Vicki

Consultant Bio

Vicki is a former admissions officer for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University where she interviewed and evaluated applicants for the 2YR, 1YR, MBA/JD and MMM programs. She led the Women’s Initiative project at Kellogg, focused on supporting Kellogg women through their career life cycle.

Vicki has worked in higher education after a career spanning business development and marketing including stints in the steel industry, consumer products arena, and as the founder of a fashion start-up. She is passionate about helping MBA applicants articulate and strategically showcase their unique stories and talents across their applications to all top MBA programs, including Harvard, Stanford, Chicago, Kellogg.

Vicki holds a BA in Classical Civilizations from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. In her free time she enjoys Pilates, walking and cycling along the Lake Michigan shore, actively supporting Chicago’s two art museums (AIC & MCA), traveling to San Francisco and New York City to visit her kids, and cheering for her beloved Northwestern Wildcats as a 20+ year football season ticket holder.

Company Information

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 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 top EU 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 US and EU school, has graduated from the 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+ candidacies. 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

SBC’s reach, contacts, and connections converge to benefit our clients. 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. 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.

OUR MODEL

SBC’s engagement model of a dedicated consultant with additional review by our AdCom team is the most robust of all firms. SBC offers unlimited time with a carefully selected Primary Consultant, allowing for full accountability and dedication. A candidate’s identity and character is best captured with one consultant completely responsible for success. SBC also believes in checks and balances, as it has the Flight Test which is a complete review by a former Admissions Officer. 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 a database of successful essays and interview questions and online guides.

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.

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 consultation with an SBC Principal.

Menu of Services and Associated Costs

The SBC All-In Service

The majority of our clients select our comprehensive package because they recognize that the competitive admissions process requires an application set that is stellar and strategic on all levels. The essays, interview, school visits, recommendation letters and resume are informed by an integrated strategy that is managed within our All-In service by one dedicated and accountable consultant.

SBC’s comprehensive “All-In” engagement includes:

• Kickoff meeting to identify Client’s strengths and weaknesses and to develop the unique approach to Client’s application process.
• Telephone consultations to discuss strategy issues, challenges, and questions.  Telephone consultations can be arranged as needed at Client’s discretion but must be scheduled with the consultant in advance.
• Written document review, including essays, resume and other communications with target schools.
• Assistance with general questions that arise throughout the process.
• Interview coaching and one mock interview.
• One AdCom Flight Test™ with prior admissions committee member.
• Post-application consultation to work through issues such as interviews, waitlist and deferral strategy and school selection.
• Assistance with recommendations – advice on selection and preparation of references and high-level review of recommendation letters to provide feedback on general approach.

Hourly First Services

Start with 2-3 hours for strategy work a la carte and the candidate can then roll up into the purchase of an All-In package. SBC also allows a client to add hours to a comprehensive engagement with the same consultant.

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
• Career Coaching

All-In Interview Prep

Leverage our video platform for unlimited practice, self-assessment, and a professional review. Work with a dedicated consultant one-on-one for one hour to gather interview prep tips and then put them to the test in a live mock interview, followed by detailed feedback and coaching.

Plan Ahead 

For candidates who are a year or more out from submitting applications, we recommend Stacy Blackman Consulting’s Plan Ahead package.

Location: United States

Phone: 866-667-8229

Email: info@stacyblackman.com

Website: https://www.StacyBlackman.com