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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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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Strengths:

Communication, knowledge of admissions process, turnaround time and attention to detail, empathy, organization.

Would make the product better:

N/A

I worked with Margaret through SBC's "all-in" program and had an outstanding experience. I can't recommend her and the entire SBC team highly enough. Thanks to her coaching, I gained admittances to both HBS and Columbia (CBS)!

At the outset of my MBA admissions process I was hesitant to use a consultant due to the large price tag. I conducted extensive research, including looking at competitors Menlo Coaching and mbaMission, but ultimately decided to speak with the team at Stacy Blackman due to the thousands of positive online reviews and success stories. It was worth it.

SBC's approach is highly organized - I first spoke with Sarah, who helped connect me with Margaret through their "matchmaking process". Over the course of several weeks / months, Margaret and I conducted a series of exercises to organize my experiences into a succinct, compelling narrative. Margaret was diligent, organized, empathetic and really understood the admissions process at a deep level given her background as an HBS alum. I had a really difficult time condensing my experiences into 250-300 word essays, but Margaret's guidance and candid feedback helped me improve the quality of my essays and gave me confidence as I submitted my applications. I carried this confidence into my interviews (which Margaret of course helped me prep for), and ultimately think that I would not have gotten into HBS or CBS without her.

In addition to working with Margaret, I leveraged SBC's extensive resources to help understand the admissions process and improve my application. I used SBC's Vault (a repository of essays, interview transcripts, admissions guidance, etc. for most of the top 30 business schools worldwide) to read example essays from successful SBC clients and I took advantage of the "Flight test", where Beth (a third party reviewer and former MBA Admissions counselor) reviewed my application and provided advice specific to the schools I was applying for. These resources were invaluable as I conducted initial research on schools, drafted essays, finalized my application and conducted interview prep. From start to finish, I felt supported by the SBC Team and was challenged to improve (in a good way), which I think is what led to my acceptances. Margaret was responsive (often helping me revise drafts late at night or on tight timelines) and an absolute pleasure to work with, as was the entire SBC Team.

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Strengths:

- Invaluable guidance on how to promote myself and tell my life story
- Quick turnaround that went above and beyond
- Reliable mentorship and candid advice

Would make the product better:

N/A

Working with Amy and the Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) team has been an incredible experience. Looking back, I can confidently say that Amy was irreplaceable throughout my application process, from when I started rediscovering myself to when I received the acceptance updates. Amy is the reason why I was able to complete applications to 8 schools during R1 and get admitted to Yale SOM, Columbia Business School, and Kellogg with a scholarship as an international student.

With her in-depth expertise working at Wharton and as a copywriter, Amy made the daunting process of writing materials for eight schools manageable and, dare I say, even enjoyable and therapeutic at times. She really got to know my story and helped me turn my experiences into expressions of self-discovery that felt authentic and compelling. She was always quick to respond and quicker to provide revised drafts for my materials. She was always there to provide console, advice for hard news, as well as genuine encouragement and excitement for good news.

I especially appreciated her attention to detail and her impeccable editing skills. Amy has a very eloquent way of summarizing my several spiels and saved me countless times from the harsh word count limits all over MBA applications.

Taking a step back, working with the SBC team was also a treat, and the resources they provided and the materials from past years were invaluable for getting me started on abstract essay topics. Beth (another former Admissions Officer) provided a flight test for my application to HBS and gave thoughtful advice on how to maximize how I present myself. Having multiple perspectives really gave me confidence that my HBS application was as strong as possible.

The process was definitely challenging at times, but Amy and the team made it much less stressful. I’d absolutely recommend Amy and SBC to anyone going through the MBA admissions journey.

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Strengths:

Communication, dedication, hard work, empathy, compassion

Would make the product better:

NA

My experience with Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) and Amy was exceptional due to their expert team and personalized support. Amy, a former Wharton Admissions professional, provided invaluable insights that strengthened my application and boosted my confidence. When evaluating firms, I chose SBC over others for their deep Wharton expertise and structured approach, with Esther’s initial guidance making the decision clear. The team-based support, including Kim’s flight test feedback and Anthony’s mock TBD session, provided critical preparation and a well-rounded perspective. SBC’s professionalism, strategic insights, and dedicated support were instrumental in my success, and I’m grateful for their partnership.

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I worked with Caryn through SBC’s “all-in” program, and I can’t recommend her and the team highly enough! Coming from a traditional “finance” background, I worked with Caryn to craft and refine my unique voice and story throughout my applications. Thanks to her guidance, I was fortunate to be admitted to both HBS and Wharton (w/ $).

