissions Overview
• Kelley: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Kelley: Essay Tips
• Kelley: Sample Essays
• Kelley: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Kelley: Recommendation Questions

Kellogg (Northwestern)

• Kellogg: Mission/Vision/History
• Kellogg: Academics
• Kellogg: Culture/Student Life
• Kellogg: Career Management
• Kellogg: Admissions Overview
• Kellogg: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Kellogg: Essay Tips
• Kellogg: Sample Essays
• Kellogg: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Kellogg: Recommendation Questions

Kenan-Flagler (UNC Chapel Hill)

• Kenan-Flagler: Mission/Vision/History
• Kenan-Flagler: Academics
• Kenan-Flagler: Culture/Student Life
• Kenan-Flagler: Career Management
• Kenan-Flagler: Admissions Overview
• Kenan-Flagler: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Kenan-Flagler: Essay Tips
• Kenan-Flagler: Sample Essays
• Kenan-Flagler: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Kenan-Flagler: Recommendation Questions

Marshall (USC)

• Marshall: Mission/Vision/History
• Marshall: Academics
• Marshall: Culture/Student Life
• Marshall: Career Management
• Marshall: Admissions Overview
• Marshall: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Marshall: Essay Tips
• Marshall: Sample Essays
• Marshall: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Marshall: Recommendation Questions

McCombs (UT Austin)

• McCombs: Admissions Advice and McCombs Adcom Interview
• McCombs: Sample Essays
• McCombs: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• McCombs: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• McCombs: Video Component
• McCombs: Optional Peer Interview Component
• McCombs: Essay Tips
• McCombs: Recommendation Questions

McDonough (Georgetown)

• McDonough: Sample Essays
• McDonough: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• McDonough: Essay Tips
• McDonough: Interview Questions
• McDonough: Recommendation Questions
• Rice: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Rice: Sample Essays
• Rice: Recommendation Questions

Ross (Michigan)

• Michigan: Mission/Vision/History
• Michigan: Academics
• Michigan: Culture/Student Life
• Michigan: Career Management
• Michigan: Admissions Overview
• Michigan: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Michigan: Essay Tips
• Michigan: Sample Essays
• Michigan: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Michigan: Recommendation Questions

Sloan (MIT)

• Sloan: Mission/Vision/History
• Sloan: Academics
• Sloan: Culture/Student Life
• Sloan: Career Management
• Sloan: Admissions Overview
• Sloan: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Sloan: Essay Tips
• Sloan: Sample Essays
• Sloan: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Sloan: Recommendation Questions
• Stanford: Mission/Vision/History
• Stanford: Academics
• Stanford: Culture/Student Life
• Stanford: Career Management
• Stanford: Admissions Overview
• Stanford: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Stanford: Essay Tips
• Stanford: Sample Essays
• Stanford: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Stanford MSX: Interview Transcripts
• Stanford: Knight-Hennessy-Scholars
• Stanford: Recommendation Questions

Stern (NYU)

• Stern: Mission/Vision/History
• Stern: Academics
• Stern: Culture/Student Life
• Stern: Career Management
• Stern: Admissions Overview
• Stern: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Stern: Essay Tips
• Stern: Sample Essays
• Stern: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Stern: Recommendation Questions

Tepper (Carnegie Mellon)

• Tepper: Mission/Vision/History
• Tepper: Academics
• Tepper: Culture/Student Life
• Tepper: Career Management
• Tepper: Admissions Overview
• Tepper: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Tepper: Sample Essays
• Tepper: Essay Tips
• Tepper: Interview Notes
• Tepper: Recommendation Questions

Tuck (Dartmouth)

• Tuck: Mission/Vision/History
• Tuck: Academics
• Tuck: Culture/Student Life
• Tuck: Career Management
• Tuck: Admissions Overview
• Tuck: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Tuck: Essay Tips
• Tuck: Sample Essays
• Tuck: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Tuck: Sample References
• Tuck: Recommendation Questions

Wharton (U Penn)

• Wharton: Mission/Vision/History
• Wharton: Academics
• Wharton: Culture/Student Life
• Wharton: Career Management
• Wharton: Admissions Overview
• Wharton: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Wharton: Essay Tips
• Wharton: Sample Essays
• Wharton: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Wharton: Recommendation Questions
• Yale: Mission/Vision/History
• Yale: Academics
• Yale: Culture/Student Life
• Yale: Career Management
• Yale: Admissions Overview
• Yale: Sample Essays
• Yale: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Yale: Essay Tips
• Yale: Video Application Component
• Yale: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Yale: Recommendation Questions

Vanderbilt (Owen)

• Vanderbilt: Essay Questions and Deadlines
• Vanderbilt: Sample Essays
• Vanderbilt: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Vanderbilt: Recommendation Questions

Non-US Schools

• ESADE: Mission/Vision/History
• ESADE: Academics
• ESADE: Culture/Student Life
• ESADE: Career Management
• ESADE: Admissions Overview
• ESADE: Recommendation Questions
• HEC Paris: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• HEC Paris: Essay Tips
• IESE: Mission/Vision/History
• IESE: Academics
• IESE: Culture/Student Life
• IESE: Career Management
• IESE: Admissions Overview
• IESE: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• IESE: Essay Tips
• IESE: Recommendation Questions
• INSEAD: Mission/Vision/History
• INSEAD: Academics
• INSEAD: Culture/Student Life
• INSEAD: Career Management
• INSEAD: Admissions Overview
• INSEAD: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• INSEAD: Essay Tips
• INSEAD: Recommendation Questions
• INSEAD: Sample Essays
• INSEAD: Interview Transcripts and Notes
• IMD: Assessment Day Overview

London Business School

• LBS: Mission/Vision/History
• LBS: Academics
• LBS: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• LBS: Essay Tips
• LBS: Recommendation Questions
• LBS: Interview Sample Questions

Oxford Said Business School

• Oxford MBA: Essay Questions & Deadlines
• Oxford MBA: Essay Tips
• Oxford MBA: KIRA Questions

Part-Time/Executive Programs

• Guidelines for Writing Recommendation Letters
• Chicago Booth EMBA: Sample Essays
• Chicago Booth EMBA: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Berkeley/Columbia EMBA: Sample Essays No longer an EMBA program
• Michigan EMBA: Interview Transcripts
• MIT: Interview Transcripts
• Sloan EMBA recommender template
• UCLA FEMBA: Essay Tips
• UCLA FEMBA: Sample Essays
• UCLA FEMBA: Interview Transcripts & Notes
• Sample Essays

Navigation menu

Top Tips To Nail The New Harvard MBA Essays

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For the first time in over a decade, Harvard Business School updated its application essay requirement for the Class of 2027. Given its pinnacle position as the world’s most coveted MBA program, the change naturally generated tremendous buzz in admissions circles. SBC consultant Yvette recently joined co-host Chandler Arnold to offer her expert insights on approaching the first of these new Harvard MBA essays. Today’s post covers the top notes of Chandler and Yvette’s in-depth conversation on B-Schooled about the first new HBS essay question . 

Before jumping in, remember there’s no “silver bullet” or one right way to answer any of these questions. A great approach for one applicant might not work for another, so you should do what feels authentic. Let’s look at the first of the new Harvard MBA essays.

Business-Minded Essay: Please reflect on how your experiences have influenced your career choices and aspirations and the impact you will have on the businesses, organizations, and communities you plan to serve. (up to 300 words)

Big picture, applicants should ensure that they develop and showcase two essential skills in their essays, says SBC consultant Yvette. The first is communication, and the second is creating compelling content. You’re articulating a thoughtful story and vision in a way that convinces the admissions team of your leadership potential. As you take stock of your journey, think about where you’ve been and where you’re going. Also, think through what you’ve learned in the process that has guided you along the way. 

Many applicants find it helpful to deconstruct the question and consider how to put it back together. For example, the first component is “experiences that influence.” The second is making connections between past career choices that tell the story of a journey. HBS admissions has explicitly said this question change allows applicants to tell more about their journey. Third, state visionary goals and connect them to that influence. And finally, consider how your goals will impact those you serve.

The Four Pillars

• Experiences that have influenced me
• Connection to career choices
• Connection to goals
• How those goals impact the people I serve

It is daunting to do all of this in 300 words or less. One way to approach it is to write a paragraph for each and then see how that flows. While the essay question doesn’t come right out and ask about your goals, it does ask you to talk about your experiences and how they have influenced your choices and aspirations. What that’s really saying is, what have you learned from these experiences? How has this altered the way you look at the world and the impact you want to have professionally? Goals are a shorthand way of saying all that.

Experiences That Have Influenced You

These are deeply personal and could be anything from formative childhood experiences to professional challenges. Consider where and how you grew up. Who impacted you? Identify experiences that changed you in a way that influenced your later decisions and choices. These experiences have the power to transform your future.

A smart tactic is to use the wording from the question in your answer. HBS asks for an experience that influenced you, so directly use that same language. For example, “My experience growing up in Texas influenced me to….”. Then, you want to tell a powerful story by going beyond that initial context.

“It’s not just the fact that you want to share,” SBC consultant Chandler explains. “It’s how that situation changed the way you thought, opened your mind, challenged conventions, or forced you to think differently.” How did you grow in that context, or how did that experience shape how you think about the world?

Avoiding Common Pitfalls In The Harvard MBA Essays

When answering this question, two common pitfalls are assuming your personal story isn’t as interesting as others or assuming your story is infinitely fascinating. “Remember, these admissions officers are reading thousands of essays and might spend 15 minutes on your entire application,” Chandler explains. “So, choose situations and stories and examples that stand out.”

“When that admissions officer is making dinner that night, you want yours to be the story they can’t stop thinking about,” he adds. You want to inspire them with your unique perspective  and experiences.

For example, many MBA applicants are applying from a consulting background. But if the first sentence of your essay is, “On my first consulting project, I felt overwhelmed,” that’s not a unique experience. There could be hundreds or even thousands of people who have felt that way.

We’re not saying that you can’t write about that experience—just that if you choose to do so, make it memorable. You might say, “Look, there are probably thousands of people talking about an overwhelming experience as a first-year consultant. But here’s why my takeaway was especially informative.” Keeping that context in mind is crucial.

Connecting Experiences To Career Choices

Once you’ve described the life experience that influenced you to believe or feel a certain way, use the second paragraph to connect it to your career choices. Yvette advises taking stock of the intentional steps in your career and realizing that some might be more informed than others.

For example, you might write, “I went into consulting because of X, and then while in consulting, I shifted into strategy because of Y.” Show how you did so intentionally because of that early life influence you described in the first paragraph. Your shift could be functional, from one role to the other. Or it could be the types of projects you cover. You may have changed companies from one that was technical, such as an engineering firm, to a broader, more business strategy-oriented consulting role.

“It could even be a shift in your approach,” says Chandler. “Maybe you stayed at the same company, in the same industry, in the same role, but you approach that work differently now. There’s that journey element of how your thinking evolved and how you grew as a person.”

Share The Vision Behind The Goals

Your next task for paragraph three is articulating your future goals. “It’s important to share the vision behind those goals,” Yvette explains. “It might be to be a partner at a consulting firm or to start your own company. But there is usually a vision behind that of something you want to change or impact. It’s important to inject that into the essay because that allows you to connect it to that early influence.”

Not everyone’s goals must be altruistic, of course. Founding a non-profit isn’t the only way to convey that you want to do good. Instead of trying to see everything through a non-profit lens, recognize that every business can positively or negatively impact customers, employees, communities, or the environment.

Also, unlike many other business schools, Harvard doesn’t ask a “Why HBS?” essay. They know why MBA hopefuls are targeting this prestigious program.  “Harvard doesn’t need you to tell it how amazing it is,” Yvette says. “Harvard wants to hear about your experiences, learning, growth, goals, or what you will bring to the HBS experience. But they don’t need to be reminded how amazing their professors are.”

Impact On Others

Paragraph four is where you focus on your impact on others. “When you think about impact, you want to picture yourself as the middle cog to a lot of different stakeholders around you,” Yvette explains. Those could be employees, investors, the environment, customers, or the world at large.

Consider a couple of stakeholders and describe the concrete impact you’ll have on them because you plan to lead differently or your organization has goals beyond the bottom line.

Notice the wording in this essay. HBS is asking about those you serve —not lead. They’re asking you to see yourself as a leader who impacts people around you by your choices in how you lead. We’re all passionate about impact, but give it your own flavor.

Be specific and describe the vehicle as well as the impact. So, if the impact is to have cleaner oceans, what methods will you use to deliver on that? What solutions will you try and test while you’re in the MBA and networking with all those other outstanding professionals?

Draft And Edit, On Repeat

As we wrap up this overview, we know that applicants everywhere are asking, “How in the world do we do all of that in 300 words?!” While the result needs to meet that word count, realize that your initial drafts of this essay might be 900-1,000 words. You’ll explore many ideas as you jot down everything you want to say. Then you iterate, iterate, iterate. You work on narrowing your focus and making the narrative tighter until you have a cohesive essay response.

In conclusion, tackling the new Harvard MBA essays requires thoughtful reflection, strategic storytelling, and careful editing. You can create a compelling narrative that resonates with the admissions team by highlighting your unique experiences, intentional career choices, visionary goals, and the broader impact you aim to have. Authenticity is critical—showcase your true self and how you plan to lead and serve others. 

Stacy Blackman Consulting’s B-Schooled Podcast is hosted by Erika Olson, Harvard MBA, and Chandler Arnold, Stanford GSB MBA. B-Schooled now has more than a quarter million downloads and 200+ episodes.  Search and sort through our 200 B-Schooled podcasts . 

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10 Tough MBA Interview Questions & How To Handle Them

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Advice Column: Insider Tips From Current MBA Students (Part 2)

The ‘introduce yourself’ mba essay.

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Don’t Make These Five Mistakes in Your MBA Essays

By Stacy Blackman, President of Stacy Blackman Consulting

What is the sign of a winning MBA application? Having the dean of admissions, who reads thousands of applications each season, feel like he or she got to know you after reading your essays. Unfortunately, many applicants play it safe and convey only information they perceive as MBA-worthy material.

If you tailor your essays in an attempt to make yourself into the so-called “perfect” MBA applicant, you’ve missed an important opportunity. The true purpose of your essay is to show that you are an introspective and interesting candidate. Make sure you avoid these five common mistakes in your MBA application. Otherwise, you may unwittingly diminish your chances of b-school admissions success.

Mistake 1: Submitting business-only facts.

Instead, go broader and tell your personal story. The admissions committee is looking for applicants with unique and diverse backgrounds. After you’ve adequately laid out your career experiences thus far, it’s time to infuse your application with details unique to you. Brainstorm by jotting down every possible exciting, interesting, or memorable thing you can think of about yourself. This list, or “brag sheet,” not only serves to jog your memory, but also helps you realize that your hobbies, travels, volunteering and personal life experiences can provide raw material for brand messages and eventually essays.

At Stacy Blackman Consulting, we worked with one client who wrote a terrific essay that wove in his interest in math with his lifelong passion for jazz. By sharing his unique story about his father’s career as a jazz musician and his own keen interest in financial markets, the candidate made sure his personality came through and distinguished himself from other applicants with similar test scores and GPAs.

Another client worked in an overrepresented industry among MBA applicants — management consulting — prior to applying. However, his essays spoke of his childhood growing up in the Middle East in a poor, rural community. He was the first in his family to graduate from university, and the contrast between his economic background and his family’s pride in his progress were important highlights of his story. These details differentiated him from other applicants in the international management consulting pool. What’s more, he chose an admissions test that would complement his story and allow his skills to shine.

Business schools seek diversity in all its forms. Go ahead and showcase your unique hobbies, pastimes, or experiences — even (especially) the quirky ones.

Mistake 2: Focusing only on what you’ve done.

Instead, focus on what you value and believe in. A lengthy list of accomplishments will only get you so far with the admissions team. It’s actually more important to focus on sharing your values and what you believe in. When sifting through your possible anecdotes, ask yourself how an experience shaped your life and made you stronger. Or, which strengths, talents, or attributes helped you make a difference in your community, family, or at work.

Showing you are passionate about something other than career also goes a long way toward convincing the admissions committee that you will bring a unique perspective to classroom discussions and generally enhance the MBA community.

Focus on the white spaces in between the bullet points on your resume. What keeps you awake at night? When you look back at your life, what will you admire and regret about your choices? All applicants have a story to tell, an opportunity to go beyond their admissions test score, and other stats. Those small but important details can help you stand out from the crowd.

Mistake 3: Forgetting to use outside resources, such as social media, to reinforce your candidacy.

More and more admissions officers admit to researching an applicant’s social media profile before making a final admit decision. Savvy MBA candidates can use Facebook ® , Twitter ® , LinkedIn ® , and/or Instagram ®  to boost their credibility and solidify the good impressions made through their application materials.

For example, let’s say that you’re hoping to switch careers after business school. In one of your essays, you share your intention to work for a company that develops clean-energy options in third-world countries. You could tweet links to articles or books you’re reading on the subject; you could post about a local conference you attended; or you could give your take on the most promising advancements in the field. The key is to keep things professional and on point. It’s absolutely fine to let your personality shine through, too — just as it should in your essays.

Mistake 4: Neglecting to highlight your positive impact.

The admissions committee will be looking for evidence that you have made a positive impact on the communities of which you’ve been a part, both personally and professionally. For example, highlighting community service in your essays can provide insight into the causes that drive you.

Admissions committees like to see results. To stand out, you need to provide hard proof that you made a difference and left indelible footprints. Try to quantify results in dollar amounts or percentages whenever possible. For example, if you organized a bike race that raised $6,000 for your cause, you want to highlight that concrete value.

One of our clients felt passionate about education for girls in the Middle East. In the spring before applying to business school, he co-launched a program that teamed up young professionals in New York with high school-aged girls in a Middle Eastern country to provide mentorship regarding possible career paths after their secondary education.

In his MBA applications, our client showed that he had raised a meaningful amount of money and the program started its inaugural year with six mentor/mentee pairs. This high-impact activity assisted him in his successful applications to Columbia Business School, Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and Harvard Business School.

Seek out leadership opportunities in your existing activities or find an organization that can benefit from your management skills. Taking charge in your extracurricular interests is great material for any leadership, management, or teamwork-themed essay.

Mistake 5: Trying to conform to business school clichés.

Don’t force yourself to fit a business school candidate stereotype. It may sound obvious, but one of the key characteristics of a successful MBA essay is simply being authentic. Stay faithful to your true interests, and show how they have helped shape the incredibly dynamic and fascinating person that you are today.

Consider also how your choice of admissions test may complement your MBA essays and overall application package. Top MBA programs began accepting the GRE General Test in an effort to attract a wider, more diverse set of applicants. When coming up with your application strategy, consider whether submitting a score report from the GRE General Test could be just the ticket to enhance your overall application package and MBA candidacy.

Watch this video featuring SBC consultant Esther Magna to understand the ways your choice of admissions test can enhance your application.

View Transcript

If you’re ready to take the plunge and start crafting a winning admissions essays, start by downloading a  free branding guide from Stacy Blackman Consulting (PDF) .

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Stacy Blackman Consulting

Stacy blackman consulting reviews.

About Stacy Blackman Consulting

Since 2001, Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) clients have been admitted to every top business school worldwide, often with merit scholarships. SBC is the only MBA admissions consulting firm with a complete panel of former Admissions Officers from every top MBA program, including HBS and GSB, in-house. The SBC team has MBA expertise at every top US and European school, has graduated from the best MBA programs and understands career paths in every industry, traditional and non- traditional. SBC has an impressive track record of results, as shown through online reviews across multiple MBA admissions ranking and review sites: #1 here on MBAinsight , BeattheGMAT, ClearAdmit, and PoetsandQuants.

SBC begins with matchmaking before they begin an engagement or accept payment.  SBC offers a high-touch, limited client-per-consultant experience, engaging with clients only after evaluating your candidacy strength and qualities. They will not work with anyone they don’t believe they can help.

Stacy Blackman Consulting offers two main services. They do offer other services such as editing, plan ahead and interview prep. The major service options are as follows:

• The All-In Package is their version of the comprehensive admissions package, and starts by working to match applicants with the consultant who can work best with them. However, this company also emphasizes the value of having extra eyes of former Admissions Officers looking at things, and others on the SBC team collaborate to optimize the application process.
• For those who don’t need quite as much help, Hourly Consulting may be purchased on specific issues, as well as a list of ways that this service is normally used.

Stacy Blackman Consulting Cost and Contact Info

The All-In Package starts at $7,300 for one school, with the option of adding as many additional schools as the applicant would like. The price for each additional school slowly decreases as more are purchased, and a discount is offered if more than one school is purchased up-front. 

Stacy Blackman Consulting can be contacted by email at [email protected] or via their free advising session form on their website at www.stacyblackman.com/contact .

SAMPLE REVIEWS FOR STACY BLACKMAN CONSULTING

See a database of client reviews by scrolling below. Here are sample reviews:

“Thanks to SBC, I received dual admission to HBS and GSB as a reapplicant! I would like to thank the SBC team: Dawn, who was on this journey with me for almost 2 years. I am grateful for her work ethic and her support; Amy, who was my flight tester (test drive of a full application) and provided a comprehensive and independent advice on how to strengthen my application even further; Esther, who had an introductory call with me, was very helpful in walking me through the packages and matched me with Dawn; Large SBC database which was priceless, especially when understanding the differences between schools and when preparing for interviews. Would not be able to do this without SBC (know it as a fact :)!”

