Stacy Blackman Consulting | MBA Admissions Consultants

Julie is an amazing consultant and it was genuinely a wonderful experience working with her. Right from our first call where we discussed my profile and story to my interview prep and admit, she was always there to guide me. I started late in the admission cycle and had a month before round 2 deadlines and Julie supported me tremendously through this time. She not only helped me with every step of my application process but also proved to be a strong support in this taxing process, patiently answering every question and doubt I had. Her insights and recommendations were honest and precise, and she knew what the admission committee would look for (as a Kellogg graduate and alumni interviewer, her insights proved to be invaluable) and that helped me put together a strong application. Though in different time zones, she was always very responsive, and I really appreciated that. I am sure I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this without her guidance.

Beth Tidmarsh is a FANTASTIC consultant and I couldn’t have asked for a better one! With her help, I was admitted to 5 of the 6 T10 schools I applied to; moreover, I received SCHOLARSHIP OFFERS FROM EVERY SINGLE SCHOOL ranging from 1/3 tuition to full tuition plus stipend! She also helped me strategically select which schools to apply to with her, so that I could carry over essays and other application materials to other programs on my own. As you will see below, Beth is far more than JUST a consultant, she is someone that truly cares about the people that she works with and truly desires that they be successful.

I decided to use an admissions consultant after applying unsuccessfully on my own a couple of years ago. I interviewed 4 top admissions consultancies (as ranked by P&Q) before ultimately selecting Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC). I selected SBC because of the open and friendly nature of the people I chatted with as well as the responsiveness of everyone I spoke with (which I didn’t get from all the companies/individuals I connected with). From the opening call, SBC made it clear that they wanted to get to know me and I felt an immediate kinship with Sarah Tsai. From there, she introduced me to Beth Tidmarsh—whom I also connected with very well—and the rest is history.

From the very start, Beth was happy to work with me as much or as little as I wanted. We communicated frequently via email but, whenever I asked if we could have a call instead, she was happy to accommodate, always responding to me promptly and making herself available if something urgent came up. Beth was invaluable as a coach and confidant and I would even go so far as to call her a friend (as we still keep in touch even now that my application/decision process is over). If I missed a self-imposed deadline, Beth would send me a note checking in on me but would do so in a way that was supportive and encouraging. This helped me immeasurably. Applying to MBA programs is hard and applying to six programs is almost overwhelming, but Beth helped keep me on track and take things one day at a time, focusing on individual steps and putting together an achievable timeline which we reviewed regularly. In fact, I liked working with Beth so much that I occasionally found myself staying up late to complete a portion of my application just because I didn’t want to disappoint her. (Who wouldn’t want that kind of encouragement?!) One of Beth’s greatest attributes is her ability to help you weave your story and to feel confident that you belong in the programs you are applying to, giving you the confidence to excel in interviews and other interactions with the schools you apply to.

Beth took a genuine interest in me as an individual and helped me to select schools whose culture truly resonated with me and that met my other criteria including significant scholarship opportunities and strong ties to MBB consulting. Her previous experience as Director of Admissions for Kellogg’s Full-Time MBA program was quite apparent as she helped me to (1) understand how schools thought about different facets of my application (2) consider the content of my essays and short answer questions from a holistic perspective (3) craft “my story” and prepare for each school’s unique interview process and (4) negotiate scholarship offers following admission. Beth frequently corresponded with other consultants at SBC and even occasionally asked them to review different components of my application if she felt that I could benefit from an outside opinion, which I also found to be a great asset while crafting my unique applications to each school. In conclusion, I highly recommend both Beth Tidmarsh and SBC!

Dione was incredibly helpful to me on my MBA journey for three key reasons.

First, Dione was incredibly knowledgable about all of the schools I was thinking of applying to. Not in a generic, “I have read the website” way, but in the more subtle, application-driven way. EX: Which schools valued humility vs. confidence in their essays and tone of writing? Which schools had strong programs in the career fields I was interested in? What schools valued community service vs. career leadership experience? The small things that set your application apart, and help you tailor an application to the MBA program.

Second, Dione is a great editor. She does not change your writing, but rather guides the thought process, and helps refine your thinking and message. I learned to better explain why I was applying to business school through working with Dione. This helped me in my applications, interviews, and also in rationalizing this career decision to myself and to my employer.

Finally, Dione, as with any consultant, was an impartial “judge.” A third party who I could run decisions by, who did not have context or history to sway them. She was my rational sounding board. As you move through the emotional chaos of applying to business school, it is important to have that type of resource.

I loved working with Dione and highly recommend her as a resource to anyone thinking of pursuing an MBA.

I was referred to SBC by a friend who worked with them on his successful Wharton MBA application, and I was very satisfied with my experience – everyone has been easy to work with and very responsive. I wanted to work with Stephanie as my primary consultant because she had direct experience with the admissions process and committees at my two top choice schools, Duke Fuqua, and UW Foster. She not only knew how to advise on MBA applications generally but also what my top choices were looking for specifically. And, as an EMBA candidate, I also wanted to work with someone who had experience with EMBA programs, so I chose Bill as my client liaison because he is an expert in EMBA programs. On top of all that, my Flight Tester, Beth, provided critical guidance based on her experience as an admissions director at a top MBA program. Thanks in large part to all of their collective support, feedback, and advice, I was admitted to both Fuqua and Foster.

In May-June 2019, I talked to a few other consultants before deciding to work with Sherry – the one big reason for that was her objective analysis of my previous applications (I had applied to a few schools in 2017 without a consultant and had gotten rejected then). She focused on my weaknesses right from that first call and gave me workable ways to strengthen them.

She was also very encouraging throughout the process and provided constant support. Her work ethic is inspiring (prompt reply on essay drafts; objective feedback focused on what the different adcomms want; interview preps even at the last minute – though I would advise against that; constant encouragement). I got through 2 of the 3 schools that I applied to and was waitlist-ed in the 3rd and I am very grateful to her for working with me to achieve these great results!

Kelly is awesome – I really enjoyed working with her. I was pretty late to start the process and only had a couple weeks to complete my applications. With Kelly’s help, I finished two applications in a few weeks, I was admitted into the Stanford GSB. She is caring, fun to work with, and knows how to get the best out of her candidates, especially in writing captivating and relevant essays. 10/10 would recommend if you are looking to make the push toward a top business school!

