About | Privacy Policy | Advertising| Editorial | Contact Us
Follow Us
Subscribe | Login
385
8,700
Graduate: 8 Years Undergraduate: 8 Years
Firm
Engineering
Product Development
English
Consultant
Stacy Blackman Consulting
California
United States
Net Promoter Score: 10
William received his MBA from The Paul Merage School of Business at University of California /Irvine in 1994. William was a member of the charter FEMBA Program and inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma national business honors society for academic achievement. William also received service awards from UC Irvine for recruiting and promoting the FEMBA Program. William served on the Board of Directors of the Graduate School of Management Alumni Association from 1996-1999 where he launched their highly profitable merchandising program.Prior to earning his MBA, William earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Materials Engineering from the University of Illinois – Champaign in 1984 and worked for 10 years in aerospace project management for Parker Hannifin and McDonnell Douglas Space Systems. After earning his Executive MBA, William worked in Product Management for information systems companies including ChoicePoint and Focal Communications. After successfully turning around a privately held manufacturing company as Director of Business Development, William created a start-up corporation, Divine Products, Inc.in 2005.
Since 2001, Stacy Blackman Consulting clients have been admitted to every top business school worldwide, often with merit scholarships. Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) delivers results, as shown through its record of the highest number of online reviews across multiple MBA admissions ranking and review sites. Our online track record includes #1 on MBAinsight, BeattheGMAT, ClearAdmit, and #1 out of 11 firms for our team caliber by PoetsandQuants.
We begin with meticulous matchmaking before we begin an engagement or accept payment. We recommend a primary consultant only after evaluating your candidacy strength and differentiating qualities; we respect your investment and the trust you place in us. We offer a high-touch, limited client-per-consultant experience.
Contact us to request a free MBA advising session with an SBC Principal. Just give us 15 minutes.
OUR TEAM
SBC is the only consulting firm in the industry who has on our team a complete panel of former MBA Admissions Officers from the top US programs and European programs. No other firm has this complete talent. 75% of our MBA consultant team hails from the top seven US MBA programs as MBA graduates and/or former MBA Admissions Officers, including from Harvard and Stanford. The SBC team has MBA expertise at every top school, has graduated from elite MBA programs and understands career paths in every industry, traditional and non-traditional.
Over 1/4 of SBC’s consultant panel is of minority background, and SBC has five consultants who identify as and specialize in LGBTQ+ applicants. This reflects the company’s mission to further diversity in the MBA applicant pool. No other established MBA admissions firm has a team that is as diverse.
OUR KNOWLEDGE
We know what’s going on, and we know it first. We have former Admissions Officers (AdCom) from every top MBA program who are informing us of the current internal program priorities, best practices, unusual dilemmas, successful essay strategies, and interview standards. We have tremendous insight as to what is currently keeping the AdCom up at night and what values they are looking for from their current students.
As one SBC client explained, “What really sets the SBC team apart, however, is the breadth and depth of knowledge; any time that my consultant and I were wondering how to approach a school’s application better, there were numerous former admissions officers from those schools that we could draw on.” Another client said, “I appreciated how the team uses all their former AdCom members to make sure you feel like you’ve put your best foot forward in the application process.”
OUR MODEL
The SBC System™ has eight core modules and is the most robust of all firms.
SBC offers unlimited time with a carefully selected primary consultant, who will be dedicated to understanding you authentically, creating a winning strategy, and defining your unique story for each school. Your primary consultant will be your creative and strategic guide, helping you to create materials that are provocative, informative, school-specific and ultimately effective in resonating with each of your target MBA programs.
Your primary consultant will engage in multiple iterations of brainstorming, development, outlining, and applied review across all MBA application touchpoints—resume, online application form, recommender letters, essays, short answers and more –to eliminate blindspots and optimize every detail so that your story shines and reflects deep knowledge of each of the MBA programs.
SBC also believes in checks and balances, as it has the Flight Test™ which is a complete review by a former AdCom. This structured feedback from a former AdCom mimics a real AdCom review and helps to ensure that a candidate’s application is most compelling to the target audience.
We also include free access to THE VAULT, SBC’s Resource Center with over two decades of sample essays, recommendations, resumes, school overviews, interview transcripts and more. A recent client shared, “The large SBC database was priceless, especially when understanding the differences between schools and when preparing for interviews.”
GET STARTED WITH SBC
SBC deeply values mentorship within its client engagements and limits the number of clients for each consultant. We engage with clients only after evaluating candidacy nuances and deciding that we could be successful together.
Our matchmaking process includes criteria such as track record with target schools, proficiency with your career path, demographics, interests and character qualities, and the consultant’s availability at the time you’re interested in engaging. You’ll be matched with a primary consultant who believes in your candidacy and who is truly excited to work with you. Some of our consultants have a sweet spot for non-traditional applicants while others excel with engineers. Just like you, our consultants’ backgrounds and perspectives are varied.
SBC offers a limited number of complimentary phone or email-based consultations weekly for inquiries who have been pre-screened by our tenured team.
Contact us today to request a free MBA advising session with an SBC Principal.
The SBC All-In Service
A FORMER HBS ADMISSIONS OFFICER ON OUR SBC TEAM SHARED THAT MBA ADMISSIONS LOVE A GREAT STORY AND CLARIFIED:
“I believe it’s true that all people, and therefore all MBA admissions boards, love a great story. It’s a way to bring life to your application and show the realness of who you are during what can be a dry process.”
The majority of our clients select our All-In package because they recognize that the competitive admissions process requires an application set that is stellar and strategic on all levels. SBC’s “All-In” engagement includes:
Personal Assessment & Critical Reflection. Your primary consultant will work to understand you through deeply-probing questions that reveal your authentic dimensions.
Your consultant will dig into the who, what, how and why that forms your story through our 360° Personal Orbit™. You will explore the key MBA acceptance triggers that will be central to crafting your personal story.
We will evaluate your school preferences and criteria and develop a school list according to reach, reasonable, or safer program choices that ensures you apply to programs that you’ll love attending.
We will cover career path guidance–selecting and optimizing your career goals to ensure they are ambitious, purposeful, and attainable– and also recommendation letter(s) guidance to support your story and reinforce your aptitude and potential.
You will receive a complete MBA Application Strategy written summary including your value proposition and career path evaluation, as well as deliverables and tasks with an Attack Plan & Timeline.
One AdCom Flight Test™ as described by a recent client: “After I had gotten the applications to a near-finished state, we shared my application with my flight tester, who was a former MBA admissions officer, to offer a fresh perspective of my entire package. This review was unique and insightful because the reviewer reviews the file in the same way as an admissions officer. The Flight Test ™ provides insight into how the application stands up under the realistic, unbiased scrutiny of an AdCom member versus intensely in the details as your admission’s consultant.”
Up to three formats of interview coaching. Post-application consultation to work through issues such as interviews, waitlist and deferral strategy and school selection.
Hourly First Services
Start with 2-3 hours for the initial strategy work a la carte to test the waters, and you can then roll up into the purchase of an All-In package.
