Margaret

When I first started exploring MBA consulting firms, I wasn’t entirely sure if I needed one—let alone if the investment would be worth it. I had spent the first part of my career in biotech before transitioning into my family’s business, where I plan to return after my MBA. My path wasn’t the most traditional, and I knew I needed to tell a story that was both compelling and authentic.

Like many applicants, I turned to Google and quickly came across Stacy Blackman Consulting. The firm’s reputation, its deep bench of former admissions officers, and extensive library of applicant resources immediately stood out. I booked an initial call with Sarah Tsai, who was both warm and honest about what to expect from the process. She connected me with several counselors for trial conversations—and that’s how I met Margaret Strother.

Initially, I was skeptical of SBC’s all-in package. The cost was significant, and I wasn’t sure how engaged a counselor would be. But those doubts disappeared quickly once I started working with Margaret.

Margaret was more than a consultant—she was a true thought partner. She helped me bring structure and clarity to my ideas and never told me what to write. Instead, she asked smart, challenging questions that pushed me to reflect more deeply and find the right framing for my story. I genuinely learned a lot about myself through our conversations, and that made the application experience meaningful beyond just the outcomes.

She was also incredibly responsive and always willing to bounce around ideas, whether over email or through quick check-ins. One of the things I appreciated most was how invested she was—not just in the quality of the application, but in making sure my voice came through. I had worked with another consultant who tried to mold my story to fit what they thought the school wanted. Margaret did the opposite—she encouraged me to be real, even if that meant going against the grain.

With her support, I was admitted to Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, Kellogg (FULL scholarship), and Booth (partial scholarship) —an outcome beyond anything I could’ve imagined.

Beyond Margaret’s support, SBC’s resources were a huge value-add. The Vault was packed with sample essays, interview prep materials, and school-specific insights that gave me a real advantage—especially during interviews. The “flight test,” where a former admissions officer from my target school gave final feedback on my application, was also incredibly useful and reassuring.

Looking back, I can confidently say that working with Margaret—and SBC more broadly—was worth every penny. The level of professionalism, depth of expertise, and genuine care they bring to the process is rare. I not only ended up with outcomes I had once considered out of reach, but I also became a stronger communicator and thinker because of the process.

For anyone serious about applying to a top MBA program and looking for a partner who will push you to be your best while staying true to your story, I can’t recommend her highly enough.

If you want to earn your MBA at an M7 school to transition from the military to the civilian sector, working with Margaret is a must. I was initially skeptical of admissions consultants, but the cost is well worth the time, experience, and results that can be achieved. With Margaret’s help, I got into four exceptional programs, including two M7 schools.

Make no mistake – you have a lot of work ahead of you if you are applying to MBA programs. Margaret will not do the work for you, but she is the most effective guide you could hope for. Her ability to distill our unique experiences into a comprehensive story is unmatched and will save you countless hours. I have never met someone as responsive as Margaret, who regularly replied to my emails with detailed feedback around my irregular work schedule – including late nights and weekends. She assisted me with every step of the process, including my school list, applications, interviews, and final decision.

Her background as a writer and years of experience working with military candidates truly set her apart from her peers. I am confident that I achieved significantly better results, both in admissions and scholarships, because of Margaret’s attention to detail and years of experience.

This is one of the best investments I have ever made. If you are on the fence, I recommend taking an initial call with SBC and specifically asking for Margaret. You will not regret it.

My journey with Stacy Blackman Consulting was transformative, and I couldn’t be more satisfied with my experience. From the get-go, the service was top-notch. It started with an illuminating call with Bill, who provided valuable insights and helped me connect with several exceptional consultants. I chose Margaret, whose passion, expertise, and demeanor resonated with me instantly.

As a non-traditional student, I knew there would be obstacles to gaining admission to a top 15 program. Margaret was very straightforward in explaining the depth of those barriers and her plan for overcoming each one. Her constructive feedback, coupled with her motivating approach to the hard work required helped me develop the most compelling story I could tell. It was more than just guidance; she acted as my mentor, pushing me to constantly improve.

Margaret’s seasoned advice enriched every stage of the MBA application process. Among the most noteworthy, she helped me comprehend the value of networking with current students and conducting comprehensive research about my prospective schools. While initially, I wasn’t sure how these efforts would manifest in my application, I now understand that they were pivotal not only in strengthening my application but also in preparing me for the rigorous academic environment of a top MBA program.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that I owe my successful admission to one of my target schools to Margaret’s outstanding coaching. The skillful strategies she recommended, her constant encouragement, and her unwavering confidence in me all played a significant role in my accomplishment. To anyone seeking a top-tier MBA application consultant, I highly recommend Margaret at Stacy Blackman Consulting, whose professional expertise, dedication, and personalized approach made a lasting impression on me.

Margaret was a great resource when working on MBA applications but also in helping me figure out what I wanted to do long-term with my career goals. She really made me sit down and think about what I wanted to do with my career and how to get there. She was instrumental in making sure that I was reaching out to the right people, doing my research, and keeping to strict deadlines. I applied to 4 schools using SBC and was ultimately admitted to 2. I plan to go with a full-tuition merit scholarship as well and could not be able to do this without Margaret’s help. I can’t recommend Margaret more for the work she has done and helped me with!

