I first started working with Caryn when I signed up for the MBA Process – Plan Ahead package. This option was very helpful since I didn’t know where I stood with the schools I was thinking about applying to. I knew I didn’t have the best background with a below average GPA among the top schools and a non-elite undergraduate degree so I was going to need as much help as possible. Caryn was able to determine what my strengths were and how I could address my weaknesses ahead of time while clarifying what schools would be a reach and where I would be competitive.

Later on, I signed up for the All-in-package for four schools. I didn’t have any friends, co-workers, or family that had gone through an MBA application so I knew I was going to need quality advice and guidance on the process. Caryn was able to push me to bring out my best authentic self and craft my unique story in all aspects of the application. It can be a very demanding and tough process, especially when going through multiple drafts, but Caryn always brought a positive attitude and helped me stay on track.

A couple of the unique resources SBC offers such as the flight test and interview prep helped tremendously. The flight test was the perfect tool to get a different perspective from someone who had not spent time with me going over my profile and would view the application in the same sense an ad com would read it.

When I received the news that I got into my dream school of Kellogg, I could not wait to share the news with Caryn! Not only did Caryn give me the tools to complete my best application but she also gave me the confidence that this was possible. I knew she was truly invested in my success and believed in me the entire time, which was a very important aspect to me as I picked a consultant. I cannot say enough positive things about my experience and would highly recommend Caryn for anyone applying to business school.

Read More

SBC proved helpful in increasing my odds of acceptance to my desired business schools. I highly recommend a consultant for interested applicants.
The SBC consultant with whom I partnered, Joey, proved particularly adept at:
-"AdComming" my resume by suggesting clear, jargon-free language that highlighted my desired capabilities
-Brainstorming my essay topic and materially enhancing its quality & creativity
-Offering guidance on the purpose of the MBA and why it adds value
-Providing honest feedback on all parts of my application, which enhanced not only the application itself but also my personal self-awareness (an even more valuable outcome)

I have a technical finance background and Joey found ways to make my personality shine. If you have a more "generic" background and want help standing out, Joey or SBC can help1

Joey remained open and happy to talk and work any time I asked, which made a seemingly difficult process easy. His insights were intelligent and action-oriented, keeping me on track and stress-free throughout the process.

Getting an SBC consultant does not guarantee admission, but you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if you forego them entirely, and you can do far worse than choosing SBC. I got into the best business school for me (Wharton) and don't think I would have gotten accepted on my own.

Read More

I began the MBA application in early August, after completing my GMAT and achieving my target score. I grabbed lunch with a work colleague who had a great experience with SBC, so I decided to go with them. I, like my work colleague, had an overall great experience with the services that SBC offered and my consultant, Lisa, who was punctual, professional and a pleasure to work with. I was admitted to the two schools I used the all-in package for, admitted to two other programs, and wait-listed at one school. I received scholarship at 3 of the 5 programs I applied to (all in R1) and was happy with the outcome.

I would highly recommend Lisa for any candidate who has a lower GMAT/GPA score and a technical background. Lisa's feedback on my interview prep also helped me become more confident in my answers during the interview.

One word of advice, if you decide to buy a multi-school all-in package, be aware that the 'fight test package' is only performed on ONE school, not all the schools in the package. If I had known this, I would have chosen the one-school package and purchased additional hours.

Read More

After having calls with most of the major consulting firms, I decided to work with Christina from SBC. Most of the other consultants I had met always told me how I was going to get into every top school right from the beginning without having an understanding of my profile. Christina was the only one to immediately point out specific key strengths as well as potential weaknesses and ideas to address them, as well as being realistic about my opportunities. This was exactly what I was looking for.
Working with Christina proved to be a pleasure from the start. Two words that come to mind when thinking about her are ORGANIZATION and DETAILS. Her approach is very structured, comprehensive and well thought-out, and her ability to focus on even the smallest details, strong points, and potential flaws is overwhelming (in a good way of course!). If there is ANY possibility any part of your application might have a positive or negative effect on your assessment she WILL find it, point it out and work with you to highlight or address it. Relentlessly.
On top of this, Christina has an especial ability to retain every single piece of information you provide and bring it up and find ways to use it (even after a very long time). She really tries to get to know you as best as possible and might even bring up a story or a small detail you told her months ago and hadn´t even thought of yourself to help you prove an important point in your essays or interviews! She really takes your application more seriously than you do...
Her understanding of all schools is mind-blowing (although she went to HBS I honestly think she has attended every MBA program), and she will use this knowledge to point out those parts of you that best fit each school and will explain how and why they are a good fit, providing really valuable advice. This is very helpful to understand what schools you should target too.
Personally (having even met her in person) she is an extremely nice and respectful person, and everything about her is completely genuine. She really cares for you and will do everything she can to maximize your opportunities. If you want to truly give your MBA applications your best shot, she is the only option!
I got accepted into my top 2 schools: HBS and Wharton/Lauder. I cannot recommend her services enough, I would give her 6 out of 5 stars!

