I initially didn’t think that I needed a consultant and planned to go through the process on my own, relying on the advice of friends who were current students or alumni from the schools that I wanted to attend. I quickly learned that everyone had wildly different opinions on how to position myself through my applications and essays. I was totally overwhelmed and reached out to SBC for help. Erin was matched as my admissions consultant, and immediately things started to turn around.

Erin was incredibly responsive and very helpful. She helped me turn drafts of my essays and gave me very direct advice on how to write more effectively and express myself more clearly. Essay advice from a friend who went through the application process once is not the same as essay advice from an admissions consultant who has worked on admissions committees and read countless essays, something I completely underestimated when I began the process. After the essay portion of the application was over, Erin also helped me prepare for interviews. My first mock interview with Erin was rough, but she gave me specific points to work on and during my next mock interview, there was a marked difference. Having this practice really took the pressure off during the actual interview because I felt prepared, tested, and totally ready.

Erin was an amazing resource both to review my materials, help me prepare for interviews, and answer any general admissions questions along the way. Without Erin’s help, I would have never gotten a spot at a top business school, so if I had to give some advice to anyone just starting the application process, it would be to hire an admissions consultant like Erin.

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Erin is an amazing consultant! She is so smart, creative and strategic. She knows what the schools are looking for and she knows how to guide. I had some friends help me and they were very good at marking up my essays and telling me what was wrong. I now understand the difference between criticism and coaching. Erin showed me what was wrong, but also explained what was missing and where it needed to go. She then helped me figure out how to get there. She asked me the right questions that helped me to find my answers. It was actually a really cool journey of "self discovery" She was fun to work with - funny, kind and encouraging but also she pushes and coaches hard.
Her interview prep was also excellent. I have anxiety around interviewing and she helped me understand that the right kind of practice was the key. I took advantage of all of the SBC resources - practiced on the video platform, read through their interview guides and looked through all of the transcripts on their resource center. I had a mock with Erin where she helped me hone in on where I needed to focus my efforts. It was the first time in my life that I walked into an interview feeling quite confident, because I know my story well and had so much practice telling it. She psyched me up and prepared me.
Really could not have asked for more in a consultant. In many ways the experience exceeded my expectations. Because I created three great applications and also enjoyed the process (most of the time).

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I was referred to Stacy Blackman by a coworker who told me how invaluable they had been to the MBA application process. I was having trouble coming up with a concrete plan for my applications and was unsure if a consultant was worth the cost, but decided to have a call with them just to discuss my background and next steps. After speaking with Esther, I was immediately sure that SBC would be big benefit to my candidacy.

I worked with Erin over the course of several months and she did a great job of always being totally honest with me and pushing me to continue improving. Erin was always quick to reply to my questions (which were numerous) and always gave me clear feedback. Working with her immeasurably improved my candidacy, and I doubt I would have been accepted into my target schools without her guidance.

From strategy development to essays to interview prep, I could not recommend Erin and the SBC more highly. They were worth every penny and I know it was a great investment in my future.

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I was admitted to Booth and Columbia because of SBC’s services. I loved my MBA experience at CBS and went through the program with focus and productivity in large part because of the mentorship and career coaching from my SBC consultant, Erin. I would say that the ROI of the consulting engagement is not only the MBA admits but also the level of self-awareness I gained through the relationship. I knew exactly what I was going to achieve during my MBA experience and after as a result of the guidance from Erin. As I got to know my peers at CBS, it was clear that most students took the help of MBA consultants. I had the added advantage of working with a former Admissions Officer…..and there was another former Admissions Officer, Lisa, who reviewed my application to give me a different perspective. So, this type of inside knowledge was incredibly valuable. I have remained in touch with the SBC team because they were integral to my success during an important time. Thank you, Erin, Lisa and all at SBC!

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When I first started working with SBC, the whole business school application process was a complete mystery to me. I signed up for the comprehensive service, and Erin guided me every step of the way. She worked hard to get to know me and my strengths, and helped me formulate an application strategy that highlighted those strengths and downplayed my weaknesses (as Erin said herself- EVERY application has weaknesses). The process was grueling, but Erin was there every step of the way. Looking back at the “before” and “after” drafts of my essays, the difference is truly startling. She helped with everything from essay writing to interview prep to answering my most silly and inane questions. Thanks to Erin and the SBC team, I am headed to a top 5 school this fall! SBC is pricy for sure, but you definitely get what you pay for. Highly recommended.

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I cannot say enough about the support I received from the SBC team. I chose hourly services as a way to help me appropriately tell my story. Erin's help was critical in allowing my voice to shine through in my essays. The team was incredibly responsive and met all timelines we agreed upon without fail and without a perceived loss of quality. Erin was completely transparent about agreed upon services that we would be using as well as an anticipated number of hours or half hours each service would deduct from our total hours prior to embarking on the service. I truly appreciated the transparency throughout the process not only with billing but also in giving feedback. I paid for real feedback from a professional who would help me achieve my objectives in a timely way. SBC delivered 100%. My experience felt tailored to me and what I needed. On the front end, we anticipated a set number of hours would be necessary to achieve my objectives, and we met that estimate. I did not have to re-buy time, nor did I feel like time was wasted at any point. I would whole-heartedly endorse SBC.

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