Amy

Amy was an amazing consultant to work with. As a LatAm applicant with a relatively low GRE score, she kept me motivated through these incredibly stressful journey and helped me focus on my key personal and professional strengths to portray in my applications, and also helped me select the MBA programs that made the best fit for me. I appreciated how direct and candid she was and how she helped me resolve all of my doubts and concerns in a clear and concise way. Her insights and experience from being a former admissions committee member were truly invaluable. Amy was always available to jump on a call at anytime to review my essays or discuss any topic regarding my applications.

The SBC team was very professional and responsive throughout my journey and would highly recommend them. One of SBC’s most useful resources is the Flight test, where another consultant reviews your application, acting as a member of admissions in an MBA program and providing critical feedback. Beth Tidmarsh was extremely helpful as an external consultant by reviewing my essays with a fresh set of eyes and pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of my application. Another great resource is the pool of sample essays that the SBC team makes available from different programs.

I was immediately engaged after the intro call to SBC with Bill Chionis’s who also helped me make my match with Amy, and Toni Pollak was always available to solve any doubts and help me create my profile.

I couldn’t be more excited for my multiple admits and can’t thank the SBC team enough for their help!

Amy was the consummate professional right from the beginning. My biggest regret is not working with her sooner. Every single interaction I had with her was overwhelmingly positive, even when she was delivering candid feedback on my application. After just one phone call she could tell the type of applicant I was, and was very flexible in focusing on the areas that we both agreed would make the most impact as a re-applicant. She was generous with her time and always responded in a timely manner, especially as we approached various application deadlines. While my only goal was starting a FTMBA program in 2023 coming into it, I am starting at one of my top choices in just a few weeks with some scholarship money that I never expected to receive. What I appreciated most was her candor in setting expectations on my chances with each program I was applying to from the beginning, but not letting that deter us either. I had a weak GPA, and Amy made sure we were able to overcome that and now I’m eagerly waiting to get started in my program soon!

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!

Amy is truly the best – she held my hand through the whole process and landed me admittance into two top programs! I came to Amy in need of a ton of guidance. I wasn’t sure which schools or programs would the best fit for me. Right out of the gate it was clear that Amy really cares about her clients. Amy took the time over numerous calls to get to know me personally and professionally, which uniquely enabled her to point me in the right direction and together were able to craft the best possible application. We landed on Exec. MBA programs – it was the right fit professionally, but admittance would be a challenge as I’m on the younger side (or even below the minimum requirement). Amy was super helpful in building an application that conveyed my story and why I was a great fit to the admissions teams of my target schools. The results speak for themselves, I was admitted to two top programs and couldn’t be happier! I wouldn’t have been able to get there without Amy’s commitment to understanding me personally and her informed perspective having worked in MBA admissions previously.

I really enjoyed SBC’s process and the rest of the staff. Esther does a great job selecting the consultant that will be the best fit. The practice they build in was great – I got to run through the whole application process before actually applying through mock interviews and an application flight test. Amy and SBC are fantastic. I highly recommend!

Honestly, I don’t even know where to begin. I’m still in shock of my admit to my top choice program, UC Berkeley EWMBA! My story is unique — I have a very low undergrad GPA and thought I would never stand a chance.

Once I mustered up enough courage to give part time b-school applications a try, I called SBC. I was connected to Sarah who gave me very honest and valuable advice. I took her advice to heart and started working on my weaknesses right away. Sarah matched me with Amy as my consultant and she was such a great fit from the start.

Amy was so kind, supportive, and always gave me the reassurance I needed that my dreams of attending a top MBA program were possible with hard work and dedication. That was exactly what I needed whenever my doubts crept up in my head (and they crept up very often!). She encouraged me to take extra classes to combat my low GPA and to try the GRE instead of the GMAT. Her advice and feedback were so incredibly valuable and helpful. I was able to take 4 extra extension classes and do well on the GRE, especially the quant section.

It amazes me how much progress I made with Amy when I reflect back on the process and where I started from. I’m incredibly proud of the application we were able to put together and Amy really helped me put a cohesive story together. She was able to tie in elements from my culture, my short term and long term goals, and my explanation for the low GPA into one cohesive application that also highlighted Haas’ defining leadership principles.

