A friend that had used Stacy Blackman when he was applying to MBA programs recommended that I do the same. He said the services provided were excellent, and they helped him get into the program of his choice (Ross). I, admittedly, was skeptical. Did I really need assistance doing this? Is the price worth it?

The short answer: absolutely. During my initial assessment, I described exactly what I was attempting to do, where I feel I would need the most help (my story), etc. etc. I was partnered with a consultant that had graduated from Anderson a few years prior. Working with him was fantastic. I approached this process with a very no-nonsense demeanor, and from our first meeting he said that he wasn't there to babysit me, I knew what I had to do, and he would help me along the way. We clicked immediately.

I knew the difficulty was going to be telling my story. How do I tell my story, and how do I tell it correctly? How to I describe the path that I will take to achieve my goals, and how will an MBA help? How will I, a humble broker in Philly, who dreams of being a Hollywood Power Player ascend to greatness, and what path will I write about in my essay?

Re-write after re-write, meticulous tweak after meticulous tweak. Six drafts. It was done. The tutelage and partnership had helped me produce what seemed like a successful essay. The submit button was hit in late 2015, and the acceptance call to my dream school came in March.

So, was Stack Blackman Consulting worth it? Without a doubt.

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I had the pleasure of working with CP at Stacy Blackman Consulting. From the very first call CP was always very responsive and extremely helpful every step of the process. During my time working with her, she was always honest (which I think is one of the most important qualities you can ask for in your consultant) and insightful. She was not only helping me refine my application, but pushing me to dig for aspects that would really make my application unique. Thanks to her I was not only able to submit a much better application, but was also able to be confident every step of the way knowing she was on my team. I would absolutely recommend SBC to anyone looking for application consulting services.

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I was admitted to Booth and Columbia because of SBC’s services. I loved my MBA experience at CBS and went through the program with focus and productivity in large part because of the mentorship and career coaching from my SBC consultant, Erin. I would say that the ROI of the consulting engagement is not only the MBA admits but also the level of self-awareness I gained through the relationship. I knew exactly what I was going to achieve during my MBA experience and after as a result of the guidance from Erin. As I got to know my peers at CBS, it was clear that most students took the help of MBA consultants. I had the added advantage of working with a former Admissions Officer…..and there was another former Admissions Officer, Lisa, who reviewed my application to give me a different perspective. So, this type of inside knowledge was incredibly valuable. I have remained in touch with the SBC team because they were integral to my success during an important time. Thank you, Erin, Lisa and all at SBC!

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STACEY BLACKMAN IS AMAZING
I credit my acceptance into an Ivy League school to them. Heres why they are amazing.
1. first they get your life story and craft and general outline
2. then they plan and conquer! that means making sure that your essay, references and resume contain the RIGHT PIECES.
3. From there its all about perfecting you application. Essays and resumes go though countless iterations until your app is near perfect.

SBC is professional and focused. they have clearly been doing this for a long time and understand what it takes to get into an amazing school

I cant thank you guys enough!!!

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In Round 2 I was admitted the GSB, Kellogg, USC Marshall and wait listed at Haas thanks in large part to the support and skills of Jennifer Vargo from SBC. Jennifer helped me clean up my resume (it's beautiful now), went over draft after draft of my essays for all schools and most impressively made her self available as often as I needed it. Especially with the GSB question of what matters most and why it can be difficult to work with a stranger, the topic is so personal. Yet working with Jennifer was like working with a friend- she was kind and patient and critical. It was great to work with her, and it paid off! I highly recommend.

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Lindsay was amazing to work with, she was able to bring a calming presence to a highly stressful process. Coming from a consultant background I’m still amazed with the devotion Lindsay gives to each one of her clients. She makes you feel as though you were her only client by developing such an incredible understanding of your individual situation and background. Throughout the process her honesty was refreshing and reassuring, she helped set attainable goals and build a strategy that set me apart from other candidate. My undergrad GPA was not the strongest and it was a major concern of mine. Using her in-depth knowledge of my past she was able to develop a strategy that highlighted my weak GPA in a way that made it less concerning to the Adcom. Lindsay was a pleasure to work with and I’m grateful for her help. I highly recommend SBC and Lindsay.

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I had a fantastic experience working with Maureen from SBC. I honestly believe that I put my best foot forward in my applications and, in large part, I have her to thank. She helped me with everything imaginable: decisions like whether to retake the GMAT, essay and short answer editing, recommender management, and interview prep. Maureen is also just generally a good human and was an incredible sounding board for my reservations, fears, and anxieties throughout the process.
One of the best parts of working with Maureen was her incredible essay editing skills: she made me work harder and probed me to dig deeper. She also really understands the lens through which admissions committees view essays and the entire application. I found my interview prep with Maureen to be especially helpful. My practice interview for HBS was nearly identical, in style, pace, and types of questions, to the real HBS interview.
And in the end there's proof that Maureen is awesome: I was accepted to all the schools I applied to including HBS, Columbia, and Kellogg. The b-school admissions process is long and hard but having Maureen by my side made it not so bad.

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When I first started working with SBC, the whole business school application process was a complete mystery to me. I signed up for the comprehensive service, and Erin guided me every step of the way. She worked hard to get to know me and my strengths, and helped me formulate an application strategy that highlighted those strengths and downplayed my weaknesses (as Erin said herself- EVERY application has weaknesses). The process was grueling, but Erin was there every step of the way. Looking back at the “before” and “after” drafts of my essays, the difference is truly startling. She helped with everything from essay writing to interview prep to answering my most silly and inane questions. Thanks to Erin and the SBC team, I am headed to a top 5 school this fall! SBC is pricy for sure, but you definitely get what you pay for. Highly recommended.

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Hi GMATClubers. I have been a member now on GMAT Club for years. I relied heavily on the blogs, reviews, etc., in making my decision on whether to hire a consulting firm. I realized quickly that most applicants use consulting firms. Although my PE firm is MBA heavy, I wanted to make sure I had every advantage going into the application pool. Also, as an international applicant, I wasn't dialed into the US MBA culture. I spoke with the leading admissions firms out there, including MBA Exchange, MBA Mission and Stacy Blackman Consulting. Ultimately, I chose SBC because it was the only firm that new how to sell its own services in an enticing way. My initial conversation with Esther Magna was spot on. She was honest with me about my profile and demonstrated within minutes the value of their services. I liked that her style was tailored to my profile. Not a boilerplate sales pitch with statistics like the other firms. Esther matched me with Jessica for the engagement. I knew I would have additional reviews by others on the SBC team, so I would be well taken care of. After a 5 school engagement, and 100+ hours of work, I gained acceptance to 4 out of my 5 schools, including a one year scholarship to to CBS. My investment more than paid off. I recommend SBC 110%.

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I am delighted to write this review for the comprehensive service rendered by SBC and Kevin. if one word could explain the team it’s their “Professionalism” that stands out.

Kevin was a great support, he spent quite sometime listening to my story..to a much further past, he was a great listener n then he gave some pointers like... 'this is what your essay should look like' and 'your resume should highlight these about you' .. Initially i was quite annoyed as ... i am the one who is paying and i am doing all the work too.

Eventually after 5-6 reviews my resume and essay took shape,and i saw the advantage of doing my own essay and resume, when you are the author,it makes you the person in command, which definitely helped during my interviews as details were queried.

I am so excited that i made it the first time, the risk that i took was to keep all eggs in the same basket (it has it merits too).

Thank you so much to SBC, Bill, Ester and Kevin, keep up the good work and I strongly recommend SBC to anyone seeking consulting service.

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