Before working with John, I worked with a different consultant of a different firm and it was a disaster. I was extremely skeptical about the full school package (given the cost) and assumed it was not worth it, but ultimately I decided to sign up. BEST DECISION EVER MADE. I offered to work with John since we had some traits in common.
John is a rare gem: he was more of a friend than a consultant. He cheered me up, pushed me across the finishing line, always being kind and generous with his time and dedication.
Response time: 11/10, I don’t know how to better describe this.
Emotional intelligence: he must have a PhD in helping others
My profile is good, but it is not stellar (low GMAT), but still, I made it into two top 10 schools and waitlist from the other two (5 total).
I highly recommend working with John, no matter the cost.

I went back and forth about hiring a consultant given the cost and the fact that several of my friends who had attended top business schools were helping guide me through the process. However, I ultimately decided to hire a consultant, Maureen, and am SO glad I did. Not only did working with her gives me a peace of mind about the entirety of my application and the process in general, but she was instrumental in helping me shape my essays and in pushing me to dig deeper in the most impactful way.

I found Maureen’s turnaround time, process, and feedback to be extremely quick, transparent, and easy to understand. She helped me highlight areas of my experience and background that would most resonate with schools as well as how to best convey my ultimate goals post-MBA.

Ultimately, I earned a scholarship from all three schools that I applied to, Tuck, Kellogg, and Fuqua. I’m so glad I chose to work with Maureen and highly recommend hiring a consultant and choosing her.

I was totally overwhelmed by the ins and outs of the MBA application process and not sure how to market myself and set up my personal story. I decided to engage with Stacy Blackman after reading countless reviews – they seemed like the best MBA consultants out there.

I am so glad I engaged with them and was paired with Jed. I was accepted to MIT Sloan, Dartmouth Tuck, and UVA Darden, despite having a sub-average GPA and an average GMAT score. Jed walked me through every step of the process and was the perfect balance between being understanding and pushing me to do my best. He was so good at helping me craft my story and ensuring that the right aspects of my candidacy came through in my essays. I am not a great writer, and I found that Jed’s editing skills to be exactly what I needed. And he turned around edits and answers to emails/calls so quickly I was amazed. Lastly, Jed gave me the confidence boost I needed through this process and was helpful when I would start doubting myself.

I am confident I would not have gotten into these programs without Jed and Stacy Blackman’s help. I got significant scholarships to two of the programs that I definitely would not have gotten, so the money you pay upfront for consulting will likely pay for itself! I would highly recommend Jed to any friend looking to apply to business school.

Thrilled and humbled to be admitted to multiple schools, including Duke Fuqua with an unexpected scholarship! If you are an international student dreaming to get into a T15 MBA program in the US, but new to the daunting MBA application process, then look no further than reaching out to Stacy Blackman Consulting. Also, if Duke Fuqua is high on your list, then you should really work with Sherry Holland, who is a former MBA Admissions Officer at Fuqua.

I started looking for MBA admission consultants after I have taken my GMAT. Not only was my score below the average of the schools I was aiming for, but also, I did not have a clear personal branding strategy to make my application competitive. I was also lacking outside of work involvements. In short, my profile had a number of gaps, but I was convinced that this was the right time for me to get an MBA. That was when a reliable friend referred SBC to me from her delightful and fruitful past experience. I did my due diligence first, talking to several other admission consultants (mbaMission, Admissionado, Aringo, and Fortuna), but it was clear to me that SBC was the one who was genuinely interested to learn about my stories and most passionate to help me achieve my goals.

SBC’s exceptional service lies within their team-based influence and support during the entire process, from start to finish. My first contact was with Esther, who provided honest and realistic expectations that I needed but was willing to carefully listen to my stories and aspirations. I still remember when Esther told me that she knew who the ideal primary consultant for me would be, and until this day, I am really glad that she was able to pair me with Sherry. Sherry is simply the best! She was professional, understanding, and incredibly supportive throughout the daunting and hectic MBA application process. Though I struggled a lot with the first draft of my essays and was extremely nervous heading into the interviews, Sherry made sure that I was well prepared and confident to face those challenges. I learned a lot from Sherry and she really helped me grow both professionally and personally in many ways that I did not expect before. I still could not believe that I received interview invites from all the schools that I applied to! Along the way, I also had access to a client liaison, Bill, and also received a really helpful flight test feedback from Lisa. Essentially, a lot of admissions officer intelligence in-house ready to support you any time.

Overall, I am super grateful that I made the right decision to work with Sherry and SBC team. I am excited about the results and where I am today, and I realize that I could not achieve all this without the guidance and support from Sherry and SBC team. I highly recommend that you work with SBC too!

Before finding Sherry I had a few intro calls with different firms that left me feeling anxious and unsettled about my business school prospects. My intro calls with Sarah and Sherry were entirely different. Sherry was realistic about my weaknesses and quickly put together a strategy for my application process. Sherry’s feedback was prompt, comprehensive, and always encouraging. Beyond Sherry’s support, I also benefitted from the SBC network through the ‘flight test’ and group interview simulations, which made me even more confident as an applicant. I have admitted to my top choice program with a substantial scholarship thanks to Sherry and the team, and I am so grateful!

When looking for an admissions consulting firm, I wanted to be challenged and to be held accountable. I got that feeling immediately from my consultation. My resume was torn up and critiqued in a very real way. I was not just told, “You have a great GMAT score, you’ll do great”. It was what I wanted. I was paired with Laura, and she was absolutely fantastic. She was very reachable, and we met at least every other week throughout the process. Her feedback was very useful and honest, which helped me bring my essays and story to the level needed. She was also willing to hear feedback, as I contradicted her feedback at one point based on a blog post from the Tuck adcomm. In the end, I felt that I was supported in a way that enabled me to show my truest self. The Flight Test, a defining feature of the application, highlighted some weaknesses that we were able to tactically address. I am very thankful for Lisa, who conducted this flight test. I ultimately was accepted to Ross, Tuck, and LBS while being rejected from Sloan. Results with which I am very happy. I did not make use of other services that SBC provides such as their liaisons and other points of contact, but they appeared very nice from whenever I spoke with them.

After talking to several admissions consultants (Personal MBA Coach, Veritas Prep, Aringo, Accepted), I decided to work with Stacy Blackman for my round 2 MBA applications due to the initial consulting session as well as the unbelievable online reviews it has in multiple respected sites. After my consultation with Bill Chionis, I asked if I could be matched up with Sherry Holland as she was a former member of the admissions team at one of my target schools.