Hourly Services
Hourly services can include any or all of the below:
Initial Strategic Planning
Background Assessment & School Selection
Resume Review
Recommendation Counseling – selection, prep, review
Essay Review – one draft of set of essays
Waitlist Strategy & Communications
Ding Analysis
Location: California, United States
Phone: 866-667-8229
Email: info@StacyBlackman.com
Website: https://www.StacyBlackman.com
10=Without Hesitation, 1=I would advise against it.
Select "N/A" if you are a career coaching client only.
The information below is for P&Q verification purposes only. It will not be published. We may email you to verify parts of your review but you will not be added to our email list. Incomplete reviews will not be published.
Please upload a pdf, png, jpg or gif file.
The entire journey with Bill was great, he just gets people and makes you feel so comfortable. I looked forward to every session with him and his feedback and guidance was just brilliant at every step of the process. You would be foolish if you did not hire Bill, that is all I can say!
Bill was incredible throughout my entire MBA application journey! We started by discussing the programs I was considering, and he was very knowledgeable and helpful in terms of narrowing down my prospective programs. His guidance was exceptional in terms of helping me craft my application in the best manner to tell my story. I would certainly recommend Bill to anyone considering getting their MBA.
After a thorough review of different B-schools consultants I chose to go with SBC and its counselor Bill Chionis. First of all, I really appreciated Bill’s suggestion to choose a 10-hour package instead of the full service which wouldn’t make sense in my case. It was a great flexibility offered by SBC and fully sufficient in my case (EMBA program) to cover key items such as assistance with essays. Secondly, Bill is really knowledgeable professional and, at the same time, a great and empathetic person. On each stage Bill provided a great guidance, made valid suggestions, and offered crucial insight (always offering good arguments). Last but not least, Bill was greatly supportive throughout moments of doubts. It worth a million. Finally, I was admitted by Wharton – a preferred school I applied to. I may suggest SBC and Bill to anyone who is looking for the admission counselor in general, and, EMBA in particular.
Bill is a professional and was exactly what I was looking for when working through the Wharton EMBA application process. He demonstrated his value time and time again. Happy to report that I got into my target school on the first try and Bill played a large part in helping me achieve that.
Bill is more than a typical consultant who comes with a scripted guideline. He came with a great sense of ability to understand, evaluate my strengths and recommend the perfect EMBA program that fits well with my candidacy. Throughout the journey of my application process, he has been a pillar of support and constantly encouraging and had confidence in me. Prepared me really really well for the interviews and presented my profile at its best. I made it to Berkeley Haas! Thank you, Bill. I highly recommend Bill to anyone and your ROI is almost guaranteed with his service.
I worked with Bill applying to Columbia. He helped guide me in the essays and in preparation for the interview. I can’t recommend him enough. He really gave me confidence in my story and helped me tailor it to what CBS was looking for.
He is also super friendly person and a joy to talk to!
When I started my MBA journey, I started from a place of not really knowing the process and understanding what business schools look for in a candidate. I was so happy that I worked with Bill. Bill’s guidance was absolutely invaluable throughout my journey. Even though I took a bold approach in just applying to Kellogg, Bill provided the guidance that I needed to believe in the strength of my candidacy. If you’re considering applying for an MBA, I cannot recommend Bill enough! Thank you, Bill!!
I cannot express in words how easy and productive my experience working with Bill was. I consulted Bill initially for a very different program than the one I applied for and was admitted, and that consult changed my plans for the better. From the very first call, I realized that Bill was not only invested in helping me with the application process but, is also quite exceptional at helping identify what an individual’s career needs may be based on their goals. He considers your overall personality and helps you create a journey map tailored to your unique story, which he then supports you with execution. I found that he helped me draft the most authentic story forward in my application, while also clearly connecting my storyline to the right business school and the right program for me. I believe Bill’s ability to understand people, who they are, and what they need, is what makes him super successful as a career and B-school consultant. THANK YOU BILL!
Without Bill’s guidance, I wouldn’t have been admitted into 6 prestigious B-schools. Wharton, Booth, Haas, Columbia, Ross, and Stern.
I picked Wharton eventually.
Bill brought out the best in me. He guided me through the process, worked patiently with me for ~1 year (we had several meetings), customized his advice by school (Wharton looks at XX, Ross looks at YY and so on).
I worked with Bill to help prepare for two EMBA programs I applied to. I got admitted to Wharton EMBA and Bill’s help was so instrumental along the way. As I was preparing for the admission process, everything was so overwhelming and I didn’t have any personal connections who went through the EMBA process so most things were new and unknown to me. Bill helped me understand the process, what to focus on and in which order, what to expect from interviews, and what the schools were looking for from an EMBA student (which is pretty different than a full-time MBA student). He also helped set expectations about what it will be like during and after the EMBA, gave me a ton of confidence, and was always ready to go above and beyond when I needed it. On top of all that he is extremely responsive, helped me to keep pace, and meet the R1 deadline for both schools. You have to trust your own abilities in the end for sure, but I’d highly recommend working with Bill for anyone considering an EMBA since it is just such a peace of mind to know what’s coming your way and saves you so much time at the end — and time is what you’ll need the most!
Bill is truly one of kind! His passion to help others achieve their goal is deep and is evident in his approach and the support he provides during the application process. Bill helped me execute at the highest level and provided the guidance I needed to get into my school of choice. I have nothing but the best to say about Bill and would recommend anyone considering an MBA to have Bill in your corner during the process. Thank you, Bill!
Bill was fantastic! Bill first helped me define my professional story and through this process, I realized how much value my story and experience has. This served as the foundation for drafting my resume and essays for my applications. I gained confidence that I’m sure exuded in my interviews and communications with the various admissions committees and helped secure admission.
At first, I was hesitant to hire a consultant given the price, but it was worth every penny! Applying to four EMBA programs while working full time with two small children was quite ambitious but Bill helped me organize all my applications and stay on track! Through this process, I completed all my applications and was admitted to all four schools with scholarships from three.
Bill helped me select my top school of choice with Kellogg School of Management. His guidance helped me understand the difference between top schools, and narrow down the right one for me. He clearly laid out the steps needed to succeed and supported my prep for the interview. Alas, I got in!
If you want a straight shooter with valuable insights, then Bill is the best!
I had talked to 3 different groups and finally, I decided to work with the SBC group. I asked the SBC team that I need someone with high experience in the EMBA applications and they recommended Bill. After the first conversation, I found Bill very friendly, disciplined, and knowledgeable. While he was very optimistic, he gave me a realistic overview of my application. I had no doubt that he was the right person for the job. When I got the happy phone call from Wharton regarding my admission, I remembered all his advice and guidance which helped me to be admitted to Wharton. He is patient, knowledgeable, and someone who you can trust with his comments. I am so glad that I hired him for my application process and strongly recommend him for those who want to get into their dream school. He is simply a super-star! Thank you, Bill!
You may have an amazing experience and earned your undergraduate degree from one of the top programs in the world, which I didn’t, but without Bill’s help, you may not stand a chance. I earned my B.A. degree with a major in Accounting from Jordan. I have great work experience, however a low GPA. I was applying to Wharton Business School for Executives for the 2021 entering class.
