Christina is the best consultant I could have asked for to guide me through the MBA process! I could not have been happier and I recommend her 100%.  How did she help? 1. Starting from our very first session, Christina prompted me to start a self-reflective thought process that guided my application strategy. Brainstorming sessions led by Christina provided invaluable input that led to final essay and application plans. 2. She knows WHAT YOU NEED and is very honest and straightforward! At the beginning of your journey with Christina, she will give you a breakdown of your strengths and weaknesses followed by an action plan to turn these weaknesses into strengths - upon completion of the plan, your profile will be taken to the next level! 3. She was ALWAYS there! Christina understands first-hand the stress and difficulties of the MBA application process and supports you all the way in terms of preparation but also mentally and psychologically. 4. She CARES! Christina cares deeply about her clients and will listen to your needs. 5. By the end of the journey, you will be left with a great friend!  The result? Received offers to all the schools I applied to (5/5): HBS, Wharton, CBS, Booth, Yale, incl. scholarships of c.$200k

As someone with a weak GPA it was important that the rest of my application be perfect. Having no experience with MBA applications and wanting to make the most of what was going to be one of the largest investments in my education, I reached out to Stacy Blackman and worked with DD. DD was phenomenal, she was efficient, precise, and incredibly knowledgeable. She not only helped me make sure all the portions of my application were strong, but with her support I found the courage to reach for some schools I otherwise would not have. All in all, I highly recommend DD and I am confident she can help others maximize their chances of success.

Christina was an absolute pleasure to work with. From the very first session, she was extremely honest and provided the very best advice with all the information she had, which then lead to the creation of an extremely effective and impactful action plan for our time together. Things ended up working great in the end, as I got into my top MBA choice (Columbia Business School, early decision), and I have Christina to thank for a good portion of my success in the application process. She also works tirelessly for her clients and will make herself available when you need her. She is a very special individual that will be genuinely immersed in your process from start to finish and will go above and beyond the call of duty to maximize your chances of success. Words will not do justice to how much I recommend Christina’s advisory services!

My application process was bumpy. It was October already and I didn’t have a GMAT score. I used Deanna for hourly consulting – our first strategy call was super effective and she quickly helped me come up with a game plan.  However, in late November, there was a personal situation that prevented me from taking the GMAT and completing my application before the January (Round 2) deadline. I was very anxious, but Deanna kept me calm and we again talked through different options and strategies.  She was super quick to respond to emails and as an hourly consultant, very efficient with time so I felt like every dollar of my money was counting. In February, I listened to her suggestion and took the Executive Assessment instead of the GMAT and I’m so glad I did that. I got 165 on the EA. Then she helped me through the recommendation letter process (which was the most difficult part for me) and essay editing.  Right before the Round 3 deadline in April, there was a challenging situation at work that almost again stopped me from applying, but Deanna helped me strategize, and eventually, I was able to submit a well-polished application package in time. And the offer letter came in May.  I couldn’t be happier with my experience. Given all the unexpected changes I encountered during my process, she was flexible and supportive throughout. Not only is Deanna a great consultant who knows her stuff, but she is also clear in her logic/communication and efficient with time, and an amazing person who is thoughtful and empathetic. She became a friend and confidant during my application process and it was great to have someone rooting for me. I feel so grateful to have had her help.

Chandler worked with me as I was going through a career transition and applying to business school. I can honestly say I came to know myself better through the process... from articulating my purpose, to presenting my case, to preparing for interviews. When I submitted the applications, I knew was putting forward the best-possible—and, critically, a truly authentic—representation of myself. I’m thrilled to say I was accepted to my top choice: Harvard Business School!

Doing an Executive MBA at Oxford University was one of my dearest dreams, which just came true. This wouldn’t be possible without the amazing help of Mark O’Brien, a consultant who navigated me through the whole process. He helped with the preparation of my application, essays, and interviews. I am so highly impressed not only with his deepest knowledge of the application process in Said Business School but also with his incredible selfless guidance and ability to bring up the best in me. I wouldn’t be able to produce an application of such high quality without his detailed editing, advice and guidance. His work on essays and the whole application was truly phenomenal and absolutely beyond my highest expectations. Any time I was reading his draft, I was amazed: it was all me and my story but in such a wonderful way. Mark was exceptionally fast, proactive, super friendly, and made the whole intense process in fact very enjoyable. His help in preparation for the Interview was priceless: questions I was asked in the Interview were covered by Mark during our discussion, so I was fully equipped. Words are not enough to express how grateful I am to Mark O’Brien for all his help. He is truly The Best at what he does.