From our very first phone call to all the other communications we had throughout the process, I just want to emphasize how great it was working with Sherry. She guided me through a step by step process on how to conquer the very stressful process of applying to business schools. Every question I had and everything I needed to know, she was always there to guide me. She knew what the admissions team will specifically look for and also advised me on what I can improve on before submitting my apps (GMAT & Quant Class). Sherry was very responsive and engaged and although I’m sure she was working with other clients at the same time, she really made it feel that my applications had her undivided attention. She was very supportive but also honest, and with this dynamic, we were able to create strong applications and a solid interview plan for all my target schools. I decided to go for the all-in-one package and without it, I can confidently say that I wouldn’t be where I am today. I can’t recommend it enough! With this package, not only did I get Sherry’s world-class consulting, but I also received a flight test from Lisa Anderson (this is when I started to realize that I had a great chance with my target schools) and all the invaluable resources that they provide to their clients (Wiki guide, school guides, interview preparation).

All in all, I applied to 5 top 15 schools and was admitted to all of them. In addition, I received scholarship offers from all but one and equipped with that, Sherry was able to successfully help me negotiate my scholarship with my top school and increased my scholarship to 50%

Thank you again to the whole SBC team, especially Sherry, for helping me achieve my goal of attending a top tier MBA program!

Julie is a fantastic consultant. I came to her with a very unclear vision and was even feeling a bit lost, and her keen ability to help me unlock my story allowed me to put my best foot forward and reinvigorated my drive to succeed in an MBA program and beyond. Throughout our work together, from resume review, essay review, and interview prep, she also demonstrated a healthy balance of pushing me to be the best version of myself while supporting me through the process. I’m excited to have been accepted to the school of my dreams!

TLDR; I am attending Harvard Business School this fall, and couldn’t haven’t done it without SBC & Beth! I applied to 6 schools in total, and received acceptance to 5: HBS, Wharton (scholarship), Booth (scholarship), Columbia, NYU Stern and waitlisted at Kellogg.

For some context – after tirelessly studying for the GMAT for 1.5yrs, I couldn’t get my score above 680. I ended up switching to the GRE and got a 319 (164Q, 155V), which is pretty mediocre for the schools I was applying to. I also came from a Tier 2 consulting firm, and am Asian American, so I knew that my story would be super-duper important to help me with my below avg stats. Thus, I knew an MBA consultant was important to help me with telling my story – I spoke to 3 firms: 1) SBC, 2) Menlo Coaching and 3) a smaller boutique consulting firm.

First, I spoke to Menlo Coaching and they basically told me (in a nicer way) that my scores were not good enough to get into the schools that I wanted, and that I should try retaking and apply a year later. I had already taken the GMAT 7 times and GRE 3 times, expressed that I think I hit a ceiling, but I got the sense that they didn’t really believe in me simply because of my scores. On top of that, they didn’t list their prices on their website, which I thought was strange. My friend spoke to them and they quoted her $20k for a package, and I wasn’t comfortable with that price considering that they gave the vibe off that they didn’t even want me as a client because of my scores.

Next, I spoke to a boutique consulting firm, and while they were very nice, I didn’t get the sense that they had the resources or array of experience as a larger consulting firm. They did seem to believe in my story, but since it was only a 2 person shop, I wanted to talk to 1-2 more firms before making a decision.

I then spoke to Sarah Tsai at SBC and raised my concern about my scores. To this day I remember her saying “Don’t underestimate the power of a good story” – telling me that they have gotten people in with all types of scores and that my biggest challenge would be writing a story to differentiate me from fellow management consultants. She gave me two consultant options, and I ended up choosing Beth because her reviews were unique in that people talked about how much she went above and beyond, and also truly cared/believed in her people. This resonated with me and I can 100% attest to these attributes.

Beth from the beginning was AMAZING!! I literally cannot put into words how great and instrumental of a partner she was throughout this emotional journey. I honestly don’t think I would have gotten into Harvard Business School without Beth’s help, because frankly, I was happy to even get into one of the M7. But to get into 5 out of 6 schools is really a testament to SBC/Beth’s help as a partner.

+ Beth goes above and beyond in how meticulous and detail-oriented she is; I believe we went through 10 revisions for some of the school’s essays, and she made sure that every word and detail, whether it was in the essay or app was flawless
+ Beth is very knowledgeable of certain school nuances, and would tell me if there were certain things I should be aware of (for example, she told me that Columbia really cares about interest in the school and suggested that I connect with students/visit. I immediately took PTO that month and went to visit the school, which was instrumental to talk about during my app/interview)
+ Beth was VERY strong at looking at my holistic story across my essays and apps; many times, she would help take a step back and make sure that my essays and apps made sense together, and would suggest edits to places that needed more meat or didn’t tie coherently
+ Beth helped instill a confidence in me that I honestly didn’t know existed. There were many times when I almost had an emotional breakdown and I literally said “I can’t apply to this school because I have no idea what to write for this essay” and she would bring up things that I didn’t even think about. She would always encourage me to “toot my own horn” in certain parts of my app and make sure that I presented my true self in my essays. Even throughout interviews and school visits, she was always cheering me on, and I think her support and excitement really helped me gain confidence while I was interviewing

A very long review – but I just wanted to really give a huge shout out to SBC and Beth for all of their great work. I’m so pumped to be starting school this fall and I couldn’t have done it without them!

When you are looking for an MBA consulting firm, you want one that has a reputation that draws on the caliber of its consultants and has the expertise and experience across the schools that you are interested to apply to.

SBC demonstrated that from the beginning to me. Just speaking with Sarah for thirty minutes, she was able to provide insights and bring her expertise to bear on my application. SBC also stood out from other firms in that they cater to candidates coming in from every stage of the application process. In my case, they were willing to partner and go “all-in” with me even though I had only three weeks remaining for the R2 deadlines.

I worked with Alex L as my SBC consultant and I could not have asked for a better MBA consultant. Alex is one of the most professional individuals I have the pleasure of working with over my 12-year career. He was personally invested throughout the whole process and brought his considerable skills and expertise in each step of the application. His partnership helped to showcase my accomplishments and my personal story to its fullest. Even then, just by working with him, I was able to improve on my personal communication skills and bring that back to how I communicate at work and at a personal level.