Application: Most of my work experience has been in consulting, so I can definitely appreciate and distinguish exceptional service from an average service. Bill is just beyond exceptional. Whether you ask for Bill’s advice during the day, night, or weekend, he will always respond and respond quickly! There is no step that I took in the application process without his advice or review. He will always help with pleasure and will always always always add value and make suggestions. You will never feel he just wants to get you off his shoulder and move on.
Essays: Bill took the time to look through my background in detail, laid out the plan and what to expect, provided detailed insight on each essay with examples, and helped me pick the best examples from my experience that would best tell my story. His final touches and suggestions to the essays were invaluable. After I finished each essay with him, I would roll my eyes and tell myself ‘wow, is that really my experience and essay?!’ Again, it is just how to articulate and present.
Interview: Bill prepared me for the interview in two one-hour calls. In the first call: Bill would go through what to expect and what the admission committee was looking for. He will hear you out and respond to these questions to provide you with feedback and comments. Then, I would go to practice and by the second call, he would make it just like a real interview! He will provide you with immediate feedback on each question and let you know how you can improve. The tactics and small hints and advice he provided me were crucial for my interview success. Again, in every interaction with Bill, you will feel the added value!
I always felt that Bill provided me with the best advice to ensure that I would get the best results. I really enjoyed working with Bill and not only is he an astute admission consultant but a great friend and mentor.
Personally, Bill is the only admission consultant that I would ever use to apply for an Ivy League school! I will absolutely recommend working with Bill if you are planning your next successful school admission.
My first experience with Stacy Blackman was after my wife and I hired them to help her with her admissions applications for her Full Time MBA a few years back. So naturally, when it was time for me to begin my own MBA journey, I decided to hire them for help with my Part-Time MBA applications.
My candidacy had many challenges to overcome. My undergraduate GPA was lower than average, my test scores were just alright, and my career journey was a bit unusual. Add to that, when I was much younger I had previously attended a part-time MBA program and failed to complete it.
With all of this in mind, when I first spoke with Bill, I expected him to recommend that I try to apply to a mid-range business school. He reassured me that despite any shortcomings I may have, he would recommend that I try for some of the top part-time MBA programs. I was so surprised and excited that someone like Bill saw potential in me. He was so instrumental in shaping my essays and telling my story to the admissions committees. That is one of his greatest strengths as a consultant. He kept asking me to go deeper into my personal and professional experiences to tell the story of my life and how I’ve reached the decision to pursue an MBA.
He also helped me find ways to improve my resume to demonstrate the full scope of my impact in every role I’ve held.
Further, Bill’s expert knowledge of what each top program seeks in a candidate was key in helping me properly prepare for my interviews. He did mock interviews with me that perfectly replicated the challenges of the actual interviews.
When it was all said and done, I gained admission to Chicago Booth, Michigan Ross, Texas McCombs, and Ohio State Fisher. In spite of my many challenges as a candidate, I was able to gain admission to almost all of the schools to which I applied. I wouldn’t have even thought that I stood a chance at any of these institutions if not for Bill’s help and faith in me. At my lowest points in the application process when I felt like this was all a waste of time and that I’d never get in, he believed in me and continued to build me up. He would say things like “Adam, you are a great candidate; we just need to demonstrate that you’re a good fit for this program.”
Almost a year later, I’m well into my first year at Chicago Booth, a school that I never imagined I’d have a place in. I’m having the time of my life in this program meeting some of the most talented and kind people. I feel confident that I’m building a great network of current students and alumni that will pay dividends for the rest of my professional career. And I never would have taken the first step towards Booth if not for Bill’s services but more importantly his support along the way. If you’re anything like me, on day one, you will be thankful that you hired Bill.
I choose to use Stacy Blackman consulting after having intro calls with a few different groups, and I am so happy I did! I worked with Bill and he was able to help me get admission to the Wharton EMBA program. Going in, I was unsure of what Wharton was looking for in a candidate. Bill knew the admissions process inside and out and was able to really help me position myself for the school. The knowledge I gained during my time with Bill was not only applicable to my application, but will be very useful for future interviews and any other applications I may do!
Bill was not only great in ensuring you understood the methodical process of applying, interviewing, and networking with admissions but also took the time to focus on you the individual. He made sure to guide you into shaping your overall narrative for admissions and reassured you were taking the right steps. You’ll soon realize that his advice is valuable both for understanding the MBA admissions process and for the corporate world. He was hands-on, extremely knowledgeable, and available when needed. All I can do is thank Bill for his invaluable help and 100% recommend his work!
Having done my due diligence on a couple of firms and a handful of consultants, I found myself gravitating back to Bill who at first was acting as the gatekeeper/broker to the roster of SBC consultants.
While his colleagues were definitely competent and experienced, I felt that Bill truly understood how my profile and future intentions lined up very well with Columbia’s JTerm in particular. I could also tell that working with Bill would always be a pleasure, and I am glad to say that I was not wrong!
Armed with Bill’s wisdom and ability to relate with the Adcom, I was able to present my candidacy in the best way possible, while also ensuring that I didn’t commit unforced errors along the way that could’ve resulted in my application getting dinged.
Essentially, if Bill were a soccer coach, his team would score more goals than otherwise, while allowing fewer to be scored against them. If I had to start the process again, I would hope to get drafted by Bill’s team!
But just as any good coach needs strong supporting staff, the rest of the folks at SBC were up to the task. In particular, I had the privilege of working with two former Columbia adcom members who, in the first case, provided feedback on my application as a whole, via SBC’s Flight Test offering (included in my All-In package), and in the second case via an additional hour to focus on Interview Prep.
I started off the search for an executive MBA program knowing little about the process. During the search, I was overwhelmed, intimidated, and confused when I looked at various school rankings and admission process. This is what prompted me to explore various executive MBA admission-consulting firms. I spoke with consultants from a few reputable companies but SBC’s approach, quality stood apart from the others. Particularly, Bill’s reviews on various MBA websites motivated me to go for a complimentary profile assessment with him.
Right from the get-go, Bill was very candid and friendly in his approach—a combination that I think is rare in most consultants. He patiently listened to my background and immediately pointed out areas of strength and weaknesses. He was genuinely interested in my success and made a cogent argument on the long-term value of an executive MBA. In fact, Bill was the one who suggested an hourly package rather than a comprehensive package based on my profile. I signed up for hourly consultation with Bill to help me with school shortlisting, essays, and interview preparation.
I had many questions about shortlisting schools. Bill was very patient, thorough, and knowledgeable about the executive MBA admissions process for Wharton, Kellogg, Columbia, MIT, and several other top business schools. His advice helped me eliminate a ton of hours of research and zero in on a few schools. He also pointed out schools I should focus on and the ones that may not quite be a good fit. This helped me strategically invest time in schools where I had the best admission chances.
