Stacy Blackman Consulting | MBA Admissions Consultants

Colette is the absolute best! I got the “all-in” package with her and it was worth every penny. She is incredibly detail-oriented, focused on improving your profile, and most importantly, genuinely cares about you and your outcomes. She goes the extra mile to help understand you and your story. Her guidance, insights, and advice helped bring my application to the next level and was instrumental in getting me accepted into GSB, HBS, Kellogg, Tuck, and Fuqua. I never imagined I’d be accepted into those schools but Colette helped make it possible! I couldn’t recommend Colette more. A huge thank you to Colette and the Stacy Blackman Consulting Team!!

When I started the application process, I reached out to several coaching companies, but Meg and SBC ended up being the clear standout. I was matched by Sarah with Meg after an initial consultation call, and it was clearly a great match. From the first call, Meg exuded confidence, knowledge and encouragement – all things that I was in need of during the process. Unlike other firms I talked with, Meg believed in me from the start, and encouraged me to apply to all the schools I had my heart set on (other firms discouraged me from applying to the schools I ended up getting into).

She also was straightforward and practical, which was crucial to my success in the process. Just as one example, she suggested I retake the GRE and raise my score to be a more competitive applicant, and with her help and SBC GRE tutoring, I was able to reach the score she recommended. She also coached me through my interviews and went above and beyond by soliciting outside input from colleagues as well. With her help, I entered the interviews fully prepped.

Throughout the entire process, Meg instilled confidence in me, while providing me practical tips/advice that were crucial to my success. With her help, I was admitted to Sloan, Kellogg, Booth and Stern, with scholarships from all of the schools. Even after being admitted, she helped me navigate my scholarship negotiations, and helped me more than double my scholarship funds.

Overall, all I can say is that if you are looking for someone that will not only motivate you and be your biggest cheerleader, but also provide you with practical, crucial advice during the process, Meg is the perfect coach for you!

Sarah was fantastic to work with. She is attentive, kind, and genuinely cares about your application and success. As an HBS alum, she was able to provide unique insights into their process and help me craft my story in the best possible way. We went through a mock interview together, and her feedback was invaluable as I went into the real thing. I couldn’t recommend Sarah more highly – she was an invaluable asset throughout the application process, and you won’t be disappointed if you work with her!

I could not have imagined that applying to business school would have been fun! And super successful! I worked with Caryn on my MBA applications to HBS, MIT, CBS, and Wharton – and was admitted to all four schools! Caryn and I started working together in April of the year I was applying (R1). Caryn led me throughout the way and ensured I was not overlooking any piece of my application or missing an opportunity to shine, pushing and encouraging me as needed. She has tremendous experience, both in the MBA industry as well as a consultant, and it showed! She provided a detailed preparation plan and timeline, which meant I was not overworked or overloaded and actually enjoyed the process (even with a very busy job)! She helped me find my story and curate it for each school. She provided very tactical guidance and was always available to review my work and provide feedback (with incredible turnaround time). Her guidance did not stop after the submission of my application, but rather she helped me get ready for my interviews and debriefed with me once I had my offers in hand. Looking back, I could not be happier with my decision to work with SBC and Caryn – I strongly encourage anyone applying to work with her!

My experience with Danielle was nothing short of amazing. With a little over a week left before the application deadline, I worked with Danielle to get her professional expertise on my essays and résumé. In a relatively quick turnaround, she was able to provide me with very thorough and detailed feedback that boosted my confidence in submitting my best application possible. She even shared some tips and tricks for how I should present my résumé to employers after graduation. I truly believe Danielle played an integral part in my acceptance to CBS!

Sarah’s support and guidance were absolutely crucial to my success in getting accepted to both GSB and HBS. Sarah is incredibly knowledgeable about the admissions process at both universities and was able to provide invaluable insights. She is an expert at helping you formulate your personal narrative to best express yourself as a holistic candidate. Sarah is patient, kind, and wholly invested in your success. She truly embodies all the best aspects of an educator, a mentor, and a coach. I am incredibly grateful for all her support throughout the application process!

It was so great working with Jessica. As a non-traditional applicant working on a tight timeline with zero exposure to MBA programs beforehand, Jessica struck such a fantastic balance of encouraging me, making sure we remained realistic and making sure I stayed on track while navigating a new process. She took the time to get to know me by asking thoughtful questions, and I felt heard and seen throughout our time together. She then leaned on these conversations to ensure I was leaning into my true self while completing applications. Jessica remained responsive and flexible throughout, and I knew I could come to her with any questions. She also was great at not taking things personally whenever I decided to move in a different direction from her suggestion (which was rare). I was a Consortium applicant, and Jessica’s knowledge of this process as both a student and an adcom member was invaluable.

