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Stacy Blackman Consulting MBA Admissions Reviews

Since 2001, Stacy Blackman Consulting clients have been admitted to every top business school worldwide, often with merit scholarships. Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) delivers results, as shown through its record of the highest number of online reviews across multiple MBA admissions ranking and review sites. Our online track record includes: #1 on MBAinsight, BeattheGMAT, ClearAdmit, and #1 out of 11 firms for our team caliber by PoetsandQuants.

We begin with meticulous matchmaking before we begin an engagement or accept payment. We recommend a primary consultant only after evaluating your candidacy strength and differentiating qualities; we respect your investment and the trust you place in us. We offer a high-touch, limited client-per-consultant experience.  

Contact us to request a free MBA advising session with an SBC Principal. Just give us 15 minutes.

 

TEAM

SBC is the only consulting firm in the industry who has on our team a complete panel of former MBA Admissions Officers from the top US programs and European programs. No other firm has this complete talent. 75% of our MBA consultant team hails from the top seven US MBA programs as MBA graduates and/or former MBA Admissions Officers, including from Harvard and Stanford. We know what’s going on, and we know it first. We have tremendous insight as to what is currently keeping the AdCom up at night and what values they are looking for from their current students.

 

MODEL

The SBC System™ has eight core modules and is the most robust of all firms. SBC offers unlimited time with a carefully selected Primary Consultant, allowing for full accountability and dedication. SBC also believes in checks and balances, and thus developed our Flight Test™, which is a complete review by a former Admissions Officer. This structured feedback from a former AdCom member mimics a real AdCom review and helps to ensure that a candidate’s application is most compelling to the target audience. We also offer an "hourly first" option for applicants who prefer to test the waters initially before engaging in our All-In service.

 

 
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Stacy Blackman Consulting MBA Admissions Reviews

Stacy Blackman Consulting MBA Admissions All-in Services
 $6900  $6900
Reviews
591
Average Rating
5
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AI Super-Summary of Customer Reviews for Stacy Blackman Consulting*