Throughout the 12+ months of our interaction, Bill was a pillar of support for my application process. Perseverance and motivation are two key ingredients needed to put up a strong application for a top business school. Bill’s methodical approach, no-nonsense feedback, and gentle nudges (☺) were really helpful in making sure I stay focused on my goal. As Bill and I spent several hours (and emails :)) strategizing on my story, everything else logically flowed from it. My essays, recommendation letters, and interviews had a common theme and complimented each other. As a result, I felt very comfortable during the interview process and was optimistic about my chances. I was elated to hear about my admit into Wharton and profusely thanked Bill soon after.
When you are evaluating executive MBA consultants, choose someone who can be honest about your candidature and can specifically tell you what s/he can do to help enhance your profile (and what aspects cannot be mitigated). This will level set your expectations and the right mindset and help you get into the best business school that fits your profile. Overall, I am so glad that I chose to work with Bill and SBC. Their professionalism, thoroughness, and customer focus are top-notch. Thank you, Bill!
Simply put, Bill is like adding salt to a tomato. He pulls out all of the goodness from the core and brings it to the surface. That’s what he did for me. I got into my dream EMBA program, UC Berkeley Haas, with the help of Bill. I didn’t have many resources to help me with my applications and Bill helped me with everything, from analyzing which school was a good fit for me, to defining a testing strategy, finding an incredible tutor and ultimately, guiding me through the application process. His coaching and expertise pulled out the very best in me even when I couldn’t see it. This gave me a great deal of confidence going into my interviews, which I desperately needed. His empathy, warmth and honesty made it easy for me to trust him with such an important endeavor. I could not have done it without him and I’ll forever cherish the connection we made and the role he played to help me achieve my dreams.
I couldn’t have gotten into my dream school, Wharton, without Bill. He was incredibly supportive, helpful, and used his knowledge to guide me along the way. He is very kind, experienced and is passionate about helping students in their application process. Working with him was very easy and he was always flexible with his time. Not only did he help me with the application process, but he also provided me lots of invaluable insights that helped strengthen my career goals. I appreciated the open, honest dialogue throughout and constructive feedback, which really helped me go outside my comfort zone and put my best foot forward.
I would highly recommend Bill for anyone looking for help in their business school application process.
I had a great time working with Bill through the entire application process for HBS (admitted) and Stanford (waitlisted).
As an older candidate with a decade of experience, the first thing that stood out when I spoke to Bill was how well he was able to articulate the potential weaknesses in my application and how I could work through them. That contrasted pretty heavily with other consultants who I had spoken to, who were generally impressed by my resume and story and didn’t provide enough constructive feedback in our initial consultations.
Bill walked me through the nuances of the different schools and we collaboratively brainstormed about different ways in which I could present my story. He was always available and provided quality and prompt feedback, and ultimately that resulted in a solid application.
Separately, I found it extremely valuable that SBC was able to connect me with consultants that were able to provide additional perspectives. My GSB application was “flight tested” by Caryn, a former GSB admissions officer, and my mock interviews were with alums from HBS and GSB.
I highly recommend working with Bill & SBC!
I would highly recommend Bill as a consultant and coach for any business school program application. Bill is extremely experienced and genuinely cares about his clients. Bill helped me achieve my dream of receiving acceptance into a top-level MBA program. Overall, Bill not only helped me understand the application process better but also helped me map out my career objectives and how to achieve my future goals. Bill is a great guy and I am very pleased that I was able to learn from Him.
I was recommended to work with SBC by a friend and he insisted that I work with Bill. I am glad I took that suggestion and reached out to him. Bill provided tremendous support throughout my application process starting with honest and constructive feedback on my essays to quickly and patiently answering all my questions in detail. Bill’s support was instrumental during my preparation for the interviews. I received positive responses from both, Booth and Kellogg. I can’t thank Bill enough for everything and highly recommend working with him!!
My case is a bit special. I live in China when I was applying, so there’s a time difference. Bill was very nice to adjust his time and schedule to have a phone call with me. Bill is professional enough to build trust, the confidence of me who’s so far away from where he is. I also started a bit late for the application, Bill helps to make a very good time table for us to communicate and work on m application. He’s very knowledgeable about the program and thus making my application process very efficient and smooth given my tight schedule. EMBA is different than a normal MBA. I would highly recommend someone who’s professional, experienced and looking for MBA consult with Bill. He is definitely the one to go for.
I highly recommend Bill’s exceptional services to anyone looking for an experienced, considerate, enthusiastic, and efficient guide to the MBA application process. I applied to the Wharton EMBA program and successfully got admitted with Bill’s help. I conducted more than 8 calls with other highly-ranked consulting firms prior to signing up for the All-In Package with Bill. Bill’s approach stood out because it was crisp and straight-to-the-point. Given his experience, he knew how to navigate the application process (i.e., the key parts that we needed to hit in order to craft a competitive application). Following Bill’s advice and putting in the work will get you results. For example, we only had to do minor modifications to my draft application after we submitted it for a FlightTest with former admissions committee members from Rice and Wharton that were a part of the Stacy Blackman team. Bill intimately knows how admissions committees evaluate applications. Wharton was the only school that I applied for and my admission to the program is an undeniably clear validation of Bill’s approach (i.e., application strategy). Bill is highly passionate about working with candidates and that’s exactly what you want when looking for an advisor that’s dedicated to helping you create the best application. I appreciate all the help, Bill!
I am so glad that I made the decision to work with Bill on my application to Kellogg. Bill was instrumental in helping me define my narrative and essay. Bill was also tremendous in helping me prepare for my interview. I highly recommend reaching out to Bill!
I reached out to Bill pretty late for the Booth and Kellogg spring batch deadline. He convinced me that I had a good candidacy and I could complete the application in time. That gave me the confidence to apply and as promised Bill was there to help at every step of the way. He was very responsive and clear with his feedback. His tips on handling different aspects of the application including the interview were invaluable in helping me get through. I applied to three colleges and got a positive response from all. Thanks, Bill.
Bill is worth every penny. In the world of the most competitive MBA programs, there is much uncertainty and even more competition. We candidates all feel qualified but truly are we? Bill cuts through the noise, positive and good, and tells you how to be successful. Sometimes it’s tough love and sometimes it’s reassurance. What makes the difference is his experience. He is able to lean on it and give you an honest assessment based on years of experience – rather, success! After our first meeting, I was sold. He didn’t oversell and wasn’t aggressive. But he added value right away. I was accepted into my top choice, Wharton’s EMBA. A++!!
Bill gave invaluable support on my applications. He helped shape my essays and overall positioning to focus on what was important to admission committee. Before his review, my essays were choppy and neither answered the questions the admission committee were asking nor highlighted my strengths. I also found during this process that the majority of MBA application advice focuses on full time MBA programs, which makes sense because that is relevant for most applicants. However, this advice was not as relevant to my applications to EMBA programs given the part-time structure of the program and the experience level of the applicants. Bill has significant experience on the EMBA process so his advice was something I could not have found elsewhere.
Thank you again Bill for helping me get into my top two schools!
Bill is extremely helpful in the application process. He is more than flexible with his time and understands the important questions to answer throughout the process. More importantly, he is able to take your story in detail and highlight the keys areas to form a strong application. I would highly recommend Bill to any aspiring MBA candidate.
Thank you, Bill.
