B-Schooled: Get Your MBA Admit

MBA candidates who've been waitlisted can feel like they're in some sort of admissions purgatory. In this episode, our host Erika and her colleague and former MBA admissions director Lisa discuss what options waitlisted candidates have to learn more about why they were waitlisted and what, if anything, they can do to increase their chances of admission.

If you have six months (or more) before your application deadline, this two-part podcast is for you. In Part 1 of this podcast, we shared five sets of suggestions helping you to: Think about your application as a journey of self-discovery that can teach you important lessons about yourself, Begin work on your short- and long-term goals now, Rework your resume with a focus on quantifying impact, Re...

This podcasts is designed for applicants who have 6 months (or more) before their applications are due. In addition to offering suggestions about how to present your scores, essays, resume, and recommendations in the best possible light, this episode offers specific suggestions on how to use the months ahead to improve the SUBSTANCE of these elements before the application deadline. Do you want to...

This replay focuses on when it does or doesn't make sense to apply in a school's final application round.

This podcast gives applicants 10 things to think about in the days before submitting their applications. This is not intended as something to listen to an hour before you submit… but it does offer incredibly useful information to think about a day or two before the application deadline. As we always say: you want an application that is authentic, bold, and that offers a clear and consistent narrat...

A unique aspect of our admissions-consulting process at Stacy Blackman Consulting is our Flight Test, which replicates an actual admissions committee review of your entire application process. We have a team of former admission officers from the top MBA programs who serve as our Flight Testers, and this week we wrap up our two-episode conversation with one of them: Caryn, a former Kellogg admissio...

At Stacy Blackman Consulting, we have a team of former admission committee members from the top MBA programs who serve as our "Flight Testers." Our Flight Test mimics an actual application review, just like the adcom will do it in real life. Except that you'll be getting personalized feedback on what you can improve BEFORE you hit submit. In the first of this two-part episode series, we talk with...

Are you having doubts about applying to business school? This could be a good thing. Are you having REALLY BIG DOUBTS? This could be even better. In this two-part episode host Chandler Arnold gets personal about combatting self-doubt and—more importantly—transforming this doubt into FUEL to drive your forward towards your goals. Last week we talked about 5 specific ways to combat self-doubt during...

Every thoughtful MBA applicant doubts themselves at some point during the MBA application journey. More critically,it is often the applicants who have the most to offer -- the most unique experiences, the most diverse perspectives, the most out-of-the-ordinary life stories -- who doubt themselves the most. Are you having doubts about applying? This could be a good thing. Are you having REALLY BIG...

If you didn't get into your dream program, how long should you wait until you reapply? Should you use any of the same materials again? What about recommenders? This episode is dedicated to giving frank advice about how to approach the reapplication process.

Our host Erika is joined once again by former Kellogg admissions director Beth Tidmarsh for a discussion specifically about behavioral MBA interviews (i.e., "Tell me about a time when..." questions). They cover the types of behavioral questions candidates can expect, advice on how to answer those questions, pitfalls to avoid, and more. They also role-play a few questions and responses for listener...

In the last episode your host Chandler Arnold shared five things he wished he'd known about recommendations when applying to business school, including: How to help your recommender think about the skills grid rankings, as well as how to prep your recommender for several frequently asked questions, including: FAQ 1: Describe the applicant's key strengths and how she or he compares to others you ha...

In this series of two episodes your host shares ten things he wished he'd known about recommendations when applying to business school, including: The *skills grid* recommenders frequently need to fill out evaluating your personal and professional skills Frequently asked questions, such as: Describe the applicant's key strengths and how she or he compares to others you have supervised. Describe th...

Our host Erika is joined by former Kellogg admissions director Beth Tidmarsh for a discussion about MBA interviews. They cover the types of questions candidates can expect, advice on how to answer those questions, what adcoms are looking to get from you out of these interviews, and more. Part 2 will be live on November 23.

You may remember madlibs from childhood—the silly word game where you fill in blanks to make an entertaining story… but don't let the playful title of this podcast fool you! The content we discuss today is anything but silly. However, we are using the madlibs concept as a powerful FRAMEWORK to help you think about how best to articulate your short and short- and long-term goals in ways that are sp...

We all know how to write, so what could possibly go wrong in an MBA application essay? Lots of things, as it turns out. In this podcast we dive into 6 tips for MBA essay writing that even the most confident writers sometimes miss. This will include: Directly answering the question asked The active vs the passive voice Writing an attention-grabbing first (and last) sentence The STAR format and why...

In this replay of one of our most popular episodes, 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 worr...

This episode discusses the most important things you must communicate to the admissions committee -- as well as the red flags you can head off -- if you're a candidate who's only worked for one employer since college.

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...

In this episode Caryn Altman joins us for more real talk. Today's topic: the complicated question of sharing something in your application of which you are not proud. This might be explaining anything you wish you'd handled differently… from a low GPA, to a lapse in judgment, to something like a DUI. The key to approaching these topics effectively is often LESS about the incident itself and much M...

In this episode Caryn Altman joins us for some real talk. Today's topic: the complicated question of sharing something in your application of which you are not proud. This might be explaining anything you wish you'd handled differently… from a low GPA, to a lapse in judgment, to something like a DUI. The key to approaching these topics effectively is often LESS about the incident itself and much M...

If you're usually not comfortable "tooting your own horn" -- or telling others about your achievements, this episode is for you. There's a fine line between confidence and arrogance. How can you make sure you don't cross it in your MBA materials?

All of us who put together this podcast are on a mission to help MBA applicants shine their brightest when applying to business school. For this episode, we sit down with SBC consultant Marc Paulo -- who has worked in admissions at UVA Darden and for private sector leaders like McKinsey and Bain -- to share lessons we have learned from working with LGBTQ+ and other underepresented applicants over...

In this replay of one of our most popular episodes, 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.

Today we are dive into a topic on the minds of many MBA applicants: test prep for the GMAT and/or GRE. We are joined by Anthony Ritz, Stacy Blackman Consulting's Director of Test Prep, who's been a GMAT and GRE tutor for more than two decades. Anthony works with his clients to develop an individualized plan of attack for a broad range of focus areas. To give an example of this, today Anthony takes...