I was accepted into all schools I applied to, including 2 schools that were initially considered “reach” programs. I received scholarships at all but 2 programs and full fellowships at multiple programs. Jessica’s support played an integral role in these successes, which I would never have imagined as I started researching MBA programs.

Although I was initially skeptical of spending such an exorbitant amount of money on a consultant, I believe Jessica’s support made a significant positive impact on my application process. As a family member put it after I received my fellowships, “oh, I guess that really expensive lady you worked with was worth it.” I couldn’t have put it any better myself. Jessica is truly wonderful, and I’m excited to remain in touch with her moving forward.

I have nothing but the highest praise for Kate. CBS was my top choice for b-school, and with Kate’s help, I was able to get in (with $$$). I made the decision to apply to CBS rather late in the game, and with only a few weeks until the Early deadline (and app materials in disarray), I desperately reached out to Stacy Blackman and was matched with Kate. Despite the time crunch, and working on a five-hour package, she helped me craft the perfect strategy (from scratch) and worked step-by-step to make sure all of my materials perfectly reflected me and my story. She brought an incredible wealth of knowledge about CBS, and helped me tailor my application in a way that not only spoke to AdCom’s preferences but also genuinely brought out the best of my own experiences and strengths. Above all, she’s an incredibly kind and caring person, and will go out of her way to make sure that you’re putting your best foot forward on your application. If you’re applying to CBS and considering hiring a consultant, there’s no one better than Kate for the job.

My experience working with Mark was flawless. Simply put, without Mark’s help and expertise I wouldn’t have been accepted to a top-tier MBA program.

I applied to only one business school and the stakes were high, but in our first video session, Mark asked me a ton of questions to identify my strengths and weaknesses (including my GMAT score) and helped me explore my passions and fears. He talked me through every detail of the application process and calmed me down. Mark made me feel confident about the application steps and excited about the challenge.

One of Mark’s greatest strengths is his profound understanding and expertise in the admissions process of the best business schools in the world, he has a born talent to tell stories, and that is why he is so successful at what he does. Mark worked as a recruitment officer at London Business School and Oxford for several years and has a vast network in other top U.S. and European schools. Mark taught me since day one how the MBA recruiters think, what they value and what they hate, and how to really connect with them. He gave me ideas and gave me a framework to start crafting my essays, my resume and encouraged me to openly talk with the people that could be my potential recommenders and how to approach them.

Mark sent me a tailored strategy, with detailed, easy to digest directions to tackle each of the admissions requirements, and motivated me and encouraged me all along the way.

I worked on my first drafts following Marks’s guidance (that was EXTREMELY specific to the business school I was applying to) and exchanged a ton of emails, Mark always answered quickly after thoroughly reviewing my proposals and adding comments and suggestions. The final versions of the essays and the resume were masterful. He made sure that I couldn’t express any ideas in the essays in a better way.

Mark also helped me prepare the video recorded questions, we made mock interviews, reviewed every single type of question that could potentially be asked, and worked on my delivery. After his feedback and help to improve every aspect of the interview (light, tone, dressing, facial expressions, body language, volume, preciseness, content, etc.), I was so ready that I felt that the recorded interview was an easy pie and crushed it.

Obviously, his strategy and his work in polishing my story resulted in an interview invite. We had two more sessions to prepare for the face-to-face interview. In those two sessions, he made sure I understood how an interviewer thinks, how to make an impact and most important of all, how to get back on my feet if anything went wrong or I faced very tough questions.

I got admitted to my dream school thanks to Mark O’Brien. He is a great mentor always willing to help. He is a person I would like to call for career and life advice.

Mark got Covid during the time I worked with him and although he was feeling terrible, that didn’t change his super positive attitude. Every time we talked, he always made sure to ask about my life, and how things were going outside the business school world, he made our calls fun and interesting.

If you have read this review so far, you probably have noticed that I am not a native speaker. He didn’t tell me, but I’m pretty sure he really adapted his teaching and communication style so I felt comfortable and confident all the time, he cheered me up every time I said that I was not sure if I could make it, and made me feel special.

On the administrative side, Mark was always willing to talk and answer all my questions, in our calls he never tracked the time or rushed to finish a call. He was always on time and super polite. He is an example of professionalism and excellent customer service.

Apart from being a great consultant, he is a very nice, kind individual. Mark earns my highest recommendation.

I can’t speak highly enough about my experience working with Meg and the rest of the SBC team during my MBA application process. Looking back on everything, I really don’t think the success I had, getting accepted to all my top choices (Wharton, Booth, Kellogg), would’ve been possible without them.