Bill was a tremendous help to me in getting my strategy in place and bringing my essays across the finish line. Accepted to my top choice (Booth)!
Bill’s knowledge and expertise were absolutely invaluable in gaining acceptance into my dream school. I couldn’t be happier with his help. He remained exceptionally engaged and readily available to me through the application process. He showed true concern for my goals and desires and worked hard to help me achieve everything I set out to achieve.
If you want to gain admission to the B-School of your dreams, look no further than Bill Chionis. Bill was an invaluable resource for me when applying to two Ivy League Business Schools. Applications can be long and tedious and often times anxiety provoking. Bill is incredibly knowledgeable about the myriad of schools and programs. He helped me tell my life story in a compelling way without losing authenticity. He works tirelessly to make sure each applicant shines! He’s an incredible resource and thanks to his support I was admitted to my dream school. Bill believed in me at times when I didn’t believe in myself. I couldn’t have asked for a better consultant and mentor. I trust him and would recommend him to my best friends and family members.
I worked with Bill in 2014 when I was looking to apply for LBS EMBA. Prior to taking Bill’s inputs, I had been rejected by Oxford Said once, Cambridge Judge once and LBS once too. So this time, I wanted to get it right.
Bill helped me with my essays and refined my CV to focus on the project outcomes where I was involved. It helped me with the application, but more importantly, has ever since helped me position myself in any senior management conversation with a powerful elevated pitch.
One of the best things about working with Bill was that he brings the best practices of writing essays and positioning yourself as a candidate, without changing your style and quirks. As a result the essays were pretty authentic. I got an acceptance from LBS and I don’t think I would have managed it without Bill.
I worked with Bill on three Full-time MBA applications and got into an Ivy League! Bill helped me select schools strategically and encouraged me to apply to a school I thought was out my reach.
During the application process, Bill was professional and punctual, yet extremely relatable. He would patiently listen to crude stories and experiences from various stages of my life and helped me select the most impactful ones that portrayed who I truly was as a candidate.
I highly recommend Bill to anyone who’s seriously considering applying to Business Schools!
Without reservation, I give my highest recommendation to Stacy Blackman Consulting and, particularly, my consultant Bill Chionis. I signed up for the “all-in” package, and although SBC was one of the more expensive consulting companies I considered, I ultimately chose SBC because of the fact that their consultants work full-time on MBA admissions, offer unlimited contact, and put their clients’ application materials through a pre-application “flight test” with a former admissions committee member.
Bill was an incredible resource for me throughout the application process. He saved me an enormous amount of time and stress. I was able to focus on the important aspects of my applications and avoid a lot of wasted time spent researching online and asking for opinions from others. To anyone looking for an MBA admissions consultant with proven results, I highly recommend SBC and Bill Chionis.
Whether you are at mid-600 or high-700 GMAT score, only a good application can get you across the bridge. Bill is absolutely the best when it comes to crafting a cohesive story and building your narrative. He provides honest feedback and gives you the right pointers to bring out the most powerful elements from your experience and background. Finally, he can help you strengthen your delivery with mock interviews. He is very efficient with his communication and always makes time for you.
Bill is very knowledgeable about business school admissions. Besides just being a helpful resource, I found him as a source of motivation. It was very obvious that he is passionate about what he does, and it actually helped push me to research schools and finish my application. I highly recommend working with Bill.
It was a great pleasure to work with Bill on my MBA application a couple of years ago. He really put his heart to understand my story, my visions and helped me to put my thoughts together in a meaning way. His extensive knowledge and understanding of MBA application made him a great mentor for anyone who is considering to get support from consultancy. I would not be admitted without his support, and he also generously offered a lot of career advice through the process. I would definitely give him a 5 star!
I was extremely fortunate to work with Bill. His extensive knowledge of the MBA landscape, as well as his advice for application strategy and essays, was very helpful. He knew exactly how to promote my strengths and craft a story that helped me land my first choice of program. I highly recommend Bill and know he will continue to be a great mentor for prospective MBAs for many years to come!
Bill was very responsive and helped me stay on track with my application materials and then interviewing process once I received the invite! He answered all of my annoying questions and made me feel confident when it mattered. I’m not sure that I would have gotten in without his help. I definitely recommend him!
Bill was fantastic! He went above and beyond with guiding me through the Business School application process. He provided very tangible guidance and truly covered all my bases. He ensured that the programs that I wanted to go to, that I had the best chance of acceptance for them.
Bill and I worked together on four schools and had great results. Bill exceeded my expectations throughout the way. Due to my erratic schedule, I was very concerned that it would be hard to reach him, but that was never the case. Bill excelled at helping me tell my story and he was great at helping dig out important details that I did not value as highly. Overall, great experience.
I feel so GRATEFUL to have had Bill’s guidance when prepping my MBA application. Bill is exceptionally experienced in MBA consulting and has given me much valuable advice from personal branding, essays, to interviews. Bill has been always patient via email and phone communications. The day before the interview, Bill spoke with me to train me through the interview process. His advice was extremely valuable to me. If you are looking for an MBA consultant, Bill will be your mentor.
As a non-traditional candidate with less-than-stellar academics and off-the-beaten-path job history, I didn’t know what to expect from the business school process and was looking for someone to shepherd me through it. Bill was extremely knowledgeable about the process and programs and spent considerable time getting to know me, helping me figure out what mattered to me in a program, and developing a strategy that would get me to get me into one that I liked. Throughout, Bill was very respectful of my budget and never tried to push me into a more expensive package that I needed.
Despite some setbacks in Round 1, Bill didn’t allow me to lose faith in the process. He recommended some key strategic adjustments and was excited to mobilize all the resources at SBC to support six more ambitious applications in Round 2. In the face of my intense anxiety, he was at once calming and motivating. His feedback was careful, candid, timely, and effective! I got six interviews, three offers so far, and no rejections! I couldn’t be happier with these results. 10/10!
Bill Chionis from Stacy Blackman is awesome. He understands the differences between full time and an executive MBA program really well and leverages this understanding to help you put your best foot forward. He is extremely punctual and responsive. He is also a genuinely great human being and understands that the MBA application process can be grueling, and provides the much needed constant source of encouragement. He is very well calibrated on the applicant pool and pushed me to cover the weak areas in my application. This helped me get into my dream school. He has always gone above and beyond to help me with not only with my application but also with career guidance. He is motivated to help you succeed and puts you first ahead of everything else! I would highly recommend Bill for his knowledge, personality, punctuality, and his differentiated understanding of the Executive MBA programs!
I was put in touch with Bill earlier on in my MBA journey where he advised me on which areas I needed to improve on before I started the application process. After working on said areas, I reached out to him again when I was ready to begin working on my applications. He remembered everything about my profile and provided honest and thorough advice throughout the entire process. Bill knew how to draw out my strengths through each essay and interview practice session, and quelled any anxiety I had. Thanks to Bill’s help, I will be attending a Top 20 MBA program this fall. I highly recommend Bill to those looking to begin their MBA journey!