I believe Margaret made all the difference in my success in getting accepted to my top two choices, Tuck and Darden. She was extremely process-driven and kept me on schedule by creating an environment where I had to stick to key deadlines and write dozens of iterations of each essay draft. It was really hard work but the results speak for themselves. Additionally, she helped me be honest with myself about which programs were suitable for me and also which programs were realistic targets given my academic background, work history, and test scores. Finally, I think she does a masterful job of helping a candidate pull out what makes them unique based on the stories you can tell from your experiences. I could not recommend a consultant more highly.

As a military candidate, I was a little hesitant to go with someone who had no prior experience in the military. Though, I think Margaret was the perfect person to translate my military jargon into something others could easily understand. Margaret was always quick to respond and always had great feedback. She kept me on track to complete all my required materials early and fully utilize the flight-testing experience.

I purchased the two-school package, and we started right away almost 8 months before the round 1 deadlines. While working with her, she challenged me to really research and figure out what I wanted to do. I think this is what helped drive my essays, and it got me even more excited about life after the military. With her guidance, I learned a lot about myself through different brainstorming and reflection exercises while completing the application process.

I was admitted to both HBS and MIT LGO. Choosing one over the other ended up being one of the toughest decisions of my life, something that I doubt would have ever happened without her help!

Margaret was amazing from the first second we spoke during our initial phone call all the way until my acceptance at every school I applied to. She is very experienced and knows exactly how to make your application shine. Margaret was super helpful throughout the entire process; revising my resume, essays, and interview prep. I would not have gotten into any of the schools I applied to without Margaret’s help. I would highly recommend Margaret to anyone applying for their MBA. The application process is a long strenuous journey and Margaret makes sure you are on the correct path the entire way! I will be attending NYU – Stern this fall because of Margaret.

I’m an international applicant who is over 30 and comes from a non-feeder industry (non-IB or consulting). Before signing up to work with SBC, I also had calls with several other firms (Admissionado, Personal MBA Coach, Fortuna, among others). I decided to work with Margaret and cannot recommend her more highly. She knows all the top MBA programs inside out, doesn’t “market” herself, and always tells it as it is. During our initial call, unlike several other consultants, she didn’t encourage me to include schools outside of T10 in my application package and advised that I apply to just 3-4 schools, focusing on the quality of the stuff that I do (others recommended that I go for 6-8 schools). I added two more schools to the initial package of four in December as I still had time.

The results of my work with Margaret exceeded my expectations. Out of six schools, I applied to (5 with Margaret, 1 on my own, for which one Margaret still gave me insights), I received interview invites at five (four of them M7 schools!). I got admitted at Wharton, Booth, and Yale, and received some scholarship $ too! All of this in a year of COVID-19 with a surge in applications. Margaret’s guidance was instrumental in securing these admits.

If you’re hesitating over who to work with the way I did, think no more and just go with Margaret. She knows what schools are looking for, has a clear process in place, and has an answer to ANY question or concern you might have. Margaret is wise and has a great sense of humor, and this makes working with her a great pleasure. Special thanks to the rest of the SBC team I interacted with – Bill, my initial matchmaker, Beth, my flight tester, Anthony, Toni, Tina, Esther… Highly recommend!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

I was a Marine officer and I worked with SBC for HBS and Wharton, this cycle I got into HBS, Booth, and Sloan – they get results!

Margaret was more than I could have hoped for! She showed me that she genuinely cared about me, my story, and my ambitions. She made such a big effort to get to know me and how I communicated. She made the entire process fun and was a rock to lean on throughout the entire process.

As a military applicant without a background in business, I needed a lot of hand-holding in the beginning of the process, the SBC team, especially Margaret, was there for me and helped me find a concrete footing. I asked Margaret all sorts of questions and she always was there to answer them – even the ones not fully related to my two school package. Again, she proved she was 100% on my team!

I would wholeheartedly recommend Margaret and SBC to any applicant -especially military- who is serious about applying to a top-tier MBA program. They will find a good match, and ensure you put your absolute best foot forward.

TLDR: SBC is a partnership that prepares you like no other consulting firm. From the moment I joined to the moment I received my acceptance to HBS, I know I sent my best application to each school because of my relationship and partnership with SBC and Margaret.

I started by reading reviews and calling several companies, looking for the best “fit” consulting firm. After several days of research, I narrowed my search to two consulting firms: SBC and mbaMission, setting up initial consultations with both firms. My stats were slightly under the ballpark for the M7 schools, but I thought I had a compelling story. It was important to have a consulting company to help me hone my unique story, a difficult task with only 300-500 words per essay. After both conversations, I felt a strong connection with the team at SBC. They exuded confidence and took a real look at my background during the initial consult (some firms provide only minimal advice during the free consultation). SBC provides several potential consultants, and you select the one that best suits you and your background. My consultant was Margaret, who helped me excel during the application process. She became a true partner very early on and helped me reach my near-impossible dream of being admitted into HBS.