When I signed up with SBC, I didn’t realize how challenging it would be to put together 7 well-done MBA applications in a 2-month span, all while managing a taxing investment banking workload in parallel. At the start, Meg put together an incredibly detailed plan of action, which was invaluable in holding me accountable for the goal I had set. But any great project manager can do this. Where Meg really wowed me in the beginning, was her thoughtful understanding of my strengths/weaknesses and strongest positioning angles. The MBA application process requires an incredible depth of personal introspection, and Meg constantly pushed me to dig deeper. For this, I am extremely grateful. Her encouragement not only unlocked the most compelling essays I could put forth but sincerely helped me learn about myself on a personal level.

Over the months of working with Meg, I can say she was truly a wonderful advisor to have in my corner. She was extremely attentive and responsive throughout, she gave highly instructive and honest feedback, and perhaps most helpful of all she was a consummate advocate and hype woman for me.

Beyond Meg’s impact, the rest of the SBC team was also highly invaluable. I had indicated to SBC early on that Wharton was my top choice. The Wharton-specific feedback I received from my application flight tester was instrumental in optimizing my application, but I think where I really distinguished my application was in my performance in the Wharton team-based discussion interview format. With the SBC-organized mock Wharton TBD under my belt, I can confidently say I demonstrated a level of preparation and excellence in my actual Wharton TBD several days later that really distinguished me from other applicants. I left the TBD interview feeling that if only one applicant from the group was going to be admitted, it had to be me.

I look back on the outcome of my MBA application process with a ton of pride. I really was able to put my best foot forward across the board, and I know Meg and SBC really enabled me to do so. From the bottom of my heart, I am so thankful to them for this.

Stacy Blackman has a long and solid track in making MBA candidates successful, and there is no wonder why considering the quality of its people. Being an experienced professional, international applicant, business advisor, and coach myself, finding the right EMBA consulting match for me was a challenge. But when I first exchanged with Meg from Stacy Blackman, I could immediately tell that she was like no other and that she deserved my trust. Yes, Meg had the huge Ad Comms experience at my target school, Chicago Booth. But what makes her unique is a rare combination of extreme professionalism, acute knowledge, emotional intelligence, and unlimited dedication and attention. She challenged me, pushed me to my limits, helped me enlarge my perspectives, and motivated me when I needed it the most. She believed in me, and she proved it at every moment. I got admitted to the EMBA program at Chicago Booth and I could not have done it without Meg. Beyond the EMBA application process and admission, Meg has also left positive marks on me leading me to longer term self reflection, that’s an invaluable gift. I thank Stacy Blackman, Esther, and all the team for their hard work and support, and to Meg I say: “keep shining”. I wish all the best to future applicants, and for those who decided to work with Stacy Blackman and Meg, be ensured you made your first right decision towards making your dreams true.

Rui was everything I could have hoped for and helped me gain admittance and scholarship $$ to both schools I applied for (Kellogg and Emory Goizueta).

I mainly wanted essay help and interview prep, so I did the hourly package. Rui was very candid and helped explain what format essays should be in while challenging me to show the best version of myself, not what I thought AdComs would want to hear. I contribute to my success the genuine style she coached with.

I felt extremely confident submitting my essays and doing interviews because of the work we put in. I’ll never know if I would not have been admitted without Rui, but I certainly would have regretted that with such a level of help available. Rui & Stacy Blackman Consulting worked for me!

I cannot sing Dione’s praises enough! In addition to be incredibly knowledgeable, effective, and responsive, Dione is thoughtful, encouraging, and dedicated. From day one, I knew Dione genuinely wanted to get to know me and was whole-heartedly invested in my success – both personally and professionally.

While I had expected to be hand-held throughout the process and being told what to do, instead, Dione challenged me to be introspective and applications/essays that were true to me. Beyond being a consultant, Dione served as a mentor and my biggest cheerleader. I truly felt like she believed in me, my abilities, and my success from the get-go, and simply guided me to present my authentic, true self in my applications.

SBC’s process was thorough, detailed, and personalized. I had access to Dione 24/7 where I was provided incredibly insightful and actionable feedback, with each iteration pushing me to dig deeper. I found the initial assessment with Esther where she got to know me and matched with Dione, pre-writing exercises that provided clarity in defining my personal “brand” and examples of when I’ve lived those values, and flight test with Beth, especially valuable.

All that said, I am beyond thrilled with my results: admittance to UCLA Anderson with a full ride, Yale SOM with a Dean’s scholarship of $80K, and Northwestern Kellogg with $60K. I will be matriculating to Kellogg, and I could not be happier, and I owe this success in large part to Dione and SBC. I will be referring all my colleagues, friends, and family to SBC. And I genuinely hope (and expect!) that Dione will be a life-long mentor and friend!