Additionally, the flight test option that was included in my all-inclusive school package was also critical for me. Beth, who is a former Admissions officer at Kellogg, completed my flight test and provided great feedback for me to implement during my interview. It was also mentally reassuring to have that flight test be your one last check before submitting your application.

All in all, I 100% recommend Amy and the rest of the team at SBC! If you have a big weakness in your profile, please don’t give up before you try. I’m so glad I pushed through the uncertainty and doubt. I could not be more excited to be attending Haas this year.

Amy was amazing to work with, and I’m super happy with my outcome. I was accepted to a top MBA program (my first choice) with over half my tuition covered by scholarship. Amy really got to know me and understood my background. She helped me whip my resume into tip top shape and clarified my post MBA goals. She also did interview prep, which made me feel relaxed and confident.

Even though I attended an Ivy League school for undergrad, my GPA and GMAT left something to be desired. Amy helped me offset this by pushing me to highlight my work experience to best position myself as an applicant and offering insightful feedback on my essay.

I appreciated Amy’s honesty, thoughtfulness, and responsiveness. She was an invaluable resource, and I felt much less stressed since I could ask her questions about the application process. I would definitely recommend working with Amy!

Coming across Stacy Blackman’s Youtube videos on effective MBA application strategy, being captivated and deciding to hire them, and working with Amy Bergrud have drastically changed the course of my life for the better. As I write this, I will be an Incoming MBA Candidate at The Robert H. Smith School of Business at University of Maryland. I owe this once in a lifetime opportunity due to working with Amy.

Hiring Stacy Blackman Consulting and working with Amy was the best investment I ever made. My goal was attending graduate school in 2021, but due to Covid-19, I was forced to reprioritize my goals and apply to graduate schools at the last minute. To make matters worse, I did not have a stellar undergraduate GPA (2.75) and had to provide reassurance to the Admissions Committee by submitting an additional essay that my undergraduate academic performance will not be repeated.

Amy listened to my overall experience, shared challenges we needed to address and was able to provide a clear roadmap to strengthen my candidacy. She transformed my resume, MBA Professional and GPA Explanation Essays by revising these materials ensuring my background and story aligned to the MBA program’s mission. Additionally, we conducted rigorous mock interviews where she provided instantaneous feedback to make sure I aced the interview with the Admissions Counselor. With our hard work, I felt confident being the strongest MBA candidate possible, proceeded with the application process, and performed flawlessly in the interview. While implementing Amy’s feedback strengthened my application, Amy truly elevated my candidacy by encouraging and coaching me to be vulnerable and authentic to the Admissions Committee.

Upon receiving the official acceptance email, Amy was one of the first few individuals I wanted to share the great news. I remember calling Amy teary-eyed and emotional telling her how thankful I am in having her as my MBA Consultant and achieving our goal. It was a special moment for both of us and I felt Amy really cared about me not only as a client but as a human being as well. I am forever grateful to Amy and would recommend her services anyone seeking an MBA Consultant at the top of their craft and dedication to see her clients succeed.

Sincerely,

Tom Sin

Amy was an amazing resource for me during my application process. She went above and beyond to understand my story, and my post-MBA goals to present myself in the best way possible. I had a lot of ideas spinning in my head, and she helped me distill them to one or two overarching ideas to tell a clear, succinct, and impressive story. I not only got into my top target school but I was also awarded a scholarship. Her industry knowledge, and experience not only as a former admissions staff but also as a former MBA student, was incredibly helpful. She was genuinely engaged in my journey, and it showed during her time advising me, leading to an incredibly successful application!

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.

Amy was the ultimate professional. From the start, she took time to understand me, my background, my goals, and my why. You really get a sense throughout the process that she genuinely cares about you. From there, she planned efficiently and strategically to highlight your strengths, compensate your weaknesses, and most importantly help you craft your perfect story. I was an applicant with a below average undergraduate GPA and GMAT score for the schools I wanted, but Amy positioned me to be competitive among other strong applicants and eventually helped me get into the school I wanted. Amy is extremely approachable, and she keeps you accountable throughout the long process.

Amy helped me with my essays and interviews to get into one of my dream schools. Given my less than stellar undergraduate GPA, Amy helped me position myself by highlighting my work and life experiences in the essays to stand out. The one trait that makes Amy a really good consultant is that she is takes the time to really understand your goals and personality which she then uses to bring out and highlight as selling points in your essays. Thx Amy for helping me secure admission to one of the top 10 Part-Time programs.