Working with Stacy Blackman Consulting — and especially Beth Tidmarsh — was truly the best decision I made during my MBA application journey.
From day one, Beth became my dedicated partner, coach, and biggest advocate. As a former Kellogg Admissions Officer, she had an incredible ability to translate my experiences into a cohesive and compelling story. Her insights into what Kellogg truly values were spot-on, and thanks to her guidance, I earned admission to Kellogg as well as Michigan Ross. Beth pushed me in all the right ways: she challenged my messaging when needed, boosted my confidence when imposter syndrome crept in, and always made me feel like she was fully invested in my success.
I also deeply appreciated the team-based model SBC brings. Sarah, who first matched me with Beth, took time to understand my goals, background, and working style so the fit was perfect. My flight tester (another former Admissions Officer!) provided an invaluable outside perspective and helped refine my application into a final version that truly resonated. On top of that, resources like SBC’s Vault database gave me access to successful essays, insights, and tactical tools I couldn’t find anywhere else.
Before choosing SBC, I explored several other MBA admissions consulting firms — including some of the popular competitors — and none came close to the level of personalization, strategic guidance, and warmth I found with SBC. I ultimately came in through a personal referral — and now I’m the one enthusiastically recommending SBC to others!
If you are serious about giving yourself the strongest shot at a top program, I cannot recommend Beth and the entire SBC team highly enough. They don’t just help you apply — they help you show up as the best version of yourself.

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My experience with SBC was ideal, helping me get into my dream schools! Beth Tidmarsh, my consultant, was so supportive and easy to work with—no question was ever too small. Her reviews were extremely detail-oriented and her experience as a former Admissions Director really shined through. The whole SBC team was great too -- I appreciated being matched directly with a consultant who fit my needs, instead of searching for someone myself. The all-in package was no-hassle. It included everything from interview prep to a Flight Test (mine was from Caryn) without any add-on fees or confusion. I couldn’t have completed the process without the whole team.

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Had a great experience working with SBC through the all-in package for 4 schools, resulting in 3 admissions and 1 waitlist. I worked with Sarah Tsai who matched me to Beth Tidmarsh. Beth was an incredible resource for me offering constructive and supportive feedback on resume building, preparing my recommenders, iterating on essay ideas and drafts, and offering guidance on just about every aspect of my application. She has a deep understanding of each program's culture and helped capture aspects of my experiences and personality that match what each school is looking for in a candidate. She was incredibly attentive to my requests and questions and always got back to me quickly with a thoughtful response. Most importantly, she helped keep me on track to application deadlines and space out the work over an extended period of time so I never felt too overwhelmed. Huge kudos to Beth and the entire SBC team who contributed to my success!

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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!

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The SBC intro with Bill and team was seamless, and I appreciated the transparency of the process as I was able to explore the services before going forward with Beth as my primary consultant. As an extremely experienced former Admissions Officer, Beth knows how to work with people with all sorts of backgrounds and how to bring out the best in applications. As an early careerist, I had concerns and challenges that she helped me navigate throughout the application process, and her organization and guidance went above and beyond. The All-in Service was definitely comprehensive with flight test feedback from Lisa which was insightful, and ended up being a perfect choice for me as I wanted to focus on a few schools. I felt supported throughout each part of the process, and was able to tackle any and all concerns, small details or sudden questions I had with Beth who was incredibly responsive and kept me on track. I’m happy to be accepting admissions to Booth and am so thankful for her insights, expertise, and for ultimately making the application process a lot less stressful than anticipated.

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I chose to work with Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) for my MBA admissions journey as many reviews and resources noted that they were known for getting students into Kellogg. Long and behold, I did get into the Kellogg MBA full-time program and into McCombs' and Anderson's. The experience has been nothing short of outstanding.

One of the key reasons I chose SBC was the opportunity to work closely with Beth, a former AdCom member. Her inside knowledge and deep understanding of the admissions process at Kellogg provided invaluable insights. Beth's personalized approach and attention to detail undoubtedly played a crucial role in my successful admission to Kellogg, McCombs, and Anderson, with the added bonus of scholarships at Kellogg and McCombs.

SBC's team-based approach sets them apart from the rest. From the very beginning, Sarah served as my initial point of contact and matchmaker, ensuring a seamless connection with the consultant best suited to my needs. Amy, another former Admissions Officer on the SBC team, served as my "flight tester," providing constructive feedback and refining my application strategy. The collaborative effort of the entire SBC team, coupled with access to resources like the Vault database, significantly strengthened my application.

Before selecting SBC, I researched and spoke with several other admissions consulting firms. While many were reputable, what set SBC apart was the depth of their team, the personalized attention, and the proven track record of successful admits to top-tier MBA programs. The decision to choose SBC was ultimately driven by their unparalleled expertise, and it's a decision I am incredibly grateful for.

SBC offers a unique and effective approach to MBA admissions. With Beth's individualized guidance, a team-based support system, and a wealth of resources, SBC goes above and beyond to ensure your application stands out. My successful admissions results speak volumes about the quality and impact of their services. If you are serious about securing a spot in a top MBA program, SBC is the consulting firm that will make a difference.

