I was initially hesitant to engage a professional consultancy. I had planned to ask my friends for tips based on what they had learned from their own application processes. I ultimately invested in the comprehensive package with SBC after a current Wharton student told me that I risked putting myself at a disadvantage otherwise. This was great advice.

I was paired with Margaret Strother, a great match for my personality and work style-- in her words, we're both "hard-assed perfectionists." Margaret's help was invaluable every step of the way, from developing my story and polishing essays to tactical questions regarding recommenders and school-specific minutiae. She exchanged hundreds of emails of the summer and she reviewed scores of drafts of my various essays, always promptly and incisively. During the long interview season in the fall, she helped to coach me on my standard responses and generally prepare me to excel in interviews. After she discovered I love cooking (which featured in my applications) we even exchanged a few recipes.

With the comprehensive package, I also had access to a "flight test" of my application by a former MBA admissions committee member, and after I received an interview offer from Wharton, I was able to practice their unusual group interview with other SBC applicants over Skype. My real Wharton interview went almost exactly the way it did in the practice session, which helped me to stay calm and confident despite the unusual format.

Ultimately, I was accepted to Booth with a scholarship and to my dream program at Wharton. Based on that alone, I'd say SBC is well worth the investment as a way of reducing downside risk. But I'd endorse them even if I hadn't been as fortunate in what is ultimately a capricious and subjective process. SBC's consultants act as mentors and coaches, and when it matters Margaret can be as demanding as my former investment banking bosses. I gained valuable experience and I learned practical and tactical lessons about positioning myself as a candidate, which I will apply to my post-MBA goals.

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I am going to business school! After this roller coaster ride, I could certainly not be ANY MORE HAPPY. A year ago, I applied to four business schools and got rejected across the board despite having interviews. This year, I was certainly hesitant of how the process would turn out after applying to four business schools but thus far, I received two acceptances! Jill, my consultant at SBC, was my genie! She was not only my guidance throughout the process, but also my supporter during the times when I completely lost hope of having a positive outcome. Jill was extremely patient and that is one of the most important traits in a consultant because it meant we could work together to ensure that all my concerns were always addressed. I am a little embarrassed having been a bit demanding at times, but I constantly felt I wanted my application to be as perfect as possible, and Jill was always my partner in crime. I was very worried about the GMAT (A bit low on the quant side) but Jill always reminded it that it was just a component of my application and we came up with ways to strengthen my quant profile through other aspects of the applications. For each essay, I don’t even remember how many drafts we went through. It was all about crafting the perfect stories with my most comprehensive view of me as an individual. But also, given my non-arts background, I was always worried my writing had to keep being polished! I even remember asking very minute differences in what wording sounded better to Jill and she would always weigh in. At the end, I always felt I had submitted the best application for each school. I also remember making small edits the night before my first application was due and Jill was there for me until I hit the submit button. For interviews, I can’t even imagine how stressed I was. I felt last year I went through the interview stage and then lost my chance so this year, I didn’t want the same outcome. Jill did a full run through with me and Stacy’s interview materials were great preparation, especially the video essays which were new this year. Other materials like the example essays were good guidance as you start thinking of crafting your own personal stories.



Before I committed to SBC, I though very hard about using a consultant and I am now very glad I did. I felt SO supported during this very hard process. I not only got support from Jill, my most amazing consultant but also from Maggie and Esther. For my dream school, Maggie helped me review for one of my essays that was giving me trouble and this reassured me that I had done my best in my application essays. Often times, friends and family have be best intention of helping but it is very hard to coordinate schedules. Trust me, there is no need for extra stress! However, Jill never failed me! She was there around the clock for essay brainstorming, editing and interviews. And more dear to me, she was there to wish me good luck on my interviews and eagerly waiting decisions with me. I am happy to say that I got admitted into two top-20 MBA programs, including my dream school. YES, my dream school! :) I didn’t think it was possible but certainly I am SO HAPPY and THANKFUL to Jill who ensured this was a successful process for me.