“Loved the way it was broken down to me. SBC helped me understand myself and evaluate my potential. They then helped me build my story. All essays were reviewed in detail. Inputs for my resume, helped me even after I came into B School.”

Stacy Blackman Consulting Promo Code

If you’re interested in hiring the company to help you with the admissions process, request a free analysis from Stacy Blackman Consulting on their website here and ask about any current promotions.

To view how Stacy Blackman Consulting stacks up, check out the link below: TOP MBA ADMISSIONS CONSULTING FIRMS OF 2024

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148 reviews for Stacy Blackman Consulting Reviews

Austin Smith – June 10, 2024 :

Deanna, my SBC consultant, was incredibly helpful in helping me craft my narrative, refine my essays, and prepare for my interviews. Most importantly, she was very candid throughout the process and did not sugar coat weak spots in my application, but she always offered solutions for each of my weak spots. With her help, I got admitted at a top 20 MBA with a scholarship. In other words, I got an ~8x return on my investment in her consulting services. Incredible.

Michael Baiardi – April 7, 2024 :

Anonymous – February 15, 2024 :

From start to finish, my experience working with Stacy Blackman and my consultant Beth was nothing short of fantastic. I embarked on this journey after speaking with eight different consultants from firms like mbaMission and Stratus, but SBC immediately stood out. From my introductory call with Bill to ultimately working closely with Beth for Round 1 admissions, I felt supported end-to-end.

Through my work with Beth, I was fortunate to be admitted to Kellogg, Tuck, Fuqua, and Darden, all with varying levels of scholarship, and I could not be more thrilled with my outcomes. I truly feel like Beth’s experience as a former Kellogg AdComm member was an incredible differentiator.

I knew going into my MBA admissions process, I wanted to work with someone who believed in me and my application. I instantly clicked with Beth’s warm demeanor, and I knew she would provide equal doses of encouragement and honesty at the right times. Through the highs and lows of the process, Beth was there every step of the way and was always able to be reached. I could not recommend working with her and the rest of the SBC team more for anyone going through MBA admissions!

Anonymous – January 27, 2024 :

In my experience, the SBC consulting service was fantastic. I had the pleasure of working with Dione C, who provided invaluable advice and support throughout my application preparation. I started the process with a relatively advanced draft of my materials, and Dione identified several areas of improvement which I would not have thought of myself, but which definitely strengthened the end result. Dione also conducted a mock interview and debrief session, which I found extremely helpful, as she was very open and clear about what worked and what could be adjusted. Working with such an experienced and thoughtful professional removed some of the stress of applying and gave me extra confidence in how I was presenting myself. Dione was also highly responsive and detailed, which I greatly appreciated. In the end, I was fortunate enough to get into my top-choice program!

Samantha – January 18, 2024 :

I decided in June to apply to Wharton in round 1 and couldn’t start prep until July because of a family wedding. I found SBC online because I knew there was no way I could get everything done myself in that amount of time while still working full-time.

I worked with Amy to apply to the Wharton/Lauder dual degree program and she was fantastic. She was so responsive and very quick to turn around feedback and she was candid with her suggestions. I graduated college only 2 years ago, so I knew that my short time in the workforce was going to be a major weakness in my application. Amy helped me craft my story to spin that to my advantage, which gained me admission to the program.

SBC also works with a FANTASTIC gmat tutor (Anthony) and he was worth every cent. I was going to take the GRE because I had already done some prep earlier in the year, but was struggling with the vocab section. I’m stronger in math so I decided to pivot to the gmat 2 weeks before I had to take the test. Anthony is seriously the best tutor/teacher I have ever worked with. I did a few hours with him and got a 760 on my gmat with 2 weeks of total prep. He gives you so many tricks to get faster and generously shares his extensive guides to continue studying on your own more efficiently with targeted practice.

What’s better is that SBC services don’t stop there. Amy helped with the essays and application strategy and Anthony helped with the test prep, but after your application is done, another consultant from SBC does a comprehensive review of your entire application package to give you feedback with fresh eyes from someone who is unfamiliar with all the details. Then if you get invited to interview, SBC provides mock sessions to practice since it’s such a unique interview experience. You get to go through a practice interview with other SBC clients and it’s moderated by an SBC consultant who gives each participant personalized feedback when it’s over.

I can’t thank SBC enough for all the help they provided! It was SO worth it.

HBS Reapplicant – January 9, 2024 :

Consider my experience with SBC as an A/B test — the results speak for themselves!

I initially applied in R2 last year and didn’t even get an interview at HBS. Just a few months later, I worked with DeeDee and Pauline for my R1 reapp and got in. I didn’t have a substantial change in my work experience, or even improved test scores — just expert guidance on crafting my application.

Because of SBC, I am going to my dream program!

Ryan H – January 5, 2024 :

I explored a number of admissions consultancy options before deciding on SBC, which was recommended to me by a friend/former colleague. I was initially drawn to how thorough SBC’s approach seemed to be, their “wiki” database loaded with valuable information, and of course their impressive roster of Consultants with deep AdComm experience. After my initial “matchmaking” call with Sarah, I had a great gut feeling that was immediately confirmed once I met with her recommended Consultant, Amy, with whom I decided to pursue a 4-school All-in package. Simply put, I felt Amy and SBC believed in me and had the skills to help me maximize my chances at achieving my MBA admission goals.

Amy was the perfect match for me. She had several years of AdComm experience at Wharton (one of my target schools) under her belt, as well as a background as a writer, which I expected would be a weakness of mine given my only writing in the past ~6 years had been emails. We put a clear, regimented plan into action following the SBC model and executed it over the subsequent ~5 months in a way that never felt rushed or overwhelming despite leaving no stone unturned before R1 deadlines.

Every step of the way, Amy was patient, thoughtful, well-organized, available, responsive, and infinitely helpful. With everything from my resume, to my essays, to my app-specific short answer questions, Amy’s keen sense for what makes a compelling case helped me put forth the most holistically sound, authentic application I could with my set of personal experiences. Additionally, a major turning point in my process was when Amy encouraged me to pursue the GRE instead of the GMAT, a pivot that almost immediately improved the trajectory of my candidacy.

Before submitting, my flight tester, Caryn (former Kellogg AdComm), gave an objective read of my application and identified a few areas for improvement that Amy then helped me implement, not just for that school but for the others on our list where applicable. Later, the mock Wharton TBD with Anthony (again, also former AdComm and specifically Wharton) was invaluable in helping prepare me for the real experience, as that’s not an interview style that I would’ve otherwise been able to easily simulate.

I ultimately received offers of admission to Columbia and Wharton, and couldn’t be more appreciative of Amy’s help – along with that of the other SBC team members – in making my MBA goals a reality.

Sorry for the long review – I’m sure Amy could’ve helped me cut this down! – but I simply cannot say enough about how pleased I am with SBC broadly and Amy specifically. It is not a small investment, but the returns are well worth it.

matthew pitera – January 4, 2024 :

I’m so thankful that I chose to work with the SBC team, and particularly Amy, my consultant. The SBC team works together to create a holistic experience. Bill took the time to understand my goals before pairing me with a consultant. Amy spent countless hours with me understanding what made me tick and helping me translate that into an application. Beth flight tested my application and made sure that there weren’t any glaring holes, and Anthony helped me prep for my Wharton Team Based Discussion.

By far the most valuable part of this process was having Amy by my side. No question was too trivial for her, and she had limitless patience with me as I obsessed over every detail of my application. Amy’s most valuable contribution, however, was her ability to help me focus on the RIGHT details. It is easy to lose sight of what you are building as you write the applications from the ground up, and it can be particularly challenging not to write applications based on what you THINK the AdComms WANT to hear. Amy encouraged me to embrace my authentic voice, and ensured that I was telling a story that highlighted who I am as a human.

MBA Program & Grad Year: STANFORD GSB 2026 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Thanks to Amy and the SBC team I was admitted to FIVE MBA programs: GSB, Wharton, Booth, Columbia, and Stern (with a full ride).

Anonymous – January 3, 2024 :

Emma was so helpful throughout the application process and I am incredibly grateful for the exceptional guidance and support! With her expertise and former admissions committee experience, I was able to effectively showcase my strengths and achievements in my applications. I was admitted to every school I applied to, including receiving a full-ride offer. Her insights and strategic approach were invaluable, and she made the entire application process much less intimidating. I highly recommend her services to anyone pursuing an MBA!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia 2026

T S – January 2, 2024 :

I was a bit skeptical about using an MBA consultant, but Geri made every meeting and minute worth it. In addition to knowing the ins and outs of the HBS admissions process (and applying that to other schools), she is an amazing listener and word-smither when it comes to essays. She has a great eye for detail and caught little typos and mistakes that I had missed in my apps. She made herself flexible to my calendar and was always available when I needed her.

In addition to close review of my applications to multiple schools, she also helped me understand my business school story more broadly so that I would be best prepared for coffee chats, visit weekends, and interviews.

To anyone considering hiring a consultant, definitely have a conversation with SBC and Geri and see if it would be a right fit for you! I would highly recommend it!

Sabrina – January 1, 2024 :

Geri was my primary consultant, and she was absolutely lovely! She was always extremely quick to respond while still showing me that my application mattered to her. Using her experience as a former Admissions Officer at HBS, she gave me excellent advice and was instrumental in curating my applications, leading to admission to Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, Wharton (with scholarship), MIT Sloan (with scholarship), and Dartmouth Tuck (with substantial scholarship). Geri went above and beyond by not only reviewing my general application, but also setting up regular calls for us, workshopping my resume and essays, participating in a mock interview with me, and acting as an amazing sounding board.

My experience with Stacy Blackman went beyond Geri, though, and the team-based influence and support was clear from the start! Esther acted quickly and kindly to match me with Geri, Geri did a stellar job addressing my questions and application needs, Beth (former Admissions Officer) provided great insight during my Flight Test, and Anthony (former Wharton Admissions Officer) ensured I was prepared during my Wharton mock Team Based Discussion. I also had access to resources like the Vault database, which allowed me to read advice and information about many schools from different perspectives.

When I was initially choosing a consulting firm, I was overwhelmed with options and not sure where to turn. Stacy Blackman came to me by a personal referral who gained admission to Wharton after working with SBC, and I am so glad I took his advice!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton MBA 2026

ANONYMOUS – July 22, 2023 :

I worked with SBC for two schools and was admitted to both. I cannot say enough great things about them. Their direct/no BS communication style was perfect for someone like me. Highly recommend them.

ANONYMOUS – May 5, 2023 :

I decided to apply to business school very late in the process (didn’t take the GMAT until mid-November, and then only had a month and a half to submit applications!). I was understandably stressed out, but after surveying the options out there, I had no hesitations about making an investment to partner with SBC to help me put my best foot forward in the MBA admissions process. Esther Magna gave me a very accurate assessment of my chances at multiple top schools and encouraged me to apply even though I had doubts about my own candidacy. She matched me with Margaret Orenstein, who was instrumental in guiding me with such great responsiveness, insights, and personalization to me as I crafted my story. She also had such care for me as a person and was so invested in empowering me to be successful! Caryn Altman also provided invaluable feedback on my application. Ultimately, I was accepted at Harvard Business School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, which I think would not have been possible without the support of the team at SBC to help me navigate an unfamiliar process.

Jonathan Zhang – April 13, 2023 :

Stacy Blackman Consulting provides exceptional MBA admissions consulting services. Their experienced consultants offer personalized guidance and feedback, showcasing a deep understanding of the MBA admissions process. Their professionalism, commitment to ethics, and comprehensive approach make them a top-tier choice for applicants. Highly recommended for those seeking expert assistance in their MBA application journey.

ANONYMOUS – April 6, 2023 :

Amy was essential to my admittance to HBS as a re-applicant. In the prior year’s cycle, I was admitted to NYU through the help of Applicant Lab, but I wanted to give it another shot. With her expertise as a former Wharton Admissions expert and professional editor (this came in very clutch!), Amy helped me create a completely different application that highlighted a more authentic and personal story. She was especially amazing during the final stretches of applications when she quickly responded with her thoughts to each new draft of my essays. I would highly recommend her as a consultant to anyone going through the process!

The rest of the SBC team was also great. Sarah quickly paired me up with Amy. Kim, my flight tester, gave me solid feedback and the confidence that my application was in the right direction. The Stacy Blackman wiki database was also very helpful for understanding what successful essays look like. Overall, a great experience with Amy & the Stacy Blackman team and you can’t argue with the results! Highly recommend!

Anonymous – February 21, 2023 :

SBC was so helpful throughout the entire application process. I ended up getting admitted to every school I applied to (including my top choice, HBS). Carol, my consultant, really helped me think through my own individual story and kept me on track throughout my entire application process. She was extremely knowledgeable about the various admissions processes at the top schools I applied to and really helped me hit on the highlights of my own story. The support provided by her and the entire SBC team (including my flight tester and other consultants who helped me make my final decision) was amazing!

Theodore Kim – January 28, 2023 :

The advice and examples provided through Stacy Blackman was incredibly helpful in my own journey to craft my MBA narrative. For each school, they give insight into what elements to focus and how to address each school essay question, which I found incredibly helpful during my drafting stage.

ANONYMOUS – January 13, 2023 :

The BEST TEAM to ace GSB & HBS

Why you should not skip this long review? Short answer: ADMITTED TO STANFORD GSB, HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL, AND MIT SLOAN being a nontraditional applicant with no MBB, no PE, no Fortune 500

If you are reading this, we can agree that a Top MBA is a huge investment for our education (time, introspection, money). Therefore, after spending hours scrolling other reviews on GMAT Club and Poets and Quants, I personally contacted the top-rated Consultancy firms to really understand their real value.

Since our first chat, Esther, the SBC initial guide and matchmaker impressed me: she reviewed my profile in advance and immediately challenged my school range, insisting on AIMING HIGHER to GSB and HBS – something that no other firm did!

Esther matched me with my dedicated consultant: Dione. SHE IS THE PERSON YOU WANT BY YOUR SIDE IF YOU ARE POINTING AT THE TOP. Dione and I worked together for 8 months, and she exceeded all my expectations: deep-rooted in the Stanford GSB alumni community, with a track-record of successful international clients, and always (and I say ALWAYS) ready to solve your doubts and review your material: no matter of the 9-hour difference between Europe and California.

I worked with Dione to cherry-pick the best stories of my personal and professional life to represent who I am in the eyes of US Admission Officers. She has always been genuinely interested to transport my person in my essays: what I realized to be THE REAL KEY FOR SUCCESS! Being quite a productive writer, I often found myself saturated of ideas, but Dione’s 100% authentic and knowledgeable feedback always steered my application in the most effective and sincere direction.

Finally, my package included one Flight Test and I had the chance to share my application material with Beth, a former Admissions Officer. Regardless of the value and the amount of time you invest in your application… the real stress comes towards the deadline and having a fresh, additional pair of eyes gives the extra confidence to ace the last mile!

Jessica – January 12, 2023 :

I had the absolute pleasure of working with Caryn Altman during my MBA application process. I did the all-in package, and Caryn seamlessly navigated me through the entire process of my school selection, essays, interviews, and decision day. I applied to 8 schools and received 7 interviews, with acceptances to top schools with generous scholarships. I now have the luxury of choosing between two M7 schools. Caryn replies to emails promptly, is always there to lend either constructive criticism or her perspective, and truly keeps the client’s best interest at the forefront. She is the guiding light throughout the chaotic application process and really understands what the adcomm boards are looking for in applicants. She’s been featured in numerous articles and podcasts and is always straightforward from the beginning of the process. Esther, the person you will immediately meet upon coordinating with SBC, is extremely knowledgeable and matches client personalities and goals to the consultants’ backgrounds perfectly. She is very responsive and clear. My flight test point of contact, Beth, another consultant at SBC, was also very knowledgeable and helpful when providing a second opinion. Understanding how thorough SBC is and how structured their program is is ultimately what drew me to commit to their program, as well as knowing how well-versed the consultants are in the MBA world, as they are all former adcomm members. I most definitely would not be in the incredible position I am in now without the help of SBC, and specifically, Caryn! 10/10 recommend their services– worth every penny!

Alex – January 12, 2023 :

Jen and the SBC team were amazing.

I chose SBC because of the amount of former adcoms on their team and the flight-test SBC offers. Having access to someone who was actually on the other side of the table is invaluable and being able to dry run your application with them is even more so. Even if you aren’t matched with a former adcom, you still have access to them via your consultant.

My introduction call with Sarah was great. She clearly explained the process, what to expect, grasped my profile, and identified potential consultants who would best match my experience.

Of the people Sarah matched me with, I chose Jen due to her professional background in engineering. Jen is very thorough and has a gift for identifying stories. During our 2-hour kickoff call, she understood my background (engineering), identified potential weaknesses and experiences to highlight, and helped me round out what schools to apply to. I went through many essay revisions with Jen. Her feedback was excellent each and every time and helped me tell the stories I wanted to tell. Apart from essay guidance, Jen did a wonderful job preparing me for interviews through both the questions she asked and her feedback. I honestly believe my interviews with Jen were more “difficult” than the actual interviews, which is what I would want.

In the end, I was accepted to all of the schools I applied to (HBS, Kellogg, CBS, and Stern) and couldn’t be happier.

IE – January 11, 2023 :

The business school application process is stressful and surprisingly emotional. You’re trying to condense your professional accomplishments into a short essay and resume while simultaneously communicating who you are on a very personal level. I knew I needed help, and Megan was the perfect match. From day one, Megan was ready for anything, and that was quite a lot in my case. From calls when I hit a wall writing to editing minor details in the 11th hour, Megan was there to help. In the end, it was obvious that Megan has a unique talent for appreciating candidates for their uniqueness and enabling them to weave an intricate tapestry of who they are in the minimal space your application permits. Her ability to connect the dots of my story is undoubtedly what made me fortunate enough to be admitted to Stanford, Harvard, and Wharton.

In addition to Megan’s support, the entire SBC team was incredibly supportive. From my first call with Sarah, I could tell that SBC did things differently as she immediately told me how she thought about my candidacy, what she would change about my resume, and how she would try to craft my narrative. The online SBC library was also extremely useful for tailoring each application to the specific school. What really sets the SBC team apart, however, is the breadth and depth of knowledge; any time that Megan and I were wondering how to approach a school’s application better, there were numerous former admissions officers from those schools that we could draw on. In particular, my flight test was specifically conducted by an ex-admissions officer from the school that was my top choice, offering me the opportunity to get school-specific insights that I likely wouldn’t have gotten elsewhere.

Thank you Megan and SBC, I couldn’t have done it without you!

Pauline – January 8, 2023 :

Thanks to SBC, I received dual admission to HBS and GSB as a reapplicant!

I would like to thank SBC team: – Dawn, who was on this journey with me for almost 2 years. I am grateful for her work ethic and her support – Amy, who was my flight tester (test drive of a full application) and provided a comprehensive and independent advice on how to strengthen my application even further – Esther, who had an introductory call with me, was very helpful in walking me through the packages and matched me with Dawn – Large SBC database which was priceless, especially when understanding the differences between schools and when preparing for interviews

Would not be able to do this without SBC (know it as a fact :)!

Alexandra Q – January 4, 2023 :

I had an amazing MBA application experience thanks to Meg Stiphany and SBC. When I first contacted Esther Magna, she was very communicative, quick to respond, and so helpful in kickstarting the process. Esther got to know me and matched me perfectly with my primary consultant and former MBA adcomm, Meg Stiphany. We clicked instantly on our first call, and she quickly understood my strengths and themes I could leverage through my materials in my applications. Meg helped me plan out my MBA application process, including a very detailed schedule with due dates for drafts and helped me clearly write my personal and unique story. She made me feel at ease throughout. Meg was incredibly supportive and gave me so much confidence in everything I was working on. She was my cheerleader when at times I was feeling doubt. She made me believe in my story and my candidacy.

SBC provided me an incredible support system. Not only was Meg so knowledgeable in every aspect of the process, reviewed my drafts as many times as needed, and gave feedback promptly, but I also had the support and feedback of two other former adcomms, Beth and Anthony. Beth was my flight-tester and second set of eyes who reviewed my application of choice and gave me great feedback. Anthony helped me with my Wharton mock interview and gave me great points to improve on during the real interview. All in all, SBC had an amazing team of former adcomms to help me in every step of the way.

I was able to get into three out of the four schools I applied to: Wharton, Booth and Kellogg, and with significant scholarships. I would recommend SBC and Meg to anyone looking for a supportive team. Thank you, Meg, for being a remarkable consultant!

Sam – January 3, 2023 :

Bill was my initial contact at SBC and I ended up going with the All-In package with Caryn Altman to tackle my list of target schools.

Caryn was absolutely fantastic to work with. She really understands the application process on a granular level and helped me execute a strategy that highlighted my profile’s best attributes. She was fantastic in identifying the spots of my application that were weak and really helped me focus on rethinking and improving those areas. Her wisdom and guidance, from essay editing to letter of recommendation support, was nothing short of stellar.

Caryn is largely responsible for my acceptances at Kellogg (MMM program) and Chicago Booth with scholarship. In addition, quick shoutout to Beth, my flight test consultant, who provided valuable insight as well.

I have ZERO regrets with choosing SBC for my MBA applications and am truly grateful for Caryn’s and the firm’s support!!

Ash – September 27, 2022 :

It was really good, they helped me understand how I should craft my essay and allowed me to tell my story in a very unique manner.

Aalap Shah – September 23, 2022 :

They were very helpful.