Working with Colette was the right decision for my MBA journey. As the title implies, she was responsive, patient, and strategic. I am a hands-on client who asks many questions and finds comfort in talking things through. Colette not only fielded a tremendous number of questions and concerns in an exceptionally timely manner, but she offered additional insight above and beyond what I contemplated. She took the time to understand my strengths, weaknesses, and background and provided a clear and strategic path forward. Pick Colette, be transparent in your experience, come prepared to work, and you will have given yourself the best advantage possible to achieve your goal.

Wharton and Kellogg admit. I had a fantastic time working with Alex. Not being too familiar with the ins and outs of MBA applications, Alex was super helpful in providing the initial guidance I needed to put together competitive packages for my top schools. Throughout the process, he provided very thoughtful and actionable feedback that truly helped me get my applications to where they needed to be. Alex was extremely responsive, flexible, and timely with his feedback. It was a pleasure working with Alex and the SBC team, and I would recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for a no-bullshit, top-tier consultant.

I contacted SBC because it was recommended to me by current MBA students. SBC provided me with team-based support. Sarah acted as my matchmaker and ensured that I was matched with the best consultant for my personality and target schools. Amy, my primary partner and a former Wharton Admissions Expert, created a detailed plan and supported me throughout the application process. Lisa, a former MBA admissions officer, provided a flight test and final feedback for my application. Lastly, Anthony, also a former Adcom, prepared me for Wharton’s mock team-based discussion. In the end, I was very happy with my results!

Amy is understanding, friendly, and detail oriented. She relieved a lot of my stress by ensuring that I was organized by putting together a roadmap with deadlines. During our weekly check-ins, she consistently provided constructive feedback and provided insights on how I could best position myself in my applications. Amy took the time to truly understand my story and the underlying themes in my life. Amy was dependable and responsive throughout the entire process. With no reservations at all, I recommend working with Amy and I cannot imagine going through this process without her! Amy gave me the confidence boost that I needed to apply to business school. She is dedicated to ensuring her clients are submitting their best work and anyone would be happy to have her as a consultant!

I truly enjoyed working with Sherry on my MBA applications. From the attentiveness and overall support I received, I credit my MBA application success to the help I received from her. Sherry worked with me on all aspects of the application process, from essay writing to interview prep. Because of her help, I was admitted into fantastic programs, such as UCLA, Cornell, and Carnegie Mellon. I would strongly recommend anyone wishing to apply to B schools to work with Sherry.

Working with Christina was so easy – she made each step so clear and absolutely understood my goals and application objectives. She was so helpful and always encouraged me to share my sincere stories and goals in my applications (something other consultants didn’t necessarily do). If I had to do it over again, I would absolutely still choose to work with Christina!

I started working with Deanna around October for Round 2 MBA deadlines. She was absolutely amazing to work with. She listened well to what I was thinking post-MBA and she was really able to bring out ideas in my essays that I couldn’t fully put down on paper. She was exceptional and really knew what weak areas I had to target in other parts of my application (as my GMAT was lower than the averages of the programs I was looking at). She was also very thorough with feedback, especially for interviews. Her work with me helped me land 4 interviews (3 of those 4 were acceptances). I would not have landed the interviews at these programs without her. I highly recommend Deanna to anyone who needs to build out their MBA application.

I had the pleasure of working with Sherry Holland through SBC’s ding analysis service that I used after I was rejected during my first round of applications in 2020.
Sherry, who is a former Duke Admissions officer, not only helped me understand where my application lacked but I received actionable advice to improve my candidacy in 2021. Later, I worked with her for four schools and was fortunate to be accepted to my dream school, and also receive two other waitlist offers after my interviews.

Coming from a non-traditional background (Social Impact + Real Estate Development), I was glad to have the resources from Sherry and the rest of the SBC team to portray my very best to the admissions committee. Their professionalism, attention to detail, and empathy really made the whole reapplication process a treat. They didn’t shy away from challenging me to rework some of my materials and helped me put the best foot forward. Lastly, as an international applicant, I felt that I received tailored advice on how to share my story in a way that resonated with the admissions committees while staying true to myself. I was glad I invested in the SBC team, and recommend them highly.

Chandler and the Stacy Blackman team are a must for anyone serious about applying to business school. They were essential to my MBA application process, and I could not have gotten into the GSB without them.

Initially, I was reluctant to work with a consultant on my application since I felt confident about my credentials. But as a non-traditional applicant with some reservations about my quantitative background, I ultimately decided to hire Stacy Blackman, who assigned me to Chandler. My application had all the raw materials, but Chandler helped me to elevate it to make it more compelling to an ADCOM; compared to my undergrad applications, I was surprised to learn all the nuances that went into crafting a strong MBA application. Chandler pushed me to refine my personal narrative in ways I wouldn’t have realized on my own, and I’m confident that those adjustments helped me break through the crowd in an insanely competitive pool of applicants.