Alex was a partner whom I could completely trust and rely on throughout the application process. He was responsive and would usually reply within a few hours. He worked with me on the deadlines and was available whenever I needed him. He added a personal touch as well, checking in on me and my recovery when I fell sick during the application process. Thinking back, I’m just floored by the level of effort and passion he brought in every stage of the application. Based on his dedication, I know it is not just a job to him, but a role where he is personally invested to help you achieve your goals. Alex is someone whom I am honored to partner with and hope to continue a friendship with even after my application process.

I applied to the Stanford GSB MSx program and it was a moonshot for me given how challenging it is to enter the program and how I had only three weeks to prepare the application, obtain letters of recommendation, and study for the GRE. Yet, with Alex’s help, I was able to overcome all these and obtain an admissions offer from the Stanford GSB. Thank you, Alex!

Posted a similar review on the GMAT club as well. Want everyone to know how awesome Caryn is!

To start with some general context, I predominantly have an engineering background and am currently in consulting. I started the application process with zero background info/tips on b-school apps and felt totally at a loss. I pretty quickly realized I needed help and I spoke with several different consulting firms and actually didn’t have a great start with SBC. My intro call was with Bill who I didn’t quite connect with so I asked if Caryn had availability because I had read all her raving reviews. And man, am I glad I did. After speaking with Caryn I immediately knew I had found the perfect person. You can tell she is incredibly experienced and was able to immediately put my mind at ease as she took me through her overall process, what B-schools are looking for, what she thought about my candidacy and my profile, etc.

In terms of the general application process of working through brainstorming ideas, essay revisions, etc, Caryn simply could not have been better. She helped me shape my profile to highlight all the strengths I had and paid particular attention to make sure my application as a whole worked well together. One thing in particular I liked was that whenever I had ideas that weren’t the best, she would always provide the rationale for why and she could always tell if I felt comfortable with the decision or if we needed to talk through things a little more so I felt more confident. I quickly learned to trust her which led to offers from Wharton ($$), Sloan, Booth, and Kellogg! It’s been incredible and I absolutely would not have gotten into these schools without her help! Also, once my offers came in I was in a bind on where to go because of some personal factors, but she had a long conversation with me and helped me work through which to pick, and I am really grateful for that.

Overall, I highly highly recommend working with Caryn. She is the kindest, most down-to-earth person who gets incredible results!

I was an underdog when I came into this process. Lower than average GPA and test score (more attempts than I am willing to admit). Margaret helped me package my story in ways I could not have imagined doing myself. She is candid and transparent, so be prepared to have thick skin, incorporate lots of feedback, and work hard. Each essay required at least 4 drafts before they were final. I would chose Margaret’s candid approach any day over any other, sugar coating in this business does a disservice to anyone, and Margaret does none of that.

I was also wait listed at three schools. Margaret helped me navigate this process, which, in my opinion was far more brutal than the regular application process itself. With her guidance, I was able to convert two of the wait list status into admit status. For anyone who wants maximize their chances at reach programs and the best MBA application experience, the answer is simple, work with Margaret. Thanks Margaret for helping me gain admission to my dream school!

I was an underdog when I came into this process. Lower than average GPA and test score (more attempts than I am willing to admit). Margaret helped me package my story in ways I could not have imagined doing myself. She is candid and transparent, so be prepared to have thick skin, incorporate lots of feedback, and work hard. Each essay required at least 4 drafts before they were final. I would choose Margaret’s candid approach any day over any other, sugar coating in this business does a disservice to anyone, and Margaret does none of that.

I was also waitlisted at three schools. Margaret helped me navigate this process, which, in my opinion was far more brutal than the regular application process itself. With her guidance, I was able to convert two of the waitlist status into admit status. For anyone who wants to maximize their chances at reach programs and the best MBA application experience, the answer is simple, work with Margaret. Thanks, Margaret, for helping me gain admission to my dream school!

Words will never be enough to describe my experience with SBC, Esther, and Susan.

I decided to be thorough in my approach to finding a consultant, speaking to several companies. I was specifically looking for a company that was established (i.e. high success rates) and structured (i.e. clear process), yet had personalized attention (i.e. are there too many people?). I concluded that there were endless companies that fulfilled only one of the criteria, but only SBC was able to meet both of them.

The next step to my process was having an initial call with Esther, who “matches” you with a consultant given your profile and goals. Esther has this rare gift of being able to assess your profile in mere seconds. What I appreciated most was that Esther gave supportive yet objective advice. Remember, you do not want to spend time and money for nothing! Thanks, Esther!

Having been “matched” with my consultant, I then had the amazing opportunity to work with Susan. As a global citizen, I particularly admired Susan’s widespread work experience from the U.S. (i.e. CBS) to European markets (i.e. LBS). From this experience alone, Susan has this “automatic” credential of being able to work with diverse applicants, ranging from traditional and non-traditional career paths to various personalities, ages, and backgrounds. I know that’s what I admired most about Susan!

The biggest insight — aside from fantastic advice in every step of the process — was Susan’s ability to complement my weaknesses without ever me recognizing or surfacing them. I’m quite organized, yet there were times wherein I didn’t realize I was lagging behind in certain aspects of the application process. I also have an infinite number of ideas and thoughts, resulting in sometimes over-complicating or confusing messaging. However, Susan was quick to point out rational solutions and more importantly, the rationale behind them. I was also extremely familiar with participating in school events, yet Susan is brilliant when it comes to knowing insider information into a school’s communication method, frequency, and strategies.

Most importantly, Susan can look at things holistically when you’re laser-focused in the process. Firstly, I was dual pathing my test re-take and application process, resulting in juggling numerous priorities. With application deadlines creeping up, Susan surfaced a modified possible test strategy with me, ultimately allowing me to realize a target score. She was the last person who messaged me before entering the test center and the first person I texted upon seeing those numbers on a screen. I was also juggling interview invites in very different locations, yet Susan emphasized an optimal way to ensure I could maximize the entire interview experience.

At the end of the day, this entire MBA application process is no doubt extremely stressful, overwhelming, and complex. It takes a true mentor, someone who has your best interest at heart, someone who’s passionate about making a difference in others’ lives, and an expert in the process to be with you every step of the way. Susan was all those things and more; she believed in my story and credentials when no one else did. Through her guidance, I received two offers (thus far) with scholarships, which I didn’t even apply for or expect. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this was all possible. And, when I get on that graduation stage, I’ll be thinking of how forever grateful I’ll be because of Susan.