I highly highly recommend SBC. It was a journey until "submit button", even with tiny changes last minute. Jill always had my best interest at heart :) Jill knew and believed in my strenghts as an applicant, far more than I did for myself. I have no doubt that she really helped me increase my changes of being accepted and beating the odds. SBC is really the best service out there, and Jill is can not be matched as an admissions consultant :)


Jill and SBC really made it MY application process. I found the best way to work with Jill both in terms of e-mail and jumping on the phone when I needed it the most. I also re-did many video essays to ensure I sounded sharp (I hate looking at cameras!) and I even used the optional review for my essays for the one essay that was giving me trouble. Thinking about monetary costs is always though when you are thinking of the MBA investment but having explored other consultants, I am convinced SBC is the best service. They really partner with you to make it the best experience for you (it is hard to apply to business school) and the only thing every applicant wants is to see that congratulations letter! And I am so thrilled (I am still on cloud 9) that my dream of going to business school has now FINALLY come true, and to my top choice too! Thank you sooooooooooo ssssoooo much to Jill and SBC for helping me along the way. This is without doubt one of the happiest moments of my life!

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I was initially very daunted by the opened end nature of the HBS essay question and really didn't know what my "personal brand" was or how to even begin articulating it. I weighed up the cost and decided to hire an admissions consultant. After a bit of research I decided on SBC, who promptly connect me with Paul.

Paul was invaluable in helping me craft a story that was true to my personal experiences but also aligned with what the admissions committee would be looking for. I was particularly impressed with the quality and depth of the insights Paul was able to give me after having only spoken to me for such a short period. Paul's availability at short notice and quick response times to my questions were also highly appreciated.

Working with Paul also saved me immense amounts of time as I was able to quick focus down on my essay topic, rather than spending hours and hours brainstorming ideas.

Without Paul's help I would not have been able to come up with such a strong essay or strong all round application.

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Going into the application process, I was having difficulty articulating why I wanted to go to business school. I knew what I wanted to do, but struggled to explain how my goals tied back to what I had accomplished and how an MBA would help me achieve them. However, I knew my essays were critical to the success of my applications; although I had strong work experience and great recommendations, my GMAT and GPA were slightly below average for my target schools, and I had very limited extracurricular involvement. Meredith was a huge difference maker for me. She helped me sculpt essays that highlighted my strengths, mitigated potential quantitative concerns, differentiated my story, and clearly articulated how my professional experience had led me to business school and why an MBA was a critical next step. Meredith was very candid, personable, thorough, and responsive in her approach, which was especially helpful due to the tight time frame of the application process and the lack of knowledge I had going in. In addition, her experience as an interviewer at Kellogg helped me to explain my story to admissions committee members in a consistent and appropriately succinct manner that resonated with the rest of my application. In large part due to Meredith’s help, I was admitted to Ross, one of my top choices, where I will be attending this fall!

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As the first member of my family to even graduate from high school, I did not have any built in mentors to help me with my applications to business school. A friend of a friend told me about Stacy Blackman Consulting and in a leap of faith I wrote one of the biggest checks I have ever written, buying a 5 school package. I knew that I wanted to do this right, and in perhaps a moment of insanity I took the plunge. I was extremely stressed, unsure about how to approach my applications and yet determined to make it happen. Within an hour of submitting that check, I started to calm down. I received a number of resources from SBC, and was contacted by Amy, my awesome consultant. Amy and I exchanged a bunch of emails and then set up a call that turned out to be game changing for me. In just a few hours, I had a plan. Schools were chosen, I knew what themes I would be emphasizing and the stories that I would tell. While I had some very unique aspects to my background, I also had major issues with my GPA. Amy helped me think through how to discuss the low grades, and we mapped out next steps. The rest of the process was a lot of hard work - I'm not saying it was a breeze, but having a guide to take me through, coach me, steer me with confidence, was incredible. I felt like Amy showed incredible patience with me - some late night stressed out panic session phone calls were the least of it. She also had a lot of creative ideas for how to tackle the essays. And she was funny and cool to work with. After the applications were in, I actually missed working with her and our multiple exchanges that took place every day. I am ecstatic to say that I was admitted to 3 of 5 schools, am attending my number one dream program, and am doing so with a significant scholarship. I highly recommend Stacy Blackman Consulting and know it was worth every penny.