The reviews collectively praise Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) for their exceptional assistance in MBA admissions, highlighting personalized and thorough guidance provided by their expert consultants, many of whom are former admissions officers. Clients appreciate SBC's team-based approach, which includes comprehensive resources, such as flight tests, mock interviews, and study materials, contributing significantly to admission successes and scholarships at top business schools. The consultants, noted for their deep insight and individual attention, helped applicants craft compelling narratives and application strategies, making SBC a recommended choice for serious MBA aspirants despite their high service costs.
19 users mention "Admitted"
  • "Thanks to his support, I was able to gain acceptance into my desired program-Wharton!..." Read more
  • "Long and behold, I did get into the Kellogg MBA full-time program and into McCombs' and Anderson's...." Read more
  • "I was successful in getting accepted to a top school...." Read more
  • "I ended up applying to only CBS and Wharton, both reaches with my profile, and got accepted to both...." Read more
  • "helping me get into my dream schools!..." Read more
  • "I was accepted to Kellogg MMM, Tuck, and Berkeley Haas (with scholarship!)..." Read more
  • "leading to admission to Chicago Booth, Northwestern Kellogg, Wharton (with scholarship), MIT Sloan (with scholarship), and Dartmouth Tuck (with substantial scholarship)...." Read more
  • "I couldn't be more excited for my multiple admits..." Read more
  • "an HBS alum, we share an engineering background, and she blazed her own path towards PM and entrepreneurship, which I also hope to do...." Read more
  • "Working with SBC helped me get 2 offers (HBS MS/MBA, Kellogg MMM) and 1 waitlist (Sloan)...." Read more
  • "Through my work with Beth, I was fortunate to be admitted to Kellogg, Tuck, Fuqua, and Darden, all with varying levels of scholarship,..." Read more
  • "Thanks to Amy and the SBC team I was admitted to FIVE MBA programs: GSB, Wharton, Booth, Columbia, and Stern (with a full ride)...." Read more
  • "I will be attending INSEAD next year thanks in no small part to Dawn s help!..." Read more
  • "ended up getting admitted to CBS, UVA, UNC , UT McCombs, USC and UCLA...." Read more
  • "Had a great experience working with SBC through the all-in package for 4 schools, resulting in 3 admissions and 1 waitlist...." Read more
  • "which gained me admission to the program...." Read more
  • "I ultimately received offers of admission to Columbia and Wharton,..." Read more
  • "Accepted to: Columbia Business School ($50K scholarship) and NYU Stern..." Read more
  • "I m happy to be accepting admissions to Booth..." Read more
10 users mention "Scholarship Awarded"
  • "with the added bonus of scholarships at Kellogg and McCombs...." Read more
  • "I was accepted to Kellogg MMM, Tuck, and Berkeley Haas (with scholarship!)..." Read more
  • "Wharton (with scholarship), MIT Sloan (with scholarship), and Dartmouth Tuck (with substantial scholarship)...." Read more
  • "I was accepted to Kellogg MMM, Tuck, and Berkeley Haas (with scholarship!)..." Read more
  • "acceptances from Kellogg (with $), Columbia, Stern, and Sloan (with $)..." Read more
  • "Working with SBC helped me get 2 offers (HBS MS/MBA, Kellogg MMM)..." Read more
  • "fortunate to be admitted to Kellogg, Tuck, Fuqua, and Darden, all with varying levels of scholarship,..." Read more
  • "gain admission to Darden and Ross (w/ scholarship)..." Read more
  • "was admitted to Haas, Anderson, and Marshall with scholarships..." Read more
  • "Columbia Business School ($50K scholarship)..." Read more
6 users mention "Supportive"
  • "The entire SBC team was also extremely supportive...." Read more
  • "The experience has been nothing short of outstanding...." Read more
  • "Beth Tidmarsh, my consultant, was so supportive and easy to work with no question was ever too small...." Read more
  • "Caryn was my accountability partner throughout my process she kept me on track, focused on what mattered most..." Read more
  • "Beth Tidmarsh: More than a consultant, Beth genuinely sought to understand me, helping me craft an authentic and compelling application...." Read more
  • "I had a great experience with Caryn from SBC. She helped me from start to finish, helping me craft my MBA story and supported me from resume creation all the way to essays and interviews...." Read more
2 users mention "Essay Editing"
  • "Bill provided invaluable help with my application essays..." Read more
  • "He helps bring out the best content and cut fluff...." Read more
2 users mention "Full Service"
  • "I cannot thank Bill enough for his assistance during my EMBA application journey...." Read more
  • "worth every penny throughout this process...." Read more
2 users mention "Top-Tier School Focus"
  • "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...." Read more
  • "the insights Meg brought to the table as a former Booth Adcomm..." Read more
1 users mention "Career Transition"
  • "Beth's personalized approach and attention to detail undoubtedly played a crucial role in my successful admission..." Read more
1 users mention "Industry Specialist"
  • "Bill demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the programs..." Read more
1 users mention "Responsive"
  • "Deanna was easy to reach and was a clear communicator...." Read more
1 users mention "High GMAT Scorers"
  • "I did a few hours with him and got a 760 on my GMAT with 2 weeks of total prep...." Read more
1 users mention "Premium Service"
  • "SBC's services are on the pricier end of the spectrum..." Read more
1 users mention "Detail-Oriented"
  • "SBC's team-based approach sets them apart from the rest...." Read more
1 users mention "Interview Prep"
*Review summaries are AI generated from 25 latest reviews in the past 2 years.

Reviews:

725 Reviews
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April 25, 2025
jkkids12

Joined: May 10, 2023

Posts: 4

Kudos: 7

Verified GMAT Focus score:
715 Q84 V90 DI82

Alex Liff - SBC

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Strengths:

All-in support to business school applications, application feedback, full review of applications before submitting, post-interview feedback, and more.

Would make the product better:

Honestly nothing really, I'd recommend this to anyone who wants tailored support to their application.

Working with Alex Liff at Stacy Blackman Consulting was the best decision I made during my MBA journey—his strategic insight and support helped me gain admission to HBS, MIT Sloan, CBS, and NYU Stern, where I received a full-ride scholarship. Alex was my partner throughout the application process. I believe his candid feedback helped me write my applications to talk about my strengths and articulate my thoughts in a way that admissions was tuned into. Having consistent check-in points with Alex made me feel confident throughout the process, and he answered all my (sometimes ridiculous) questions throughout the way.