Cathy was a great help throughout my application process for INSEAD, including an initial assessment of my candidacy and help with the selection of recommenders, review of essays, and additional guidance with resumes and tips on video interviews. As someone that likes to bounce ideas and receive confirmation I’m on the right path, Cathy provided the perfect foil, offering support and affirmation when needed, but also providing necessary criticism where things could be improved. I enjoyed that she encouraged me to treat the process as an opportunity to look introspectively and when writing essays was initially more of a guiding hand, which resulted in my essays maintaining a clear personal tone in a process where there is always a risk of essays conforming to an easily-identified consultant framework. She was always a pleasure to speak to and I would certainly recommend her to anyone for assistance with applying to INSEAD.

Amy was amazing to work with, and I’m super happy with my outcome. I was accepted to a top MBA program (my first choice) with over half my tuition covered by scholarship. Amy really got to know me and understood my background. She helped me whip my resume into tip top shape and clarified my post MBA goals. She also did interview prep, which made me feel relaxed and confident.  Even though I attended an Ivy League school for undergrad, my GPA and GMAT left something to be desired. Amy helped me offset this by pushing me to highlight my work experience to best position myself as an applicant and offering insightful feedback on my essay.  I appreciated Amy’s honesty, thoughtfulness, and responsiveness. She was an invaluable resource, and I felt much less stressed since I could ask her questions about the application process. I would definitely recommend working with Amy!

I worked with Sherry after I got rejected from 3 top schools in the winter of 2019. I come from an overrepresented minority and need to distinguish myself among a large batch of applicants who have a similar background. Sherry worked with me to identify my strengths and weaknesses and what would set me apart and how I could improve my profile within a short period of time. I took the GMAT 6 times and while I had a score of 700+ I needed to work on my application essays to show my extended skill set beyond academia. I worked with Sherry for over 20 hours on my essays, resume, interview practice and other nuances for 15+ applications. I did get callbacks from 5 schools, but they all resulted in reject or a waitlist decision. Finally, I received an admit from CBS for the EMBA program after a successful interview that Sherry helped me prepare for. Sherry has experience working with overrepresented clients and knows the odds that we face in the B-school application process. While the journey to get into a good program was not easy Sherry was always positive and set realistic expectations. Having been part of the admissions team before at a top B-School (Duke) she has the knowledge and connections to know what each school is looking for. I highly recommend working with her if you want each application to be tailor-made for a specific school or have your sights set on one dream school. Lastly, working with SBC was easy and enjoyable as well. After my initial call, I was given access to their resources and guidebooks that are very useful when applying to a wide variety of schools.

I worked closely with Yvette throughout my 2+2 deferral admissions process. From the beginning, I felt like I could be candid with Yvette about my story and packaging for the admissions process. I think that’s something that is often overlooked in the consultant search – it’s always better to have someone that you feel comfortable with who will also keep you in check and ensure you’re turning in quality work and edits. Everything from the kick-off calls for each school, the timely turnarounds, and the mock interview prep – the entire process with Yvette was seamless, helpful, and amazing. I would recommend SBC to everyone serious about an MBA admission. More importantly, you should 100% ask for Yvette! My HBS 2+2 admission is inextricably linked to the amazing feedback and help from Yvette throughout the process.

Margaret was amazing from the first second we spoke during our initial phone call all the way until my acceptance at every school I applied to. She is very experienced and knows exactly how to make your application shine. Margaret was super helpful throughout the entire process; revising my resume, essays, and interview prep. I would not have gotten into any of the schools I applied to without Margaret's help. I would highly recommend Margaret to anyone applying for their MBA. The application process is a long strenuous journey and Margaret makes sure you are on the correct path the entire way! I will be attending NYU - Stern this fall because of Margaret.

I can't say enough good things about Amy. I entered the application process with little hope of success, and thanks to her incredible support, I ended up getting accepted ahead of the official announcement date!   I had a very nontraditional background, both academically and professionally, having come from a freelance career and creative education with no prior math classes or testing experience. Despite a lot of hard work, my test scores were still not the least bit competitive. And on top of that, I had a very complex story to tell in only a few words. Amy helped me navigate all of this. She helped identify the key strengths that I could lean on in my essays, allowing me to frame my background in a context that highlighted my potential in the program. She helped condense my 10 page resume into something functional, understandable, and relevant to the admissions committee. And she gave me great advice on how to supplement my weak test scores with preparatory classes that could show my capabilities outside the GRE format.  Beyond helping with these functional elements of the application, her moral support and insights were just as valuable. At my lowest points, she picked me up with words of encouragement and guidance that kept me going. Her experience with the program and the specifics of their admissions criteria gave me a better understanding of the process, thus easing my overall anxiety. Her upbeat attitude and unwavering kindness made her a true pleasure to work with.  I'm so excited to begin this new journey, and I have immense gratitude to Amy, since she was such an instrumental part in helping me get here.