More power to SBC and Susan!

Sherry went through my apps with a fine-toothed comb and barely missed a detail. She was honest about pieces of my app that were not great, rather than glossing over them as another consultant had done. Moreover, she helped me navigate the tricky balance of over-sharing vs. not being personal enough. Admitted to HBS, Wharton and Sloan R1!

I began my MBA application journey in 2018. In 2018 I set out on my own and ended up not getting in anywhere, and got dinged with no interview at my first choice.

I decided to give applications another shot and I decided I would enlist the help of a consultant this go around. After doing some research I settled on SBC. From my initial contact with the SBC team, everything was great.

I was used SBC for the all-in package and also recruited their help finding a tutor to improve my GRE score. The third-party tutor they first paired me with was not a good fit, and as soon as I mentioned this to Esther they worked diligently to pair me with a better fit and even comped the hours I had used with the first tutor, I really appreciated that. The next tutor I had was amazing, if you need tutoring through SBC, ask for Phoebe.

Sherry from the start was great. As a non-traditional applicant with very little exposure to the business world she helped me navigate presenting my strengths and communicating my story in a meaningful way on the application. The guidance Sherry gave totally changed how I approached and thought about my applications. In the end, it paid off. I was accepted to multiple schools, and three offered me merit-based scholarships, including my first choice school that didn’t even interview me the year before! I would also like to add that Sherry really does care about your outcome, she answered any question I had through the process and even volunteered to review some stuff for schools I had not even contract SBC to help me work on.

I had the pleasure of working with Caryn throughout this past application cycle. After applying to five of the M7 schools, I was offered interviews at four and chose to interview at three. I ended up receiving significant scholarships from two of the schools and was waitlisted at the remaining program. Coming from an untraditional background, with issues such as gaps in my education history, I was concerned about my chances at a top MBA program.

Caryn was incredibly supportive throughout the entire process, helping me be deeply introspective when refining my career goals and reflecting on my past experiences. By using her expertise as a former admissions officer, she then helped me craft my story in a way that best highlighted these experiences, fully showcasing what I would bring to an MBA class while meeting the nuance required for each unique essay prompt across the various schools. In addition to Caryn, I received great support from the entire SBC staff and was grateful for the database of application resources SBC has available.

Prior to starting my MBA admissions process, I spent a considerable amount of time researching different admissions consultants. Ultimately, I felt that Stacy Blackman’s comprehensive services, proven track record, and a robust roster of former adcoms would help me put forth the best applications possible. I could not be happier with my decision, and I would highly recommend Caryn and SBC to anyone considering the services of an admissions consultant during the MBA admissions journey.

I highly recommend Stacy Blackman Consulting. I worked with Lisa, who is a former MBA admissions officer, and I honestly do not think I would have made it through the long and complicated admissions process without her help. Lisa is amazing – she has a lot of knowledge/insight into the admissions process, having been an admissions officer prior to joining SBC. I enjoyed working with Lisa so much, as she is very friendly, incredibly knowledgeable, and super quick to respond. I had a lot of questions during the process and Lisa was able to answer everything, usually responding to me that same day. With Lisa’s help, I was admitted to my top choice schools (even my reach schools!), almost all with scholarship money (including one full ride).

In addition to Lisa, there is a lot of support from the entire team at SBC. My flight tester, Caryn, who is also a former admissions officer, gave me helpful feedback on my application. Basically, everyone at SCB has some sort of background in MBA admissions, which makes the admissions process as a candidate much easier to navigate. Everyone I worked with at SBC was great, so you cannot go wrong when choosing SBC for such a stressful/important process, like MBA admissions!

Working with Margaret was the best decision of my application process! I had 2 hours with her and spent it brainstorming essay ideas for Northwestern – Kellogg’s 2Y MBA program as well as received some resume tips.

I am a relatively younger candidate, 2 years of experience at the time of application, and I was struggling with how to present myself. I felt very average in the applicant pool – Big 4 Advisory experience, 3.83/3.75 undergrad/master’s GPA in accounting, 730 GMAT and participation on an associate board of non-profit post-graduation – in comparison to people with 5-7 years of experience coming from i-banking or start-ups. Margaret took the time to listen to my background and understand what was important to me. Her insight and critiques helped me present my story genuinely and highlighted my strengths. Her tips on what application readers are looking for were invaluable. Most importantly, she gave me so much confidence in my application, and her support helped me decide that this was the right time for me to apply.

My 2 hours with Margaret turned into Kellogg accepting me round 1 with an $80,000 merit scholarship!

Alex is an excellent MBA consultant. He is an attentive, responsive, honest, reliable and talented writer.

I decided to apply to an unusually wide range (~10) of schools within a few weeks of the R1 deadlines. Given my limited budget and the number of schools I was applying to, I asked him to help primarily with my essays (as opposed to the full package). Alex was very understanding and helped me develop a plan that fit within my budget and timeline. At every point in the process, I felt that he prioritized my applications and made himself readily available. He knows the Admissions process thoroughly and helped me develop a narrative around my personal and professional life to highlight all of my unique attributes. He is also an excellent writer and helped me adjust my writing style to get all of my key points across more clearly and efficiently.

As a testament to his excellent guidance, I was accepted into my top choice program (after being waitlisted and subsequently denied the year prior)!

Highly recommend.

I cannot say enough positive things about working with Stacy Blackman and Lisa. I chose SBC as I felt that I connected with the mission of Stacy Blackman and I liked how personalized the advice was. I worked with Lisa Anderson throughout my entire MBA application process and she was an excellent resource for me. Lisa brings tremendous expertise to the process and is incredibly knowledgeable about a variety of top MBA programs. Lisa had excellent ideas and helped me brainstorm my list of MBA schools. Lisa helped me broaden my search and had exceptional suggestions as far as to what to look for in a program. Once I narrowed my MBA search, Lisa was a great partner in providing advice on resume tips, interview prep, and ways to finesse my essays. I ended up receiving acceptances from all 5 programs I applied to and received 3 scholarship opportunities. I highly recommend working with Lisa Anderson if you’re interested in applying to a top MBA program as you will not be disappointed.