SBC in general was extremely supportive. Having a flight tester - shoutout to Lisa - give a candid review of my applications before submitting helped me fine-tune my applications before pressing the submit button. I was able to submit with confidence that I was representing myself to the best of my abilities.

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April 13, 2025
sweetcaroline123

Joined: Apr 13, 2025

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

100% Recommend

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

I had Ashley as my consultant and got into Tuck, Booth with scholarship, and Sloan. Coming from a nontraditional background with a low math score I was extremely concerned and she really got me over the finish line. In particular, I 1000% credit her with my Sloan acceptance. She was patient and always responsive within 24 hours. I struggled a lot to define myself in the beginning and she helped me work through how to play to my strengths while acknowledging my weaknesses and positioning myself uniquely for each school. Although SBC can be expensive, I do think it was worth it.

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This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 08, 2025
jpandji

Joined: Jan 30, 2024

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

From Skeptical to Stanford GSB, HBS, Kellogg, Booth!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Strengths:

Experienced and Personalized Guidance, Commitment of the Counselor, Authenticity over Conformity, Comprehensive resources, Professionalism and Value

Would make the product better:

More clarity upfront about what's included in the "all-in" package. I think The Vault and Flight Test are huge selling points that a lot of applicants would be attracted to.

When I began exploring MBA consulting firms, I wasn’t sure if I needed one—let alone if the investment would be worth it. I had spent the first part of my career in biotech before transitioning into my family’s business, where I plan to return after my MBA. With a nontraditional background, I knew I needed to tell a story that was both authentic and compelling.

I found Stacy Blackman Consulting through Google and was impressed by their reputation, deep bench of former admissions officers, and extensive applicant resources. After an honest and helpful intro call with Sarah Tsai, I connected with several potential counselors and ultimately chose to work with Margaret Strother.

At first, I was skeptical of the all-in package, but those doubts quickly disappeared. Margaret was more than a consultant—she was a true thought partner. She helped me bring structure to my ideas and asked thoughtful questions that helped me dig deep and frame my story in a way that felt true to who I am. She was also consistently responsive and willing to bounce around ideas whenever I needed it.

What set Margaret apart was her commitment to authenticity. I had worked with another consultant who tried to fit my story into a mold. Margaret did the opposite—she encouraged me to be real and different.

With her support, I was admitted to Stanford GSB, HBS, Kellogg (with a full scholarship), and Booth (with a partial scholarship).

SBC’s resources like the Vault and the “flight test” added even more value. Looking back, the experience was absolutely worth it. For anyone serious about top MBA programs, I can’t recommend Margaret—or SBC—highly enough.

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April 05, 2025
Anonymous1239

Joined: Dec 17, 2023

Posts: 1

Kudos: 4

SBC Review: Accepted GSB, HBS, Wharton

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

Dione Chen was my dedicated consultant inclusive of strategy, positioning, and career visioning, etc., She was incredibly helpful, especially in helping me think through my career vision before writing essays. Dione is extremely responsive (almost always replies within a few hours). I was admitted Round 1 to HBS, GSB and Wharton.
SBC has a team based influence and support: Esther as my matchmaker to a consultant; my flight tester, Amy, who is a former Admissions Officer etc; Anthony who facilitated the mock Wharton TBD discussion.
I selected SBC and Dione based on colleagues and friends who recommended SBC and Dione highly.

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March 28, 2025
haleighstark

Joined: Mar 28, 2025

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Amazing Support & Results - Thanks to Sherry!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Strengths:

Responsive, positive, and honest feedback. Having someone to turn to with any question made a huge difference. The Flight Test was a major reason I chose Stacy Blackman over three other firms I spoke with, and it did not disappoint.