SBC’s approach is highly organized and personalized from the outset. After being paired with Caryn through their “matchmaking” process, we engaged in several exercises designed to help me organize my experiences, articulate my “why,” and craft a compelling narrative. From the start, I knew Caryn and I would be a great fit. She’s a master of organization – something I needed as I tend to be a bit scatter-brained. With her structure and guidance, I never felt overwhelmed by the complex timelines and tasks involved in the application process. In addition, Caryn’s deep experience – both in admissions and as an SBC consultant – proved invaluable as a brainstorming partner as I developed my story and essays. Her candid, direct feedback pushed me to do my best, keeping me honest and ensuring my application was as strong as possible.

In addition to working with Caryn, I took advantage of SBC’s mid-summer flight test (a third-party review of my application) and received tailored interview prep for Wharton (with Anthony) and HBS (with Ashley). These sessions gave me helpful insights into the nuances of each interview, preparing me with a clear framework to attack interview prep and boosting my confidence. I felt fully supported by SBC’s team throughout the entire process, and I truly appreciated how invested the team was in helping me achieve the best outcome possible.

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Strengths:

- Round-the-clock support
- Interview simulation with Interviewing.com
- AdCom simulation with Flight Test
- Application insights from previous participants
- Insider perspectives from previous AdCom

Would make the product better:

N/A

The SBC platform and all-in package truly cover all your bases. Between threading employment history to framing goals, it's a complex process that requires thoughtful guidance. My application was unique with both a business reorganization and contract work, but Amy and the Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) team handled it beautifully. Amy acted as both guide and therapist by asking the right questions and presenting my journey as an asset rather than a liability.

When assessing admissions consultants, I considered other, large elite firms like mbaMission and Fortuna Admissions. I ultimately selected SBC because I had a narrow window to apply and needed holistic support for optimal results. With other firms, I doubted whether their services were additive to what I could accomplish on my own. SBC proved genuinely valuable, especially in unique situations that aren't solvable through forums.

Thanks again Amy Hazen (Consultant), Esther Magna (Matchmaker), and Megan Stiphany (Flight Tester). This was one of my best investments.

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Strengths:

- Wonderful consultants who are either alumni or former admission officers at top schools
- Extensive array of resources, including interview prep, past essays, and resume templates

Would make the product better:

N/A

Working with SBC helped me get 2 offers (HBS MS/MBA, Kellogg MMM) and 1 waitlist (Sloan).

The SBC process was incredibly smooth from start to finish. As I was considering various firms (Fortuna Admissions and mbaMission), I had a call with Sarah Tsai to inquire about SBC's process. She was very transparent, could answer all my questions in great detail, and her insights were super helpful.

When it was time for me to be matched to a consultant, there were plenty of amazing options as the SBC team includes lots of former admissions officers, many of whom were affiliated with the top schools on my list. Yvette stood out because, in addition to her being an HBS alum, we share an engineering background, and she blazed her own path towards PM and entrepreneurship, which I also hope to do. A huge plus was her great familiarity with joint degrees like the MS/MBA and MMM, which were at the top of my list. As we worked on 3 schools together for R1, Yvette helped me tell my story better than I ever could have on my own, and truly boosted my confidence despite concerns I had over my GPA and GRE.

I also really appreciated having access to the broader SBC network, particularly through my flight test with Kim (former adcom) who provided amazing feedback on my essays and resume, helping me to refine my story and tie it all together. I also used many other resources offered by SBC including its extensive Vault database with past essay examples, interview questions, etc. and prepped for my interviews with Yvette in such a way that I could easily come up with answers specific to both the MBA and the MS portions of my application.

Overall, I really recommend working with SBC to anyone looking to tell their story, no matter how complex, in a way that will impress the adcom.

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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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Strengths:

-1:1 Consultant Match
-Plethora of resources to help prepare you for the application and interviews
-Additional in-house services to help strengthen your application

SBC is an amazing MBA consulting organization that provides a multitude of services to help you reach your MBA goals. They have a holistic vetting process so that you are matched with your ideal consultant that really helps you stand out and highlight your strengths as an applicant. The organization takes a team-based approach with an initial match maker, an anonymous flight tester, that reviews your application and provides feedback, in addition to a ton of resources and data to help you through the process. I could not recommend them enough. They helped me gain admission to Darden and Ross (w/ scholarship) and I truly could not have done it without them.

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