I was hesitant about using a consultant at first, simply because of the cost. That being said, I do feel that it was worth it for me – I walked away feeling like I truly built a strong application where I was still able to be myself. Additionally, I feel like I learned many skills that I will use in my future – how to build a strong resume with impactful information, how to prepare for behavioral interview questions and how to write effectively while being concise.

Maureen’s turnaround time was very quick – I would send her something to review, and within a day I had feedback. She let me dictate what to review but helped me stay on track when I would get bogged down with “perfectionism” or minute details.

Her feedback was straightforward, but delivered in an encouraging manner – she helped me tackle my areas of weakness and see how they could alternatively become my strengths.

At one point, I was really struggling with one of my essays (and cutting it down to 300 words). Once I was under 300 words, the essay had lost all of its life. I shared with Maureen some of the “stream of consciousness writing” I had done on the topic, and she helped me re-formulate my essay and bringing it back to life. It became my favorite of all the essays I wrote.

I particularly enjoyed the feedback she gave me on my mock interview. While my work has provided me with examples of behavioral successes and failures, I struggled again with concision. She spent extra time helping me identify the details that were more impactful in each story to deliver my strengths and weaknesses in a polished manner while staying true to my personality.

Lastly, and most importantly, by the end, I felt like I had gained a mentor. I would reach out to her with silly questions on how to reach out to an admissions person, or small things like that. She was again, very quick in her response, but didn’t hesitate to help, even though it was beyond my immediate application. She was genuinely so excited for me when I shared my acceptance, and I am so glad I was able to work with her.

Meghan did a great review of my resume and my essays. Although I had been working with an MBA prep program, Meghan highlighted key areas where I could improve my application that my MBA prep program had overlooked. She helped me clarify my MBA goals and career path, and made sure that my essays/resume were an easy ready for Wharton admissions. Definitely recommend her services.

I am a business school re-applicant. I decided to re-apply because I knew that I didn’t put my best foot forward during the first go around. I also knew that if I actually wanted to improve my application, I would need professional help. I spoke with many of the top MBA Admissions consulting firms, and I chose Stacy Blackman after my initial consultation with Maureen Capitolo. Maureen was insightful, sincere, honest, and I truly trusted her experience and guidance from the start. I am so thankful that I did. Maureen was instrumental in helping me create each of my applications. She helped me think through my school selection and craft my overall strategy. She pushed me to dig into my background to help me identify specific experiences that matched exactly what each of my target schools was looking for. She provided tireless, professional support as I iterated on each of my essays and brought every piece together. After I submitted my last application, I had a completely clear conscience knowing that I did the best I possibly could with Maureen’s help. It all paid off last week when I was offered admission to my dream school: Wharton. I did the work, but Maureen and Stacy Blackman provided the guidance and tools I needed, and I am incredibly thankful. I would highly recommend anyone who wants to work hard and submit their best applications to work with Maureen.

Meghan was an absolute pleasure to work with and I cannot recommend her enough. From the onset, Meghan worked to understand my background and helped flesh out my MBA aspirations to really refine my essays and resume to be concise and present a coherent story/message that would resonate with the admissions committee. Her deep insider knowledge while working at Wharton admissions was a huge advantage in preparing me to ace the interview, providing insightful feedback on my mock answers and role-playing with me so that on interview day, I felt 100% ready and confident.

Gaining admission into the Wharton Lauder program (with a significant merit scholarship on top) was a dream come true for me and I would highly recommend Meghan to any prospective MBA applicant.

Kim was an absolutely excellent and essential part of my MBA application process. She thoughtfully reviewed my resume and helped me transform it from something mediocre to a clear succinct list that really showcased my strengths. I found our brainstorming sessions to be extremely valuable, as she helped me narrow down my ideas and provided helpful guidance as to how to think about and structure my essays. I applied to Wharton, Booth, and Kellogg, and got into the last two, with a 50% scholarship from Booth. Could not have done it without you Kim!

I know the first thing people balk at is the price point of the comprehensive package. However, I can say that it is definitely worth it as I got into Kellogg, my top choice for Round 2!

I specifically asked for Jen because of my sister’s great experience with her, and she definitely exceeded all expectations. She quickly pinpointed my strengths and helped me develop a strong personal narrative. She was also very direct in her feedback, and always gave me her honest thoughts on my essays, which helped me present my story in the best possible way. She was incredibly patient and responsive throughout the entire process. She always responded quickly and would go through as many revisions as necessary until we both were happy with the final result. Finally, I could always count on her to answer my questions. In the very few cases when she didn’t have an answer, she would go out of her way to ask fellow consultants to get me one.

I was thoroughly impressed by her commitment to helping me achieve my goals, and I wholeheartedly recommend Jen! It was a great experience and an extremely worthy investment!

I worked with Amy from SBC for all of my Round 1 B School Applications. Amy’s proactive process and working sessions helped me tremendously throughout the process. Amy and I started working together 2 months before the applications were due. This proactive timeline really set the foundation for my successful applications. We spent the first month of our time together defining my MBA story and perfecting my resume. Not only did these help my applications themselves but this time spent on refining my professional identity was irreplaceable during my interviews. As I was in the middle 80% of test scores and on the lower end of GPAs for top 20 programs, Amy partnered with me to make sure I stood out in my essays and interviews. We spent many virtual sessions unpacking significant events in my life and perfecting drafts of essays to ensure I was putting my voice and experience into each essay and interview.

After the deadlines, I was admitted to 2 of 3 of my first round schools and was waitlisted at my top choice. Amy guided me through the best ways to stand out and show the AdCom that I was extremely passionate about this top choice. After 2 months on the waitlist and many updates sent to the AdCom, I was accepted in early Round 2 to my top choice.

I worked with Meg as a waitlisted candidate to my dream school, UChicago Booth. Admittedly, prior to beginning the journey with SBC, I was nervous that I would lose my voice or be judged for where I was in the admissions process – however, those fears were immediately dispelled when I interacted with Meg for the first time. Her professionalism, commitment, and diligence were amazing attributes during my waitlist candidacy journey. When I shared success stories for other schools and applications, I truly felt a sense of shared accomplishment from someone who was also deeply invested in my outcomes. The genuine care and consideration Meg put into helping me clarify my story and amplifying my strengths made me more confident and secure in the process. I had a wonderful experience working with her, and believe due to her guidance, was able to put my best foot forward in navigating the waitlist. I would strongly recommend working with Meg to any MBA candidate!