After doing an intro call with Sarah, she recommended Jen as someone who would be able to help me craft my story (as I come from a somewhat traditional professional background). Jen also had a great track record with helping clients get into top schools, including double admits at GSB and HBS.  I was really unsure of myself throughout the whole application process, but Jen was extremely responsive to all of my concerns by giving me honest feedback and even offering second opinions. During the kick-off call, Jen's insightful questions also challenged me to ultimately rethink my essays. She was also extremely flexible when I needed help with additional schools.   I applied to 5 of the M7 schools and was admitted to 4 of them, including HBS and Wharton! Definitely recommend working with Jen.

As an international candidate from a very traditional background (consulting), it was a no-brainer for me to get some help from the expert. I was a bit picky (sorry Esther!) in choosing my teacher and requested different profiles again and again. My dream school was HBS, and I deeply felt the school's mission and people they're looking for fits well with me. Hence I wanted an HBS-focused teacher with a good track record and sophisticated writing skills. When I saw Joey's profile, I don't know why but I had an instant feeling that he will be the right coach for me. 1) He's also from a somewhat traditional background (banking), 2) He's graduated from both Harvard College and HBS (deep expertise in Harvard), and 3) how he articulated this application journey (as soul searching/ and the reason why he does coaching is that he enjoys helping people with this soul searching process) moved me.   I can say with my whole heart, this was 'THE' best decision I made throughout my application journey. The entire process was very painful for me, as I was struggling a lot with GMAT, and I ended up scoring 'okay but not that high' score for international candidates. But Joey helped me to navigate through all the challenges and came up with plan-B and the best alternative ways to proceed. He helped me to dig deep inside my heart and bring the most vulnerable and authentic story that I almost felt so "exposed" (the story I've never shared with anyone). But this was a genuine soul searching for me and I could write a beautiful authentic story that all of my friends and family thought 'this is truly you - shows who you are'.   Tactically he was also amazing in 'writing'. As a non-native speaker, my English writing skill is not that sophisticated or professional. Joey helped a lot with technical manner, yet remaining my authenticity. (which is even harder I know!) Also, he was very straightforward in feedbacks with no bullshit - which I loved as we could save time and be super pin-point focused/ efficient.   I am 100% sure I could get into HBS thanks to Joey. But not only he helped with the admission, but he also helped me to look back at my past / foresee my future/ and contemplate who I am and what energizes me. I'm more self-assured than ever now, and I'm sure it's all thanks to the application journey with Joey. I can't wait to see what new adventures and learnings I will find in the school. Thank you so much, Joey! See you soon in the US!

With only a month until applications in January, I was under extreme pressure: I had to retake the GRE, write new essay drafts, and compile my application. The SBC team and Dione, especially, helped me focus my efforts to make the maximum impact with little time. In the end, I was fortunate to be admitted to my top choice program: Harvard’s dual-degree MBA and Masters in Biotechnology. Altogether I was accepted to 2 out of 3 schools to which I applied (all top 10) and received a substantial scholarship at one.   I was a re-applicant and decided to go with the SBC team after doing research on different consultant groups. I was attracted to SBC based on its roster of top MBA coaches, its impressive rate of client acceptance to top-tier institutions, Reddit reviews (of course), and its marketing which emphasized applicant character—this is an element that was important for me to convey. Moreover, I appreciated that SBC evaluated if you were a fit and then found the right coach that wanted to work with you. I wanted someone interested in me and the story I had to tell.   The process from the beginning was prompt and efficient. In one day, I submitted my preliminary materials (resume, essay drafts), was matched with Dione who expressed interest in working with me, and met with her. She hit the ground running to assess my strategy, my weaknesses, and most importantly, my story. She wasn’t about small talk. She asked penetrating questions about who I was, what was my history, and what I wanted to do with my life. Through each of these dimensions, she prompted me to reflect on “Why” and tie those answers to my applications. It was baring and bold, but in a matter of hours, Dione knew more about me than many of my closest friends. “Leave no stone unturned,” she says.   Throughout the process, Dione was prompt (oftentimes 1-2 hours turnaround time) and very detail-oriented. She encouraged me to clarify my story and communicate it clearly, providing an accountability partner with whom I could bounce ideas. This was particularly helpful for me as I was a nontraditional applicant working at a biotech startup in Silicon Valley. Completing my applications was intense; working with Dione made it efficient and surprisingly cathartic as I learned more about myself through the process. Thank you, Dione, and thank you, SBC.   Advice for future clients: Although I’m not one to rewrite the past, if I was to go through the process again, I would engage SBC earlier for once-monthly calls during the application ramp-up stage. This would help guide my strategy, tying up responsibilities, and alleviate a lot of the last-minute stress! Start early!