I had an incredible experience working with Sherry from Stacy Blackman Consulting. She was responsive, positive, and honest, always providing constructive feedback while making the process enjoyable. With her guidance, I was admitted to HBS, Darden with a full ride, and Fuqua and McCombs with scholarships. She worked quickly, even under tight deadlines, and I always felt fully supported. Having someone to turn to with any question made a huge difference. Sherry was backed by a strong team, including the initial matchmaker, and an experienced former admissions officer who conducted my Flight Test. The Flight Test was a major reason I chose Stacy Blackman over three other firms I spoke with, and it did not disappoint. If I had to do it again, I’d choose Sherry every time. Highly recommend!

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March 07, 2025
ryanyauney

Joined: Jan 21, 2025

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
750 Q50 V41

Far Exceeded Expectations

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Strengths:

High level of expertise; personalized approach; timing flexibility; invested in candidates success

Dawn was instrumental in helping me achieve the best possible results I could have hoped for, including acceptance to my dream school (HBS), Wharton, Kellogg, and Booth.
Dawn put in a great deal of time and effort to listen to my story and craft a unique application strategy that highlighted what I was able to offer to MBA programs. She has deep knowledge of the application processes of top schools, which brought valuable insights. Additionally, when personal circumstances required me to significantly shift my application timeline, Dawn was flexible to work with what I needed. I would not have achieved the same success without her partnership,

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March 03, 2025
rjcan

Joined: Mar 03, 2025

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Focus score:
755 Q88 V90 DI84

Wharton Admit with Fellowship

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Alex Liff and Stacy Blackman Consulting for their unwavering support over the past six months with my business school applications. Their guidance was instrumental in securing my admission to The Wharton School, complete with a generous fellowship.

When I first reached out to SBC in July 2025, I had less than six weeks before the Round 1 deadlines. Although I had already taken the GMAT and given some thought to other components of my application, my demanding role at XXX consulting firm left me with little time to put pen to paper.

To meet the Round 1 deadlines, I required two key things: a structured approach to the application process with clear milestones and deadlines, and expert advice to rigorously review my written materials. The SBC team exceeded my expectations on both fronts.

Esther Magna, my intake coordinator, understood my needs perfectly and paired me with Alex Liff. I was also tasked with completing SBC's 360-degree personal reflection and critical assessment exercise, which involved answering ~35 detailed questions. Though time-consuming, this exercise allowed me to articulate everything from my leadership stories to my career goals to my thoughts on recommenders.

Alex then meticulously reviewed the 25 pages of content I had put together and helped me devise a strategy for each school, ensuring that my best stories were presented cohesively. This strategic approach enabled me to quickly produce high-quality drafts of my resume, essays, and other application materials. Alex's insightful feedback during our numerous iterations helped me further refine these materials.

One standout aspect of the SBC process was the "flight test," where Lisa Anderson, a former MBA Admissions Officer, reviewed one of my applications as an actual Admissions Officer would. Her feedback was invaluable in further fine-tuning my application.

SBC's support didn't end there. I was fortunate to receive multiple interview invitations, and SBC’s assistance with interview preparation was crucial. Anthony Penna, one of the original architects of Wharton's Team-Based Discussion (TBD), conducted a mock TBD with real candidates. His feedback highlighted key areas for improvement, significantly enhancing my performance in the actual TBD. Alex also conducted mock interviews for my other schools.

Ultimately, I was accepted into Wharton with a very generous fellowship, and I couldn't be more grateful to Alex and the entire SBC team for their help. If you are seeking guidance through the business school admissions process, I cannot recommend Alex and SBC highly enough.

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February 27, 2025
n1ckname

Joined: Jul 23, 2024

Posts: 1

Kudos: 1

Verified GMAT Focus score:
685 Q83 V85 DI84

Incredible Experience with Dawn and the SBC Team

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Dawn and the SBC team went above and beyond in every facet of the application process. When I started working with Dawn, I was unfamiliar with the MBA application process; I came from a non-traditional background, hadn't taken the GMAT yet, and wasn't sure about my future career goals or which schools would be good fits. Dawn's expertise and guidance were invaluable. She worked tirelessly to help craft my personal narrative, clarify my career goals, and do everything possible to leverage the strengths in my profile to create the most compelling and strategically-positioned applications possible. Dawn's knowledge of admissions trends and processes of the top MBA programs constantly shone through. Her essay guidance and frameworks were incredibly helpful, and her interview prep and mock interview ensured that I was as prepared as possible for my interviews.