Ryan – September 23, 2022 :

SBC was incredibly helpful throughout the process and helped me think about stories for essays and interviews. However, I felt at times that they weren’t as organized as I would have expected and they seemed too distracted or spread thin (presumably working with lots of other applicants). Overall, I had a great experience, but understand that it’s not a foolproof solution.

Jean Song – September 23, 2022 :

Carol was an incredible consultant: honest, communicative and insightful. Her advice was invaluable for my essays and interview. I could not have gotten into HBS without her

Abhishek Bhaduri – September 19, 2022 :

Very good with feedback and planning timelines. Very specific and to the point. Loved working with the team and their turnaround time was excellent.

Heramb Kinjawadekar – September 19, 2022 :

Really good

Chris – September 19, 2022 :

Brutally honest about your chances. Unlike other firms, who tried to tell me I’m m7 material to sell me on their product, I believe Stacy Blackman was most transparent about my chances. Likely because there is so much demand for their services, they don’t feel the need to try and convince me to work with them

MC – September 17, 2022 :

Pretty useful. Help me at every step of the way. Some of the user experience could be a little bit better but overall it’s good.

Shannon Julian – September 17, 2022 :

Great company with experienced consultants. They helped me a lot with finding the right message in my essays.

Daniel Faierman – September 17, 2022 :

They were incredibly professional and personalized for each school.

Anonymous – September 17, 2022 :

The essay writing services and the essay archive was really helpful in my application

Chris Kay – September 17, 2022 :

Very good. Great advice for TBD interviews.

Anonymous – July 19, 2022 :

When I first spoke with SBC, I really felt the excellent team bond and dynamics throughout the entire firm. You are not just hiring one consultant, but the entire team of SBC. Sarah was my initial matchmaker and was thoughtful in her advice to me as a prospective applicant as I had called her two years and a half before applying. After evaluating all of the largest MBA consulting firms, I still remembered my conversation with Sarah, which led me to ping her again (a year after we first spoke). She was extremely attentive and eventually recommended me to match with Jennifer.

Jennifer was truly amazing to work with. When I compared my experience working with Jennifer to others’ experience working with their respective consultants, I realized just how lucky I was. She not only is one of the most thoughtful human beings I’ve encountered but also a very tactical consultant. She was extremely patient in helping me figure out my voice of the essays and was there throughout all parts of my application process.

The thing that makes Jennifer stand out is that she went beyond being a consultant and became a friend throughout the entire application process. She was so easygoing that I could ask her any question; I would text her at all times throughout the day and she would be lightening fast with her responses. Her guidance and advice were unparalleled. After we mock interviewed, she even introduced me to a former client to provide additional interview practice. The rest of the SBC team was also amazing to work with. For example, Beth completed my “flight test” for my full HBS application. She was instrumental to make sure that my entire application tied together as well as made sure we could get another set of eyes of a former MBA admissions officer on my app.

It still feels unreal to get into my dream schools of Stanford GSB, Wharton and HBS. I could not have done it without Jennifer and could not have done it without SBC. I would recommend working with SBC and especially Jennifer in a heartbeat! Jennifer is truly the best.

Anonymous – June 7, 2022 :

Received an admissions offer from GSB/HBS, as well as MIT. Alex was fantastic in helping me navigate the entire process. I can’t thank him enough.

It’s very difficult to know where to begin when starting the MBA application process. Alex was great at helping me figure out how to weave together my (very) non-traditional experiences and develop a compelling narrative.

Alex spent a significant amount of 1-on-1 time helping me with my applications, and preparing me to succeed in a flight test with Caryn (a former MBA admissions officer). Alex is highly dedicated. He answered all my (sometimes anxiety-driven) questions on calls, and even took the time to set up an additional reviewer, Christine, to provide some additional insights and feedback for my final GSB essay. Overall, Alex is a consummate professional, as well as a great strategic advisor, partner, mentor, and friend in the (often stressful) admissions process. I highly recommend Alex and could not have gotten into GSB or HBS without his help. Alex is an amazing consultant, and truly changed my life.

I was also highly impressed with SBC throughout my application process. I was originally introduced to Alex by Sarah, who was my initial matchmaker at SBC. Sarah was very attentive and listened to my goals, and then recommended Alex based on our conversation. Alex was the perfect fit for me, and really had great insights about applying to GSB/HBS in particular.

Picking an admissions consulting firm can be a daunting financial decision, but selecting SBC was an excellent decision — they connect you with the right consultant for you, have lots of internal resources to help you with all aspects of the application process (obtaining rec letters, etc.), and have an established process/methodology + demonstrated track-record to achieve success in applying. I can’t recommend SBC enough if you’re an applicant that needs help getting started and strategic guidance throughout the entire admissions process.

Di Yang – April 1, 2022 :

In my entire application process, I found it extremely useful to use Stacy Blackman for advice on the essays, interview preparation, and in general what each school/program is looking for and how are they different from each other. So highly recommend to any applicant to check out and I am sure you’ll find something that will help you increase your chances of getting admitted.

MBA Program & Grad Year: YALE SOM Class of 2024 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start really early and talk to at least 3 students or alumni to have a better and deeper understanding of the school's offering before you write your essay or interview will help you tremendously in an organic way.

Shaoli Mahjabin – March 8, 2022 :

Throughout my application journey, Stacy Blackman Consulting has been a reliable source of information. Before I started brainstorming on my essays, I would always go through the brief shared by SBC.

MBA Program & Grad Year: UVA Darden Class of 2024 Your MBA Application & School Advice: I am going to a school that has made me feel like I belong from our very first interaction. I believe, while choosing a school, it is very important to pick one that most closely matches with our persona. As for the application, I cannot stress enough on the importance of being yourself. Do not polish your individuality away from your essays. Let your unique self shine through it!

Alexander Nuta – March 6, 2022 :

I worked with Ally Menzel for my CBS application. Ally was a calming hand that soothed a lot of my fears regarding potential weaknesses in my application. While I was accepted into CBS, i would have appreciated a bit more constructive criticism in certain areas.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia Business School; 2024 Your MBA Application & School Advice: putting pen to paper and just articulating thoughts was very helpful for me. From there, i was able to see what fit with my story and edit appropriately.

JULIE ABOU MOUSSA – December 23, 2021 :

I worked with Erika from SBC, and got admitted to both HBS and SLOAN! I worked with Erika for ~12 weeks toward one objective: get into my dream schools. She guided me from the application strategy, all the way to interview preparation. Her structured and detailed advice, combined with her decade of expertise, have given me absolute comfort throughout the application process. Erika portrayed the highest level of professionalism and approachability, and made sure that every minute spent with her is valuable (e.g., through very efficient email communication). I also ENJOYED working with Erika… I mean, she’s super cool!! I would HIGHLY recommend Erika’s consulting services to any person applying for MBA. Working with SBC was a great experience!!!

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS 2024 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start your application strategy at least ~4 months before application deadlines. DO NOT start writing your essays before "cracking your story". Be yourself, and apply to the school(s) that match your career goals!

JS – October 18, 2021 :

I was accepted Round 1 to HBS last year. Carol at SBC was invaluable in my admissions process and gave me the candid, deep feedback I needed to re-do my initial essay draft. The all-in package is well worth the money for someone serious about getting into a top-tier business school.

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS 2023 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start your essays as early as possible to give yourself plenty of time to pivot/edit. And don't underestimate the time it takes to fill out the application form, where sometimes there are mini-essays embedded within.

Sai M – September 21, 2021 :

Great experience working with Stacy Blackman!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Ross, 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start The Process Early. ... Get The GMAT Done First. ... Visit The School and Sit In On A Class. ... Meet With Current or Former MBA Students

Allan – September 20, 2021 :

I had an initial consult with Stacey Blackmann group and found their info to be insightful they prepared me for successful admission and getting into 2 of my top 4 choices

MBA Program & Grad Year: 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Duke fuqua- top choice

Rene – September 16, 2021 :

The company was very helpful through the college application process. Their personal statement consulting services was great, they made some helpful tips and suggestions to improve my essay during my college application process. I would recommend using their essay services. It was a great experience.

MBA Program & Grad Year: MBA - Finance & 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Apply to schools that will help you build your future. Do the research and don't just go by the school ranking.

Akela – July 21, 2021 :

I talked to other admission consultants and I had a feeling it was about the money in the end. I had a different feeling when I talked to Esther Magna. She listened carefully to my needs, talked to the consultant, and gave me the response based on what they can do for me. I had an amazing experience working with Margaret Strother. My deadline was 6 days away because I spent weeks trying to overcome anxiety and start writing my essays. She provided step-by-step instructions and made the process very easy. She went beyond to help me meet the deadline, prioritizing my emails to decrease response time and responding within hour even when she was off desk. As I could afford only 5 hours of consulting, she was kind enough to help me with 2 SOPs for Master of Science program, and also gave recommendations to improve my CV. As a result, I completed two 500 word SOPs in 5 days when I spent weeks forcing myself to write something. She also gave detailed feedback and further suggestions to improve my essays that already looked good. Her guidance helped to make this process as smooth as possible. Working with Margaret was a pleasure – it was a genuine desire to help me as a fellow human being. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and I am very happy that I had a chance to work with SBC. Thank you, SBC team!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Kelley Your MBA Application & School Advice: Apply to the school you want to, not the one you think you deserve

MS – May 19, 2021 :

I worked with Erika for two schools as a full package and then also engaged with her on an hourly basis for some other schools. She is absolutely amazing at her job. I got admitted to every business school I applied to (Harvard, Stanford, Yale, Haas) with significant scholarship money to both Haas and Yale. I do NOT have a background that is “I saved the world” or “I started a company that went public” or whatever it is that someone might expect given these results. I attribute my success to Erika helping me masterfully craft and share my honest story. Her upfront work in helping me reflect on what that story is/should be was incredibly valuable and then throughout the process she provided fast, direct, and impactful feedback on all aspects of my application. In general, SBC also makes the whole process seamless – from the “consultant matching” phase, the “flight test” (this is where another consultant at SBC who isn’t your primary advisor reads your entire application as if they were an adcom member and gives feedback. I had Kim for that and her comments were very helpful!) I considered a few different consultants before deciding on SBC/Erika and I am SOO glad I chose her. I felt completely supported throughout the whole process. I really don’t think I could have done it without her. If you’re reading this and making a decision about whether to use a consultant and which one, I would highly highly recommend SBC and especially Erika. (She also hosts their podcast ‘B-Schooled’ which I listened to a lot during the process and found to be quite helpful).

MBA Program & Grad Year: Stanford GSB Class of 2023 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Reflect thoroughly on why you want an MBA and then be 100% honest in your application - it will shine through and be much easier to write if you're not trying to be someone or something different from who you are.

ANONYMOUS – April 22, 2021 :

I’m an international applicant who is over 30 and comes from a non-feeder industry (non-IB or consulting). Before signing up to work with SBC, I also had calls with several other firms (Admissionado, Personal MBA Coach, Fortuna, among others). I decided to work with Margaret and cannot recommend her more highly. She knows all the top MBA programs inside out, doesn’t “market” herself, and always tells it as it is. During our initial call, unlike several other consultants, she didn’t encourage me to include schools outside of T10 in my application package and advised that I apply to just 3-4 schools, focusing on the quality of the stuff that I do (others recommended that I go for 6-8 schools). I added two more schools to the initial package of four in December as I still had time.

The results of my work with Margaret exceeded my expectations. Out of six schools, I applied to (5 with Margaret, 1 on my own, for which one Margaret still gave me insights), I received interview invites at five (four of them M7 schools!). I got admitted at Wharton, Booth, and Yale, and received some scholarship $ too! All of this in a year of COVID-19 with a surge in applications. Margaret’s guidance was instrumental in securing these admits.

If you’re hesitating over who to work with the way I did, think no more and just go with Margaret. She knows what schools are looking for, has a clear process in place, and has an answer to ANY question or concern you might have. Margaret is wise and has a great sense of humor, and this makes working with her a great pleasure. Special thanks to the rest of the SBC team I interacted with – Bill, my initial matchmaker, Beth, my flight tester, Anthony, Toni, Tina, Esther… Highly recommend!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton 2023 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early and be your authentic self in the application.

Anonymous – April 7, 2021 :

When I first contacted SBC, I spoke with Esther who paired me up with Jennifer after understanding my style and what I was looking for. I feel so lucky that she matched me with Jennifer.

I had previously worked with a different MBA admissions company who proved very unhelpful so I was nervous about paying for another but I am so glad I did.

Applying for business school can be an intimidating process but Jennifer broke it down and made it seem achievable. She helped me through the whole process – finding my story, choosing my recommenders, filling in the application form, practicing for interviews, and the waitlist strategy.

Jennifer helped me find my own voice by guiding me, rather than telling me what to write. I am from Europe and she helped me make that shine through in my application. She was always very quick to respond and a genuine pleasure to work with.

I also found working with the wider SBC team very easy. Caryn completed a “flight test” for me where she assessed my full HBS application. It was great having another pair of eyes on my application to spot any bits that I had missed being so close to it all.

I feel very grateful that I got into two of my dream schools – Wharton and HBS – and am very excited to start in HBS later this year.

I would 100% recommend working with SBC and Jennifer in particular!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Harvard Business School, 2023 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Find what makes you unique and focus on that! Also take time to think about your story in depth before delving into writing. Good luck!

Sheanette Nicole Spencer – April 6, 2021 :

This consulting firm provides a level of expertise like no other!

MBA Program & Grad Year: MBA - Accounting; October 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Finish from where you left off and finish strong! Currently have a 3.94 GPA!

Anonymous – April 5, 2021 :

I used Stacy Blackman’s All-In Package for 3 schools and I am very happy with my decision! I am a reapplicant who had used a different consultant last time I applied, and I am so glad I went with SBC and Yvette this time. I had consultations with several other admissions consultants and was impressed with SBC from the very beginning – even in the initial consultation I received useful, constructive feedback.

Yvette is an excellent consultant. While I had initially thought I needed to improve my GMAT score, Yvette assured me that my score was fine, I just needed to tell a compelling story. This was something I struggled with, but Yvette did an excellent job of guiding me through the process of identifying interesting parts of my background and crafting a strong narrative. She was skilled in pointing out areas for improvement, but not being prescriptive. Before submitting my applications I also went through a “flight test” with an admissions committee member, which was very helpful for getting a second perspective on ways to improve my application.

I ended up getting interviews at all of the MBA programs I applied for. Yvette then helped me with interview prep. I had struggled with interviews last time I applied to business school, and was nervous about making the same mistakes this time. Yvette gave me strategies for staying calm and responding to challenging questions. I made it through all of my interviews smoothly and was ultimately admitted to every MBA program I applied to, including HBS and GSB. Yvette’s guidance certainly played a big role in this positive outcome. In addition, I found that her advice made me a better writer overall, which has helped in other parts of my career.

I highly recommend Yvette and SBC – definitely worth it!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Stanford GSB 2023 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early, and focus on your story!

Brice – March 21, 2021 :

I began my MBA prep and admissions journey late in the game with the intention of starting in Fall 2021. I reached out to a few different admissions firms for support, including Stacy Blackman. One never responded and another told me they required at least a year to help me. Sarah, a Principal with Stacy Blackman, responded enthusiastically, and, after a thoughtful intake conversation, matched me with Deanna based on my background and goals.

For context, I entered the process 8 years removed from undergrad, with just over two months to refine my school selection, take standardized tests, complete applications, and complete additional quantitative coursework that would subsequently be recommended. Enter Deanna. She reached out within 24 hours of my initial conversation with Sarah and came ready with the next steps and suggestions. Deanna’s expertise navigating MBA admissions and her up-to-date knowledge on trends and new developments with admissions were instantly apparent and shone through during our entire time working together. Combined with her personality and responsiveness, she really was both an exceptional consultant, coach, and cheerleader for my success. Hands down, I could not have pulled everything together in such an effective way and on such a tight timeline without her help.

Stacy Blackman took the time to weigh my background against my ambitious Fall 2021 desired start and decided they could help me achieve my goal. Deanna, in turn, took the time to get to know my story and background and tailored her knowledge and resources to fit my specific needs. In one of the most competitive years MBA programs have seen in a while and in the midst of COVID, I succeeded in getting admitted to a nationally and internationally recognized top school, which I plan to attend this fall. My recommendation of Deanna and Stacy Blackman comes without reservation.

MBA Program & Grad Year: McDonough 2023 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start as early in the process as you are able to achieve the test scores you need for the schools you apply to.

David – February 15, 2021 :

I worked with Caryn and SBC for class of 2023 applications. Working with Caryn and the rest of the Stacy Blackman team / resources was an absolute pleasure and I found Caryn’s support indispensable as I navigated the challenging and intensive process. Ultimately, the decision paid off as I was accepted into Wharton, my top choice, as well as Booth and Kellogg! I kicked off my process in late June, which was a little late given my desire to submit all my applications for the Round 1 deadline. Caryn quickly designed a schedule that would push me appropriately to stay on pace. Early in the process, she helped me think through my story and application strategy to best differentiate me, especially with my background in an over-represented group (male in finance). Caryn was incredibly responsive in iterating essay drafts and helping position myself in the best possible light. Post-essay process, SBC offered a flight test to review my overall application, which provided a tangible review of my materials and overall candidate profile from one of the other consultants, Lisa. Upon receiving interview invites, I conducted interview prep with Caryn and, for Wharton, attended a virtual, team-based discussion mock interview hosted by SBC. Overall, SBC offers all of the resources that one would need through the process. I originally reached out to Stacy Blackman and discussed my background with Esther. Once I solidified my plans to apply to business school, I requested Caryn and Esther connected me with her directly. My brother used Caryn and Stacy Blackman with his successful MBA application process a couple years ago, so it was a natural selection for me. I also received recommendations from a few others at my company who went through the process, and many of them had used Stacy Blackman. Overall, Caryn’s experience as a former MBA Admissions Officer and her expertise in advising clients was evident. I’m very happy with my decision and would highly recommend Caryn and Stacy Blackman to anyone looking to succeed in the MBA admissions process.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton - 2023 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Give yourself more time than you need to go through the discovery process and think about why you want an MBA, which schools make the most sense for you, and how to best position yourself in your admissions story

Taylor – January 15, 2021 :

I purchased the all-in package for two schools, Wharton and CBS, and am so glad that I did. My consultant, Margaret, was with me every step of the way during the application process. From instructing me how to research schools I was interested, editing essays, and resume review, Margaret was an essential resource for me and my applications were 10x stronger than they would have been on my own. I got into my dream school, Wharton, and was invited to interview at CBS ( I ended up declining as I had already been accepted to Wharton). This company really knows what they are doing! I recommend it to anyone who wants an extra push in the grueling b-school process.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton 2023 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early! And really get into the nitty gritty of every school you plan on applying to, because your fit and enthusiasm about the school can really improve your candidacy, aside from your quantitative metrics. Talk to current students, research clubs and programs, learn about where alumni end up, etc.

Anonymous – January 11, 2021 :

The team at SBC was incredibly knowledgeable about each program I explored for my MBA. They were well versed in application structure and their brainstorming methods really helped me find a meaningful way to tell the story of my career to date.

MBA Program & Grad Year: 2023 NYU Stern Your MBA Application & School Advice: The best advice I can give is to really dig deep into your career and personal history to find the best fodder for your applications. In the strategy and research sessions I had, I was surprised how many experiences I had forgotten about that impacted my career trajectory. Digging deep in your history will help you find the most meaningful essay topics!

Alex Henderson – December 26, 2020 :

SBC was my go-to resource for realistic advice and information on the MBA application process. The blog posts on interview preparation and the types of questions certain schools were likely to ask were a great help, in particular. I would not likely have been as successful in my interviews without them.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Oxofr Said, 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Be yourself! It's a cliché, but it's so true. Schools are looking for all types of applicants. Instead of trying to stretch your credentials to fit some idealistic vision of the perfect applicant, think about what you have to offer.

Charles F – December 14, 2020 :

I recently worked with Mark O’brien (from Stacy Blackman Consulting) on my application to the only program I applied to. I would highly recommend Mark and SBC to anyone. Overall, from initial consultation to application submission, I was pleased.

Mark was responsive, extremely efficient and flexible (happy to jump on a call, provide quick notes via email, etc). His comments and suggestions gave me the confidence throughout the process, and proved to be dead on. Mark was always pleasant/encouraging but direct. He also had high attention to detail (I’m sure he had multiple candidates but kept track of the nuances of my essays as we iterated them).

I also received very thorough interview prep recommendations from Mark and felt very prepared going in. He was generous with his time (meaning he didn’t nickel and dime if we spent a little more time) and most importantly, came across as authentic in wanting to help me achieve my best result.

His guidance helped me save a ton of time overall and again, I’d highly recommend working with Mark if you’re considering hiring SBC or any other consulting firm to help with your application.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Oxford EMBA 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Definitely connect with alumni and current students to get tips and figure out whether you're targeting the right program. Also, the Oxford EMBA application includes the usual essay types but also gives you a chance to write a much longer essay (to show how you think / analyze)... and so, take the opportunity to show different sides of yourself. Show more personality on one of the shorter essays and pair that with more analytical writing on another, for example - in other words, think about your essays holistically and how the reader might link what you're conveying across your essays. Good luck!