I truly believe I owe a large part of my GSB admission to Chandler and Stacy Blackman based on their industry expertise, thoughtful feedback, and professionalism. For such selective programs, it is crucial to put your best foot forward and check your blind spots, and Chandler/Stacy Blackman can get you there.

When I contacted SBC, there were only 2.5 weeks left until the essay deadline. I was put in touch with Amy, who gave me great feedback on my first draft. She questioned me in a way that allowed me to come up with the best version of my essay. She answered very quickly to the emails and helped me get the final version on time. She was very patient and very encouraging throughout the process. Without hesitation, I recommend working with her.

The primary hurdle I faced in my candidacy was a very low undergraduate GPA (<2.5). Furthermore, I had no close contacts who attended graduate school at all, let alone an MBA program. Lastly, I was a reapplicant who faced a previous denial after an interview.

Amy not only gave me a detailed game plan to overcome the weaknesses in my candidacy, but she also guided me through the rest of the application process and answered all of my many many questions for her. She always had time to talk with me about my concerns and I always felt that I was in the hands of an expert. When it came time to prepare for my interview, I had no idea where to even begin, but Amy helped me to prepare for all of the potential questions I could face, as well as how to sell myself as a candidate.

Call me a pessimist, but before we began working together, my initial plan was to work with Amy on my number 1 school and then if/when denied, I would use the materials we made together for any other schools on my list for a later round of applications. Ultimately, I was not only accepted to my #1 but I also received a Fellowship!

From a technical standpoint, there is no doubt in my mind that Amy has the skills that can help you achieve your MBA application goals, but perhaps just as important as that, Amy actually cares about your success. Even when I was struggling with what felt like insurmountable odds, Amy was always rooting for me and I truly felt like she was just as hopeful for my success as I was. Her genuine words of encouragement kept my morale up throughout the process and went a long way toward making our partnership feel more than simply transactional.

Amy absolutely blew my expectations out of the water! If you need anything from a simple essay review to full start-to-finish application assistance and interview preparation, Amy is the professional for you!

Alex is the best! I still cannot believe I got an admit to the Stanford MSx program. Without Alex, I do not think I would have gotten there. From the beginning, he went through my background, experiences, and stories and advised me on how to be strategic. I also got Alex’s help with reviewing my recommendation letter and even my recommender spoke highly of Alex. He did many decent editing on my essays and my recommendation letter. When I received the interview, Alex also helped me with mock interview prep and gave me detailed feedback. He is very patient and he knows what he is doing!

I would highly recommend Alex and SBC!!

I cannot speak more highly of working with Stacy Blackman Consulting, particularly Meg and Sarah. I first decided to work with an MBA consultant because I felt like there were so many directions I could take my applications, but I didn’t have the time to spend hours on Google trying to find the correct approach. I specifically chose to work with SBC compared to other consultants I interviewed for two reasons: 1. The team’s collaborative working style and breadth and depth of experience working on Ad Comms at top programs gave me the confidence that they knew what they were talking about across all programs, and 2. They told me WHY I needed to do certain things so I was bought into the progress and truly felt like I earned my admits. I am delighted that I was accepted to Kellogg, Tuck with an 80% tuition scholarship, and Fuqua with a 100% tuition scholarship. Working with this team was absolutely worth the investment and was a delight!

As part of the MBA application process, I was looking for a consultant who could ensure I was putting my best foot forward in my applications. Sarah helped me take a step back to critically think about what made my application unique and how I could best share my story in the essays. She also helped review my resume to ensure I was best highlighting the impact I’ve made on organizations in my professional career. I truly believe Sarah’s ability to help me “build my brand” played a key role in my application standing out and am thrilled to share that I was accepted into Chicago Booth. I would highly recommend Sarah to anyone looking to apply to top MBA programs.

From the start, Meg and the rest of the SBC team were dedicated and gracious advisors in my business school application process. It was recommended that I work with Meg thanks to her experience as a former Booth AdComm. That being said, Meg dedicated herself to not only my Booth application, but all of my applications. We worked through each part of the application process from story ideation to resume and essays and beyond to waitlist processes. Meg provided formative and actionable feedback each step of the way. I couldn’t have done it without Meg!

I started working with Deanna pretty late into the game – In October with a January 4th submission deadline. My GMAT score wasn’t extremely competitive for the schools I was reaching for, but Deanna gave me such great and interesting advice on ways to strengthen my application. She really listened to me, my story, and my needs and helped highlight my strengths and unique qualities. She was sensitive to my timeline and I appreciate her really hitting the ground running, wasting no time to make sure I was about to get the most out of the next couple of months. Even while she was on a pre-planned vacation, she was available at all times to answer emails and calls. What I appreciated from Deanna was not only was she realistic and straightforward with me, but she also made me feel confident highlighting the strengths I had. I definitely would not have submitted the same application on my own, and I’m so thankful for Deanna’s very detailed tips and advice. By the time my interview came around, I felt so ready to answer any question thrown my way. I had consulted with a few other companies before going with Stacey Blackman and I am so happy with the choice I made! I never felt discouraged through the process and ended up getting into my dream school!

