In this replay episode, we share an extensive profile of an applicant Stacy Blackman Consulting worked with. We explain how the former admissions committee members on our staff assessed her candidacy, what advice they gave to strengthen her materials, and what ended up happening.

Today we are joined by Brian Plemmons, Director and Global Process Owner for BD, a global medical technology company advancing the world of health.     After graduating from high school, Brian joined the United States Navy. During his military service Brian also earned his Associate's Degree, then went on to earn his Bachelor's degree and a law degree. Brian practiced law for seven years before transitioning to corporate America with a global medical device company.   After working in the corporate world for some time Brian then decided to return to school, earning his MBA from Kenan-Flagler in his late 30s/early 40s. In this wide-ranging discussion Brian and Chandler discuss a range of topics, including: How to leverage military experience in your MBA application (and in the classroom),  The importance of "giving yourself grace" when applying to business school and planning your career,  Suggestions for those interested in earning an MBA in addition to another advanced degree, Advice for older-than-average applicants,  Advice for applicants with children,  Tips for those interested in earning an MBA part-time, and real-world advice for running your own cost/benefit analysis on whether or not an MBA is the right choice for you. This podcast is a must for anyone--regardless of your age--interested in hearing thoughtful tips regarding the MBA application process from a global leader with lots of kindness and wisdom to share.

In this replay episode, our host Erika welcomes Bill Chionis, one of Stacy Blackman Consulting's experts on part-time (PT) MBA programs. They have a discussion about: Whether or not we've seen an increase in interest in PT programs since COVID hit in 2020 The benefits of PT program vs. a traditional 2-year MBA Similarities and differences between part-time and full-time MBA programs    How employers look at PT programs How (and if) PT MBAs can pursue a career switch Part-time MBA application criteria and guidance

Friends, Lovers, and Entrepreneurship: Starting a business with a Friend or Spouse Have you ever dreamed of starting a business with a friend? Or maybe launching an enterprise with your significant other?  If so, this episode is for you... Today we sit down with Purvi Mody, Co-CEO of Insight Education. Insight Education is an educational consulting company Purvi and her husband acquired, run, and have expanded dramatically--both in the US and overseas. This wide-ranging discussion touches on a number of topics, including: combining a passion for two different fields,  embracing a nontraditional career journey,  the pros and cons of starting a business with a friend or loved one,  embracing authenticity in the application process, successfully drawing lines between "work" and "home", thriving in business school as an introvert,  exploring the important ways applying to business school can "tear you down", and one special piece of advice Purvi likes to share with applicants.  Whether or not you are thinking of starting a business, this podcast is perfect for anyone wanting to take risks, boldly follow their dreams, and embrace authenticity in their MBA application.

In this two-part series we are going to talk about fear. In the first episode our host Chandler unpacked three of the most frequent MBA application fears clients and other applicants have shared with him over the years. This included fears around: Not applying to enough “stretch” or “safe” schools, Letting parents (or others) overly influence your school selections decisions, and the challenges of paying for business school In this episode we will continue the conversation by unpacking fears related to: not being real/authentic/vulnerable enough in your essays, being too vulnerable or personal in your essays, and doubts that an MBA might not be the right degree for you in the first place In addition to the points above, Chandler also points listeners to a number of other useful podcasts about related topics you might want to check out as well. Our hope is that—after closely examining and learning from your own fears—that you will be able to use these fears to dramatically improve your application.  This series is a must for anyone experiencing fears or doubts along their MBA application journey.