Anonymous – November 3, 2020 :

My journey towards an MBA is long and winding (ca. 3 years), but working with Joey at SBC finally resulted in my acceptance to my first choice program (M7). As an older international applicant with a non-traditional background, I was nervous about the experience at first. One should not underestimate the amount of work that goes into this process. I worked with Joey at SBC on two occasions – once on an hourly basis, once as part of the “All-in” service. If in doubt, definitely go for the latter. My first attempt resulted in a ding – lesson learned is that one cannot complete three sets of apps in a few weeks, although Joey’s help was immense every step of the way. Despite the odds, we arrived at a quality final deliverable. Although a major setback, Joey took the time to go through a post-mortem and we devised a new strategy. I signed up for the “all-in” service, which meant that we could spend a lot more time going over the application materials and strategy. It’s hard work for everyone involved, but in particular, for Joey. He was also immensely helpful in helping me prepare for my Zoom interview. An incredibly useful tool that SBC offers is the “flight test” of the application, which helps to uncover any last-minute mistakes (yes, I had a typo on my resume). A few weeks ago, I received my acceptance letter from my first choice school.

What did I learn from all of this? 1. Get a consultant. Especially get a consultant if your background is non-traditional. 2. Take the time to get to know the person you are working with. Joey was an absolute delight – he knows his stuff, challenges bs where he sees it, and having worked with him over the course of a year, he was the #1 champion for my candidacy. This is important! 3. SBC knows what they are doing. I spent some time looking at different firms but landed on SBC quite early on. They are responsive, they do not take you on as a client if they don’t think you have a chance. No false promises – it’s a thoroughly professional approach throughout. 4. MBA admissions is a difficult game with both incredible lows and highs. With that being said, I am convinced that I could not have done this without the guidance of Joey (my consultant), Esther (our matchmaker), and the rest of the SBC team. I am so grateful for all their help!

MBA Program & Grad Year: CBS 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Don't underestimate the work involved. Make sure you reach out to current students, alumni, attend events, etc. Not only is this the easiest way to learn about the school, but it also sends a strong message of interest and commitment.

ANONYMOUS – September 14, 2020 :

I was referred to SBC from a friend who has used their services the previous year. I spoke to Esther who understood my needs and recommended I speak with Christine Hawkins, whom she thought she would be a perfect match.

I had my intro call with Christine and being a CBS alum, she had amazing insights to share and was super friendly. She was super sharp, broke down the entire admissions process for me and gave me some super valuable feedback. After our convo, I couldn’t have asked for someone better so immediately pulled the trigger on an all-in package with Christine.

Christine was truly outstanding – there is no way I would have gotten an admit without her help. Right from the beginning, she laid out the entire plan, we discussed deadlines and off we went. Resume, Recommenders, Essays, Interviews – she really was a godsend throughout the process. She really pushed me to self-introspect, think hard about what I want to do and why. She was kept an open mind but prodded me to be better each time. My test scores weren’t the best, so Christine really helped me to make sure that the rest of my application stood out.

Regardless of my CBS admit, I am super glad to have worked with Christine since I came out much clearer on what I want to achieve in my career.

At some points of my application, I was super anxious about certain things and Christine was always there to answer my emails proving to be a great emotional support and a shoulder to lean on.

The Flight Test process with Lisa was outstanding where my entire application packet went through a mock adcomm review and gave fresh perspective and feedback on my application. My mock interview with Christine was a massive confidence booster for me before my actual one.

I could not have asked for anyone better than Christine, she is someone I’d love to stay in touch with and I would most definitely recommend her to everyone!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia Business School 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: I think it's extremely important to spend time doing deep introspection to really flush out what you want do, why you want to do it and how a particular school is best equipped to get you there

Anonymous – August 24, 2020 :

I worked with Christina, and she was amazing. She is friendly and easy to get along with, but she is also honest and candid in both her feedback and advice. She truly helped me craft the best application I possibly could that truly encapsulated me. She was able to tell what I needed to work well, and I always looked forward to our strategy sessions over the phone. I can’t recommend her highly enough, and I have already told some friends and colleagues looking to apply to business school about Christina and SBC. I got into every school that I worked with her on.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Harvard Business School 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: I think the most important part of the MBA application is where you want to be right after school and in the future. It really helped me shape the rest of my application after thinking through this question.

Anonymous – August 22, 2020 :

I worked with Yvette at SBC through the 2 school all-in package to apply to deferred admission/2+2 MBA programs while I was a college senior. From the start, I had positive interactions with SBC including my initial consultation with Sarah, who encouraged me when I was deciding whether or not I should apply. I was a little hesitant about my GRE score being high enough, and out of all the consultants I spoke with, SBC was by far the most positive and assured me not to worry about it.

After being paired with Yvette, we had an initial kickoff strategy call. From the beginning, Yvette was very pleasant to work with and guided me in the right direction to pick and choose the most relevant parts of my story. By the end of the strategy call, I had a clear direction on how to approach my essays. Throughout the application process, she challenged me to be more direct and specific and to think deeply about my long-term and short-term goals to convey them to adcom. Sometimes when I was unsure about my essay approach, she would see the big picture and give me the encouragement to keep pursuing it, and by the end, I was very satisfied with the final essays that I submitted. The flight test was also a unique part of SBC where I got objective feedback from my flight-tester Caryn, which gave me more confidence in my story and learned a few opportunities for improvement in my essay. After receiving an interview invite from HBS, Yvette continued to support me, and her help during the interview process was phenomenal! She offered plenty of tips to prepare, gave good feedback during the mock interview, helped me brainstorm how to answer tough questions, and continued to motivate me positively.

After all this, I am proud to say I was accepted to HBS 2+2!!! I couldn’t have done it without Yvette and SBC and I’m thankful to have had the SBC team supporting me!

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS 2+2 - Class of 2024 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Reflect deeply on your life and try and find common themes to connect the dots. This will help paint an authentic story. Also, if you're hesitant about applying - just take the leap of faith!! It will be so worth it.

Anonymous – August 16, 2020 :

I could not have gotten into my top choice MBA program without the help of Stacy Blackman Consulting and my fantastic consultant, Stephanie Cohn. After being rejected from all four of the MBA programs that I applied to in my initial application cycle, I knew that I needed to develop a different approach. I reached out to Stacy Blackman Consulting and I am so grateful that they paired me with Stephanie Cohn; she was the perfect match for my needs. With Stephanie’s help, I reapplied to three of the four programs that I had applied to the previous year. In my second attempt, I was accepted to all three top-20 programs (two of which are consistently top-10) with scholarships! The favorable change in my outcomes on my second attempt speaks volumes to Stephanie’s value and expertise.

Stephanie has extensive former experience in MBA admissions and she knows how to develop your personal story to make your application shine. She was fantastic at highlighting my strengths and mitigating areas that might have been perceived as weaknesses, including overcoming an average GRE score. My background is non-traditional and Stephanie was masterful at helping me to clearly articulate my path to an MBA, as well as my post-MBA goals. Additionally, Stephanie is kind, organized, and hard-working. Her supportive demeanor helps reduce some of the inherent stress of the application process.

What impressed me most was Stephanie’s responsiveness and willingness to continue to provide support long after my final applications were submitted. I ended up being waitlisted to my top-program for nine months after I submitted my application. Stephanie stuck by my side, at no additional cost, over these nine months, continuing to review numerous waitlist updates and providing strategic advice via phone and email, until I was eventually accepted. Stephanie sincerely cares that you accomplish your goals. I would recommend Stephanie and Stacy Blackman Consulting to any prospective MBA candidate that wishes to make their dreams a reality.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Duke Fuqua 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Put lots of time and effort into developing your story and clearly articulating your goals. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

Philip Munyao – August 3, 2020 :

I am an international engineer and a re-applicant. Following a rough application season in 2018 where I was dinged without interview at all 3 schools I applied to, I knew I needed to seek help from a professional consulting service.

What drew me to Stacy Blackman is the teamwork the team embodies. I had spoken to Esther Magna, when I was still contemplating an MBA and had not even taken the GMAT. She immediately reached out to me upon my request for a free consultation. She was very forthright about my candidacy and was also very understanding of my desire to not rush through a R2 2018 application despite the fact that I am an older candidate. It was this blend of honesty about my chances at some schools and the flexibility to accommodate me that made me choose SBC.

I was paired with Sherry Holland and she immediately got to work, crafting a strategy for the upcoming application season. I went for the 4 school all-in package and while the applications were gruelling, Sherry made it enjoyable and I daresay, fun! She was meticulous and organised, and kept me on task by setting deadlines for different milestones. I did not feel as harried or stressed as I had with my previous applications. She did a great job managing my recommenders, which is one of the more stressful parts of the application. She also was not afraid to tell me when I had a wrong path with regards to the essays. We had to do a lot of course correction throughout the process.

I benefited from the Flight Test, which was done by Beth Tidmarsh, who offered may useful insights that really made my application shine. The teamwork at SBC is truly unparallelled!

In the end, I was admitted to 3 of the 4 schools I applied to, all with significant scholarship! I know for sure this would not have been possible without Sherry and the extended team at Stacy Blackman.

I will be attending Tuck in the fall and I am eternally grateful to the team at SBC! I highly recommend Sherry and SBC.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Tuck School Of Business - Class of 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Take advantage of SBC's Plan Ahead! Esther Magna really helped me get my ducks in a row as to what exactly was required!

Eric Kei Young – July 28, 2020 :

I got into my target program with a 70% scholarship, this with my GMAT waived.

Having said that, I had to strengthen my application as much as I could and make sure it was polished and carefully thought through. Using an admission consulting firm always made me felt uncomfortable because it was too pricy. SBC was doing a free profile analysis, so I figured I would just try it out. Esther was excellent in my profile evaluation and genuinely made me feel that I do have strengths and I have qualities to make a great MBA student. After some serious thought, I tried out their resume editing service because although I knew it was pricy, I also knew I could submit resumes to every program application.

Long story short, I got my resume back and looking at the quality of the work and service, I knew I wanted a more comprehensive help from them. This year was the year for me to go to grad school, so I decided to set out a budget, spoke with Esther, and worked out a plan. I think I spent 1000 dollars for their service, but it was well worth it because It leads to preparing a strong application and then getting scholarships because of it.

I highly recommend their service to anyone! Its pricy for sure! but going to your target school and getting scholarships to make your MBA dreams a realistic goal, this is an investment you should definitely consider taking.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Simon Business School, Class of 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Its an investment! Set out a budget and just go for whatever service that will help you land the program you want to go into.

Chris – July 25, 2020 :

(FYI – You may find my review of same contents across a few platforms.)

With Christina and SBC’s help, I received offers from 5 schools with scholarships totaling over half-million dollars and an admit from HBS, 6 out of 7 of all schools I applied to. Coming from an over-represented population and industry, I felt really thankful for the results, and therefore it’s my great pleasure to share my story with Christina and SBC and to hopefully inspire other people with similar goals.

During our free 30-minute free consultation, which Esther arranged immediately after I reached out, Esther’s being down-to-earth and transparent won me over. Unlike other consultants, she encouraged me to pursue the very top schools and quickly pointed out my weakness with action items even if I haven’t purchased their services. Esther then matched me with Christina based on my background, which was a true blessing for me. Christina and I had an introduction call and she just impressed me with her insights, personalities, and work ethics. Feeling the click that Christina and SBC will help me succeed, I didn’t even talk to other consultants and decided to work with Christina on 4 schools – every of which led to an offer with scholarship.

Among all wonderful things about Christina, I want to highlight three aspects that make her a perfect consultant for me – 1) She knows what schools care about and how to most strategically “brand” me. Based on my past experiences, she helped me define my winning strategy from the beginning and gave me actionable advice to strengthen my profile and story in a couple of months leading to the application season. She encouraged me to pursue a few relevant leadership activities, which ended up being the core component of my application. 2) She is incredibly hard-working, has super high standards, and has great attention to detail. In editing my essays and application form responses, she didn’t just switch words or phrases. She’d structurally improve my essays with top-notch writing skills. I was awed every time my essay was returned with a full screen of edits. From months of reading and working through Christina’s feedback on my essay, my writing skills certainly improved as well. 3) She is a genuine person and cares about my applications more than I do. While I worked with her on only 4 schools, she’s always generous in giving me feedback on my other three school applications. Her advice and overall strategy played a critical role in my two other offers even without her direct help. Whenever I felt “slacking”, she always motivated me to bring out my best self.

I also want to call out the team support from SBC in addition to Christina’s amazing work. Lisa, as my flight tester, provided honest and reassuring feedback on my application two months before the submission and left me with plenty of time to act upon. Anthony, the observer of the complimentary Wharton’s TBD, helped us get comfortable with the TBD format and shared useful tips. SBC’s repository of past successful essays, included in the package, was also handy and helpful!

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early!

Silvester – July 22, 2020 :

Erin Barry was my consultant and she was phenomenal in her timing, quality of feedback, and ability to dig deeper.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia Business School '22 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early. Visit the school (especially CBS)

Anonymous – July 13, 2020 :

I truly enjoyed working with Erika on my business school applications and am so glad I chose to work with her and the rest of the SBC team. Given that I was coming from an over-represented field, I wanted to work with a consultant who would take the time to help me comb through my story and help me cherry pick the most compelling aspects of my candidacy. Erika was truly helpful in that regard. She provided invaluable advice and recommendations for the entire application process – from formatting tips to interview insights, she always had an answer for my questions, responded quickly and thoroughly, and most importantly, helped me “get out of my own head” and assemble 2 applications to my dream schools with confidence. I am thrilled to say that working with Erika helped me gain admittance to both GSB and HBS.

It was a pleasure to work with Erika and the rest of the SBC team, and I cannot recommend them highly enough!

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Trust the process and have confidence in your story!

Ben Zepfel – June 17, 2020 :

My advisor offered invaluable insights and helped me get into one of my top schools!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Each school is looking for something different in their essays - don't just copy and paste from one school to another!

Tomas – June 11, 2020 :

Excellent experience – was admitted to Oxford. Susan as my primary partner and former LBS admissions officer! Great support from flight tester, Lisa, who is a former admissions officer as well. Lots of admissions officer intel in-house. SBC definitely a safe bet as an MBA admissions partner.

MBA Program & Grad Year: 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: You don't know till you try, so give it a shot!

Anonymous – June 9, 2020 :

After talking to several admissions consultant (Personal MBA Coach, Veritas Prep, Aringo, Accepted), I decided to work with Stacy Blackman for my round 2 MBA applications due to the initial consulting session as well as the unbelievable online reviews it has in multiple respected sites. After my consultation with Bill Chionis, I asked if I could be matched up with Sherry Holland as she was a former member of the admissions team at one of my target schools.

From our very first phone call to all the other communications we had throughout the process, I just want to emphasize how great it was working with Sherry. She guided me through a step by step process on how to conquer the very stressful process of applying to business schools. Every question I had and everything I needed to know, she was always there to guide me. She knew what the admissions team will specifically look for and also advised me on what I can improve on before submitting my apps (GMAT & Quant Class). Sherry was very responsive and engaged and although I’m sure she was working with other clients at the same time, she really made it feel that my applications had her undivided attention. She was very supportive but also honest, and with this dynamic, we were able to create strong applications and a solid interview plan for all my target schools. I decided to go for the all-in-one package and without it, I can confidently say that I wouldn’t be where I am today. I can’t recommend it enough! With this package, not only did I get Sherry’s world class consulting, but I also received a flight test from Lisa Anderson (this is when I started to realize that that I had a great chance with my target schools) and all the invaluable resources that they provide to their clients (Wiki guide, school guides, interview preparation).

All in all, I applied to 5 top 15 schools, and was admitted to all of them. In addition, I received scholarship offers from all but one and equipped with that, Sherry was able to successfully help me negotiate my scholarship with my top school and increased my scholarship to 50%.

Thank you again to the whole SBC team, especially Sherry, for helping me achieve my goal of attending a top tier MBA program!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Duke Fuqua - 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start the process early, find your story and be confident in yourself.

Cliff Wang – June 3, 2020 :

For me, Wharton was always my top choice, so when I didn’t get in as a R2 applicant in the 2018-2019 cycle, I made the conscious decision to delay my MBA plans for another year – determined on getting into Wharton as a reapplicant. With sights set on applying R1 in the 2019-20 cycle, I knew that I needed to fine-tune my application strategy and revamp my submitted materials if I wanted to succeed the second time around.

After speaking with a few firms, SBC immediately stood out from the pack given the comprehensive services, honest feedback I received as well as the strong, experienced team. Esther helped make the initial consultant match and paired me with Erin, who was formerly on the CBS admissions team and a true confidante every step of the way in my application process. She was always prompt with her responses but still incredibly thorough and thoughtful, making sure to highlight my strengths and streamline my story. Along with preparing my application materials, I was stressed with the demands of my job as well as balancing a GMAT retake, so having Erin really helped me stay on track and give me peace of mind during a time of extreme anxiousness and self-doubt.

Once my materials were in good shape, Lisa, my flight tester took a comprehensive deep-dive into my application package and provided further insightful feedback. When it came to finally submitting my applications for R1, I was incredibly proud of everything that I had crafted under the support of the SBC team. I knew that my application had ultimately evolved into the strongest version that it could be, so I was extremely grateful, regardless of what the outcome would be.

When I was ultimately awarded an interviewed at Wharton, the SBC team once again was right there to support me and helped facilitate a mock team-based discussion, which is a crucial factor in the Wharton application. In the end, when I finally got admitted to Wharton, I was so incredibly thrilled and appreciative.

The MBA application process can definitely be a long and stressful journey, so must make sure that you are setting yourself up in the best way possible. Choosing SBC proved to be decisive move that led me to getting admitted into my dream school!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early and plan ahead!

Andy Gifford – June 2, 2020 :

When looking for an admissions consulting firm, I wanted to be challenged and to be held accountable. I got that feeling immediately from my consultation. My resume was torn up and critiqued in a very real way. I was not just told, “You have a great GMAT score, you’ll do great”. It was what I wanted.

I was paired with Laura, and she was absolutely fantastic. She was very reachable, and we met at least every other week throughout the process. Her feedback was very useful and honest, which helped me bring my essays and story to the level needed. She was also willing to hear feedback, as I contradicted her feedback at one point based on a blog post from the Tuck adcomm. In the end, I felt that I was supported in a way that enabled me to show my truest self. The Flight Test, a defining feature of the application, highlighted some weaknesses that we were able to tactically address. I am very thankful for Lisa, who conducted this flight test. I ultimately was accepted to Ross, Tuck, and LBS while being rejected from Sloan. Results with which I am very happy.

I did not make use of other services that SBC provides such as their liaisons and other points of contact, but they appeared very nice from whenever I spoke with them.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Ross 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early! Look deep within yourself. Being authentic to who you are will enable you to shine in your applications.

Anonymous – May 28, 2020 :

THIS IS WHAT A CONSULTANT SHOULD BE LIKE!!! Beth Tidmarsh is a FANTASTIC consultant and I couldn’t have asked for a better one! With her help, I was admitted to 5 of the 6 T10 schools I applied to; moreover, I received SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS FROM EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL ranging from 1/3 tuition to full tuition plus stipend! She also helped me strategically select which schools to apply to with her, so that I could carry over essays and other application materials to other programs on my own. As you will see below, Beth is far more than JUST a consultant, she is someone that truly cares about the people that she works with and truly desires that they be successful.

I decided to use an admissions consultant after applying unsuccessfully on my own a couple of years ago. I interviewed 4 top admissions consultancies (as ranked by P&Q) before ultimately selecting Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC). I selected SBC because of the open and friendly nature of the people I chatted with as well as the responsiveness of everyone I spoke with (which I didn’t get from all the companies/individuals I connected with). From the opening call, SBC made it clear that they wanted to get to know me and I felt an immediate kinship with Sarah Tsai. From there, she introduced me to Beth Tidmarsh—whom I also connected with very well—and the rest is history.

From the very start, Beth was happy to work with me as much or as little as I wanted. We communicated frequently via email but, whenever I asked if we could have a call instead, she was happy to accommodate, always responding to me promptly and making herself available if something urgent came up. Beth was invaluable as a coach and confidant and I would even go so far as to call her a friend (as we still keep in touch even now that my application/decision process is over). If I missed a self-imposed deadline, Beth would send me a note checking in on me but would do so in a way that was supportive and encouraging. This helped me immeasurably. Applying to MBA programs is hard and applying to six programs is almost overwhelming, but Beth helped keep me on track and take things one day at a time, focusing on individual steps and putting together an achievable timeline which we reviewed regularly. In fact, I liked working with Beth so much that I occasionally found myself staying up late to complete a portion of my application just because I didn’t want to disappoint her. (Who wouldn’t want that kind of encouragement?!) One of Beth’s greatest attributes is her ability to help you weave your story and to feel confident that you belong in the programs you are applying to, giving you the confidence to excel in interviews and other interactions with the schools you apply to.

Beth took a genuine interest in me as an individual and helped me to select schools whose culture truly resonated with me and that met my other criteria including significant scholarship opportunities and strong ties to MBB consulting. Her previous experience as Director of Admissions for Kellogg’s Full Time MBA program was quite apparent as she helped me to (1) understand how schools thought about different facets of my application (2) consider the content of my essays and short answer questions from a holistic perspective (3) craft “my story” and prepare for each school’s unique interview process and (4) negotiate scholarship offers following admission. Beth frequently corresponded with other consultants at SBC and even occasionally asked them to review different components of my application if she felt that I could benefit from an outside opinion, which I also found to be a great asset while crafting my unique applications to each school. In conclusion, I highly recommend both Beth Tidmarsh and SBC!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Darden 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Visit as many of the schools that you are thinking about applying to as possible BEFORE writing your application. Take the GMAT early so that you can focus on essays once schools release the prompts.