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I was admitted to Haas, Anderson, and Marshall with scholarships, and Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) played a significant role in my success.

After researching multiple MBA admissions consulting firms, I chose SBC for their reputation, professionalism, and authenticity. I sensed they genuinely cared about my goals and that they weren't just telling me what I wanted to hear. I also connected well with Sarah, my initial SBC contact, who skillfully paired me with Beth, my primary consultant.

SBC's Key Differentiators:
Beth Tidmarsh: More than a consultant, Beth genuinely sought to understand me, helping me craft an authentic and compelling application. Her invaluable expertise as a former Admissions Officer at Kellogg, along with her professionalism and genuine care, fueled my success.
Team-based Support: From Sarah to Beth to the flight test review team (also former admissions officers), SBC enhanced my applications with diverse perspectives and invaluable feedback.
Resource Database: Sample essays, interview questions, and school overviews made each stage of the MBA journey manageable.
For anyone seeking admission to top MBA programs, I wholeheartedly recommend SBC for their commitment to clients' success. Thank you, SBC! My experience exceeded my expectations, and I couldn't be happier.

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Beth is the best MBA consultant EVER! Got accepted to both M7 schools I applied to! Having worked with other MBA consultants previously, I can tell Beth is very knowledge about the overall application process, what each school is looking for, and how to help students succeed. Beth is extremely strategic, detail oriented, and personable. She helped me to design the strategy for my application and worked with me to execute out the strategy. I’m especially impressed by the letter of recommendation part, we covered who I should choose, what areas my recommenders should touch on and how to complement my overall application. In addition, after working her to update my resume, I got feedback from adcom team that “no need to spend any second on updating the resume” during resume review session. Most importantly, Beth is very sweet and I feel very comfortable to tell her my stories and she always responds to me within a few hours of reaching out to her.

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I wanted to make it clear: Beth was incredibly helpful and supportive with my application journey! Thank you SO SO MUCH for all of the help, support, mentorship, and kindness that you've offered me as I navigated my application journey. Beth always offered me very timely feedback of the highest quality. I just got accepted into an M7 school of my dream. I'm really grateful towards Beth! I really enjoyed working with Beth and she made the application process much less stressful and much more fun! I'd highly recommend Beth to any applicants! Her greatest strength was that she was very structured in her guidance and provided insightful coaching and mentoring. I also had a highly pleasant experience with SBC overall. Sarah was helpful in the early stages as well. Thank you everyone with SBC!

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MY SITUATION:

I applied to some of the top schools in 2018 for 2019 matriculation but didn't get invited to interview with any. I had a 3.8 undergrad GPA and 700 GMAT score (eventually earned a 760, but not in time for the 2018 applications). I thought that my statistics and job experience (5 years as an Engineer and Project Manager) were good enough to be competitive for the top schools, but that I needed to really shine in the application to have a shot.

I was INCREDIBLY skeptical about paying that much money for admissions consulting services, but I really wanted to get into a top MBA program. I justified the cost as follows: the difference in value of graduating with an M7 brand (OR a scholarship at a school outside of that range), is worth much more than the cost of the admissions consulting package. I used the same justification to take the GMAT several times and pay for tutoring, eventually earning a 760 on the test. Between the consulting services and the GMAT prep/tests, I spent around $10k, an absolutely insane amount.

EXPERIENCE:

I "interviewed" 3 of the consultants at SBC and chose to partner with Beth, largely because of her experience on the AdComm at Kellogg, my top choice program. Beth blew away my expectations and then some! She was incredibly organized, often starting new email threads when I tried to cram too many different topics into one thread, and always followed up multiple times to see how progress was going and if I would meet upcoming deadlines. She did a great job of pointing out places where my wording was weak, or where I didn't talk enough about my personal contributions to a project. I can't say enough positive things about my experience with Beth, and I HIGHLY recommend her as a partner if you plan to use consulting services.

RESULTS:

I interviewed and was accepted by 3 of the 7 schools I applied to: Darden, Kellogg, and McCombs (rejected by Columbia, Harvard, Sloan, and Wharton). I was nominated for a 3rd party fellowship at Darden (full tuition plus stipend) and offered a 50% tuition scholarship at McCombs.

LOOK-BACK:

I can confidently say that my application package would not have been nearly as good without the guidance Beth provided. I realize in hindsight that my approach to my first round of applications in 2018 was all wrong, and I wasn't thinking like an AdComm member. I think that was one of the most insightful things I learned through the process: how to think like an AdComm member.

If you find yourself wondering whether to partner with an Admissions Consultant, I recommend asking yourself the following questions:

1) Do I REALLY know what the AdComm members are looking for?
2) Do I have the time and energy to do the research to understand what a strong application looks like?
3) Do I have a friend who is willing to review dozens of essay revisions, and is also a strong writer?
4) Is the benefit (getting into your dream program, earning a scholarship) worth the cost of the services?

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