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I was initially skeptical about using a consultant but after going thru the process I'm very grateful to have hired Stacy Blackman. I chose the comprehensive service for 3 schools and worked with Paul, who helped me both brainstorm about my strategy and craft my story for the process. He helped me present myself in a manner that is true to who I am but in a manner that the admissions committees found compelling.

After we had been through my background and experiences to date he helped me pick the best way to present my candidacy. His assistance was particularly useful in three areas: 1) essay editing; 2) interview preparation and 3) post-interview reflection.

I had an extremely positive experience with SBC and am incredibly grateful to the full team in helping me achieve my goal.

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I had a great time working with Sherry from Stacy Blackman. Even
though we live in opposite side of the world Sherry was always
happy to find a time that was suitable for me, even if it meant
she had to work early in the morning PST time. We were able to
work together through multiple essay iterations and each time I
found her comments to be very helpful. Sherry's experience with
the admission process and her knowledge of the b-school I was
applying to was also a great help. She gave me good feedback on
how to approach interview questions during our mock interview as
well as information about the school that you would not find
through the school webpage. I recommend Stacy Blackman
Consulting. They really did a great job evaluating my profile
and pairing me with someone who would best help me to succeed in
the application process. Cheers!

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As I began the process of applying to b-school, I was initially very unsure about whether or not to work with an admissions consultant, not knowing if it were necessary or worth the cost. After discussions with many firms, ultimately I chose to work with Caryn Altman from Stacy Blackman Consulting and she was absolutely fantastic, I couldn’t have been more pleased with the decision, far exceeded my expectations and well worth the cost.

The admissions process so quickly becomes overwhelming and Caryn was critical throughout every step. I used the comprehensive package and she began working with me very early on to assess strengths and weaknesses, outline a plan for my application, ensure clear and concise messaging and make everything stand out in my story. It was far more than just essay assistance, her help was vital in all aspects of my applications. Caryn was always insightful in her guidance, very accessible and responsive to any requests, kept me focused and ahead of deadlines, and improved my applications way more than I ever thought possible.

Beyond Caryn, the other team members and support resources at Stacy Blackman were very helpful, from school guides to mock interview prep and the application test flight.

Overall a really great experience that improved my applications significantly. I would highly recommend the firm and Caryn to anyone applying to b-school. Was admitted to 3 of 4 schools (Wharton, Booth and Kellogg) and couldn’t have been so successful without the help of Caryn and the team at Stacy Blackman.

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As a non-traditional MBA candidate with sights on business school since I was an undergraduate, I've researched all the schools. I just wasn't sure how to gain admission!

I had the stats to shoot for the moon when it came to top schools, but didn't have many people I could ask to help with the nuances of the application process. I was paired with Caryn Altman at Stacy Blackman based on my background and goals, and could not have been more lucky.

Caryn was phenomenal at helping me position myself in a way that was attractive to the schools I hoped to attend. She helped me take advantage of all the unique factors that made up my candidacy, and helped me form an application that was true and consistent from top to bottom.

I give Caryn and the Stacy Blackman team a whole-hearted thank you, and believe she would be able to help many candidates in similar positions.

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I applied to HSW this year and managed to get an admit from HBS. I reached out to several consulting firms before I started the process. Despite the fact I was very late in the process, Stacy Blackman matched me with a consultant who has an excellent track record for HBS and GSB - Paul Kang.

Not only Paul is a GSB and Harvard alumnus, he has also served as the admissions committee member at GSB. This added real practicality to my application. Paul was instrumental in pushing me hard to think about my own life - what I have achieved so far, what I am as a person, what do I want to do in life and why, how would I want to do it, etc., and use all of this to present my story to the B-schools. The biggest advantage of working with Paul, unlike few other consultants, is that he would never force his thinking upon you or write the essay for you. He would always be ready to help you think and write, and to review and improve the same. He would never say no to you even if you send the nth version of the essay. He is always ready to get on a call with you to discuss any small or big thing.

Paul also helped me fit my application process into timelines and adhere to the same - else it would have been extremely difficult given the work load I had. Moreover, the final essay I submitted with Paul's help was much better that what I could have submitted on my own.

I am truly grateful to Paul for his support in the process and highly recommend him to be consulted, esp. on HSW applications - he is the HSW guru!

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