Bottom Line: Bill is amazing. I came to him with a short deadline, pretty much no idea of how to tackle the essays for my 3 target schools, and a less-than-ideal GMAT score. He took that in stride and supported me through the application process from start to finish. He helped me focus on key messages that I wanted to communicate in my essays, which allowed me to craft more compelling essays for each application. He calmed my fears about my GMAT score and helped me see that my application was more than just a set of numbers. His interview prep was also priceless. He was spot-on with what questions he predicted I would be asked, and he told me exactly how to answer them in a way that would reassure the Ad Comm of my qualifications. Combine all those elements together, and you’ve got a winning strategy with Bill on your side. When all was said and done, I got into every program I applied to, including my dream program (that I originally thought I had very little chance of being accepted to). Bill’s advice, support, and expertise are truly invaluable, and he made what could have a been a stressful and unenjoyable process actually quite a bit of fun. I couldn’t recommend Bill’s services more, and can’t thank him enough for helping me in my application process!
I reached out to Bill for advice on my MBA admission prep as I had one target school and it was very important that I gain admission there. Bill was straight forward and honest, he suggested I go the hourly route and held true to the quoted price. He provided a great service at an affordable cost, which I think was crucial to my success. I would recommend Bill services to anyone who is looking for a top-notch consultant!
Bill and I worked together on my applications to several top executive MBA programs. It was an absolute pleasure working with him and I was able to get into my first choice program.
I chose Bill because he had the most knowledge and experience working with EMBA candidates. My experience working with him confirmed this.
Bill’s knowledge of EMBA programs is extensive. He understands each program at a deep level and helped me narrow down the programs I wanted to apply to. He also understands the nuances of what each program looks for allowing me to tailor my application to each program and put my best foot forward.
Bill gave me great feedback about my strengths and weaknesses as a candidate. He pointed out strengths that helped me be more confident in my applications and interviews. He also helped me see areas where I needed to improve and was a great sounding board on how to address them.
Finally, Bill was very professional and responsive. Having him in my corner allowed me to put together applications I was proud of!
Applying for an MBA can be a daunting task, especially if you do not have any guidance or insight into the application process. For me, even after all the research, I still felt a little lost, particularly towards the essay sections. Thankfully, when I called Stacy Blackman and asked them to pair me up with someone who was going to help me the most in that area, they assigned Bill.
Bill was immediately engaging and thorough with his guidance. His story-telling ability was invaluable to the entire process, as his direction gave me the confidence to write strong, appealing material. With his help, I was able to formulate uniquely-crafted stories around the different schools I was applying to.
Without Bill, I can honestly say I don’t know where I would be. I owe a piece of my acceptance letter to his guidance and hope he continues doing this line of work in helping prospective students get into their dream schools!
I realized early on in the 1st round that I was overwhelmed by the free advice that’s available on the internet when crafting an MBA application and decided to reach out to a number of these consulting firms to find some help.
Bill helped me determine which of the programs that I was interested in would be the best fit for my career objectives, he guided me in identifying the parts of myself that I should highlight, how to highlight them in my resume, essays, and interviews, and provided some encouragement during the anxious wait for an admissions decisions. Most importantly to me – I got the admission decision to the program that I wanted, and I feel like the in-depth assistance that he provided has tuned my own self-awareness to be well prepared for the program itself.
I highly recommend Bill’s service, it was invaluable to me in the exhausting process of applying for MBA programs, and I’m not sure I would have had the success without access to his experience and expertise.
I am so happy to have had Bill Chionis’ guidance when putting together my MBA applications! Although I hadn’t planned on using a consultant, I was gifted two hours of one-on-one time with Stacey Blackman Consulting. But the more time I spent with Bill, the more I was confident in the value of his services. Bill is very knowledgeable about different programs, he had a good understanding of my objectives, and he was very candid with his feedback. But perhaps most importantly, Bill was incredibly responsive and able to turnaround requests within a very reasonable timeframe. I was so impressed by his level of support that I purchased additional time to ensure he would be able to assist me through the entire application process.
During my time with Bill, we discussed the best business schools, the different programs they offer, essay as well as interview tips, and so much more. Bill was able to help me articulate what I wanted to say in my essays and provided brutally honest feedback during the mock interview, which helped me tremendously and gave me the confidence I needed during the actual interviews.
Of the three schools I applied to, I was admitted into two (both Ivy Leagues) and waitlisted at the third. This Spring, I will begin my Executive MBA program at my dream school and couldn’t be more excited!
Bill is a very experienced MBA admissions consultant. He took his time to truly understand my story and he genially cared about my life experiences. That kind of compassion makes this stressful process enjoyable. Bill’s understanding of your story really helps you and him (as a team) to develop your strategy. This strategy is then carefully woven into every element of your essays, interview and application questions.
I thought I was a great interviewer/interviewee. However, after experiencing Bill’s two step mock interview program, I realized I could make some major improvements. All of the coaching worked. I was accepted into Kellogg 2 business days after my interview! I considered Bill a friend and I will always remember what he did to help me during the crossroads of my career.
I cannot express enough good things about Mr. Bill Chionis. Bill is definitely one of the best consultants in the industry and I love working with Bill. I knew Bill was the advisor I was looking for in our first call: he quickly identified and understood my concerns and offered valuable insights. He is super passionate about helping students and amazingly knowledgeable about all the programs. More importantly, he really spent time understanding my background and my ‘pain-points’, and always responded to questions patiently and thoroughly. Our communication was highly efficient: our phone calls usually focused on getting questions cleared and setting clear goals and guidelines, and Bill usually replies my emails right away. In summary, Bill is the trustworthy partner, you are in great hands with his guidance and help!
I was admitted to desired Top 10 school in R1. Once again, I can’t express how grateful I am to have met Bill in my MBA journey. Thank you so much, Bill!!
Once I decided which EMBA program I was going to apply for, I did not have much time to apply for the first round and was seriously contemplating applying in the second round. As I started finishing the first draft of my essays, I realized I needed some guidance and a sounding board to get my essays stronger. Stacy Blackman was referred to my one of my colleagues and luckily I got a call from Bill.
With just a few days for the first round deadline, Bill was extremely thorough and very responsive to my many questions and clarifications. The turnaround time to every revision was a few hours since he understood my needs. He was exceedingly nice and very easily relate-able. He gave candid feedback on my essays and my overall application strength. I was able to submit my application in the first round, though I recommend anyone applying to top schools to plan for more application prep time than I did.
Bill’s professionalism, exceptional understanding of the business school’s admissions process and pleasing personality make him an outstanding MBA consultant. I feel lucky to have found him during my application prep process and would highly recommend him to anyone looking to apply to the top business schools. Thanks to Bill, I am all set to attend one of the best business school programs in the world.
I thoroughly enjoyed and benefited from working with Bill!
Bill helped me gain a deeper understanding of the Business School I was targeting. He helped me develop a solid strategy to pitch my candidature in a manner that was simple, structured and holistic. He provided me with guidance in every step of the process helping me to continuously strengthen and fine-tune my story. He was also very prompt in communication. Bill was a very supportive person full of compassion and kindness and was sincerely invested in my success. I found working with Bill to be super helpful and got accepted into my target Business School which also happens to be a top Business School both in the United States and the world.