I was recently admitted to CBS (my dream school), and I owe a huge thanks to Ally. She’s been my primary partner along the way, and she has been immensely helpful throughout the process—from answering questions, and providing feedback on my essays, all the way to giving me a mock interview! She’s very knowledgeable, responsive, and easy to work with—all in all, I highly recommend her!

If you’re looking for someone who knows the ins and outs of the MBA admissions process, look no further than Sarah. She’s an HBS grad who helped me get into Stanford GSB, and she’s been in the business of helping people get into top MBA programs for years. Sarah is knowledgeable about every aspect of the application process, from crafting a killer resume to acing your interviews. She was also able to help me focus my essays and make sure that I was presenting myself in the best light possible. I couldn’t recommend her more highly – if you’re serious about getting into a top MBA program, give Sarah a call.

It was a very positive experience mocking with Danielle. She provided detailed feedback and prepared questions that covered pretty much all possible topics. I felt pretty prepared coming out of our two mock sessions!

Christine is the absolute best to work with. She is honest, thorough, and thoughtful. Going into the process, I didn’t know much at all or the introspective effort required of me. From helping refine my resume, to reviewing my essays/data form and doing a mock interview with me, Christine helped me recognize my strengths and craft an incredibly compelling narrative that I was proud to share with the schools I applied to. I’ll be heading to HBS this fall and I couldn’t have done it without Christine’s help!

Deanna is everything I could hope for in an admissions consultant. She’s extremely knowledgeable about the process, but more importantly, she was able to transform my ordinary experiences into a compelling yet authentic application narrative. She is unwaveringly positive and supportive. Every time we met, I left with a tangible plan and a boost of confidence. I worked with Deanna on an hourly basis from initial application strategy to final interview preparation, and I could not recommend her enough.

When I kicked off the MBA application process, I was not sure if I was going to be using an admissions consultant or not, but after speaking with Sarah and getting her feedback during our initial session I knew immediately that Stacy Blackman was different from the other companies I had spoken with at the time.

My primary consultant was John Naum and I could not have asked for a better consultant. John not only helped me think critically about my story and develop a strong application, but he was one of my biggest supporters and pushed me to continue forward even when I was doubting my own capabilities. I always appreciated his quick response times when it came to giving feedback on deliverables and always making time to answer my questions throughout the application process. Thanks to John and the rest of the Stacy Blackman team, I was able to not only get admitted to every school I applied to, but I also managed to secure full tuition or near full tuition scholarships to several top 10 schools.

Looking at my admission results, it was clear that choosing Stacy Blackman was one of the best decisions I made during my MBA application process and it provided a huge return on investment through all the scholarships. I can’t say thank you enough to John and everyone else and would highly recommend anyone going through the MBA process to go with Stacy Blackman if you are looking for a great partner to help you through all the stress of applications.

It is difficult for me to imagine what the state of my applications would be without the help of Alex and all the resources that Stacy Blackman gives applicants access to. Alex was most beneficial in the most important aspect of the application, crafting the story. Alex was collaborative in brainstorming sessions and provided objective and necessary feedback, continuing the discussion until we both felt confident. Alex’s feedback on essay drafts was also very constructive. again, necessary in order to ensure an encompassing message was being told within the character limits. I applied to a large number of schools and Alex’s organized and strategic mindset helped us meticulously work through each application and ensure we were tracking to meet deadlines. When interviews came around, Alex provided me with a scouting report for each school and conducted mock interviews which helped me come relaxed and prepared on the day of the interviews. I would highly recommend Alex to anyone applying to MBA schools as he is extremely knowledgeable of the application process, especially when it comes to tailoring essays to different schools/audiences, and he is a “straight shooter” that will be honest and upfront because he knows what is needed for success in this process. Thanks, Alex!

Truthfully, I went into the process a little skeptical. I had heard mixed reviews about utilizing consulting services for MBA applications. Wow was I wrong! I can confirm, with 100% certainty, that Laura’s efforts significantly improved my chances of getting into school. At the beginning of the process, I requested additional support on my resumes and essays. Laura’s incredible attention to detail and knowledge of key buzzwords, that MBA programs look for, was incredibly helpful as I navigated the minutiae of keeping my resume to one page. We also spent significant time going back and forth on my essays, and Laura exhibited extreme patience as I toggled between a few different ideas. Without Laura’s support, I’m confident in admitting that my application wouldn’t have been nearly as strong as it ended up. Thank you, Laura!