N/A – May 25, 2020 :

I was coming from an untraditional background and was doubtful that I could even get an interview at my top choices. Joyce helped me frame my experiences and application in a way that truly made me stand out, and showed my value to top MBA programs. She was so caring, yet honest about my weaknesses as an applicant, and helped me either turn them into strengths, or improve on them to create a powerful, unique application. She was an amazing resource with my resume review, helping me break down a complex job/industry for Admissions Officers. She helped me see how each part of my application would be perceived by an Admissions Officer, which was critical in framing my application, asking for recommendations, and even prepping for interviews. She was a God sent when it came to my story, showing me how to frame a cohesive story that was concise, yet fully showed every aspect of who I was and who I wanted to be. I came into our first call thinking that my essay was nearly done. She was honest, stating that other applicants may have the same essay. Over the course of our work together, she took a story that wasn’t very unique, and helped me turn it into a powerful one that showed how unique of an applicant I was, and how my experiences shaped me. She cared so much about my story that she would often email me with additional ideas outside of our calls! She was very attentive to the different schools that I was applying to, and truly helped me create the best application tailored to each of my top choices. I ended up getting into Wharton, GSB and HBS, and I could not have done it without the help of Joyce! When it came to making a decision on my schools, she was an AMAZING sounding board and really helped me solidify my choice. JOYCE IS AMAZING!

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Trust the process and your story!

Ivan – May 25, 2020 :

Thrilled and humbled to be admitted to multiple schools, including Duke Fuqua with an unexpected scholarship! If you are an international student dreaming to get into a T15 MBA program in the US, but new to the daunting MBA application process, then look no further than reaching out to Stacy Blackman Consulting. Also, if Duke Fuqua is high on your list, then you should really work with Sherry Holland, who is a former MBA Admissions Officer at Fuqua.

I started looking for MBA admission consultants after I have taken my GMAT. Not only was my score below the average of the schools I was aiming for, but also, I did not have a clear personal branding strategy to make my application competitive. I was also lacking outside of work involvements. In short, my profile had a number of gaps, but I was convinced that this was the right time for me to get an MBA. That was when a reliable friend referred SBC to me from her delightful and fruitful past experience. I did my due diligence first, talking to several other admission consultants (mbaMission, Admissionado, Aringo, and Fortuna), but it was clear to me that SBC was the one who was genuinely interested to learn about my stories and most passionate to help me achieve my goals.

SBC’s exceptional service lies within their team-based influence and support during the entire process, from start to finish. My first contact was with Esther, who provided the honest and realistic expectations that I needed but was willing to carefully listen to my stories and aspirations. I still remember when Esther told me that she knew who the ideal primary consultant for me would be, and until this day, I am really glad that she was able to pair me with Sherry. Sherry is simply the best! She was professional, understanding, and incredibly supportive throughout the daunting and hectic MBA application process. Though I struggled a lot with the first draft of my essays and was extremely nervous heading into the interviews, Sherry made sure that I was well prepared and confident to face those challenges. I learned a lot from Sherry and she really helped me grow both professionally and personally in many ways that I did not expect before. I still could not believe that I received interview invites from all the schools that I applied to. Along the way, I also had access to a client liaison, Bill, and also received a really helpful flight test feedback from Lisa. Essentially, a lot of admissions officer intelligence in-house ready to support you any time.

Overall, I am super grateful that I made the right decision to work with Sherry and SBC team. I am excited with the results and where I am today, and I realize that I could not achieve all this without the guidance and support from Sherry and SBC team. Highly recommend that you work with SBC too!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Class of 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Take your time to reflect and understand your preferences and cultural fit.

StanfordGSBMSx – May 23, 2020 :

When you are looking for an MBA consulting firm, you want one that has a reputation which draws on the caliber of its consultants and has the expertise and experience across the schools that you are interested to apply to.

SBC demonstrated that from the beginning for me. Just speaking with Sarah for thirty minutes, she was able to provide insights and bring her expertise to bear on my application. SBC also stood out from other firms in that they cater to candidates coming in from every stage of the application process. In my case, they were willing to partner and go “all-in” with me even though I had only three weeks remaining for the R2 deadlines.

I worked with Alex L as my SBC consultant and I could not have asked for a better MBA consultant. Alex is one of the most professional individuals I have the pleasure of working with over my 12-year career. He was personally invested through the whole process and brought his considerable skills and expertise in each step of the application. His partnership helped to showcase my accomplishments and my personal story to its fullest. Even then, just by working with him, I was able to improve on my personal communication skills and bring that back to how I communicate at work and at a personal level.

Alex was a partner whom I could completely trust and rely on throughout the application process. He was responsive and would usually reply within a few hours. He worked with me on the deadlines and was available whenever I needed him. He added a personal touch as well, checking in on me and my recovery when I fell sick during the application process. Thinking back, I’m just floored by the level of effort and passion he brought in every stage of the application. Based on his dedication, I know it is not just a job to him, but a role where he is personally invested to help you achieve your goals. Alex is someone whom I am honored to partner with and hope to continue a friendship with even after my application process.

I applied to the Stanford GSB MSx program and it was a moonshot for me given how challenging it is to enter the program and how I had only three weeks to prepare the application, obtain letters of recommendations and study for the GRE. Yet, with Alex’s help, I was able to overcome all these and obtain an admissions offer from the Stanford GSB. Thank you, Alex!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Stanford MSx 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early, showcase your genuine self in the applications

Sylvan Guo – May 22, 2020 :

TLDR; I am attending Harvard Business School this fall, and couldn’t haven’t done it without SBC & Beth! I applied to 6 schools in total, and received acceptances to 5: HBS, Wharton (scholarship), Booth (scholarship), Columbia, NYU Stern and waitlisted at Kellogg.

For some context – after tirelessly studying for the GMAT for 1.5yrs, I couldn’t get my score above 680. I ended up switching to the GRE and got a 319 (164Q, 155V), which is pretty mediocre for the schools I was applying to. I also came from a Tier 2 consulting firm, and am Asian American, so I knew that my story would be super duper important to help me with my below avg stats. Thus, I knew an MBA consultant was important to help me with tell my story – I spoke to 3 firms: 1) SBC, 2) Menlo Coaching and 3) a smaller boutique consulting firm.

First, I spoke to Menlo Coaching and they basically told me in a nicer way that my scores were not good enough to get into the schools that I wanted, and that I should try retaking and apply a year later. I had already taken the GMAT 7 times and GRE 3 times, expressed that I think I hit a ceiling, but I got the sense that they didn’t really believe in me simply because of my scores. On top of that, they didn’t list their prices on their website, which I thought was strange. My friend spoke to them and they quoted her $20k for a package, and I wasn’t comfortable with that price considering that they gave the vibe off that they didn’t even want me as a client because of my scores.

Next, I spoke to a boutique consulting firm, and while they were very nice, I didn’t get the sense that they had the resources or array of experience as a larger consulting firm. They did seem to believe in my story, but since it was only a 2 person shop, I wanted to talk to 1-2 more firms before making a decision.

I then spoke to Sarah Tsai at SBC and raised my concern about my scores. To this day I remember her saying “Don’t underestimate the power of a good story” – telling me that they have gotten people in with all types of scores and that my biggest challenge would be writing a story to differentiate me from fellow management consultants. She gave me two consultant options, and I ended up choosing Beth because her reviews were unique in that people talked about how much she went above and beyond, and also truly cared/believed in her people. This resonated with me and I can 100% attest to these attributes.

Beth from the beginning was AMAZING!! I literally cannot put into words of how great and instrumental of a partner she was throughout this emotional journey. I honestly don’t think I would have gotten into Harvard Business School without Beth’s help, because frankly I was happy to even get into one of the M7. But to get into 5 out of 6 schools is really a testament to SBC/Beth’s help as a partner.

+ Beth goes above and beyond in how meticulous and detail-oriented she is; I believe we went through 10 revisions for some of the school’s essays, and she made sure that every word and detail, whether it was in the essay or app was flawless + Beth is very knowledgeable of certain school nuances, and would tell me if there were certain things I should be aware of (for ex, she told me that Columbia really cares about interest in the school and suggested that I connect with students/visit. I immediately took PTO that month and went to visit the school, which was instrumental to talk about during my app/interview) +Beth was VERY strong at looking at my holistic story across my essays and apps; many times, she would help take a step back and make sure that my essays and apps made sense together, and would suggest edits to places that needed more meat or didn’t tie coherently +Beth helped instill a confidence in me that I honestly didn’t know existed. There were many times when I almost had an emotional breakdown and I literally said “I can’t apply to this school because I have no idea what to write for this essay” and she would bring up things that I didn’t even think about. She would always encourage me to “toot my own horn” in certain parts of my app and make sure that I presented my true self in my essays. Even throughout interviews and school visits, she was always cheering me on, and I think her support and excitement really helped me gain the confidence while I was interviewing

A very long review – but I just wanted to really give a huge shout out to SBC and Beth for all of their great work. I’m so pumped to be starting school this fall and I couldn’t have done it without them!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Harvard Business School - 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: -Try to get the best test score that you can get -Tailor your application by school and in your essays mention specific programs/initiatives/professors that set that school's offerings apart from other schools. This is your chance to impress the adcom of how much research you have done. I've found that some schools really really place a lot of emphasis on your interest in the school - Storytelling is important - read up on your favorite stories and how they narrate, or even tips on how to tell a story. At the end of the day, adcom are people who are reading these essays so try your best to make them interesting and engaging - And finally, the process can be long, arduous and emotional so try your best to be mentally resilient. There will be hard times, but also good times, so keep your head up, eye on the prize and stay laser focused.

Malavika Chugh – May 21, 2020 :

I had the pleasure of working with Kim from SBC on my business school application in 2019. I was accepted into my dream school Kellogg, with an amazingly generous scholarship and I could not have done it without Kim and the SBC team.

I decided to go for the all-in package for 4 schools and it was truly worth it. I had initial reservations for investing so much money into this endeavor, but the level of service I received was extraordinary. Months after the process, I still feel comfortable picking up the phone and chatting through decisions with Kim!

Over the course of a few months, my counselor took the time to get to know me, my story, my aspirations and helped me form a narrative to get it across to business schools in an effective manner. She was always easy to get a hold of, responsive, and gave very thoughtful feedback. She created a structure to my application process, gave me a lot of flexibility, and supported me through the rigorous and introspective experience.

I highly recommend SBC – the Test Drive feature was unique, the staff is made up of ex-admissions officers and so they know what they are talking about! My ONLY caveat would be – the marginal utility after paying for 5 schools diminishes. You can do the 6th school by yourself, or purchase an hourly package like I did!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Kellogg School of Management, 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Think hard about what YOU are looking for, instead of what the rankings tell you. This is a long-term investment you are making in yourself, so give yourself time to flesh out your goals.

Michael – May 21, 2020 :

I was referred to SBC by a friend who worked with them on his successful Wharton MBA application, and I was very satisfied with my experience – everyone has been easy to work with and very responsive. I wanted to work with Stephanie as my primary consultant because she had direct experience with the admissions process and committees at my two top choice schools, Duke Fuqua and UW Foster. She not only knew how to advise on MBA applications generally, but also what my top choices were looking for specifically. And, as an EMBA candidate, I also wanted to work with someone who had experience with EMBA programs, so I chose Bill as my client liaison because he is an expert in EMBA programs. On top of all that, my Flight Tester, Beth, provided critical guidance based on her experience as an admissions director at a top MBA program. Thanks in large part to all of their collective support, feedback, and advice, I was admitted to both Fuqua and Foster.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Duke Fuqua 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Focus on fit as much as, if not more than, just the ranking of the school. By fit I mean both culturally as well as w/r to specializations - e.g., some schools might have strengths in Finance vs Marketing (or vice versa), so that should be considered along with their overall reputation.

Manfredi – May 20, 2020 :

I will talk about my experience with John with SBC. Before working with John, I worked with a different consultant of a different firm and it was a disaster. I was extremely skeptical about the full school package (given the cost) and assumed it was not worth it, but ultimately, I decided to sign up. BEST DECISION EVER MADE. I was offered to work with John since we had some traits in common. John is a rare gem: he was more of a friend than a consultant. He cheered me up, pushed me across the finishing line, always being kind and generous with his time and dedication. Response time: 11/10, I don’t know how to better describe this. Emotional intelligence: he must have a PhD in helping others My profile is good, but it is not stellar (low GMAT), but still, I made it into two top 10 schools and waitlist from the other two (5 total). I highly recommend working with John, no matter the cost.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Stern 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Learn about the school you are trying to get in, you may discover that it is not where you want to end up. Pick schools that will make you a better person/professional.

Varun Joshi – May 20, 2020 :

In May-June 2019, I talked to a few other consultants before deciding to work with Sherry from SBC – the one big reason for that was her objective analysis of my previous applications (I had applied to a few schools in 2017 without a consultant and had gotten rejected then). She focused on my weaknesses right from that first call and gave me workable ways to strengthen them.

She was also very encouraging throughout the process and provided constant support. Her work ethic is inspiring (prompt reply on essay drafts; objective feedback focused on what the different adcomms want; interview preps even at the last minute – though I would advise against that; constant encouragement). I got through 2 of the 3 schools that I applied to and was waitlist-ed in the 3rd and I am very grateful to her for working with me to achieve these great results!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Michigan Ross 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Dream big - go for the schools that you relate with and want to be in (you will work the hardest for those); Enjoy the process - talk to people from these schools, make new friends; Be honest/authentic; Get a consultant if you feel that will help - this process can sometimes be confusing especially if you are coming from an over-represented pool and need help in standing out

Jay – May 20, 2020 :

Stacy Blackman was absolutely great. I worked with Margaret and she made the process so much easier. She had a plan from day one, was available whenever I needed her, and kept me on track through the whole process. She was great at encouraging me, and patiently working through all my ideas untill she was completely satisfied we had identified the right story and she was also objective and helped me explain weaknesses in my profile. I got admits in 4schools and a waitlist in 1 of the 6 schools I applied to with her help.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Yale2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Pick schools you relate to and are excited by not just ones you think you'll get admitted to. Have your story straight in your own head, demonstrate enthusiasm, and authenticity in your materials. Relax, and enjoy the process!

SBC was helpful though it really depends on the consultant you get so be sure to read the bios and be selective as you do your initial call. It’s expensive but they are good at keeping you on track and providing relevant and tailored advice/guidance.

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Use your your personal statement as an opportunity for honest reflection. For schools, be sure to visit and talk to friends.

SP – May 19, 2020 :

I had a great time working with SBC and my primary consultant, Bill Chionis, through the entire application process for HBS (admitted) and Stanford (waitlisted).

As an older candidate with a decade of experience, the first thing that stood out when I spoke to Bill was how well he was able to articulate the potential weaknesses in my application and how I could work through them. That contrasted pretty heavily with other consultants who I had spoken to, who were generally impressed by my resume and story and didn’t provide enough constructive feedback in our initial consultations.

Bill walked me through the nuances of the different schools and brainstormed with me about different ways in which I could present my story. He was always available and provided quality and prompt feedback, which ultimately led to two solid applications.

Separately, I found it extremely valuable that SBC was able to connect me with consultants that were provided additional perspectives. My GSB application was “flight tested” by Caryn, a former GSB admissions officer, and my mock interviews were with alums from HBS and GSB.

Thank You Bill & SBC!

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start very early

P – May 18, 2020 :

Very good consultant with strong credentials and consistent advice

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Applied to Wharton, HBS, Stanford, Booth and Columbia

Vanessa Kwong – May 18, 2020 :

It was expensive but got the job done. My admissions consultant was not the kindest, she was condescending but once again, she was efficient and got me into a school that I shouldn’t have gotten into based on my GPA and GMAT scores.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton Grad 2019 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Get to know the school well before you apply - meaning go for a visit and talk to at least 5 students to get a vibe of culture!

DEE – April 13, 2020 :

Words will never be enough to describe my experience with SBC, Esther, and Susan.

I decided to be thorough in my approach to finding a consultant, speaking to several companies. I was specifically looking for a company that was established (i.e. high success rates) and structured (i.e. clear process), yet had personalized attention (i.e. are there too many people?). I concluded that there were endless companies that fulfilled only one of the criteria, but only SBC was able to meet both of them.

The next step to my process was having an initial call with Esther, who “matches” you with a consultant given your profile and goals. Esther has this rare gift of being able to assess your profile in mere seconds. What I appreciated most was that Esther gave supportive yet objective advice. Remember, you do not want to spend time and money for nothing! Thanks, Esther!

Having been “matched” with my consultant, I then had the amazing opportunity to work with Susan. As a global citizen, I particularly admired Susan’s widespread work experience from the U.S. (i.e. CBS) to European markets (i.e. LBS). From this experience alone, Susan has this “automatic” credential of being able to work with diverse applicants, ranging from traditional and non-traditional career paths, to various personalities, ages, and backgrounds. I know that’s what I admired most about Susan!

The biggest insight — aside from fantastic advice in every step of the process — was Susan’s ability to complement my weaknesses without ever me recognizing or surfacing them. I’m quite organized, yet there were times wherein I didn’t realize I was lagging behind in certain aspects of the application process. I also have an infinite number of ideas and thoughts, resulting in sometimes over-complicating or confusing messaging. However, Susan was quick to point out rational solutions and more importantly, the rationale behind them. I was also extremely familiar with participating in school events, yet Susan is brilliant when it comes to knowing insider information into a school’s communication method, frequency, and strategies.

Most importantly, Susan can look at things holistically when you’re laser focused in the process. Firstly, I was dual pathing my test re-take and application process, resulting in juggling numerous priorities. With application deadlines creeping up, Susan surfaced a modified possible test strategy with me, ultimately allowing me to realize a target score. She was the last person who messaged me before entering the test center and the first person I texted upon seeing those numbers on screen. I was also juggling interview invites in very different locations, yet Susan emphasized an optimal way to ensure I could maximize the entire interview experience.

At the end of the day, this entire MBA application process is no doubt extremely stressful, overwhelming, and complex. It takes a true mentor, someone who has your best interest at heart, someone who’s passionate about making a difference in others’ lives, and an expert in the process to be with you every step of the way. Susan was all those things and more; she believed in my story and credentials when no one else did. Through her guidance, I received two offers (thus far) with scholarships, which I didn’t even apply for or expect. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this was all possible. And, when I get on that graduation stage, I’ll be thinking of how forever grateful I’ll be because of Susan.

More power to SBC and Susan!

MBA Program & Grad Year: 2020 Intake Your MBA Application & School Advice: Stop studying once you feel as if you've hit your maximum / best potential! Once satisfied, begin the application process.

Darden2022 – April 6, 2020 :

MBA Program & Grad Year: Darden2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Apply in Round 1 for the best chance at fellowship/scholarships and really look for the best cultural fit. Visit all schools you want to apply to and have meaningful conversations with at least 2-3 people at each school before you write your application.

Ayanna – April 4, 2020 :

I truly enjoyed working with Meghan from Stacy Blackman consulting. She was extremely knowledgeable about the Wharton admissions process and provided a thorough review of my resume and MBA goals essay. Even though I had already been working with an MBA prep program to prepare my application, Meghan was able to cal out key weaknesses in my application that had previously gone unnoticed. I only purchased three hours of Meghan’s services, and would definitely recommend her to anyone applying to Wharton. I was admitted to Wharton with a great scholarship, in large part due to Meghan’s advice and feedback.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Begin studying for the GMAT or GRE as early as possible! It's difficult to focus on your essays when the stress of getting your dream test score is looming over you.

Lane Wang – February 20, 2020 :

I thought the information I got in formulating my essays were very helpful, especially since I came from a non-traditional background and really needed to sharpen my narrative.

MBA Program & Grad Year: NYU Stern 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: The earlier you start preparing the better

Camilla Lucas – January 2, 2020 :

I highly recommend Beth and the entire team at SBC. Beth was my primary partner throughout the business school application process; I was ultimately accepted to Darden, Kellogg, Stern, Ross, and Fuqua (with a scholarship!). Based upon my numbers (3.3 GPA, 700 GMAT, not a particularly strong quant background), receiving this many admissions offers at such great schools is something that I truly didn’t think was possible for me.

I was referred to SBC through a personal connection and, following an initial conversation, knew that it was the right choice for me. Beth and the rest of the SBC team struck a perfect balance between providing constructive criticism on my school choices and essays while always being immensely supportive. I was constantly impressed by Beth’s deep knowledge of the MBA application process and schools. I also appreciated SBC’s team-based approach. I always felt that I was getting the most accurate answers possible to my questions.

I was also incredibly impressed by Beth’s ability to help me to elevate my admissions essays, while ensuring that my personal voice was always coming through. We did a mock interview which was very helpful and played a large part in my success in the interviews to come. Beth also pushed me to take “Math for Management” which strengthened my application through supplementing my minimal quant background and helped me to prepare for business school next year.

Lastly, amidst the incredibly stressful and daunting MBA admissions process, Beth was an amazing partner. I feel that she truly cared about me and went out of her way to build our relationship. She has also helped me to think beyond rankings and to really ascertain my “fit” at each of the schools that I applied to.

I’m so thankful that I made the decision to go with SBC and Beth!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Class of 2022, undecided where I'll be attending (accepted to Darden, Kellogg, Stern, Ross, Fuqua) Your MBA Application & School Advice: Leverage the resources and expertise that SBC and Beth have to offer.

Chris – October 9, 2019 :

Very helpful team, always there to answer questions.

MBA Program & Grad Year: University of Texas at San Antonio, 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Apply ASAP.