Bill’s guidance and advice was invaluable when I decided to go back to school to get my EMBA. He helped me think through each part of my application and demystified the entire admissions process. He is incredibly well-informed on what it take to get into a top program and he is able to shape applications accordingly. Just as importantly, he is a pleasure to work with – exceedingly nice, personable, and easy to talk to. I would highly recommend Bill to anyone who could use a little help on their application. Thanks, Bill!
I cannot say enough positive things about Bill Chionis that would do him adequate justice. Bill took my sporadic and seemingly unconnected career experiences and distilled them into meaningful, cohesive, and relevant subject matter for my essays. Bill took my rather idealistic goals and reconstructed them into not only realistic and achievable objectives, but also ones that were logical in my career progression. For every important question and neurotic, trivial concern that I had (you’re all too prone to the latter in the MBA application process), Bill treated each with the same attention, substance, and quick turnaround that provided me with immediate clarity and alleviated my stress. Before speaking with Bill, I was fearful of the application process, insecure about the strength of my career experiences, and ultimately indecisive and disorganized about my future prospects. Through working with Bill Chionis, I was transformed into an aggressive and assertive candidate with coherent and definite ambitions, one who was confident and proud of both my strengths and past experiences.
I was admitted to my desired top 20 school in Round 1. I without a doubt owe much of my success to Bill Chionis. I am certain that if I had not worked with him, I would be still sitting here practicing GMAT data sufficiency problems and shyly pondering my career goals. I would not be in this wonderful position without him.
I have thought many times how Bill knew what was right for me. I had a great time working with Bill. I always looked forward to learning more from him so I could give it my best shot. Bill knew what the results would be; it comes with his experience. I am thankful to Bill for making my dream come true and for how much I am enjoying the EMBA program at Kellogg. By the end of it you realize what a big part he has played in your life. I had also worked with one of the top firms in the Industry and I can tell you – Bill really cares for your success. I wish you get lucky enough to work with Bill.
I had the privilege of working with Bill over this Summer as I prepared to make a highly-targeted set of applications to a set of top-ranked schools that matched my professional goals. I was impressed with Bill’s demonstrated intimate knowledge of each school’s relative strengths, and his ability to crystallize the ways that I could tailor my candidacy to appeal to the programs to which I applied. Bill also kept up with me to ensure that I was on pace with all of my applications, and demonstrated immense flexibility in planning around my busy schedule.
What I was not expecting, and what exemplified why Bill is such a fantastic consultant, was the interest Bill took in me as a person. Through his holistic approach, Bill helped me realize how certain experiences from my past informed who I am today and what value I could bring to an MBA program. Addtionally, Bill went above and beyond to leverage the full expertise of StacyBlackman as a firm, helping me prep for school-specific interviews by connecting me with his colleagues who had previously worked as AdComm’s at those schools for 1 on 1 mock interview and detailed Q&A sessions.
By the end of the process, after earning admission to one of my top school choices, I came to see Bill as a mentor and a friend rather than a consultant. He totally changed my MBA application process for the better, and I look forward to keeping in touch with him on a Professional and Personal level. I cannot stress enough how much I would recommend Bill to someone considering applying for an MBA.
Anyone with lofty aspirations to gain admittance to a top EMBA (and MBA) program would be very well served by having Bill in their corner. What I appreciated most about Bill was his ability to apply his deep understanding of each program’s “ideal” candidate to my personal background and future aspirations. While he’s likely done this hundreds of times with clients from all different backgrounds, it always felt as if Bill was 100% committed to bringing the best possible application forward in a style that was authentically my own. From the beginning Bill listened intently and established trust that was needed in order to have open, honest, and sometimes frank conversations that ultimately ended up with a successful outcome. Regarding outcomes, I was initially wait-listed at my top choice and accepted to my second choice. Despite the disappointment of being wait-listed, Bill encouraged me to go the extra mile and remain positive. Ultimately this perseverance paid off as I was fortunate to be accepted from the wait list to my number one school. I can’t thank Bill enough for the vital role he played in my EMBA journey and would strongly recommend his services.
I contacted Bill via Stacy Blackman consulting as I was trying to navigate business school application process. Bill was very helpful as he breaks down each application component and guides you through it – including resume update, interview preparation and essays. He helps you identify your strength and also ways to present your development areas in a useful way for the application. His interview prep guide was very spot on and organized. He is very familiar with school’s application process and it really helps you to get the insider knowledge while you prepare your own unique application.
In my case, Bill was also very dedicated and continued working with me despite some family commitments and travel obligations. With his help, I was able to get admission into only school I applied to. I am very grateful for his guidance.
I wholeheartedly recommend Bill if you need help with your B-school application.
It was seven years ago and I hope Bill still remembers me. In our first conversation, Bill didn’t strike me as some top gun with exceptional MBA or business background. However, it is the same Bill who really took time to understand my aspiration and made a recommendation I never thought of. He not only guided me through the application process, but also boosted my confidence by pushing me to one of best MBA programs. I was accepted to the program exactly seven days after my on-site interview. Looking back, I just can’t appreciate enough of taking Bill’s recommendation instead of following my own plan. I am in one of the top strategic VC funds now, fulfilling exactly the aspiration I wrote in my essay. Thank you again, Bill!
What I liked about my experience with Bill was his comprehensive mentorship approach. He used his extensive experience to mentor me through the process and he helped me prioritize key events in my background that deserved the greatest focus. At the same time, he allowed me to fully remain in charge of all decisions, the approach, and the thinking necessary to make difficult choices. Due to his mentorship approach, I always viewed him as a trusted friend and his advice ultimately led me to a very successful experience.
I decided to use the Stacy Blackman Consulting service when I applied to graduate school because I was applying to only one school and didn’t want to leave anything up to chance. When I had my free consultation, the consultant made sure I understood that applying to just one school was a risk and that even with this service it wasn’t a guarantee for admittance. I really appreciated their honesty and felt confident I had found a good service. I signed up for the essay, CV, and interview prep. I was assigned to Bill who was extremely professional and kept me on track. We worked well together, and he really knew how to ask the questions that helped me develop a strong essay and CV. I appreciated the interview prep too, he not only ran through drills of questions but worked with me on my composure. I’m happy to say I’ve earned my MBA from the one school I wanted to attend. I strongly believe that Bill and Stacy Blackman were a vital part of my admittance to the program.
Bill helped me to revise my application and my essays. His guidance was clear and to the point as it perfectly addressed what the admissions team was looking for. He coached me very well for my MBA interviews as well and my applications process was a breeze. I would recommend him to any MBA applicant!
Bill was so great to work with. I was admitted to six top 20 schools and that would not have been possible without Bill’s guidance. Applying to schools can be overwhelming from the time you are choosing what schools to apply for to essay help all the way to nailing the interview. No matter where you are in the process, I would highly recommend getting a consultant to support you throughout the process. It also helps to instill confidence in yourself in a grueling admissions process. Highly recommend some sort of help and highly highly recommend using Bill. One of the better decisions I made related to the applications process.