In this two-part series we are going to talk about fear. Fear--and admitting you are afraid--has gotten a bit of a bad rep in our world, especially in the world of MBA applications. However facing your fears fears can offer you a very real opportunity to learn about yourself and dramatically improve your MBA applications.  In this episode our host Chandler unpack three of the most frequent MBA application fears that clients and other applicants have shared with him over the years. We will unpack each of these and examine: What these fears might REALLY be telling you about yourself, How you can lean into these fears, and What you can learn about yourself – and, therefore, make your application stronger – from this process.  Chandler also shares a number of other useful podcasts about related topics that you might want to check out, including: Episode 125 – Where we share 5 things applicants are often scared to talk about (and why you really should), including: A low GMAT/GRE score A mistake you made or something you regret (such as a DUI or an honor code violation) The need to *stand out* from the crowd (especially if you come from an overrepresented demographic) Episode 126 – Where we continue the discussion and talk about: Failing grades or low GPA Being a candidate that is significantly “older” or “younger” than other applicants A sneaking suspicion that your school selection is way out of reach Episodes 137 – Where we talk about five specific ways to combat self-doubt during the MBA admissions process, including: Facing your doubts head on Developing a plan to address each of your doubts Role-playing “worse case” interview questions Clearing your mind Asking yourself, what can I learn from this doubt? Episode 138 – Where we talk about five more tips and suggestions for dealing with self-doubt, including: Don’t compare yourself to other people Develop a realistic post-MBA plan Identify a “career path exemplar” Find an MBA mentor Ignore your inner saboteur NOTE:  We apologize for the lesser audio quality of this episode related to a one-time recording complication.

If there’s one question nearly every school asks somewhere in the application process, it’s a version of “What are your short- and long-term career goals?” Not only is this question essential to nail, but tackling it in the right way can provide a “north star” for your entire application—linking together who you are, what you’ve done, where you want to go, and how an MBA will help you get there.  In this replay, host Chandler Arnold sits down with MBA admissions expert Christina Fu to dive into what works and what doesn’t when thinking about short- and long-term career goals. This episode is especially helpful for those who: Already have a clear idea of their post-MBA goals and want to articulate them in the most powerful way, Are still deciding between two possible career paths, or Have no idea what they want to do after B-school (this group is larger than you’d think, so if this is you, you’re not alone!)

This week our host sits down with Emma from the SBC team. Emma comes from the MBA Admissions Office at Columbia Business School (CBS), where she was Associate Director. She’s also worked with BCG, Teach For American and so many other amazing groups. Emma and Chandler sit down to talk about a critical—but often overlooked—element of the application process: how to have meaningful interactions with the Admissions Committee during your application and journey. Emma shares a number of incredible pieces of advice, including: Two important things to be sure to do or keep in mind when interacting with the admissions office, Two important things to be sure to AVOID during your interactions with the admissions team, A great suggestion about keeping a positive attitude during the admissions process, and A special behind-the-scenes advice for our listeners based on her time as an admissions officer.

You’ve all heard the expression all work and no play makes Jack (or Julia) a dull sport.  The same is true with MBA applications. Simply having an amazing set of  professional accomplishments is not enough to get you into a top MBA program. Setting aside scores and academic achievements for another podcast, this podcast will dive into five different aspects of your life you might explore applications, including a few you probably have not previously considered. Question: Why are we talking about this? And why do business schools even ask you to write essays in the first place?  Answer: These schools are interested in much MORE than your test scores, academic transcript, and professional accomplishments. More than almost anything else these schools are interested in learning what lessons you have learned about yourself and your leadership style, and—critically—how you will harness those learnings in order to drive impact in the world.  Listening to this podcast is a must for anyone who wants to: Present a full and complete picture of them to the admissions office, Stand out from the crowd by sharing unique and attention-grabbing stories and examples, and/or Identify memorable and authentic ways to share what makes YOU tick, how YOU think, how YOU have grown and changed over the years, and (very importantly) what lessons you have learned about yourself along the way.  This B-Schooled episode can be found here, or take a listen on any of the major podcast platforms below.

In this replay of a past episode, Erika talks with Anthony Penna, a fellow SBC admissions consultant who spent 10 years with the Wharton School in Career Management and as Associate Director of Admissions for the full-time MBA program. As Anthony served on the implementation and design team for Wharton's Team Based Discussion (TBD) interview format, this episode focuses on his insight advice for MBA candidates who will be interviewing with Wharton.