Wharton 2020 – October 3, 2019 :

Pretty good, I only used them for essay review and paid for the two hour minimum, which to my memory was roughly $600. I also had my consultant review the two recommendations. I got a lot for the two hours of work (tips directly to my recommenders and two reviews of my essays).

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Connect with as many people in admissions and alums as you can, and include those connections in your essays.

Katrina Zheleznyak – October 3, 2019 :

Helpful insight through the whole process, before during and after!

MBA Program & Grad Year: NYU Stern 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Be genuine - they can tell!

Boston PE Admit – September 26, 2019 :

Stacy Blackman had the perfect mix of programs and ad-hoc vs. unlimited engagement and pricing options for what I was looking for. My admissions consultant (Dione Chen) was outstanding! Couldn’t have asked for a better person to provide insider knowledge on what admissions groups are looking for and as a result how to shape my story.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Stanford GSB - 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Be very thoughtful about and catalog your prior experiences / what makes you unique before you engage with consultants and start writing essays. The best version of your story won't always jump off of a LinkedIn profile or resume, and being reflective through writing was in my view the best launching platform for high quality applications.

John Drago – September 26, 2019 :

Excellent offering! Pair you with former admissions consultant and flexible in terms of the number of hours you spend. I used ~2 hours per school, from essay to interview prep.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Stanford GSB - 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Find your story first, and dont rush this part.

Anne – September 12, 2019 :

As an applicant, I went to a top-tier liberal arts college, had a 710 when I hired SBC (a 720 by application time), and work for a well-known investing shop, but have two low quant grades from college and am on the younger side. The turnaround from learning about the world business school application consultants to enlisting Stacy Blackman Consulting was really short for me. A handful of friends who graduated the year before me in college were all accepted to business school in Round 1 of the last cycle, and they shared a tool: a great SBC consultant. I did my due diligence on a few other firms, but ended up asking Bill Chionis at SBC to connect me with three Columbia-experienced SBC consultants (I had visited the campuses of five schools, and knew that CBS was my top choice). I “interviewed” the three, and a problem arose: all three were amazing and raring to go. Bill gave me great advice with how to pick: choose the consultant who you’d like to communicate wi th for 6+ months. I asked to sign a one school contract with Christine for an application to CBS, and am incredibly grateful for her.

Christine went to CBS and knows how to navigate the intricacies of CBS’ application like the back of her hand. But Christine’s biggest impact on me as an applicant was not in the essay editing or in the interview preparation, but rather in how she suggested ways for me to become a better applicant to any competitive business school. She pushed me to retake the GMAT to increase my quant score and take an online Berkeley course to buttress my profile, and helped me to figure out my narrative as a CBS applicant. Christine worked with me from January to July, and I was accepted ED to CBS (one and done!). Looking back, it was so easy to go back and forth with her via email and telephone calls about brainstorming for essays, resume revisions, and the process of preparing my recommenders. She knew how I would be different and interesting to CBS’ AdCom, and recommended aspects to highlight. She gently prodded me to work really hard, but it never seemed like a drag to do any of the tasks — she explained to me why each was important, and I knew that if I gave the SBC “formula” my all, I would produce the best application I could.

Christine answered each of my questions (“how do I answer this question on the CBS application form,” “what shirt should I wear with which suit to the interview,” “what do you think about this email to my recommender to remind him about the deadline,” “should I mention that I met this person at a CBS event,” etc.) earnestly and swiftly. She always asked about how I was doing in the process, and truly rooted for me the whole way. In the end, the process with Christine far exceeded what I thought it would be like to hire a business school consultant, and I will continue to sing her praises (and SBC’s) from the rooftop to friends who are thinking about applying next cycle.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia Business School 2022 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Visit each school that you plan to apply to, and make note of who you talk to (admissions, student, etc.) and what you discussed. If you can’t visit the campuses, participate in virtual activities and try to meet students/alums through your network.

workingfor2020 – September 5, 2019 :

I got 2 full rides, 3 acceptances. I am so beyond ecstatic at the results of my partnership with Yvette and the SBC team! I decided on SBC after reading many outstanding reviews and seeing the results of a friend who used SBC. I was matched based on my nontraditional background with Yvette Romero, a true gem!, and my main consultant who helped me identify target schools, refine my voice through my essays, and ace the interviews. Yvette was thoughtful, encouraging, and incisively realistic while making me laugh through an otherwise stressful process. Throughout our partnership, she asked me questions that highlighted aspects of my profile that I would have never considered to be special. Her advice on how to frame my applications to appeal to adcomm revealed deep insight into the admissions process, and as a result, even small tweaks to my application felt like home runs. Her deep knowledge of MBA admissions ultimately empowered me with a road map to strategically navigate those long months.

What felt most critical to me in our partnership and something that I will always be thankful for is that Yvette gave me the confidence I needed to overcome a low GPA. She taught me how to truly and unabashedly tell my unique story and highlight my strengths. She is a gifted listener and story teller, and she imbues you with these same qualities- asking the right questions until you arrive at the key story for your application to showcase. And because she is truly invested in your success and believes that you deserve your own best work, she will work painstakingly with you until you get it right! I am so proud when I read my essays and think on my interviews, because they feel like “me”. Yvette really helped my essence shine.

I received THREE acceptances from top schools, including TWO FULL SCHOLARSHIPS – one from a reach school I hadn’t considered until Yvette told me to go for it! As someone with a nonprofit background and the hurdle of a low GPA, I know the price looks a little steep but it is an incredibly worthwhile investment that will pay dividends! I am thrilled to be attending a top business school in the fall and regret nothing about my SBC experience. I cannot recommend Yvette enough.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Tuck School of Business 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Yvette pushed me to work hard, be honest, and be proud of what I had accomplished. I have loved working with her, and if you make the wonderful decision to do the same, I know you will, too!

MJM – April 18, 2019 :

Working with Caryn at Stacy Blackman has truly changed the course of my future; if I had hired another consultant, I would not have gotten into a top tier MBA program! Going into to this application cycle, I knew I had major weaknesses to mitigate. Caryn was there with me every step of the way; from GMAT re-takes, to attempting the GRE, to suggesting additional coursework to take, to strategically editing essay drafts and finally sharing in my excitement when the admits started rolling in, I could not have gotten into school without her support and matter-of-fact feedback. I highly recommend Caryn – and Stacy Blackman’s services – to anyone who is dedicated to getting into a competitive MBA program and facing their weaknesses head-on to do so.

MBA Program & Grad Year: 2021, Accepted to 2 Top 20 Schools, Waitlisted at 3 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Listen to feedback (from friends, family, consultants), but don't let that feedback get in the way of who you are and how you're representing yourself to the adcomm. Remember that no one is perfect, and the best you can do is be aware of and mitigate your weaknesses!

Lynn – April 7, 2019 :

I chose to use SBC because it came highly recommend from a friend (Columbia 2020).

I worked with Meghan from SBC to refine my “story.” I think I had the credentials to get in to a top business school, but I’m not sure I would have been able to tell my story as well without Meghan’s help. She helped me to weave my varied experiences together, articulate “why MBA” and “why Wharton” responses, and to frame it all in the context of my career goals. As a former Wharton Admissions Officer, Meghan knew what the admissions committee would be looking for in my application and she knew how I could improve on weaker points.

While Meghan was my primary point of contact, SBC had an entire team available to support me through the process. Before I submitted my application, Beth, a former admissions officer, “flight tested” my application and provided final feedback, and then after I received an interview, another former admissions officer facilitated a mock team based discussion.

SBC was there for me from beginning to end. I would highly recommend SBC as your MBA consultant!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: 1) Start early. I took the GRE ~3 years before deciding to apply and I started to prepare my application material ~6 months before they were due. 2) Each of the top MBA programs is truly unique, so do your research to figure out which is the best fit for you. 3) Reach out to current students and alumni that you know to gain a better insight on the program and post-MBA experience. Everyone will be willing to talk to you. 4) To the extent possible, visit the schools before applying. This will not only demonstrate your interest to the admissions committee, but also will help you figure out if the school's culture is the right fit for you.

Youjia Tian – April 2, 2019 :

On March 2019, I finally received the MBA offer from my dream school – Tuck School of Business. I am very excited about the upcoming business school life and I want to take this chance to thank my MBA consultant, Christine Hawkins, from Stacy Blackman. For those who plan to apply business schools, I highly recommend Stacy Blackman Consulting to you. My application schedule was tight since I did not get my GRE score out until mid-November, so it only gave me less than one and a half month to finish my Round 2 application materials for 4 business schools. I really didn’t have time to talk with different MBA consulting agencies on the street and understand the services they can provide due to my tight application schedule, so I directly signed up the hourly services with Stacy Blackman Consulting since it is one of the most prestigious MBA consulting firms. Once I provided basic information (scores, job info, school I plan to apply, etc.) on Stacy Blackman’s website, they quickly matched me with Christine because she has helped many candidates receive offers from all 4 schools I planned to apply. Christine reached out to me within 24 hours after I signed up the hourly services. Christine sent me a big questionnaire with questions asking my past stories, leadership experiences, hobbies and careers first to understand my background. I love this approach since it promoted my self-awareness and made me recall a lot of interesting stories that I can apply in the application essays. After reviewing my answers, Christine and I set up a 30-minute call to go over my application strategies. Based on my questionnaire answers and application strategy, Christine and I worked closely to formulate all my application essays, resumes, video statements, etc. She encouraged me dig deeper into my stories and was very patient with my questions. The detailed reviews and comments she provided always contained great insights and inspired me to think differently. After I received interview invites from schools, Christine also set up 4 sessions with me on skype for mock interview. Christine is CBS alumni and used to be the alumni interviewer, so she knows what kind of candidates that business schools want to see in the interview. In every session, she recorded detailed notes about my answers and provided immediate feedback regarding my communication skills and approaches to the interview questions. These sessions helped me build confidences and do well in my MBA interviews. In addition, I was applied from China so, at the beginning, I was worried about the communication between me and my consultant since we have huge time differences. However, Christine and other Stacy Blackman employees always responded my email in a timely manner and made the communication very smoothed. If you are international students applying outside the US, you don’t need to worry about the time differences when choosing Stacy Blackman Consulting. They have plenty of experiences with international candidates and have experienced admission consultants based in varies locations around the world. Overall, I really enjoyed my experiences with Christine and I can’t imagine receiving the offer from my dream school without her help.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Tuck School of Business (2021) Your MBA Application & School Advice: I think start early is very important since it gives you enough time to prepare your stories and reduces burden on your shoulder. I only got less than 1.5 month for my R2 and it got very stressful when the deadlines approached.

MBA2021 – March 30, 2019 :

I worked with one of Stacy Blackman’s consultants on an hourly basis. I think the most helpful piece was talking someone else through my story to ensure that it put forward my best case for why business school was right for me. It was helpful to have the consultant ask questions to ensure that I was able to articulate my goals and aspirations with confidence. In addition, it was also helpful to get a second set of eyes on my essays and have them give feedback on how well I was articulating my goals.

MBA Program & Grad Year: CBS 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Make sure you take a lot of time to choose your schools carefully by researching their website, attending school events and talking to alumni. Each school really has it's own personality and it's important to find one that fits your goals and personality. It's a huge investment so it's really important to make sure that you find one where you can grow both personally and professionally.

Matthew0628 – January 28, 2019 :

Stacy Blackman was great. I worked with Carrie to get a second pair of eyes on my Columbia essays. She provided great feedback not only on the content, but also in refining my overall story and approach. She was very responsive over email and highly accommodating when scheduling calls. I would highly recommend her as well as the overall service for anyone looking to get help when crafting their application.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start doing research early and have a solid reason for wanting to attend a program. Tons of people apply to Harvard / Stanford because "it's such a great name to have on the resume", but this comes off as facetious to admissions and these apps are quickly dinged. Take time to really look into programs and figure out what really speaks to you.

SK – October 26, 2018 :

In all honesty, I am not confident I would have gotten into Fuqua without the help of Stacy Blackman Consulting (particularly my consultant, Christina Fu). She was truly wonderful to work with from the beginning and incredibly accommodating of my tight Round 2 deadlines. Both the time crunch and volume of applications made me a difficult client, but Christina was a champion. She helped me throughout the process and supported me through both the work and stresses that come with MBA applications. Highly recommend Stacy Blackman and highly recommend Christina Fu.

carolineh – October 24, 2018 :

I applied in Round II for admission to the Class of 2020, gaining acceptance to HBS, Wharton and Kellogg, with a waitlist at CBS, thanks to Caryn’s extraordinary help and guidance. I am thrilled to be attending my dream school, HBS, this fall.

Caryn, who worked at Kellogg’s Admission Office before starting her career as a consultant, was a great mentor through the application process from school selection to interview prep. She truly wanted to get to know who I am and ensure the career goals expressed in my application were clear and credible. Her judgment was excellent, and I found myself relying her feedback more than that of friends and family early on. For someone with enormous nerves about “aiming too high,” the GMAT, essay-writing, and interviews – she was a guiding light! I also appreciated her quick rounds of feedback, including several in the days before applications were due. Overall– I found her to be a warm, honest and incisive coach for the months we worked together.

I would also commend Stacy Blackman as a firm for their tremendous resources, above and beyond the consultant relationship. Esther Magna and the administrative team made on-boarding with the firm a breeze. The wiki was invaluable, especially for looking at past successful resumes and essays. The “flight test” with a top-business school alumni, in which your full application is read end-to-end, was a helpful exercise. And when interviews came, the access to a Wharton mock interview with other clients of the firm, special 1:1 coaching for HBS, practice interview with Caryn w/ feedback, and online practice tools were a lifesaver.

I think Stacy Blackman does not so much as “steer” your application as give you all the tools and answers to make you come through at your best. What I presented in my final applications was my voice and my experience, informed by the feedback and reactions of numerous ex-Admissions officers. It was clearer and more confident than what I would have written alone.

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS, Class of 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: I'd recommend SBC and Caryn in particular highly. Do not hesitate to request her when you give SBC a call!

dh90 – October 22, 2018 :

I was a reapplicant (dinged at 4 schools, only 1 interview), and Margaret Strother was my consultant for the six schools I applied to (2 of which were reapplications). She’s a fantastic writer, confidant, and advisor. She does MBA application consulting full time, so she devotes all her energy into understanding the changes and demands the AdCom have of successful applicants. She was very conscientious in laying out how difficult and challenging the process would be while still making sure I kept my morale and confidence up. I cannot stress enough that working with a consultant is a two-way street; the consultant is not there to write your essay for you and they can only do their best work when you do yours. At the start, Margaret reviewed my prior applications and my prior recommendations, figuring out where I needed improvement. We spent a good deal of time figuring out an overall strategy and we spent a lot of time batting around ideas for essays. We had six to seven drafts of each essay, and she was not afraid to say that the story wasn’t working and that we should rebuild from the ground up. She was also very sharp when identifying when my drafts for one school were too close to essays for another. When three of the schools had deadlines within a day of each other, she was extremely hardworking, turning around essay comments in very short order. Margaret was also easily available to answer non-essay related questions, which was very helpful with a number of the application forms. When interviews hit, she was able to give me great pep talks and advise me on a general theme for the interviews. I also used the SBC flight test to tighten up my application for one of the schools, and the SBC Wiki was very useful as one-stop shop for general information and deadlines. The school guides were a nice complement as well. With all this fantastic support, I came away with 5 admits (1 school I withdrew from after getting to the interview stage), 2 of which gave me substantial scholarships.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Booth, Class of 2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Invest in hiring a firm the first time so you don't get stuck with one year delay as I did.

MPD1323 – October 15, 2018 :

Stacy Blackman Consulting’s approach and team were outstanding, and I would highly recommend them to anyone considering business school. Specifically, I worked with Laura Nelson, and she was an incredible help through the entire process. I purchased the “All-In” package, and while it was a considerable investment, it was definitely money well spent.

My application was rushed, as I did not start applying until late January. Despite that, Laura and the rest of the SBC team worked with me from the very beginning to find the best fit schools and develop a strategy to navigate our short time span. Laura really helped me articulate my career aspirations and was also very effective at bringing to light and expanding on certain parts of my resume that would resonate with the admissions committee. Laura was very attentive, responsive, and knowledgeable, and I’m incredibly appreciative for all her hard work.

I ultimately applied to two top 7 schools, both of which were “reaches”, and I was admitted into one and waitlisted (unsuccessfully) at the other.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Ross, Class of 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: There is no doubt that I would not have been as successful if not for Laura and SBC. Working with them was a great experience, and I’m confident that anyone else that hires them will feel the same way.

dwenzeo – October 14, 2018 :

I started by reading reviews and calling several companies, looking for the best “fit” consulting firm. After several days of research, I narrowed my search to two consulting firms: SBC and mbaMission, setting up initial consultations with both firms. My stats were slightly under the ballpark for the M7 schools, but I thought I had a compelling story. It was important to have a consulting company help me hone my unique story, a difficult task with only 300-500 words per essay. After both conversations, I felt a strong connection with the team at SBC. They exuded confidence, and took a real look at my background during the initial consult (some firms provide only minimal advice during the free consultation). SBC provides several potential consultants, and you select the one that best suits you and your background. My consultant was Margaret, who helped me excel during the application process. She became a true partner very early on and helped me reach my near impossible dream of being admitted into HBS.

In every aspect of the application, from the intense research to the hundreds of edits, I saw tremendous growth in my essay writing and in my application package. Through SBC, I was able to shape a genuine narrative about my background and my future goals. On the day I received my HBS acceptance, I called my family and then immediately called Margaret, a testament to the strong partnership we developed during the application process.

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS, Class of 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: SBC is a partnership that prepares you like no other consulting firm. From the moment I joined to the moment I received my acceptance to HBS, I know I sent my best application to each school because of my relationship and partnership with SBC and Margaret.

Ziad – October 5, 2018 :

Long story short: Working with Christine Hawkins was the best thing I’ve done in a long time.

I had free consultations with three MBA counsellors in 2015 after graduation and taking my GMAT. Having scored a 730 in my GMAT, with strong academics and a classic “pre-MBA” job, I was very unimpressed with what I had heard and decided to apply on my own without an advisor. That approach failed miserably, as I saw my peers get admitted to their dream schools while I was handed rejection after rejection. This year, I decided to reapply and sought the advice of a counsellor, Christine Hawkins (after filtering through several consultations with other companies). Christine’s advice was always on point, both in terms of broader strategy and direction of the application as well as tactical advice (e.g. who to talk to on campus, which clubs to reach out to, etc.). Looking back, I kick myself for not working with her last time around because I could have been a year ahead in life.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia Business School 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: GET HELP! It is a bad idea to go at this alone. Find someone who you have good chemistry with and someone who you feel will not only add value to your applications but also understands your background and wants to see you succeed.

Anonymous – July 30, 2018 :

I had a fantastic experience with my Erika Olsen, through Stacy Blackman Consulting (all-in package). As a bit of background on myself, I majored in Economics, had 2 years of work experience at a consulting firm, and aspired to start my own ed tech company after school. However, I was worried that I would look to AdComm like every other white, well-educated consultant and I didn’t stand a shot. Erika convinced me otherwise and helped the unique elements of my personality, story, and goals shine through. She reviewed my entire application – not just the essays, but also my resume, data form, recommendation letters etc. – and squeezed out every opportunity to differentiate myself. She has a direct working style, which I appreciated, and used my time well. Erika was instrumental in getting me into MIT Sloan and, while I decided now was not the right time for school, I was thrilled to have had the option. If I apply to school again, I certainly hope to work with Erika again too.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Admitted to MIT Sloan Your MBA Application & School Advice: Don't get lost on a tangent, opining on your big ideas for how the world should be - that will come after school - focus on you and what you've done to mould the world you're in

James – July 25, 2018 :

I utilized Stacy Blackman Consulting, (I chose the All-In package), and it was one of the best investments I’ve ever made! Not only did I get into both schools I applied to, but I got into my dream school, USC Marshall School of Business, (with a scholarship). I worked with Amy for over a year and she gave me lots of practical advice on how to strengthen my application.

For me, writing the application essays was the most challenging part. Amy’s advice on how to both approach the essays and her help with the over half a dozen revisions we did was invaluable. She also motivated and helped drive me to do my best on every aspect of the application, including improving my GMAT score and adding extracurriculars. The flight test, which is offered by Stacy Blackman Consulting, (in which other consultants review your application and essays) is another excellent example of how effective their approach is.

The application process is really a journey and it’s important to start early. I would highly recommend Amy and Stacy Blackman Consulting as their expertise and track record speaks for itself. I truly believe that my applications wouldn’t have been as successful as they were without their help. Again, I’d highly recommend their service!

MBA Program & Grad Year: USC Marshall School of Business / 2021 Your MBA Application & School Advice: My advice is to start the application process early. There's a lot one can do to strengthen their application within the year following the application deadline. Also, working with a consultant is an absolute a game-changer in terms of boosting the overall quality of the application.