I loved working with Mark! He was extremely helpful with the application process from start to finish. I was a bit worried that my application would lose some of its authenticity working with a consultant, but, quite to the contrary, I firmly believe that Mark helped me identify and explain my motivations, goals and ambitions more clearly than I ever have before (to an almost therapeutic degree). He truly is an expert in this field and was invaluable to my application and interview process. He also was always responsive, flexible and incredibly easy to work with despite my busy and at times chaotic schedule. I can say with certainty that I owe him a great deal of credit for the ultimately positive outcome.

I worked with Chandler on a series of applications that ultimately led to acceptances at two of my top choices – HBS and MIT LGO (dual-degree Sloan MBA and Masters from School of Engineering). Working with Chandler was one of the best decisions I made in the entire process: he took the time to really get to know me, my background, and my goals and ultimately help me refine essays that were true reflections of myself. Though he continuously gave me insight based on his experience, Chandler never pushed me or pressured me to represent myself in a way that was inauthentic. When interviews came around, we did a series of mock interviews that made me feel so much more comfortable on the day of. Knowing I had put in as much effort as I did (and having looked over essays with Chandler and another consultant at SBC many, many times) I ultimately was so much more at peace with the entire process and had the privilege and blessing of a very tough decision to make. Chandler and the entire SBC team were nothing short of phenomenal: I recommend them to any applicant.

I'm originally from Pakistan, and have always played catch up on application processes from my undergrad applications to job recruiting to this MBA cycle - Chandler was the single differentiating factor that helped pull my application for HBS, Wharton and Stanford together for a Round 2 application in time to apply. Chandler at SBC went out of the way to get to know me better, understand my aspirations and what mattered to me, and help me understand the importance of creating a story and trajectory that made me stand out as an applicant for schools. He had great advice on how to prepare for the GMAT and when the time came allowed me focus time to make sure that I aced my tests, before gearing my attention towards the application process again. He helped me navigate tricky work relationships and foster honesty with my recommenders that not only helped me organize my recommendations better than I had expected, but also leave work on the best possible terms after my admission. His STAR framework still rings in my ears on my essays, and I dread to look back at the first draft I wrote vs. the last one that he got out of me. I was able to get into HBS, get wait-listed in the most competitive cycle for Stanford and Wharton, but most importantly discover what I wanted to do during my MBA. The advice goes far beyond the application process and interviews. Chandler's mock interviews made me reflect on what I wanted to do, and how I wanted to go about it. 99% of the fluff being trashed, I walk in to my MBA program focused, confident, and with as little imposter syndrome as one could ask for. Chandler's the most important reason that 3 generations of hard work were able to culminate in a top 3 program MBA admission.

Let me preface this comment by saying that you will need to be very realistic with your expectation throughout the application process and be ready to make adjustments based on the feedback provided by your consultant. With that said, to have Deanna in my corner was one of the biggest reasons I was admitted to my ideal MBA program.  Deanna provided realistic feedback but was extremely supportive throughout the application process. She encouraged me to have bigger ambitions while selecting a program, advice that led to an acceptance from the program of my first choice.  While you may be concerned that Deanna’s specialization in Marketing may not align with your post-career goals, I find that Deanna’s non-consulting background had played to my advantage as she provided invaluable insights which highlighted my background from an over-represented pool of applicants.  I highly recommend that you work with Deanna if you need help building a strong application and remaining competitive among the top program applicants.

Erika is an absolutely terrific consultant, resource, and all-around person, and I could not be happier with my experience. I worked with her on all three of my MBA applications – GSB, HBS, and Wharton – and was admitted to all three schools. To be clear, I haven’t done anything world-changing to warrant that track record… I have a pretty traditional finance background. But Erika has an amazing ear for stories and a gift for drawing out the personal side of applicants, which is so critical to the process. After a lot of digging, she gave me the confidence to write about topics that I initially thought wouldn’t be “high impact” enough to include on my application. (While also kindly but firmly dismissing loads of fluffy essay drafts.) Her editing skills and eye for prose were also very helpful in polishing up my rusty writing. Erika was also instrumental in keeping me on track timing-wise, especially when I got sucked into a very intense work project midway through our Round 1 applications. She was always firm about deadlines but was never unreasonable and was also SUPER kind and understanding, even when I was MIA for a few days. I will be forever grateful for her patience!  As someone who applied to business school several years ago on my own (interviewed at HBS but not admitted), I truly believe having Erika in my corner this time around made all the difference. The whole process was night and day in terms of the quality of my application package, the natural flow of my story, and just personal confidence in the process. SBC also provided tons of resources that I leveraged, and the application flight test was particularly helpful in polishing the finer points of my application.  I would highly recommend Erika (and SBC) if you are going to engage a consultant. She was an incredibly supportive partner throughout and I truly don’t think I’d be headed to GSB without her.