I worked with Caryn on my application for 2 schools, both of which were reach schools for me. She was amazing, she guided me through the whole process, kept me on track with all deadlines, and really helped me sculpt my story and brand. She was able to answer all my questions and really demystified the whole MBA application process. Also, she was incredibly attentive and responded very quickly. In addition to all the knowledge and guidance that Caryn provided, Stacy Blackman Consulting has a LOT of additional resources that are so helpful. Ultimately, I got into both programs and am very happy with my choice to partner with Caryn.

Laura was amazing to work with. She challenged me, coached me, and provided valuable insight every step of the way. I couldn’t have completed the process without her. I was admitted to my top choice. I’m convinced that wouldn’t have happened without her!

Worked with Kim from Oct 2019 till Feb 2020. Her suggestions for improvement in my essays were fantastic. She made sure of how to get the flow and connections and convey a story. She also helped me refine my resume, which earlier was nowhere close to what bschools expect. For the interview, she helped me practice sample questions and suggested on how to come up with a structure. Last year, I had applied to full-time MBAs and had got rejected from all schools. This year I applied to only Kellogg for Part-Time MBA and got in. Without her help, my application materials would have been vague, confusing and difficult for adcom to connect. Totally recommend Kim!!

Knowing I wanted to employ a consultant in my MBA application process, I interviewed several firms and spoke with no less than 5 consultants before deciding on Caryn, who was highly ranked as a consultant already at the time. Working with Caryn, she was proactive, responsive, and I can tell her years of experience as an adcom officer lent her true expertise when it came to MBA admissions. Most importantly, she helped me to craft my story and explain my somewhat unorthodox post-MBA goals in a way that was both true to myself and worked well for the admissions process.
It was upon her suggestion that I applied to the Lauder/Wharton joint program, which we realized was an extremely good fit given my background and future goals, and where I will be matriculating this Spring (2020). Really happy with the guidance Caryn and the broader SBC team provided (including the Flight Test, and mock interviews) during this nearly year-long journey. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to apply to top programs, and are looking to craft/refine their story to stand out from the multitudes of applicants with competitive but common stats/scores/backgrounds!

I had a wonderful experience working with Sherry for several MBA applications in 2019. Coming from a very rough application season in 2018, where I was dinged from all 3 schools I applied to without an interview, I knew I needed assistance with my applications the next go-around. My initial contact was Esther Magna who I had spoken to earlier prior to my 2018 applications who immediately reached out. She was very understanding of my situation to not want to apply in Round 2 of the 2018 Application Season and offered me honest feedback about my candidacy. It was this forthrightness that made me choose Stacy Blackman Consulting. I was then paired with Sherry and she immediately put together a strategy for Round 1 for 2019.

Sherry looked through my applications and determined what should be fixed and what should be highlighted to make me stand out.

I am an international engineer, and Sherry really helped me bring my applications to life by identifying aspects of my story which I had initially felt were inconsequential but really helped me stand out from the rest. In the same vein, she identified aspects of my profile that I thought were really important but actually hurt the quality of my applications.

I went for the all-in package for 4 schools and though it was grueling, Sherry took the anxiety out of all of it and even made it fun! Through the multiple iterations of essays and mock interviews, Sherry really went above and beyond for me.

The team-based approach at SBC really helped me shine as I had the benefit of a flight test from another consultant, Beth Tidmarsh (who is a former admissions officer as well), who reviewed all aspects of my application with fresh eyes and gave insights into how it could be improved even further.

In the end, I was admitted to 3 schools out of the 4 I applied for – Tuck, Kellogg, and Fuqua. All with a significant merit scholarship. Without a doubt, I know I would not have achieved such fantastic results without Sherry’s dedication. I highly recommend her!

I had initially reached out to Alex for essay support and was pleased to find that he was an attentive, knowledgable consultant. I came to him with what I felt were relatively solid drafts, and he helped me hone in on my strongest “key points.” He gave me quite a bit of advice about how to craft my essays with respect to word limits, as well as information on each school’s general admissions process. Additionally, he followed up with me afterward and offered very earnest and sincere congratulations when he found out I had been accepted to every program I had applied to.

Carrie at Stacy Blackman Consulting was incredibly helpful and an invaluable resource for my application experience. She was incredibly perceptive to my wants and needs out of an MBA, and from beginning of the experience trying to select schools to apply to, to the GMAT process, to drafting my essays, to preparing for my interviews and even selecting the schools, she never stopped making sure I felt taken care of and that I had everything I needed to succeed. Carrie put me in a position where I felt feel confident that I could get into at least one of the schools I applied to. She was so detail-oriented and really made sure that, as a former admissions officer, she gave feedback on every part of my essay from that angle as well as from the angle of someone who understands my background and what I am looking for. With Carrie, this standard application process felt extremely individualized, and I could tell she wanted this experience to be very personal to me, and not using the same template of any other client. This entire experience was made so much better having her to help me, and with Carrie’s help, I got into 3 schools and waitlisted at another—two that Carrie specifically helped me on and were reached! I really enjoyed working with her and felt very taken care of.

Carrie at Stacy Blackman Consulting was incredibly helpful and an invaluable resource for my application experience. She was incredibly perceptive to my wants and needs out of an MBA, and from beginning of the experience trying to select schools to apply to, to the GMAT process, to drafting my essays, to preparing for my interviews and even selecting the schools, she never stopped making sure I felt taken care of and that I had everything I needed to succeed. Carrie put me in a position where I felt feel confident that I could get into at least one of the schools I applied to. She was so detail oriented and really made sure that, as a former admissions officer, she gave feedback on every part of my essay from that angle as well as from the angle of someone who understands my background and what I am looking for. With Carrie, this standard application process felt extremely individualized, and I could tell she wanted this experience to be very personal to me, and not using the same template of any other client. This entire experience was made so much better having her to help me, and with Carrie’s help, I got into 3 schools and waitlisted at another—two that Carrie specifically helped me on and were reaches! I really enjoyed working with her and felt very taken care of.

At the start of my MBA application journey, I had intro calls with consultants at many of the major firms (Fortuna, Veritas, SBC, etc.). The intro call with SBC was all I needed to realize that the firm struck the perfect balance between having unparalleled resources, an outstanding track record, and a genuine interest in my success.