Read More

Christina was the guiding light that I didn't know I needed. She took out all the stress and uncertainty from planning by clearly outlining the entire process, so I knew exactly how much work I should be putting in, and why.

She also helped me completely re-think and transform my story. My candidate profile that I submitted is completely unrecognizable from a draft that I would have put together on my own!

Most importantly, Christina truly brought out the best in me. I honestly don’t think that I’ve worked this purposefully or diligently on a project in a very long time!

Read More

Given the long, arduous, and mysterious nature of the MBA application process, I knew I had to hire a consultant - it was just a matter of which firm and which consultant.

I received a few recommendations from colleagues and friends. I made sure to do my full due diligence and spoke to 8 consultants at 4 firms. After speaking with Beth at SBC, I knew she was the perfect fit! From the get-go, Beth was a great listener, alleviated all of my concerns, and truly helped me strategize a plan to succeed in the process. Throughout our 7 months working together, Beth was there for me every step of the way.

I applied to 6 schools (I used Beth for 3), and got into one of my top choices: CBS! I am so excited to start in August!

I would 100% recommend Beth at SBC!

Read More

I worked with Caryn and SBC for c/o 2021 applications and found the service incredibly valuable. The decision to work together paid off as I was accepted to Kellogg and Ross.

As my consultant, Caryn was there to guide me through every step of the application process from honing my application strategy to interview prep. She is always straightforward and honest in her feedback and extremely responsive. Overall she was an incredible coach throughout the process, keeping me on track and calm through the pressure of the application process. She pushed me to do my best work and find my authentic, unique story. When I shared the good news with her it was awesome to hear how excited she was for me!

I looked at other firms but ultimately chose Caryn and SBC because of their wealth of admissions experience (Caryn is former admissions at Kellogg). SBC has a great approach that leverages this knowledge. For example, my application was "flight tested" by another consultant with adcom experience to identify any gaps or weaknesses from an outside perspective. I'd highly recommend Caryn and SBC!

Read More

Caryn was amazing to work with! I am a young candidate with average/below average GPA and GMAT from a mid-level consulting firm, so had lots of reasons to doubt my chances at the top programs. Whenever I was over-thinking or too in my head, Caryn helped me to calm down and think clearly. She helped me bring out my unique story and non-traditional career goals. I was eventually admitted to Stanford GSB, Wharton, Booth, and Kellogg!!! I could not have gotten here without Caryn's patience and dedication, or without SBC's extensive resources! The SBC flight test helped identify holes in my application package and I was able to talk to Caryn and a Wharton team based interview expert to prepare for my interviews. As someone who did not have many friends or mentors who had gone through the MBA application process, I initially felt completely lost. But with Caryn and SBC, I felt well-informed about how to handle every aspect such as class visits, email correspondence, mentioning low grades, etc. When I got my admissions, I could tell Caryn was almost as thrilled as I was! She really believed in me and was highly invested in the process. I highly recommend working with Caryn.

Read More

I am beyond grateful for my experience with Carrie and Stacy Blackman. Carrie was extremely helpful and proved to be an invaluable resource. Upon our first discussion, Carrie was able to help craft my unique story to make my MBA application well rounded and tightly knit. As I was not a traditional business school candidate since I wasn’t in a strictly financial field, she helps me create a personalized and strong essay. She always was prompt in her responses by getting to me within 24-48 hours and she made herself available to me as frequent as necessary. Draft after draft Carrie stayed positive and supportive which allowed me to keep me own motivation and expectations up to par. When I found out that I was granted an interview, Carrie was open to multiple mock interviews to minimize me anxiety. This proved to be extremely beneficial. From the start, I could tell that Carrie was extremely invested in my success and I couldn’t be more grateful that I was fortunate enough to work with her!

Read More

If you are at all like I was a year ago – reading this thread and thinking – is it worth it? THE ANSWER IS YES. Stop reading and go book Stacy Blackman Consulting now. SBC was invaluable in enabling me get into my dream school.

One thing is for sure in the application process -- you are going to have A LOT of questions. Maybe even doubts or concerns. Stacy Blackman Consulting will have the answers that you can TRUST and answers that are tailored to fit your INDIVIDUAL needs/skills/circumstance. This will make all the difference in enabling you to present yourself confidently, efficiently, and effectively in your written applications and in person interviews. I was amazed by how much my consultant, Beth, brought out the best in me. I have to say if you are lucky enough to work with Beth, you have hit the jackpot. Beth was nothing short of a dream. She was relentless, professional, insightful, supportive, meticulous, responsive, and worked her tail off to teach me how to put my best foot forward. I truly felt like I had superwoman on my side through this process – there to save the day if I needed her, but all the while coaching me on how to fly on my own!

In summary, go sign up for SBC and don’t look back. Their guidance is worth every penny. When you get that acceptance call from your dream school admissions, you will be so happy you did!!

Read More