B-Schooled: Get Your MBA Admit

This episode covers how to prepare for the various kinds of video essays (pre-recorded, live with known questions, and live with randomized questions) several MBA programs require, as well as general tips on what you should wear, where you should record, and more.

This episode covers some last-minute things to think about, do and not do as Round 1 deadlines loom.

This episode covers: - How you should think about and position your short- and long-term career goals in both the short-answer responses on business school applications, as well as in career-related essays. - What you should do if you have no idea what your career goals are, or if the main reason you want to go to b-school is to explore different options for your future career path. - Whether it's...

This episode covers common questions MBA candidates have about reapplying -- including specific advice for those who first applied in spring 2020's extended Round 3 (aka "the COVID round") or who originally applied to a 2+2 or deferred admissions program while still in college.

Your resume is perhaps the single most important part of your application materials. This episode covers how to maximize that one precious page.

Round 1 deadlines start to hit a little over a month from now, so while you're in the midst of essay writing, make sure you don't make any of the 6 common mistakes we'll cover in this episode.

In this episode, Erika is joined by Kellogg JD/MBA and fellow SBC consultant Gina for an in-depth discussion about how applicants can use the MBA application process to reflect on what they really value and what kind of work might make them truly happy.

Since in-person campus visits and traveling information sessions aren't happening for a while, MBA admissions committees are offering several different types of virtual experiences and online information sessions to help prospective students get to know their programs better. This episode answers the questions: Are these online sessions valuable? How should they be approached? Should they be treat...

This episode details: The most important recommender criteria What you should do if you can't ask your direct manager for a letter What you should do if you don't want anyone at your company to know of your MBA plans If it's OK to use college professors or extracurricular contacts as recommenders Whether seniority or alumni status matters Whether "side letters" are effective What you should do if...

The coronavirus has upended the MBA journey for those starting programs in the fall, for those who requested but were denied deferrals, and for those who will be applying this year. In this episode we'll be sharing our thoughts on 5 questions related to how COVID has impacted the MBA process, including: If you're admitted to a top school but already know in-person classes won't be the norm for a w...

In a continuation of last week's episode on "candidacy question marks" – or red flags on an MBA candidate's record – this week's episode covers what to do if you: have employment gaps in your career, are unemployed when you apply, get laid off or fired after you submit your materials, or have something like a DUI or honor code violation from college on your record.

This episode covers what to do about "question marks" — or possible red flags — in an MBA applicant's candidacy, including: A low GPA A low test score A few low grades within an overall decent GPA A lack of extracurriculars A lack of work experience, and "Too much" work experience (or when an applicant is older than the rest of the candidate pool) Additional issues will be covered in Part 2 next w...

In this episode, Meg — a former University of Chicago Booth admissions committee member and current SBC admissions consultant — joins Erika to discuss some of the biggest things they see MBA candidates wasting their precious time on during the application process. They address: Their most-hated question MBA candidates often ask *Why* it doesn't make sense to worry about certain things in the admis...

In this episode we cover: Two big mistakes we see applicants make regarding school selection An exercise to help you think about and narrow down your school list Which business schools have reputations or are otherwise known for being strong in particular areas

In this episode, our host Erika and fellow SBC admissions consultant (and former Kellogg adcom) Caryn have a discussion that covers: Several tactics applicants can use to strengthen their quantitative profiles What applicants should do if they have not taken the GMAT yet amidst test-center closures How to use the Additional Info field/essay to address any quantitative weaknesses in your candidacy

In this episode we'll cover: Round 1 deadline news from some top schools How Covid-19 may or may not be affecting timelines and the applicant pool this year What it makes sense to be working on right now to start preparing your MBA application materials as Round 1 kicks off

What should you do if you're light on extracurriculars, volunteer work and community service? And is it even worth it to try and beef up this aspect of your MBA candidacy during COVID-19 lockdowns ... and when there are only a few months before Round 1 deadlines? This episode gives MBA applicants some tactical ideas for how to ensure they're not just relying on their academic and professional achi...

This episode explains the risks of trying to be "Joe or Jane MBA" -- the stereotypical business school applicant.

SBC admissions consultant Erika Olson interviews her past client Nick, who is about to graduate from HBS. Nick was admitted to both Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business, and shares what he thinks made his MBA journey such a successful one. (This interview took place on April 7, 2020.)

In this premiere episode of B-Schooled, an MBA admissions podcast by top admissions consulting firm Stacy Blackman Consulting, we'll discuss: What listeners can expect from the podcast in the weeks ahead, What MBA applicants can be doing to strengthen their candidacies between now and Round 1 deadlines in the fall, and One thing applicants should NOT be worrying about right now during these alread...