MBA Admissions All-in Services Reviews

I chose to work with Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) for my MBA admissions journey as many reviews and resources noted that they were known for getting students into Kellogg. Long and behold, I did get into the Kellogg MBA full-time program and into McCombs' and Anderson's. The experience has been nothing short of outstanding.

One of the key reasons I chose SBC was the opportunity to work closely with Beth, a former AdCom member. Her inside knowledge and deep understanding of the admissions process at Kellogg provided invaluable insights. Beth's personalized approach and attention to detail undoubtedly played a crucial role in my successful admission to Kellogg, McCombs, and Anderson, with the added bonus of scholarships at Kellogg and McCombs.

SBC's team-based approach sets them apart from the rest. From the very beginning, Sarah served as my initial point of contact and matchmaker, ensuring a seamless connection with the consultant best suited to my needs. Amy, another former Admissions Officer on the SBC team, served as my "flight tester," providing constructive feedback and refining my application strategy. The collaborative effort of the entire SBC team, coupled with access to resources like the Vault database, significantly strengthened my application.

Before selecting SBC, I researched and spoke with several other admissions consulting firms. While many were reputable, what set SBC apart was the depth of their team, the personalized attention, and the proven track record of successful admits to top-tier MBA programs. The decision to choose SBC was ultimately driven by their unparalleled expertise, and it's a decision I am incredibly grateful for.

SBC offers a unique and effective approach to MBA admissions. With Beth's individualized guidance, a team-based support system, and a wealth of resources, SBC goes above and beyond to ensure your application stands out. My successful admissions results speak volumes about the quality and impact of their services. If you are serious about securing a spot in a top MBA program, SBC is the consulting firm that will make a difference.

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I had a fantastic experience with Margaret Orenstein and Stacy Blackman Consulting. I had an initial phone call with Esther Magna, who matched me with Margaret based on our similar backgrounds in the Life Science space and Margaret's experience in Management Consulting, my desired post-mba field. Margaret, a former HBS student, was able to give me excellent insight into what the admissions team is looking for and what they value most. This, along with the SBC wiki page, was essential to preparing high-caliber materials. The SBC flight test (flight tester Amy Bergrud - former AdCom) was also an excellent feature to make sure I put my best foot forward when I hit submit on the application. After receiving an invitation to interview, the interview prep and mock interview (plus post-mock feedback) really helped me refine my answers and feel confident going into the interview. Ultimately, I think this service was worth every penny and made my HBS application process smooth and stress-free.

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Amy was an amazing consultant to work with. As a LatAm applicant with a relatively low GRE score, she kept me motivated thorugh this incredibly stressfull journey and helped me focus on my key personal and professional strengths to portray in my applications, and also helped me select the MBA programs that made the best fit for me. I appreciated how direct and candid she was and how she helped me resolve all of my doubts and concerns in a clear and concise way. Her insights and experience from being a former admissions committee member were truly invaluable. Amy was always available to jump on a call at anytime to review my essays or discuss any topic regarding my applications.
The SBC team was very professional and responsive throughout my journey and would highly recommend them. One of SBC's most useful resources is the Flight test, where another consultant reviews your application, acting as a member of admissions in an MBA program and providing critical feeback. Beth Tidmarsh was extremely helpful as an external consultant by reviewing my essays with a fersh set of eyes and poiting out the strenghts and weaknesses of my application. Another great resource is the pool of sample essays that the SBC team makes available from different programs.

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

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

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Deanna with Stacy Blackman Consulting was an incredibly valuable resource to me as I navigated the MBA admissions process. My background is in public arts education and Deanna helped me frame my nontraditional background as an asset rather than a concern. Deanna was easy to reach and was a clear communicator. She took an interest in me as a person, which enriched our working relationship and helped her give me very specific, helpful feedback. With her guidance I was able to obtain a T20 MBA Admit with scholarship!

While Deanna was my primary consultant, the biggest benefit of SBC was the depth of their team and the breadth of their experience. This depth and breadth are what set them apart from other consulting firms that I looked at. From my initial discussion with Sarah, to my flight test with Lisa, a former AdComm member, I felt I was being guided by people who could give me targeted advice based on their lived experiences with MBA admissions. If you are serious about getting admitted into the top programs, it is well worth the investment to seek out their expertise!