Bill is THE BEST. I applied to business school and was considering hiring a consultant, but due to a tight timeline, I decided to take a go at it independently. During that time, I had a free consultation with Bill. My solo-attempt at navigating the application process resulted in being waitlisted at my top-choice schools. I was discouraged and frustrated.
While waitlisted, I had many free consultations with numerous companies, all of whom seemed informed and knowledgeable. My gut told me that I should revisit Bill, and after speaking with him a second time, I knew that I wanted to work with not only with the Stacy Blackman Consulting, but specifically with Bill.
I am so happy I made that decision. Thanks to Bill’s help and advice I was accepted to my top choice school with a full scholarship. I also received 2 additional scholarship offers from top 15 and top 25 b’schools.
I cannot say enough wonderful things about Bill. He’s a true professional. His edits and advice were simple, yet incredibly insightful. He is an unbelievable writer. My essays were so much tighter and more impactful once Bill worked his magic.
During the interview process, he really helped instill confidence in me and helped me develop skills which I now use while recruiting for internships and will continue to use during my professional career.
Lastly, I really appreciate how Bill didn’t try to sell me more hours than necessary. He could have easily convinced me that I needed the all-In package, but instead, suggested a very modest hourly package, which he stuck to.
I truly cannot say enough wonderful things about Bill. I wish there was someone like Bill at school that could guide me through the process.
I hope this review is helpful to anyone applying to business school and wants to make the best possible decision to be successful: hire Bill at Stacy Blackman Consulting. It’s that simple. I was actually working with another consulting company and felt out of control. I had hired them several months in advance with the thought that I would slowly work on my three applications, no rush, no panic. But I was not making progress and felt like I just was not getting the type of direction I needed, I was not sure of my essay topics or even that sure of my schools. Everything felt half baked. When a friend mentioned that she was working with SBC and was very happy I decided what the hell, hire them for a few hours and see what they could do. I started working with Bill and he literally rescued me from the flames. The difference was so obvious – he added clarity to my application, guided me in picking out schools and coming up with topics to use in my essays. We had a great conversation where I hung up knowing what to do. I had focus and direction instead of utter confusion and chaos. So one step at a time, we worked together and created great apps. By then I was down to 5 weeks until deadline and in a panic. But Bill was calm and cool and responsive. Every time we spoke or emailed I made progress and things moved in the right direction, at a good pace. In five weeks we exchanged hundreds of emails and went through 30+ essay drafts – cant really believe it. The approach we took was completely different from what I was doing before. There was a strategy behind the whole story and it really reflected me. In the end I pulled off a hat trick with acceptances to three schools! As Bill knows, he has my eternal gratitude.
One thing about SBC that I liked was their straightforward and honest approach. I was initially looking for a full-time program, and during a free consultation, Esther Magna, the Principal with SBC told me up-front that I was too old for a full-time program. It was a shock to me but I realized that she didn’t have to be honest with me as she could very well have sugar coated her response and taken my money to ‘help’ me with the essays without any guarantees of an admission, but she didn’t. I was sold on that honesty. Then I had the pleasure of working with Bill Chionis at Stacy Blackman for my EMBA application to 2 top ranked schools. He is a thorough professional and a master of his craft. He was extremely helpful from start to finish. He was very patient with me and spent the time to understand my background, objectives and, strengths and weaknesses. He quickly assessed the key strengths in my profile that I could use, and also discussed how I should address the weaknesses. He even helped me identify the aspects of my profile that made me stand out from a crowded field of male engineer applicants. He was great at compressing and streamlining my thoughts in the essays and was patient during the numerous edits I made to them. His promptness was excellent; he answered all my emails within a day. He even helped me when I completely changed the main essay for one of my schools just one day before the deadline. His second biggest help was with interview preparation. He was brutal but effective as he knew what I could do and pushed me hard on my responses. With his help, I was fully prepared for any question during the interview. I owe him a great deal. It’s because of him that I’ve been accepted to both the schools.
A little over a year ago, I began the search for a consultant. SBC’s informative blog postings resonated with me the most, and so they were the first (and only) consultant group I had reached out to. A couple of hours after I had filled out the applicant form, I was paired with Bill for my free consultation session. We had a great conversation. I shared with him my profile, desired career trajectory and target programs. Bill, being the insightful person that he is, was able to quickly narrow down the strengths we needed to focus on and the areas that could probably use a little more tending to, to create a strong application. In fact, he made a convincing enough case, that I decided to hold off applying for a year so I could work on the weaker areas of my application. We both agreed that if I could achieve these new targets, the best EMBA programs would be within reach. A year later, I applied to three EMBA programs at the best business schools in the country, and was admitted to all three of them. I reached out to Bill when I was ready to work on my application. Working with Bill was edifying, pleasant and seamless. While Bill was there to guide me through every component of the application process, I relied on him the most for my essays. The essays make for an extremely important component of the application. It is where you are granted the most freedom to put forth your story and your goals. It is also an area where it becomes imperative to have another set of eyes, a sounding board. In the beginning, I tasked Bill, my family and my Harvard and Wharton MBA grad friends to review my work. About a week into it, Bill became the sole voice I relied on. I knew Bill was all I needed to get me to where I wanted to go. Bill is sharp, responsive and thorough in his work. And to top it all, he is also an eloquent writer. Now Bill won’t be able to write your essays for you. That is your job to do. However from the tiniest interview detail to neatly weaving together my essays, Bill was on top of it. And without a doubt, he’ll do the same for you. Good luck with this intense process, but know that there are resources out there who will work with you to present you in the best possible light! Ask for a call with Bill!
SBC exceeded all of my expectations from the start. Esther Magna was the first consultant I spoke with. She was right to the point and recommended Bill for EMBA application. And rest is history! Bill was great to work with.. his analysis of my strengths and weaknesses were accurate and that helped me in putting together a convincing set of essays. The flight test feedback came back negative and I was worried. Bill was very confident that the essays were strong and asked me to make minor modifications. When the call for interview came in, I knew he was right. His help in prepping for interview was monumental too. I got admitted in the top choice school and it would not have been possible if not for Bill. -RS
I reviewed numerous companies before deciding which was best. As soon as I spoke to the first representative at Stacy Blackman, I noticed an immediate difference. Both the representative and Bill were very informative and concise. I chose Bill because of his willingness and desire to help me understand the process and the value he could add. Additionally, Bill had a successful track record with executive mba applications, which I could not find elsewhere. The final deciding factor was that Bill reviewed my resume and determined whether or not I was a good candidate for the EMBA program. I believe that if he thought I was not a good candidate, he would not have taken me on as a client, and I truly appreciate this approach. Working through the application process was relatively easy, as Bill was very available and thorough in his counsel. Additionally, the final “flight test” was very helpful, as it provided another person’s feedback on my application. It was an added bonus that Bill actively thought through the results, and how and whether it applied to me. He knows and understands the nuances between an application for an MBA and an EMBA, which is monumental. I would recommend him to anyone that is interested in getting accepted! I not only was accepted into my top choice school, I received a partial scholarship!
Our Partner Sites: Poets&Quants for Execs | Poets&Quants for Undergrads | Tipping the Scales | We See Genius