Danielle was so informed, and kind, and went above and beyond to support my application. She came to each discussion with extensive research that I never would have thought to research, she edited all of my essays prior to our discussion, and she answered all of my questions above and beyond what was anticipated. She knew more about the school than the website or any other student I talked to. Danielle provided research that was unparalleled and could not be found without her support. She was a great help in my application process. She made me feel calm and excited about the process. I cannot thank her enough. She is great and I look forward to her continuing to help others get into more schools!!

After being given accepted for an interview with CBS, I was quite nervous and didn’t really know what would be expected of me. In a relatively short session, Danielle was able to walk me through common questions, give me a frame of reference for what they are looking for, and boost my confidence going into the interview. I’m happy to say that I was ultimately accepted!

Ally’s advice and support were invaluable during my application and interview process. As a former admissions officer at CBS, she was a great sounding board and helped me align my story in a cohesive way, and brought my application from good to perfect. With her help, I was accepted to my top school of CBS, and I could not recommend her more highly!

As a somewhat busy person who was not on top of the applications, Beth was a great resource in making sure I got my work done in time. She’d follow up when needed and was very organized in general.

Beth is also very knowledgeable and comforting. If I ran something by her, I could trust that I got good guidance on it. She was also able to calm my nerves before the interviews.

I had worked with another consultant prior to Jordana and it just didn’t work out. Hence, I was reluctant to work with a consultant again. Additionally, I only had three weeks until the deadline, so time was in short supply. In hindsight, there was never a reason to be worried. Beyond vast information, Jordana provided deep insights into what I had to offer and how to communicate that in my application. She made me understand the perspective of the adcom and that has made a tremendous difference in my application. I deeply respect her for what she has done for me and I have no doubt she is going to continue to be of tremendous help to future applicants – especially those who are struggling.

To begin, I want to thank the entire SBC team, especially Sarah and Meg. I had a very good experience working with the entire SBC team. After being waitlisted and rejected for one school, I decided to evaluate my entire application with SBC to understand the areas of improvement in my application. I decided to go for Booth as it was my dream school. I recall Sarah mentioned Meg was her recommended choice to work with considering my experience and being a previous Booth adcom. Initially, I had one phone conversation with Meg and she gave overall feedback and what to focus on in my application and essays. Once we started off with evaluating my essays, Meg helped me understand how to tie the essays together, giving my story life. Next, my resume was too dense or packed. Meg was very direct on what to have and what not to have in the resume. I still remember she mentioned ‘my career progression wasn’t showing as it should. Additionally, she helped me identify a gap, which I did not consider in my earlier applications. What I enjoyed the most working with Meg was her quick turnaround time and the direct feedback. Meg helped me realize my edge over other applicants. Also, I did have an interview session with Meg over the phone and zoom, helping me boost my confidence. Meg would tell me what she liked about my response and where to improve. I realized it was the trust we developed over the short period that helped me ace the interview. Overall, I had an amazing experience with Meg and I would recommend Meg to prospective Booth candidates.

When I started my MBA journey, the only school I was interested in attending was Oxford SBS. My GMAT score was low, really low, and other consultants discouraged me from applying, suggesting that I was better off focusing my efforts on retaking the GMAT. However, I knew I had a great ‘story’ that aligned with the SBS vision for future leaders, I just needed someone to help me highlight the key elements of that story in my application. Mark was that person for me. He started out by recapping the application process end-to-end, and highlighting the key things I needed to bring out in my essays, resume, and interview questions. He was extremely responsive, and we did 2-3 iterations, deciding what to cut and what to strengthen before I felt confident that I was capturing the best version of myself in the application package. Mark went above and beyond during this process, through reviews, interview coaching, and (after getting accepted!), scholarship applications. I sincerely would not have had the confidence to submit an application without Mark’s guidance, and with his support – I even received a scholarship! If you’re looking for someone who will not only provide you with top quality guidance, but also cheer you on along the way. I would highly recommend Mark O’Brien.

I was able to receive offers from both Rotman and Stern FT MBA thanks to months of back and forth working with Christine Hawkins from SBC. She was very knowledgeable about the entire process and helped me break down a daunting mission into very doable tasks by providing detailed guidance every step of the way. She was completely honest with me and always provided me with no-BS feedback from the very start – what I appreciate from her the most. She also pushed me to think hard about how I can improve my application when I needed it. The entire SBC staff from intro to mock interview was also amazing. I couldn’t have gotten these amazing opportunities without the SBC team and Christine’s patience and expertise!