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While SBC's services are on the pricier end of the spectrum and probably wouldn't have been worth it if I was only applying to T20-T50 schools, SBC and Meg especially were worth every penny throughout this process. The insights Meg brought to the table as a former Booth Adcomm, the number one reason I chose her, were invaluable. Without Meg my applications would have been shallow rambling garbage with no coherent narrative, my interview answers would have been all over the board and not focused on the topics B-Schools want, and my waitlist strategy would have been a mess and most likely ticked off the adcomms instead of showing my recent professional growth. The guidance and probing feedback Meg and the SBC team gave me are the reason I was successful in getting accepted to a top school.

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I cannot thank Bill enough for his assistance during my EMBA application journey. During our first call, he helped me set appropriate expectations and identify the programs I should consider. Bill provided invaluable help with my application essays and the interviews. The entire SBC team was also extremely supportive. I appreciated the team-based approach and received valuable feedback from my flight tester Amy.

A friend highly recommended Bill to me, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with him. Bill demonstrated an impressive knowledge of the programs and was a pleasure to work with. Thanks to his support, I was able to gain acceptance into my desired program-Wharton!

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I was admitted to Haas, Anderson, and Marshall with scholarships, and Stacy Blackman Consulting (SBC) played a significant role in my success.

After researching multiple MBA admissions consulting firms, I chose SBC for their reputation, professionalism, and authenticity. I sensed they genuinely cared about my goals and that they weren't just telling me what I wanted to hear. I also connected well with Sarah, my initial SBC contact, who skillfully paired me with Beth, my primary consultant.

SBC's Key Differentiators:
Beth Tidmarsh: More than a consultant, Beth genuinely sought to understand me, helping me craft an authentic and compelling application. Her invaluable expertise as a former Admissions Officer at Kellogg, along with her professionalism and genuine care, fueled my success.
Team-based Support: From Sarah to Beth to the flight test review team (also former admissions officers), SBC enhanced my applications with diverse perspectives and invaluable feedback.
Resource Database: Sample essays, interview questions, and school overviews made each stage of the MBA journey manageable.
For anyone seeking admission to top MBA programs, I wholeheartedly recommend SBC for their commitment to clients' success. Thank you, SBC! My experience exceeded my expectations, and I couldn't be happier.

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I decided to apply to business school very late in the process (didn't take the GMAT until mid-November, and then only had a month and a half to submit applications!). I was understandably stressed out, but after surveying the options out there, I had no hesitations about making an investment to partner with SBC to help me put my best foot forward in the MBA admissions process.

Esther Magna gave me a very accurate assessment of my chances at multiple top schools and encouraged me to apply even though I had doubts about my own candidacy. She matched me with Margaret Orenstein, who was instrumental in guiding me as I crafted my story with such great responsiveness, insights, and personalization to me. She also had such care for me as a person and was so invested in empowering me to be successful! Caryn Altman also provided invaluable feedback on my application.

Ultimately, I was accepted at Harvard Business School and the Stanford Graduate School of Business, which I think would not have been possible without the support of the team at SBC to help me navigate an unfamiliar process.

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Looking back, I now know that working with Meg and SBC was the single most important decision I made during my MBA admissions journey. The team's in-depth and candid expertise at every step of the process was instrumental in my admission to both Booth and Kellogg. It all started with my initial consultation with Sarah, who in a matter of minutes, assessed my candidacy and told me how she would go about crafting and positioning my narrative. It was easy to tell that she and SBC knew what they were doing. Then, it was Meg who really helped me unlock the potential of my application. With her expertise as a former MBA admissions officer, Meg was my primary partner and ultimate support system during the grueling application process. She spent a lot of time just getting to know me and my aspirations, and really helped me to understand that my story was valuable. She enabled me to weave together all my life experiences and ambitions in a way that helped me craft essays that were uniquely me and uniquely powerful - essays that no doubt made a difference in gaining admission to Booth and Kellogg. In addition to Meg's unwavering support, the SBC client database was immensely helpful with school-specific resources and sample essays. The vast information there was really a cherry on top of the breadth and depth of expertise that the whole SBC team provided. I would highly recommend Meg and the SBC team to anyone looking to take their MBA candidacy to the next level - I wouldn't have found the success I did without them!

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I was admitted into HBS and Wharton's HCM Program.
I was admitted into HBS and Wharton's HCM Program.

Dione was my dedicated consultant and was phenomenal. She helped position my application based on my experience and craft my essays based on my career vision. My favorite part of the process was our brainstorming sessions - she helped curate my ideas into what I believe turned out to be an excellent essay which distinguished me from other candidates.

There was also substantial team support particularly during the flight test (thanks Kim) and the Wharton group interview (Thanks Anthony!)

I selected SBC because a friend had referred me and I am so glad I did!

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