Stacy Blackman Consulting MBA Admissions Reviews

For context, I'm coming from a technology background, have an average GPA from a good undergrad school, and decent test scores.

I started reaching out to various consulting services at the beginning of my application process (~late this past summer) in order to maximize any chance of getting into a top 10 MBA program. After reaching out to a few other companies w/ no response, I found SBC. Immediately after reaching out, I was able to set up a productive phone call with someone at SBC (Esther), who was able to clearly highlight the strengths & weaknesses in my application story and offer a few recommendations. I felt that conversation was honest, efficient, and helpful, so I committed to SBC. I chose the hourly option because I wanted to spread my effort out across multiple schools.

I was paired up with Alex, who went to GSB and had a similar background as I did. We spent the first couple of hours at a high level finding the "right" story for all of my applications - one that would both make holistic sense in the context of a MBA application and fit my interests/ambitions. From there, we went back and forth on revisions of my resume, essays, recommendation letters, etc...

Throughout this process, Alex was direct & honest with me while also encouraging me to offer constructive feedback to him. He was able to recognize strengths & weaknesses in my application (e.g. strong extracurriculars, weak essay writing style) and effectively communicate how to make up for those weaknesses. I believe he had unique insights which materially helped my application (e.g. talk about collegiate athletic career @ school X because they value that type of team-based experience) and which I would not/could not have recognized on my own. He was timely in all of his communications and was efficient, which helped to make the most of our hourly sessions. This helped ease any additional time pressure and allowed me to submit all of my applications ahead of the initial deadlines without sacrificing quality.

All in all, I would highly recommend working with SBC. Everything was just easy - finding the right consultant, making payments, communication, etc... - and I think that's important in this process. I would also highly recommend working with Alex. Whether or not I got into any schools, I believe working with Alex gave me the BEST possible opportunity to get into a school of my dreams. Fortunately for me, I did! I'll be attending CBS next year and am truly excited.

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After being dinged at H/S/W last year, I decided to use SBC first for ding analysis, and ultimately as a resource in reapplying this year. I did a good bit of research before selecting them and did so because (a) they have a large team, many of which were adcom members at top business schools and (b) they demonstrated significant expertise in each interaction I had with them.

While using an admissions consultant is a major investment, if you've decided you're going to pursue an MBA the incremental cost is relatively small, and the benefit is real in ensuring you have a shot at your dream schools. I worked with Meghan, a former Wharton adcom member who knew the ins and outs of the application process, beginning with a 2 hour kick-off discussion on my past experience, career goals, and potential schools. She helped me sift through my various professional and personal experiences to determine which are worth highlighting in essays as I crafted my narrative. She also gave me very tangible advice to strengthen my application, including re-taking the GMAT to aim for a higher quant score (which I wouldn't have done otherwise) and revisiting my LoR strategy.

We then went through 4-5 rounds of edits on my resume and each essay for the schools I was applying to. The improvement from my first draft to final copy was marked, and I have Meghan to thank for much of that. Your consultant won't write your essays, but she can offer invaluable perspective on how best to position your story to stand out. She put me at ease throughout the process and was very accessible.

One other differentiator worth calling out it SBC's wealth of resources available to clients. These include a free flight test for those who purchase an all-in package (which is a dry run at a profile evaluation), a number of resources for each school on strategy for essays and interviews, and other resources who are available as a second/third opinion when needed. This is a large, well-established group that clearly knows what they're doing.

I was admitted to Booth and Wharton first round (2/2 for the schools I worked with Meghan on), and attribute a good deal of my success to the guidance she provided. I'd recommend Meghan and SBC more broadly as an excellent resource for those serious about gaining admission to top business schools.

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As I started my MBA journey, I was very keen on hiring a consultant since I wasn't an "easy" candidate. I started researching and had conversations with at least 7-8 different companies before settling on SBC. Going into the process I was looking for a company that would not sugar coat things and would take a personal interest in me. Two things sold me on SBC:
1) An initial conversation with Esther Magna. She gave point blank and honest advice on my application, which is exactly what I was looking for. I was also struggling between which consultant, and Esther was incredibly transparent about who would fit my needs best
2) Lisa's persistence of exploring the why behind each question. I made a point to have a conversation with her before officially signing on, and she really helped ease my nerves. Also, I'd read solid reviews on Lisa being a great consultant for difficult candidates (by difficult, I mean applicants aiming for Top 10 with lower GMAT scores). She was fantastic throughout the process, and I could not be happier!

Ultimately, I had a great experience and got admitted to 3 of the 6 schools I applied to. Highly recommend SBC!

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Since my first contact with Bill regarding Stacy Blackman's services, I could tell right away that it would be a great increase to my MBA chances. I was told right away that the story that I had in my head was off and why it wouldn't fly with admissions at top schools, and from all the experience I've had since, I can definitely see why that was the case.

I signed up for the service and got matched up with Amy, and she was absolutely fantastic. The care and attention to detail she put into helping me fix up my resume, story and overall presentation of my applications was amazing and so appreciated. She was responsive, helpful, friendly and encouraging and definitely played a big part in helping me to get the offer of a lifetime!

Also, the Flight test administered by Beth was another big confidence boost, allowing me to focus on interviews knowing that my profile was strong enough for my target schools. I would recommend the service to anyone who is serious about their future!

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I was initially hesitant to hire a consultant, but decided to take a chance with Sherry after reading her online reviews. Going with Sherry ended up being the single best decision I made in the application process. She put all of my fears to rest and guided me through every step of the application process. Her extensive experience on an admissions staff helped inform her thoughtful input to my applications. In addition to Sherry, the Stacy Blackman team including Esther Magna, Beth Tidmarsh, and Lisa Anderson provided critical support and a variety of perspectives. I am grateful to all of them for help with my successful applications.

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I would highly recommend William(Bill) Chionis for his expertise in understanding and crafting essays and interview preparations for the Kellogg's EMBA program. Bill understands the program well and informed me of my probability of success up front. I was in touch with Bill for over 4 years before we submitted an application. This speaks volumes about how Stacy Blackman and Bill works. Bill stayed in touch with me through that time to help me develop my career and when it came time to submit an application, he guided my essays without eliminating my own voice. My essays were uniquely mine, but so much more polished and better in every way. The interview at the school felt like I had gone through it before when Bill took me through the interview questions beforehand. We rehearsed this twice and I breezed through the interview. I was ecstatic to get the call from my dream school and know that this would not have been possible without Bill and Stacy Blackman's excellent, customer focused way of operating. I highly recommend them and when my wife is ready to apply, we will enlist Stacy Blackman's support for sure! Thanks Stacy and thank you Bill. You guys rock!!

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Erika was instrumental to my success. Not only did she help me with positioning, but she also guided me during the stressful application process. Erika is a great editor and the revision process helped me clearly outline my strengths and show the adcoms why I was a great addition to the programs I applied to. Her expertise with the various programs also provided valuable insights into the interview process, and helped me nail my interviews. Erika truly cares about her applicants and wants to see them succeed. My expectations were exceeded and I could not recommend a consultant any higher than Erika!

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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 (laura@stacyblackman.com), 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. 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.

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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. For these reasons, I'd recommend SBC and Caryn in particular highly. Do not hesitate to request her when you give SBC a call!

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TLDR: 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.

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.

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