Vi Y – June 27, 2018 :

I applied to four top B-schools in 2016, on my own, and was dinged from all of them without interview. After this difficult outcome, I decided to investigate consulting services to get an idea of how my application could be improved the following year. I spoke to a few other services, including the MBA Exchange and mbaMission. In the end, I decided to go with Stacy Blackman because of how helpful my free consultation call with Bill Chionis was. I did a ding analysis with Caryn Altman. Her feedback was so direct and actionable that I decided to do an all-in package with her for a number of schools. Throughout the daunting process, Caryn’s expertise and support was extremely valuable. Caryn was efficient, direct, friendly, and supportive. I applied only to top 10 programs, and stubbornly didn’t add any ‘safety’ schools to my list, despite my scary results from the previous year. When I asked Caryn what my chances were, she candidly told me that it would be a stretch for many of them. Despite the odds, Caryn worked with me to ensure that I had a solid application and that I could showcase myself in the best possible light. She laid out a strategy which allowed me to understand how all the different parts of my application worked to tell a cohesive story. The All-In Package is quite pricey, but if you feel lost with the application process, I’d say it’s worth it (recall that I had come off four brutal dings!). Especially because of my test scores, we knew that the rest of my application, especially essays, had to *really* shine. I consider myself a strong writer, but even so, Caryn had tons of feedback on my essays. The mock interview gave me a boost of confidence, and when I did my first real interview I was surprised by how similar the questions were. The flight test feedback that I got from Lisa Anderson was very helpful. Another benefit to the all-in was that I could ask Caryn any general MBA questions I had (ex. interview-related etiquette, what to do when I get a confusing email during the application process, etc). I also did a mock interview with Erika Olson for HBS, which was excellent, and helped me prepare correctly for the unique HBS interview. I applied to seven schools in round 1, got interviews with four, and ultimately received offers of admission from two. I am happy to say that I will be attending HBS next fall. It wouldn’t have been possible without Caryn’s assistance – thank you to Caryn and the rest of the SBC team!

MBA Program & Grad Year: HBS class of 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Engage an experienced consulting firm that has a team of experts including former Admissions Officers. Don't sell yourself short without this help, as that costed me an entire year delay in my career path.

haynej10 – February 12, 2018 :

I worked with Caryn from Stacy Blackman Consulting to apply R1 in 2017 after having unsuccessfully applied to five schools in the first round of the previous year. Caryn was on top of every detail and made sure that we stuck to our deadlines, which was critical applying to five programs no matter how far in advance we started our planning. She absolutely has a mind for this work and was able to position my experience to fit with each individual school. Most importantly though, she helped me think through where I had been and where I really wanted to go and that made my application all the more authentic and genuine. In the end, I got accepted into Columbia! Thanks Caryn!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia Business School / 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Make incremental deadlines for yourself and stick to them. The process goes faster than you think it will.

Kaye – January 18, 2018 :

Sending over the highest praise for the Blackman team. I learned a lot, worked hard, and was admitted to 3 of my 4 schools. I loved working with Lisa, a former Admissions Officer, and her style was a great fit for me. She was very confident and strategic about how to use my different themes and stories and that gave me confidence too. She never made me feel like I was pestering her with too many questions and that’s huge because I did have a lot of questions. She was responsive, very timely and very cool! We also pulled in others to guide us. I also realized all that prep work with the application helped me to start Kellogg with focus and productivity. The 40K scholarship was a fantastic outcome too. On a scale from 1 to 10, I give them a 12!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Kellogg MBA/ 2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early. Use an experienced consultant. Do research.

L.C. – January 8, 2018 :

I am an international applicant with a non-traditional background. I applied to several programs last year, but failed to get admittance. Before approaching SBC, I did not have a good understanding of my strengths or feasible career goal. My journey started with a 30-min phone call with Esther for an initial evaluation. Esther has the talent and acumen to quickly summarize the main issues in my previous applications and point out the key theme to draft my story and career goal. Her suggestions became the foundation of my application strategy. She is the reason why I chose SBC instead of other prestigious MBA consulting firms.

I was then assigned to my primary consultant and opted for the comprehensive 3-school package. SBC truly cares about matching you with the right consultant as my partner is a former Adcom in one of my target schools. She was instrumental in guiding me to refine my career goals and craft my story from an Adcom’s perspective. She persuaded me to visit the schools and talk to current students, which I found to be very critical in writing a genuine essay that stands out.

SBC’s Flight Tester was a game changer for me. They bring in a 2nd consultant to review the entire application package for my first school. In my case, Caryn, a former Adcom for that specific school reviewed my application. She responded quickly and gave vital advice on my essays. I honed in on her message and made critical changes to my essay based on her feedback, which I think secured my admission for that school.

As a non-traditional applicant with a very niche major and in one of the most competitive international application pools, my problem has always been getting over that initial bump of acquiring an interview invite. I am glad to say that the SBC team was able to get me interview invitations from all three schools. I was admitted to two schools with a large amount of scholarship to cover 50-80% of the tuition (a great return on my SBC investment)! This would not have been possible without my team of super consultants: Esther, Caryn, and my consultant. I highly recommend SBC for applicants like me who have great potential, but do not know how to package themselves well and stand out in the application pool.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Kellogg/ Class of 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Use a consultant. I got 50% scholarship with one admit and 80% scholarship with a second admit--- both from top 5 MBA programs!

LaurenF – January 7, 2018 :

I worked with Beth Tidmarsh at Stacy Blackman and she really helped me manage the application process and feel confident in the application I was submitting. She provided helpful essay feedback and application guidance, she was timely in her responses, and she was proactive in letting my know when her schedule was tight.

I’m a strong writer but I didn’t know much about what was expected from an MBA application essay, and Beth helped me put my stories in their best light and noted where I could add more information or remove confusing or unnecessary content. Beth also helped guide me on what to expect throughout the process, gave me advice for my interviews, and provided support during the stressful and uncertain process of waiting to hear back after submitting apps and completing interviews.

I felt like Beth was personally invested in my success and her help improved my applications and gave me the confidence to perform at my best in interviews. I would strongly recommend her as a consultant.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Kellogg 2019 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early- get the GMAT out of the way quickly so that you can focus on your essays.

RP – January 5, 2018 :

I had the pleasure of being paired with Caryn Altman and truly know I wouldn’t have gotten into two top schools (Booth & Kellogg) without her support, patience, project management skills, and ability to see how my application worked as a whole. I worked with her on 3 schools and applied to another two on my own using some of the same strategies I developed with her. Start to finish SBC was a great investment from my initial point of contact, to my flight tester (Beth who is a former adcom), to additional folks who provided a second opinion on essays for me when Caryn and I disagreed (not often!). SBC is absolutely the way to go if you’re thinking about working with a consulting company. They know what they’re doing and all the positive outcomes vouch for that. Thanks again for everything!!!!!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Booth/ Class of 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Wouldn't have gotten into school without SBC!

HelenJ – December 28, 2017 :

Sending over the highest praise for the Blackman team. I learned a lot, worked hard, and was admitted to 3 of my 4 schools. I’ve chosen to accept Kellogg and declined Wharton and CBS. I loved working with my consultant and her style was a great fit for me. She was very confident and strategic about how to use my different themes and stories and that gave me confidence too. She never made me feel like I was pestering her with too many questions and that’s huge because I did have a lot of questions. She was responsive, very timely and very cool! The Adcom review was also really valuable. Feel great about what we put together and about the results. On a scale from 1 to 10, I give them a 12!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Kellogg Class of 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early. Don't underestimate the amount of work and diligence required to self-evaluate and learn about the programs.

V Mills – December 14, 2017 :

My work with Jen started with a phone call and I knew right away that this was going to be very good. It’s been a long but extremely productive process and I gained so much including 2 acceptance letters! I was very overwhelmed and nervous when we had our first call. Jen walked me through my background and brag sheet and drilled me on my actions, my decisions, consequences and more. It was a very draining two hour call but it made the rest of the process much better because I had core marketing tenets and great examples to back everything up. We picked out a list schools that were a good fit for me. Jen helped me think through not just “where I could get in” but also what I wanted out of a school and what the different programs could offer me. She did not push me towards any particular school, but did help me figure out my chances and where I wanted to be. I had to completely overhaul my resume to fit for an MBA application and I used the SBC resume guide. It was very useful with great examples and a complete step by step walk through of the differences between an MBA resume and a job search resume. Very very detailed and it was a fantastic resource for me – it truly helped a lot, along with Jen’s edits and guidance of course. One thing I greatly appreciated about Jen is that she did not try to force me into a box. This was the case with picking schools and also writing essays. Everything I wrote felt authentic. Me – just better, more strategic and more polished. For example, when we first started talking, we discussed my strengths. I listed off some strengths that she said were good but perhaps generic. After we had the discussion about my background, she suggested strengths that were completely pulled from my examples, but I just never really thought of it from that angle. Everything Jen helped me with reflected my goals. When it came time to interview I could speak very honestly and passionately about everything in my essays, I think it really came out in the interviews that i was authentic. I was very happy with everything that I did with SBC and with the service from Jen.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton/ class of 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Find a partner like Jen and SBC!

AKB123 – October 13, 2017 :

Bill Chionis at SBC is a very experienced MBA admissions consultant. He took his time to truly understand my story and he genially cared about my life experiences. That kind of compassion makes this stressful process enjoyable. Bill’s understanding of your story really helps you and him (as a team) to develop your strategy. This strategy is then carefully woven into every element of your essays, interview and application questions.

I thought I was a great interviewer/interviewee. However, after experiencing Bill’s two step mock interview program, I realized I could make some major improvements. All of the coaching worked. I was accepted into Kellogg 2 business days after my interview! I considered Bill a friend and I will always remember what he did to help me during the crossroads of my career.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Kellogg Northwestern-2019 Your MBA Application & School Advice: If you are willing to spend $100k+ on an MBA, make the minimal investment in comparison for a SBC consultant to get into the best school possible.

Maddyb – October 3, 2017 :

Paul was extremely helpful in allowing me to craft my story and identify the key elements to highlight to admissions teams. He helped think through the best strategy for applications (round 1 vs round 2) and which school to focus on.

MBA Program & Grad Year: London Business School 2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Take the time to really identify why you want to get an MBA, what you are hoping to gain from the experience and why xxxx school will help you get there!

sraj13 – September 27, 2017 :

Jackie Shen Kim was amazing. She figured out a strategy for me to convince schools that my weaknesses are okay. She edited my essays and responded within a couple of hours – she really went above and beyond to be there for me during a stressful time. She was brutally honest yet encouraging at the same time.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Booth Class of 2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Understand how AdCom would perceive your strengths and weaknesses and how to provide evidence in the app to bolster those. Apply to real safety schools and be conservative with what you determine safe - with B School admissions being so competitive, many are shocked to find they do not even get into their safety schools.

Baosterrs – July 23, 2017 :

I hired a stacey blackman consultant for my FEMBA application at UCLA Anderson. After my initial consultation, I was paired with a woman who was not only a FEMBA alum from Anderson but also used to read applications for the admissions team. Her extensive knowledge and insight into what the adcom was looking for was crucial and helped me focus my essays and resumes with the right messaging. She truly made the application process less stressful and was always available via phone or email to chat / provide feedback.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Anderson / 2020 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Before I even met with my consultant, I had already drafted my short and long term career goals and some what of a narrative on how they were connected. This steps takes a long time but is well worth the exercise before diving into drafting the essays.

Lyndsey – July 17, 2017 :

Incredible help for interpreting my nontraditional background into skills easily understood by the mba admissions committee. i am grateful for (and was so relieved by) my expert consultant’s advice when i felt so confused about how best to sell myself to these programs. they were professional, used the time well, and gave useful advice. highly recommend

MBA Program & Grad Year: Haas 2018

Jefferson – July 13, 2017 :

very personalized service, I requested a specific consultant and had a great experience

MBA Program & Grad Year: Cornell University

Engineerformba – July 12, 2017 :

I worked with a consultant from Stacey Blackman. He was very detailed oriented. He knew how to convert weakness into strength and was always available on demand for discussion. I would recommend Stacey Blackman’s service to any aspiring MBA candidate

MBA Program & Grad Year: Ross school of business

yan ZENG – April 8, 2017 :

one year ago, I was not sure whether i should use a consultant or not. because i did not use one when i was applying for phd. it worked out very well. but after talking to so many people, i realized that mba application is different game. it could put me in a bad place, if i do not act well. When I decided to work with a consultant, two names came to me: MBA mission and stacy blackman. in the end, i chose stacy blackman, because they had more consultants from top mba programs and they were nicer to me. this turned out to be the best investment decisions i have ever made. i got into columbia business school!!!!that’s like a dream come true. It was well worth every penny. i recommemde you to choose stacy blackman as well. you won’t regret.

MBA Program & Grad Year: COLUMBIA BUSINESS SCHOOL/2019 Your MBA Application & School Advice: and work hard toward it. essay is key!!!

gstone – November 5, 2016 :

I worked with Sherry at Stacy Blackman Consulting for almost an entire year and ended up with three admits. I am attending Fuqua, which was my first choice. When I started with Sherry I had not yet taken the GMAT and was not even sure where I was applying. She helped me with every single stage of the application, guiding me on which schools to research, how to study for the GMAT and whether to retake it and then of course all the nuts and bolts of the actual application. Because we started early she could coach me on things that I could do to improve my actual profile. Her essay guidance was excellent and thorough and very insightful. I ended up investing a lot more time in volunteer activities leading up to submitting the application and discussed that in my application. I believe that on-ramp time really helped. I really liked the SBC process, with my main consultant and then the flight test and other support such as for interviews. I thought the team was top notch and especially am incredibly grateful to Sherry.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Fuqua Your MBA Application & School Advice: Give yourself enough time - don't rush the process. And if you are seeking help, do it early on. Work with the SBC team!

Lauren – November 1, 2016 :

My older sister used Stacy Blackman Consulting and was successful, getting into her first choice school. She worked with Erika and I requested Erika but they suggested that I work with someone else who they thought would be a better match for me. I was nervous because her main referral was around the work that Erika did with her. I assessed a couple of options finally settling on Caryn. Working with Caryn was a DREAM. She is a complete pro – she knows what the schools are looking for and she knows how to navigate the process of applying. She has a really good balance of guidance and keeping you in check but also being really fun, friendly and supportive. I got the sense that she has seen it all and had a great feel for what does and does not work. She was no nonsense and did not hesitate one bit on any advice which gave me confidence in her direction. It was all a really great experience, right up to the end when I was waitlisted at one of my top choices, and received great guidance that helped me off the waitlist.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton Your MBA Application & School Advice: Don't apply to too many schools. I would say 6 is the max you should apply to. I hit six and really started to burn out. Even with support from a consultant, it just became too much and quality would have really started to drop off if I had done anymore.

Abhi – October 24, 2016 :

I worked with Amy at Stacy Blackman Consulting over a six month period to apply to 3 schools.I had unsuccessfully applied to 4 schools the prior season so my confidence was shaken and I was very nervous regarding how to proceed. I had one reapplication and 2 brand new apps. Amy helped instill confidence and helped me to focus and stick to a strategy. She helped me with every single part of the application and the end result was one that I felt very proud of. The interview prep was extremely useful and of course the essay review was indispensable. We spent a lot of time but it was worth it. We just worked slowly and steadily and she was always there for me. We developed a very nice relationship. I felt as if I could trust her and I always knew that she was their to support me. I enjoyed our communications and always appreciated how available she was for me. Although a few years have passed I still recommend friends to SBC and I still keep in contact with Amy. I had one incident a few days before deadline where a friend reviewed an essay and gave me negative feedback. I was in a panic but Amy helped me sort though the comments and was always calm and professional. She did not let me make any last minute hasty decisions. I know that the team at Blackman made the difference for me as I came out of it with two admits and a waitlist. I was admitted to Kellogg, my reach school and first choice.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Kellogg 2016 Your MBA Application & School Advice: don't listen to too many friends - everyone has advice and some of it not good.

Jay Spears – October 17, 2016 :

When I decided to work with a consultant, my two big concerns were: – would my application end up looking canned, like a big machine had just applied their template and made me an application like all of their other clients? – schedule – I have a very rigorous and unpredictable work schedule so I needed to make sure that my consultant would be able to accommodate that.

I was introduced to Blackman through one of their guides that I received as a free download. It was very straightforward with good advice so I purchased two hours from them and was paired with a consultant named Sarah. Sarah immediately added value by helping me pull together a strategy so that I was very focused in my writing. I had basic points that I needed to incorporate and a handful of interesting stories to tell.

It was clear from the start that my application would not be canned. Sarah helped me bring out my best, but it was still me. I then decided to go with a three school package and was admitted to all three of my schools. Sarah never let me down with scheduling either. She was extremely flexible and understanding and always made it work for me. I really liked working with her which is important because there were days near deadlines when we traded at least 20 emails.

I have no regrets about investing in an admissions service. It was well worth every penny.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia 2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Hire an expert to help guide you. I know my applications were stronger because I worked with Stacy Blackman. Athletes, CEOs dieters all have coaches, why shouldn't an MBA applicant?

Marissa – October 14, 2016 :

Stacy Blackman Consulting was a complete gift to me. I started my process very late and was in a panic. I had to take the GMAT and compile all apps in a very short period of time. Their team was excellent – caring, knowledgeable, very enthusiastic, professional and service oriented. My consultant, Lisa, took my applications from chaos to a very well ordered process. Feedback was almost immediate – sometimes I could not believe it – I would send essays at an odd time and receive a note almost instantly, followed by more thorough feedback. And no one at Stacy Blackman is there to massage your ego. Everyone I encountered pushed me a little bit harder and was very honest. I truly felt that they brought out the best in me. I loved working with their team and found the flight test to be a terrific check as well. I am very grateful to have had SB on my team and highly recommend them to anyone who is taking the process seriously and wants to kick some butt!

MBA Program & Grad Year: Tuck 2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Don't expect this process to be easy! Even with an advisor, I worked very hard. And when I worked hard the way that she was able to assist me was stronger. I did my best and then we cycled through to keep improving and pushing the applications to be better. She did help me stay on track, keep my head down and stay focused. It was that discipline that helped me to finish so much work in such a short period of time.

Rob – October 11, 2016 :

Solid program. They offer you certain exercises that help identify your strengths to highlight and some ideation exercises to really flesh out your essays. If you decide to go with a larger package, be prepared to pay pretty heavily for those services.

MBA Program & Grad Year: The Wharton School / 2017 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Think about what you want to get out of school and provide a clear message in your application. Your stated career goals may not be what you end up doing after school and you may pivot on how you focus your time in order to reach our personal development goals, but you want to have a very solid understanding of what you want coming in to school.

Marc – September 29, 2016 :

Great team helping me prepare

MBA Program & Grad Year: Stern/2017 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Be your authentic self

Wilma – September 28, 2016 :

I had a comprehensive 3 school package. Since I had come from a design/art undergraduate school program I wanted more help and guidance in applying to business school. However, the comprehensive packages are not worth it if you can do your own homework. I felt a lot of the information was redundant and I paid far more than the help I received was worth. I wish I had just done an hourly package and really focused on getting help on the essays.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Yale SOM / 2016 Your MBA Application & School Advice: If you choose to get a consulting service really just use it for the resume and essay review. It is not necessary to have a consultant to help you with other aspects of choosing schools/reviewing materials. Know who you are and why you have decided to go to business school. Do a lot of your own research and ask a lot of questions before you hire a consultant.

Kritika Rastogi – September 28, 2016 :

Stacy Blackman consulting prep was very easy to reach out to and very responsive. I did not do a full paid review, but they still helped me out with the steps on the waitlist. They encouraged me to not give up and send an update in the last round. If it hadn’t been for them, I might not have got accepted. The review done was amazing and gave some really keen pointers as to what should change and where. The resume was also updated according to their help. They kept me in track with the deadline for all rounds for most colleges.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Ross school of business/2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Apply to multiple colleges and don't lose hope. It's very erratic and lunch matters a lot.

Rachel – August 24, 2016 :

I found Stacey Blackman Consulting to be extremely helpful. The area where it helped most was on my essays. Influenced me to think outside of the box when writing my essays, which I think really helped to make them stand out with the admissions committee.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Simmons College/2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Allow yourself plenty of time when completing applications. I also found it to be helpful if I created deadlines for each portion of the application.

Danish – June 1, 2016 :

I went with Stacy Blackman due to their exhaustive knowledge of admissions process. Form the first call, it felt that they were extremely organized and had a plan in place. I worked with Sherry Holland who was my admissions consultant and got accepted to three schools and wait listed at one.

MBA Program & Grad Year: 2017 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early and plan ahead.

Fry – June 1, 2016 :

I thought that the advice from and time spent with Stacey Blackman Consulting was well worth it. I needed help specifically with the essay portion, and they provided iseful tips and inaights as I was drafting.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Wharton/2015 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Talk to lots of companies and go with who your gut tells you.

Ana – May 12, 2016 :

My consultant was supportive, easy to work with and extremely helpful in me structuring my thoughts. My essays turned out a lot stronger as a result of using Stacy Blackman. I also appreciated the dry run of the interview and final proof of the application. I got into the school of my choice.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Columbia Your MBA Application & School Advice: Give yourself enough time - I was on draft 20 by the time it was all said and done.

Bill – May 2, 2016 :

I chose the hourly plan because I knew where I wanted to apply and I knew all I needed help with was the essays. As a white male with a good but not stellar background, I knew it would be particularly competitive but Stacy Blackman knows exactly what Adcoms are looking for so they know how to put the right spin on your story and show it from the right angles. I was placed on the waitlist at MIT and eventually accepted after working with Stacy Blackman through the summer on various update letters.

MBA Program & Grad Year: MIT Sloan / 2017 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Consultants are expensive so figure out where you want to go first and try to do as much as possible on your own before hiring them. For me, the essays was where I needed help. If you are not an excellent writer or have holes in your experience, then hiring a consultant will definitely spruce up your essays and help position you in the best way possible.