In every aspect of the application, from the intense research to the hundreds of edits, I saw tremendous growth in my essay writing and in my application package. Through SBC, I was able to shape a genuine narrative about my background and my future goals. On the day I received my HBS acceptance, I called my family and then immediately called Margaret, a testament to the strong partnership we developed during the application process.

Applying in R2 with a good GMAT score but an average GPA and over-represented background, I was skeptical that I was able to get into one of the M7 programs. Some of the other consultants that I spoke to even recommended me to apply to top 15-20 schools. However, Margaret assured me that I had a good chance at M7 and I went with the three-school complete package with her. From the beginning, Margaret guided me through the entire process, asking thoughtful questions that really brought out who I really am (some stuff that I didn’t even know about!) and providing candid feedback. Her “homework” were both extremely practical and helpful, and by bifurcating the process into “homework” really made the entire process less painful. Also, she is super responsive – she usually answered my questions or provided feedback on materials within a day (in two days at most). Overall, my experience with Margaret was nothing but positive! Thanks to Margaret, I am enrolling at one of the M7 schools starting this fall, and I am really glad that I chose to work with her over other consultants. I highly recommend Margaret!!!

I had an incredible experience with Margaret, and couldn’t be more thrilled to be admitted to both Wharton and Kellogg (with scholarships)! I researched several admissions consultancies and after speaking with Margaret, I knew immediately that she was the perfect fit. I opted for the 3-school all-in package. As a common applicant (male with consulting foundation), Margaret did a tremendous job helping me differentiate my story from the pack, providing candid feedback, and remaining incredibly responsive to any and all questions I had throughout the process. I never felt rushed on our calls together and she genuinely cared about getting to know me personally. The additional SBC resources also provided invaluable admissions intel and allowed me to submit my applications with full confidence – from the Flight Test (full app read-through by a former adcom) to mock interview prep (Wharton TBD simulation moderated by a former adcom). I couldn’t have done it without them. Cheers to Margaret and the SBC team!

I spent the month prior to signing up with Stacy Blackman Consulting Services not being able to sleep because I was so stressed out about the MBA application process. Once I started working with Margaret all the stress quickly faded away. She truly made it easy and even somewhat enjoyable to work on my applications. I have learned so much about the admissions process by working with Margaret– she is definitely an expert at her craft. Even my resume, which I thought I had perfected after 10 drafts was completely revamped and improved. I was very impressed! Product turn-a-round was always timely and she asked pertinent questions to keep the ball rolling for essay/resume improvements. I purchased 10 hours and she was so efficient that we were able to finish essays for all 6 schools [Emory, WashU, GA Tech, Georgetown, USC (Southern Cal), and UGA] that I applied to. I was accepted to 4 of 6 and waitlisted at the other 2 (Georgetown & USC). Statistically speaking I did not have a high chance at some of these but I am excited to announce that I will be attending Emory University in the fall! I couldn’t have done it without SBC and Margaret’s help. Highly recommend!

I worked with Margaret on my top choice (Columbia) and, not only did I get in, I couldn’t be happier with her service! I had one issue which I considered to be a major weakness of my application. Margaret immediately focused in on how we could address that weakness, while leaving the actual path up to me which ensured authenticity. She was also effective in keeping me engaged in the application process long before the apps were due which resulted in a more well-rounded resume, valuable school visits, and deeper essays. Finally, she reassured me of my initial school choices based on my personal criteria as I started to become indecisive closer to the decision. In summary, if you think you can identify and turn any weaknesses into strengths, stay laser focused on all aspects of the application for the better part of a year, and remain unfailingly confident then don’t use a business school consultant. Otherwise, use Margaret.

I had the pleasure of working with Margaret at Stacy Blackman and I couldn’t be more happy with the success she’s brought me. Coming from a non-traditional background, I was nervous (to say the least) about my prospects as an MBA candidate. Through the initial stages of working with Margaret up through my admission to my dream program, I completely changed as an applicant. Through the endless weeks of rewrites, retaking the GMAT, and bolstering my work and community service performance, Margaret was my mentor and support network through each step and every obstacle. To say I couldn’t have done it without her wouldn’t do justice to the amount of extra effort she put into my file–she transformed me as a candidate by shifting my focus from what I thought the adcoms wanted to hear to what would be the most effective version of telling my story. We cut a lot of the meat of what I thought made me an interesting candidate (building a startup, effectiveness at my current role) to a more compelling version of myself (bilingual, comedian, overseas experience at a tech company). Despite the shortcomings I have as a candidate such as my lack of quant work in undergrad, Margaret helped me show the best side of myself. She helped me target my weakest areas, prove that I’m more than just my undergraduate GPA, and ultimately land me at my dream program. I recommend Margaret without hesitation to anyone considering professional consulting services, whether you’re from an untraditional background like me or from a more established industry. Margaret will be the best teammate and mentor you could ever ask for, and through the countless hours of confusion and stress you’ll be lucky to have someone as qualified as her on your side.