Instead of merely assigning me to a consultant based on my profile or target school, Bill gave me suggestions for SBC consultants who he thought would be a good fit for my working-style and application strategy more broadly. I had intro calls with numerous SBC consultants before choosing to work with Caryn Altman.

I worked with Caryn on applications for five schools and ended up getting into four of them (Booth, Kellogg, Tuck, and Fuqua – Fuqua with scholarship). I come from an overrepresented applicant pool, non-feeder firm, and have a lower GMAT score than the average of almost every school I applied to. I owe a tremendous amount of my success to Caryn who was nothing short of terrific throughout every phase of the application process. She has an imitate knowledge of what ad coms at top programs are looking for and was able to use that knowledge to help me shape my story to highlight the unique characteristics of my profile in essays, interviews, etc.

I’m so thankful for Caryn and the rest of the team at SBC for turning my dream into a reality!

Bottom Line: I am matriculating at my top choice school because of Beth.

A slightly untraditional applicant, I received 5 dings in my first year of applications. I decided to look into a consultant because I felt I must be missing something or I was incorrectly representing myself. I looked at many different agencies but eventually settled on SBC as they took the time to have multiple calls with me. If you’re hesitant, just give them a call, chat.

The process is amazingly smooth and feels not only like guided self-exploration, but also an entire looking glass of your life. Beth started me with a call and defining my story. We worked at this for awhile, Beth is incredibly introspective, almost like a therapist, she will never outright tell you what to say or write, she will let you develop it and then refine. I found this to be the most helpful part. It truly allows your story to become defined by you.

My initial inclination about my applications was correct, I was missing a lot. Beth, like a machine, pinpointed each area to target improvement. I reviewed my old applications compared to what Beth and I crafted, worlds of difference.

Beth was very understanding and I honestly believe she put way too much time in for me. I have to believe that I was not the easiest, my essays required a lot of work, but Beth never once should frustration or lack of confidence.

Take a look at your profile, if your stats are competitive for the school you’re targeting but something isn’t clicking; give Beth a call, she will get you there.

I worked with Sherry for several schools, which we selected after a holistic review of my profile. She made suggestions based on her in-depth knowledge of the MBA programs at top schools. From the beginning, she was very practical and thoughtful in her approach, guiding me to play to my strengths. Not only did we work on my strengths, but also I refined my weaknesses based on her recommendations. She encouraged me through multiple iterations of essays until both of us were satisfied with the end result. When I secured an interview from my top choice reach school, she conducted a thorough mock interview, ensuring that we leave no stone unturned. I landed the admit spot at my top choice school and I’m convinced that Sherry was instrumental in the entire process. I wholeheartedly recommend her!!

Before I started applying to business school, I was on the fence about whether or not to hire a consultant. Some of my friends who were already in business school were urging me to hire one, but the price point made me consider going through the process without external help. I am happy to say I am beyond thrilled that I chose to work with Carrie. She was extremely flexible with her time, and was able to work with me to get the personal brand messaging on my application in a great place. I ended up getting into my number one choice school, and I am not sure that would have happened without Carrie’s help. I really appreciated Carrie’s ability to work with me to ensure that my application hit all the points that admissions offices were looking for, while giving an accurate depiction of my career and career goals going forward.

I had a great experience working with Sherry to prepare multiple Round 1 applications in 2019. I specifically chose to work with Sherry because of her experience as a former admissions officer at Fuqua/Duke. Following our initial kickoff call, it was clear that she knew her stuff and I was reassured in my decision to work with SBC. The company takes a team-based approach to help clients. In addition to my consultant, parts of my application were reviewed by another former MBA admissions officer during the “flight test” phase and my resume was reviewed by another member of SBC as a helpful second-set of eyes.

Sherry helped me select several MBA programs that aligned with my interests/goals and provided me with candid and actionable feedback on my strengths and weaknesses. Sherry provided timely feedback (within 48 hours response time) on resume structure/content, essay brainstorming, and any other application questions. In a relatively short time-frame, she helped me prepare a strong Round 1 application and even took time out of her weekend to conduct a one-on-one mock interview with me.

In December, I received the good news that I had been accepted to a top program (with merit scholarship)! I couldn’t be more excited and I appreciate Sherry’s assistance and flexibility in helping me finalize a successful series of Round 1 applications.

Sherry and SBC have all the resources and skills necessary to prepare any MBA applicant and decipher the challenging process of applying to business school. I highly recommend Sherry and SBC to anyone interested in applying to a top MBA program.

I am very grateful for the support of Sherry and the entire SBC team. From my original free consultation with Sarah which gave me the confidence to pursue MBA programs to my flight tester who gave me a second set of eyes on the application in the way, a real reader would the entire SBC team supported me along the way. Sherry provided valuable insight and helped keep me on schedule. Her experience working on an AdCom allowed her to answer my most specific questions. She helped me see my essays through to their best state and helped with my mock interview. After working with Sherry on the 3 School All-In package I was admitted to all 3 schools I applied to; Kellogg, Tuck, and Fuqua.

I highly recommend Beth and the entire team at SBC. Beth was my primary partner throughout the business school application process; I was ultimately accepted to Darden, Kellogg, Stern, Ross, and Fuqua (with a scholarship!). Based upon my numbers (3.3 GPA, 700 GMAT, not a particularly strong quant background), receiving this many admissions offers at such great schools is something that I truly didn’t think was possible for me.

I was referred to SBC through a personal connection and, following an initial conversation, knew that it was the right choice for me. Beth and the rest of the SBC team struck a perfect balance between providing constructive criticism on my school choices and essays while always being immensely supportive. I was constantly impressed by Beth’s deep knowledge of the MBA application process and schools. I also appreciated SBC’s team-based approach. I always felt that I was getting the most accurate answers possible to my questions.

I was also incredibly impressed by Beth’s ability to help me to elevate my admissions essays while ensuring that my personal voice was always coming through. We did a mock interview which was very helpful and played a large part in my success in the interviews to come. Beth also pushed me to take “Math for Management” which strengthened my application by supplementing my minimal quant background and helped me to prepare for business school next year.

Lastly, amidst the incredibly stressful and daunting MBA admissions process, Beth was an amazing partner. I feel that she truly cared about me and went out of her way to build our relationship. She has also helped me to think beyond rankings and to really ascertain my “fit” at each of the schools that I applied to.

I’m so thankful that I made the decision to go with Beth and SBC!