I had heard of SBC through a friend and recent admit to CBS. He had an amazing experience and could not have had better things to say. I reached out and emailed with Esther from SBC before getting paired with Kate on a 5 hour package. She reviewed my initial materials (first essay draft, resume) and then we scheduled a video call to go over the application materials and I was able to brainstorm ideas for an overall story.

Kate was very responsive during our time working together and was able to reply back within 48 hours. Aside from reviewing essay drafts, Kate was also able to review application data forms which was very helpful during the final application process.

Overall, Kate was extremely helpful and an amazing advisor. She helped me craft a real story throughout my application as well as gave guidance on test and interview prep. I highly recommend both Kate and SBC for MBA consultant help.

I found Amy through Stacy Blackman Consulting, and I am soooo happy that I chose to work with her on my Wharton EMBA applications. She has extensive experience with the Wharton EMBA program. She helped me find my characteristics which best match the program’s application. She was very supportive when I was not confident. She was always responsive via email when I needed help. Since I started to consult with her half a year before the application, Amy set up a schedule for my preparation. I really appreciate Amy for guiding me through the application journey.

I started working with Caryn from Stacy Blackman from the very beginning (early 2021) on the “all-in” package. My background is very untraditional which typically makes the application process a lot more difficult. When I reached out to SBC, Esther was kind enough to match me with Caryn and provided all the support needed for the onboarding process.
My MBA application process had many ups and downs. However, with the continuous support, help, and guidance I got from Caryn, nothing was impossible! I applied to 4 of the M7 schools, got interview invites in 3m, and ultimately got accepted to Wharton and MIT Sloan.
To say that Caryn is a superstar would be an understatement! Caryn helped me through every step of the process and spared no comments, recommendations, or constructive criticism when necessary. She was always very nice and gentle, but pushed me hard and challenged me through every step of the way, and I truly believe that’s what makes her special. I was particularly impressed by her turnaround time (less than 24hrs)!

Overall, I’m very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Caryn and the entire SBC team! I would recommend her to anyone thinking of pursuing an MBA!

I really can’t say enough good things about Caryn and the entire team at SBC! After researching a ton of different firms and speaking with more than a few other consultants, I started to have decision paralysis because everyone seemed so similar. What separated SBC for me, however, was the team-based approach they took to my application. From my very first screening call with Bill, my strategy sessions with Caryn, and the flight test/interview prep I took part in with other consultants, SBC gave me access to 4-5 MBA consultants / ex-admissions officers who all gave me unique perspectives and advice for improving my candidacy.

Caryn in particular completely exceeded all of my expectations. Because I had a job with long hours, one of my biggest concerns was how I’d get all my apps done in time but Caryn handles everything with a laser-focused efficiency that kept me on track and moving at a steady pace throughout the 6 months I worked with her. She was always responsive (within a day), gave clear/detailed instructions and comments, and even followed up with me whenever I got behind (which was often..). She also helped me take disparate parts of my resume and finance-heavy background and craft a narrative that clearly articulated my career transition goals and all-important why MBA response.

With Caryn’s (and the whole SBC team’s) help, I received admission to HBS, Wharton and Kellogg (with a scholarship) and I could not be more thrilled with the outcome! While hiring a consultant was a big investment, I knew that getting an MBA would be an even bigger one so I wanted to make sure I gave myself the best possible chance of getting into my dream schools. I really don’t think I could’ve gotten into the schools I did without Caryn’s help and would highly recommend SBC to anyone who’s considering applying.

Result: 1 admit (MIT) and 2 rejections.
Review: I was referred by a friend to SBC and was paired with Dione as my dedicated consultant for the All-In partnership. It has been a pleasant experience working with Dione thru the stressful application process and here are a few things I’d love to highlight:
1. Quick Response: Dione is super fast in responding to any questions I have, reviewing my materials and providing comments, generally within 24 hours. Her efficiency significantly elevated our productivity of the entire application process.
2. Experienced: Dione has strong experience in both MBA and college applications and her advice on resume revision, essay theme selection, recommender communication, supporting material preparation, interview, etc. was not only pinpointed but also actionable.
3. Comprehensive support: In addition to Dione as my dedicated consultant, I also had Esther as my initial guide + matchmaker, and Kim, who is a former Admissions Officer helped review my application package as a flight tester. Moreover, SBC provided a detailed knowledge base with a vast amount of information by schools as well as InterviewStream, an online platform that helped me prepare for virtual interviews. This 360-degree team-based approach really allowed SBC to provide all the support you may need during the MBA application process.

Ally was a steadying hand throughout my reapplication process. She highlighted areas of weakness in my application with suggestions for improvements, and more importantly for me calmed my insecurities about perceived areas of weakness that weren’t as weak as I thought. She was very knowledgeable about the ins and outs of the admission process and identified countless areas for improvement that were subtle, but made a big difference in aggregate.