Saurav – April 28, 2016 :

I chose the comprehensive two school package. I loved the consultant I was assigned to. He was an engineer like me and was very experienced having done admissions consulting for more then 10 years. He was very supportive throughout the whole process even when I sometimes doubted myself. He really did a great job in giving me advice on writing my essays.I definitely recommend SBC and in particular Bill.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Ross/2018 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Understand your career path and what you want to do. Identify what your short term and long term goals are and what you want to achieve by getting a MBA.

Nandini – April 25, 2016 :

Loved the way it was broken down to me. SBC helped me understand myself and evaluate my potential. They then helped me build my story. All essays were reviewed in detail. Inputs for my resume, helped me even after I came into B School

MBA Program & Grad Year: Tepper/2017 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Really get to know yourself. Pen down all your achievements, life decisions. Evaluate your reasoning for every decision you've made in life. It'll really help during interviews.

Abhinav Nigam – April 23, 2016 :

Great service from the company. Got into great schools.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Darden school of business / 2017 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Start early and select schools based on your interest and not rankings.

Marc Weiner – April 13, 2016 :

Great team helping me to prepare when i didn’t have anyone at work to get advice from

MBA Program & Grad Year: Stern 2017

Prithvi Somasundaram – April 11, 2016 :

Great advice tim..

MBA Program & Grad Year: Michigan State University/2017 Your MBA Application & School Advice: be the best story teller.

Tim Vanderploeg – April 11, 2016 :

I had an excellent experience with Stacy Blackman Consulting. My admissions consultant, Ryan Barba, had extensive experience working in admissions at top MBA programs, which proved invaluable. I purchased 5 hours of ryan’s time and he was very efficient in helping me with my essays, resume, and interview preparation. He was very helpful in helping me decide which parts of my background to highlight in order to catch the attention of adcoms. I was accepted to my top choice school with a hefty scholarship and I do not think i would have had such a favorable result without ryan’s help. Investing in stacy blackman consulting is one of the highest roi investments i have i ever made.

MBA Program & Grad Year: Michigan State University Eli Broad Graduate School of Management / 2017 Your MBA Application & School Advice: Don't try to be someone you're not in your MBA application. Take the best skills, accomplishments, and passions from your life and bring them to life in your application.

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Supplemental Essay Guide 2024-25

What do the 2024-25 supplemental essay prompts really mean, and how should you approach them? CEA's experts are here to break them all down.

Acceptance Rate

Undergrad population.

• Liberal Arts (59)

* Tuition filtering is based on out-of-state fees

How to Approach Supplemental Essays

When our students dig into the college application process, they are often surprised to encounter not only the main Common Application’s personal statement , but also a host of supplemental essay questions. These assignments are often school-specific writing prompts for which a student must also craft thoughtful, well-written replies.

Supplemental essays are often more focused than the Common App assignment, though they vary in length and scope. Their prompts tackle subjects that range from deeper explorations of a student’s background to their collegiate and academic interests.

We often encourage our students to nail down their personal statement topic first, then ask them to approach their supplemental essays in priority order, according to submission deadlines. Many schools will offer prompts that are similar in theme and content to one another (for example, many institutions now ask about a student’s most important activity ), so it is helpful for students to gather and review all supplemental questions before beginning the brainstorm process to see where they might naturally overlap.

Elite institutions often have extensive supplemental sections, as do some honors programs, so students should keep this in mind as they hunt for their essay questions and map out their plan of attack.

All supplemental essays should be given the same time and care as the main Common Application essay. These supplements not only are an excellent opportunity to show a school both your competence and level of devotion to their institution, but also offer opportunities to paint some personality into your application. So embrace supplements, use your unique voice, and show these schools what you’re made of!

Why Choose College Essay Advisors for Supplemental Essay Support

College Essay Advisors has over twenty years of experience guiding students one-on-one through the essay writing process for school-specific supplements. We take a holistic approach to these essays and short answers, considering each student’s application package as a whole and identifying their strengths to highlight. It’s incredibly important to us that each student’s voice is preserved, and we pride ourselves in helping students to write successful supplemental essays that differentiate them from similarly qualified applicants. For more information, submit a contact form below or review our one-on-one advising services or list of student acceptances . 

Agnes Scott College 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

Alvernia University 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide  

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guide, johns hopkins university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, kalamazoo college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lafayette college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lehigh university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, lewis and clark college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, linfield university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, loyola marymount university (lmu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide , lynn university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, macalester college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, manchester university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, marist college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, mary baldwin university 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, meredith college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, mit 2024-25 application essay prompt guide, monmouth college 2024-25 supplemental essay guide, moravian university 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, morehouse college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, mount holyoke college 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, new york university (nyu) 2024-25 supplemental essay prompt guide, frequently asked questions.

It really depends. Typically, the more competitive the university, the more arduous the supplemental essay requirements. Most top universities ask for at least three supplemental essays, but some only require one short essay.

The most common supplemental essay topics are:

• The Why Essay , which asks applicants to discuss their interest in their intended major and/or the school in question.
• The Activity Essay , which asks applicants to describe their involvement in an activity that is meaningful to them.
• The Community Essay , which asks about a community the applicant belongs to and the role that community plays in their life (and vice versa!).
• The Diversity Essay , which often asks applicants to explore how they champion diversity and inclusion in their communities and/or how they engage with people from different backgrounds or who hold opposing views. 
• The Short Answer , which asks applicants to answer prompts in very few words (or characters) to add context to their application and a splash of personality.
• The Oddball Essay , which asks applicants to tap into their creativity to connect curveball questions to their lives and interests.

Just like with the Common App personal statement, you’re going to want to write authentically about yourself while addressing all parts of each supplemental essay prompt. Many schools want to better understand how you see yourself contributing to their campus community and/or diversity and inclusion efforts along with how you hope to use your education to achieve your goals. So, be honest and forward-thinking, and don’t forget to customize each supplemental essay so it’s specific to each school you’re submitting to. That means doing research and weaving information into your essays that demonstrates the amount of time and thought you’ve put into your application. 

We have a few successful supplemental essay examples in our Free Resources section.

Each admissions department has their own process for reviewing applications, and some admissions committees put more weight on supplemental essays than others, but all admissions departments that offer applicants the opportunity to pen additional essays are doing so for a reason: to better understand the applicant and compare similarly qualified candidates. It’s in the applicant’s best interest to not only provide admissions with as much information regarding their candidacy as possible, but also go the extra mile. At highly competitive institutions, admissions officers are looking for reasons to remove students from the applicant pool—don’t let poorly written or (*gulp*) incomplete supplemental essays work against you!

Absolutely not. Please do not reuse content from your Common App essay in your supplements. Although it’s possible for you to expand upon an idea, activity, or community that you mention in your Common App essay in your supplements, you should never recycle content or any phrasing word for word.

Start by reading through all the prompts. Next, jot down ideas that come to your mind (no matter how silly they may seem!). Everyone has a story to tell, and we’re willing to bet you’re more interesting than you think. Give yourself plenty of time to consider different topics and revise, revise, revise! Also, our handy dandy Supplemental Essay Guides are sure to help you on your writing journey.

We have been reading supplemental essays for over twenty years now, so we know a thing or two about the most common mistakes students make. The most common mistakes to avoid are:

• Repeating the prompt in your essay.

You want to make sure every word counts, and repeating the prompt in your essay is a huge waste of space. Rest assured that admissions officers know which prompt you’re responding to. Instead, start your essay off with a strong hook that pulls your reader in (rather than puts them to sleep!). 

• Trying to sound like an academic.

Time and time again, schools post advice on their websites encouraging students to speak in their authentic voices and let the admissions officers reading their applications get to know them. Aaaand time and time again, we read essays students have written in which they go to great lengths to elevate their vocabulary, and in the process, they lose their own voice.

• Using cliches.

Cliches are not your friends when it comes to writing supplemental essays. You may feel like a diamond in the rough, that the world is your oyster, or that love conquers all, but even reading those, did you feel your eyes glazing over? All cliches do is make your essay blend in with the thousands of others in the pile. Emphasize your uniqueness with concrete examples and personal anecdotes, because cliches are rather ineffective, boring, and—let’s face it—lazy.

North Carolina State 2024-25 Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide

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Tuesday Tips: Texas McCombs MBA Application Essay Tips for 2024-2025

The UT McCombs School of Business is a globally recognized MBA program in Austin, Texas—a center of technology and business for the region. Consider entrepreneurship a focus when preparing to draft your Texas McCombs MBA application. Entrepreneurship is a top-five concentration, along with management consulting, clean tech, innovation leadership, and supply chain and operations management.

The Texas McCombs MBA class of 241 students is small and close-knit, and the students’ backgrounds are diverse. In an interview on the B-Schooled podcast with host Erika Olson, Managing Director Rodrigo Malta corrected a misconception that McCombs’s MBA graduates typically end up in local careers only.

Listen to B-Schooled Podcast Episode #82: Interview with UT McCombs AdCom MD, Rodrigo Malta

He said that most students go into technology, consulting, finance, and marketing and are placed all over the country, adding that McCombs seeks MBA students who are “enterprising, tenacious, curious and authentic.”

This year, Texas McCombs revised its essay questions. Overall, these essays are focused on innovation and how you plan to take initiative and plan your unique path. McCombs has retained the video component of the application introduced in 2022.

Curious about your chances of getting into a top B-school like UT McCombs? Contact us to talk strategy with a free 15-minute advising session  with an SBC Principal Consultant. 

The Texas McCombs MBA Application

At texas mccombs, we do things a little differently. we embrace those who take the initiative and forge new paths. what ambitious goal or change do you aim to achieve with an mba, and why is texas mccombs your ideal launch pad (250 words).

This essay combines career goals and why Texas McCombs is the right program for you. As part of your homework for the Texas McCombs MBA application, you should learn as much as possible about the school. Here, you can combine that research with your aspirations and goals.

First, outline what you aim to achieve. Note the keywords: take initiative, new paths, ambitious. Your goal is not just a job you want to land post-MBA but a calling or an aspiration. Be bold in your dreams and aim high.

The best goals are supported by reality. Researching the academic options at Texas McCombs and knowing what you seek from the program will bolster your case. McCombs values engagement with the community in all MBA applicants. Take advantage of the peer interview opportunity, visit the campus, reach out to the admissions committee, and network with current and former students.

Ensure you discover some of McCombs’s unique opportunities, such as the Jon Brumley Texas Venture Labs  for applicants with entrepreneurial dreams. Another great program is the MBA+ Leadership Program , which offers options for working with large companies. Finally, living in Austin—the Live Music Capital of the World—is also a draw for many candidates.

Here, you are what’s next. At this pivotal crossroads where you’re deciding your future path, the Texas McCombs MBA experience will equip you with the tools and mindset to make “what’s next” happen in your career. Please share unique qualities you possess that highlight your potential to shake up the status quo in your professional life. (250 words)

The second essay in this set focuses on your personal qualities or attributes. Again, the keywords demonstrate the type of individual Texas McCombs seeks: innovative thinking, new ideas, and a desire to make positive change. When you look back at your career, when have you changed an organization or team? Think about those transformative moments.

A specific example from your career will enhance this essay. Think about demonstrating the impact your work has had on your organization. Sift through work stories that demonstrate qualities like leadership and innovation. For any example you come up with, explain how you behaved, thought, and acted in the situation. Then, describe the potential outcome. Showing the reader who you are has more impact than telling.

Q&A with UT McCombs Managing Director of MBA Admissions

Essay Three

The university of texas at austin’s motto, “what starts here changes the world,” embodies a spirit of impact and transformation. what fuels your drive to lead change and make your mark in the world (250 words).

The final essay in this application continues the theme of innovation, impact, change, and transformation. For this essay, you will describe why you are seeking an MBA to “make your mark in the world.” Your “why” could be for many reasons: personal, professional, or community-oriented.

As you look back at your life, consider telling a story demonstrating who you are as a unique individual. If more than one moment shaped you, it could be a collection of life experiences or the impact of an important person in your life.

Regardless of your reasons why, McCombs is looking for a driving focus and the ability to transform vision into action. If you have already started the process of changing the world, tell the story of your impact so far. If not, describe what you have done that shows you plan to turn ideas into action.

Optional Statement

Please explain any gaps in work experience, choice of recommender, and/or academic performance issues that may help the admission committee in reviewing your application. (250 words).

This optional essay gives you an idea of the topics appropriate to cover. This is the place to address anything in your transcripts, recommendations, or resume that may cause any confusion or questions for the admissions committee. There is no need to use this space if your materials are straightforward.

If using this essay, be clear and concise. Describe the issue and what you have done to address it. For example, if you had a low grade in quantitative coursework in your undergrad, point to a strong GMAT score or any post-graduate coursework. In addition, you could highlight quantitative professional work. In short, address the issue proactively and demonstrate growth.

Video Assessment

Texas mccombs has always been at the forefront of innovation and continuous improvement, consistently seeking new ways to enhance the application process for prospective mba candidates. in line with our school mission and values, we introduced a dynamic video assessment component as part of the 2022-23 admission cycle, offering an alternative approach to a more traditional essay and interview format. given all applicants will complete the video assessment, mba candidates will have increased access to the application process and the opportunity to share their stories with us in their own voice., through the video assessment, the admissions committee will have a chance to experience the “real” you, beyond a resume, test scores, and transcripts. lastly, the video assessment will enable texas mccombs to reduce bias in the admissions process by providing all applicants with a structured and consistent assessment experience., mba candidates with a submitted application, whose application fee has been paid or waived will be invited to take part in our texas mccombs video assessment. each applicant will have 7 days from the invitation to complete the assessment. the video assessment is asynchronous and will help the admissions committee evaluate your career goals and the following competencies that are crucial for the fit and success of our students within the program and their future careers:, adaptability/resilience, empathy/inclusivity, each video assessment will start with a fun, non-evaluative question that will help the admissions team learn who you are as a person, then applicants will be asked to use the video assessment tool to record responses to 4 questions, with each response lasting no more than 90 seconds each. detailed instructions will be provided with the video assessment invitation so you know what to expect, and applicants will have the opportunity to practice as many times as they wish before completing the final video assessment., this is your time to show us your personality and enthusiasm we recommend that you prepare for the video assessment similarly to how you might prepare for an interview. think reflectively about your work experience, strengths, weaknesses, and work on your delivery..

As you approach this video essay, evaluate what you want to describe to Texas McCombs. For example, you may wish to discuss your cultural background or formative moments in your life. Also, consider friends, family, and colleagues who have influenced you. And don’t forget to consider leadership and career experiences. To identify engaging stories for your Texas McCombs MBA application, reflect on life’s pivotal moments of change.

Life transitions can spark your Texas MBA application essay topics.

For many people, transitioning from high school to college and college to work leads to personal change. Others have had formative childhood experiences or experiences that led to shifts in perspective, like travel or living outside their home country. These situations are an excellent way to illustrate your values and what motivates you.

The video assessment also allows you to inject elements of personality and emotion, such as humor, that are harder to convey in writing. Therefore, consider the bullet points you want to cover and any essential points. Before you talk into the camera, make sure you rehearse. If possible, have a friend or family member there so you can speak to a person instead of the camera.

Finally, embrace this opportunity to present your authentic self to the admissions committee, ensuring they understand who you are and all you will bring to the Texas McCombs community.

For additional information on applying, please visit the McCombs admissions website . Stacy Blackman Consulting offers multiple services to meet your MBA application needs, from our  All-In Partnership  to hourly help reviewing your MBA resume. Contact us today for a  free 15-minute advising session to talk strategy with a Principal SBC consultant. 

Here’s a snapshot of the caliber of expertise on our SBC team .

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School Kellogg MBA

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School MBA, the Wharton School

HBS Admissions Board at Harvard Business School

Director HBS Admissions at Harvard Business School HBS MBA

Admissions Officer at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB)

Asst Director MBA Admissions at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Director MBA Admissions at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business

MBA, Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB) Minority Admissions, the GSB Diversity Programs, the GSB

Associate Director MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute

Director, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Professional Writer

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) NYU Admissions

Assistant Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS) M.S.Ed, Higher Education, U of Pennsylvania

Associate Director MBA Admissions at Columbia Business School (CBS)

Ashley is a former MBA Admissions Board Member for Harvard Business School (HBS), where she interviewed and evaluated thousands of business school applicants for over a six year tenure.  Ashley  holds an MBA from HBS. During her HBS years,  Ashley  was the Sports Editor for the Harbus and a member of the B-School Blades Ice Hockey Team. After HBS, she worked in Marketing at the Gillette Company on Male and Female shaving ...

Kerry is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS). During her 5+ year tenure at HBS, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a wide range of backgrounds across the globe. She also led marketing and outreach efforts focused on increasing diversity and inclusion, ran the Summer Venture in Management Program (SVMP), and launched the 2+2 Program during her time in Admissions. Kerry holds a B.A. from Bates College and  ...

A former associate director of admissions at Harvard Business School, Pauline served on the HBS MBA Admissions Board full-time for four years. She evaluated and interviewed HBS applicants, both on-campus and globally.  Pauline's career has included sales and marketing management roles with Coca-Cola, Gillette, Procter & Gamble, and IBM.  For over 10 years, Pauline has expertly guided MBA applicants, and her clients h ...

Geri is a former member of the Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS).  In her 7 year tenure in HBS Admissions, she read and evaluated hundreds of applications and interviewed MBA candidates from a diverse set of academic, geographic, and employment backgrounds.  Geri also traveled globally representing the school at outreach events in order to raise awareness for women and international students.  In additio ...

Laura comes from the MBA Admissions Board at Harvard Business School (HBS) and is an HBS MBA alumnus. In her HBS Admissions role, she evaluated and interviewed hundreds of business school candidates, including internationals, women, military and other applicant pools, for five years.  Prior to her time as a student at HBS, Laura began her career in advertising and marketing in Chicago at Leo Burnett where she worked on th ...

Andrea served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at Harvard Business School (HBS) for over five years.  In this role, she provided strategic direction for student yield-management activities and also served as a full member of the admissions committee. In 2007, Andrea launched the new 2+2 Program at Harvard Business School – a program targeted at college junior applicants to Harvard Business School.  Andrea has also served as a Career Coach for Harvard Business School for both cu ...

Jennifer served as Admissions Officer at the Stanford (GSB) for five years. She holds an MBA from Stanford (GSB) and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Jennifer has over 15 years experience in guiding applicants through the increasingly competitive admissions process into top MBA programs. Having read thousands and thousands of essays and applications while at Stanford (GSB) Admiss ...

Erin served in key roles in MBA Admissions--as Director at Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley and Assistant Director at Stanford's Graduate School of Business (GSB). Erin served on the admissions committee at each school and has read thousands of applications in her career. At Haas, she served for seven years in roles that encompassed evaluation, outreach, and diversity and inclusion. During her tenure in Admissions at GSB, she was responsible for candidate evaluation, applicant outreach, ...

Susie comes from the Admissions Office of the Stanford Graduate School of Business where she reviewed and evaluated hundreds of prospective students’ applications.  She holds an MBA from Stanford’s GSB and a BA from Stanford in Economics. Prior to advising MBA applicants, Susie held a variety of roles over a 15-year period in capital markets, finance, and real estate, including as partner in one of the nation’s most innovative finance and real estate investment organizations. In that r ...

Dione holds an MBA degree from Stanford Business School (GSB) and a BA degree from Stanford University, where she double majored in Economics and Communication with concentrations in journalism and sociology. Dione has served as an Admissions reader and member of the Minority Admissions Advisory Committee at Stanford.   Dione is an accomplished and respected advocate and thought leader on education and diversity. She is ...

Anthony served as the Associate Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he dedicated over 10 years of expertise. During his time as a Wharton Admissions Officer, he read and reviewed thousands of applications and helped bring in a class of 800+ students a year.   Anthony has traveled both domestically and internationally to recruit a ...

Meghan served as the Associate Director of Admissions and Marketing at the Wharton MBA’s Lauder Institute, a joint degree program combining the Wharton MBA with an MA in International Studies. In her role on the Wharton MBA admissions committee, Meghan advised domestic and international applicants; conducted interviews and information sessions domestically and overseas in Asia, Central and South America, and Europe; and evaluated applicants for admission to the program. Meghan also managed ...

Amy comes from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was Associate Director. Amy devoted 12 years at the Wharton School, working closely with MBA students and supporting the admissions team.  During her tenure at Wharton, Amy served as a trusted adviser to prospective applicants as well as admitted and matriculated students.  She conducted admissions chats with applicants early in the admissions ...

Ally brings six years of admissions experience to the SBC team, most recently as an Assistant Director of Admission for the full-time MBA program at Columbia Business School (CBS).  During her time at Columbia, Ally was responsible for reviewing applications, planning recruitment events, and interviewing candidates for both the full-time MBA program and the Executive MBA program. She traveled both internationally and dome ...

Erin has over seven years of experience working across major institutions, including University of Pennsylvania, Columbia Business School, and NYU's Stern School of Business. At Columbia Business School, Erin was an Assistant Director of Admissions where she evaluated applications for both the full time and executive MBA programs, sat on the admissions and merit scholarship committees and advised applicants on which program might be the best fit for them based on their work experience and pro ...

Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director.  Emma conducted dozens of interviews each cycle for the MBA and EMBA programs, as well as coordinating the alumni ambassador interview program. She read and evaluated hundreds of applications each cycle, delivered information sessions to audiences across the globe, and advised countless waitlisted applicants.

With deadlines around the corner, you may be interested in the world-famous SBC Flight Test . Once a full set of application materials for your initial school have been drafted, but not finalized, the application will be sent to a former admissions committee member for a one-time review, adcomm style. You’ll have the benefit of a true admissions committee review while still having the ability to tinker and change.  You will receive written feedback within two business days after submitting.

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