SBC's Flight Test was also tremendously valuable. Amy provided actionable, detailed feedback on my application file, and the Flight Test experience added another layer of reassurance that my applications were as strong as possible.

I ended up being accepted to every school to which I applied, including Booth and Haas, with over $300,000 in combined scholarship offers, and I couldn't have done it without Dawn. I couldn't recommend Dawn and the SBC team more!

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February 15, 2025
OdhranLinders

Joined: Mar 10, 2019

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
700 Q39 V47

Secured acceptance to my first choice with Meg's help!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Strengths:

Bespoke advice based on my background and strengths.
Rapid response time to essay drafts and comprehensive comments and advice to improve.

Would make the product better:

Nothing!

Meg was instrumental in my securing interviews with 4 M7 programmes and acceptance to Columbia Business School. As an international applicant from a non-traditional background, I really appreciated Meg's faith and enthusiasm about my prospects from the beginning. She provided consistent guidance and insights both in crafting my story and drafting my essays, providing honest and rapid feedback which allowed me to perfect my application. After submission, Meg continued to provide plenty of support and conducted two mock interviews which were invaluable in my preparation.

Having spoken to friends who had used consultancy services and conducted significant research on various different offerings, SBC's excellent reviews made it an easy choice. The broader SBC team (Esther as my initial contact and Lisa as my flight tester) were also incredibly helpful.

I would highly recommend Meg and SBC!

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February 10, 2025
jack08

Joined: Feb 10, 2025

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
770 Q49 V47

HIGHLY Recommend Caryn and the SBC Team!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I only have excellent things to say about Caryn and Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC). As a result of my work with Caryn, I was accepted into Wharton, Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, Tuck, and Stern (with large scholarships from Kellogg, Booth, Columbia, and Stern). Every part of the Stacy Blackman process was extremely thoughtful. I had calls with SBC (based on a referral from a co-worker) and Menlo Coaching and was impressed by my conversation with Esther from SBC. She was very attentive and seemed to understand my personality, academic and professional experiences, and goals very quickly. By the end of the call, she already had a consultant (Caryn) in mind, who she claimed was a perfect fit. And she was right!

Caryn was very meticulous throughout the entire application process. We began by brainstorming my leadership experiences, zeroing in on my career goals, and discussing personal experiences that have shaped who I am today. All of this thorough brainstorming was worth the upfront investment as the aforementioned topics became the pillars of my essays. Caryn is extremely organized, which made the stressful process of MBA applications as efficient as it could be. Caryn always provided clear deadlines (I had a timeline of weekly deadlines from April through September), which allowed me to meet all of my application deadlines without rushing. Caryn also provided very clear and detailed feedback on my essays and application form answers. I always felt like Caryn was focusing on every word and she wouldn’t give her stamp of approval until we both agreed that the essays were perfect. There were definitely times where I felt good about an essay, but Caryn pushed back as she knew I could do better. And I’m glad that she did, as the revisions always led to essays that I felt even more confident in, especially given her years of admissions committee experience. Caryn’s response time also impressed me as I truly felt like I was the only applicant that she was working with. She promises to provide feedback within 48 hours, but it was often the case that if I sent her something in the morning, she would have it back to me by that night – this was really valuable as I never had to waste a day in the busy application process. Finally, Caryn was simply an extremely pleasant person to work with and I am so thankful that I had the chance to work with her.

In addition to Caryn, SBC had a variety of other helpful resources that I utilized. SBC had an extensive website that included essays of former applicants and useful information on each school. I had a flight test (review of my application from another SBC consultant) with Lisa, which provided an unbiased review of my application package. In addition, I really think that having a mock team-based discussion (i.e., mock Wharton interview) with Anthony from SBC gave me the perfect sense of how the real Wharton interview would go, which allowed me to perform well when the time came.

Overall, I cannot recommend SBC enough – they helped me not only reach, but surpass all of my business school application goals. Thank you, Caryn and the SBC team!

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This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.

237 Older and Non-Verified Reviews for Stacy Blackman Consulting