B-Schooled: Get Your MBA Admit

Perhaps more than any MBA acceptance pair, many applicants dream of being admitted to both the Stanford Graduate School of Business (the GSB) and Harvard Business School (HBS). In this three-part series, two GSB + HBS dual admits -- host Chandler and SBC consultant Dawn -- sit down for a series of VERY candid conversations about gaining admission to these two schools. In the first segment, our hosts start by sharing some important context for how this podcast should be used (and how it shouldn't). Afterwards they share their personal takes on what types of students tend thrive in each environment. In the second segment, our host are more data driven, with Dawn and Chandler reviewing successful applicant profiles from each school. In this final third segment, Dawn dives deep into what some call the "unicorn" of the MBA applicant world... those applicants who are fortunate enough to earn admission to both programs. This episode is a must-listen for any applicant applying to either of these schools.

Having worked with MBA applicants for almost 20 years, co-host Chandler has seen levels of stress and anxiety associated with the MBA application journey rise steadily over the years. If you are struggling with stress and anxiety connected with your MBA applications, you've come to the right place. In this episode we've pulled together a range of tools from previous podcasts along with new content, so that you have a host of resources at your fingertips if and when stress and anxiety strike. But first—and this is important—we want to say that feeling stress and anxiety regarding to MBA applications are to be expected and are common to many applicants... definitely much more common than your peers and fellow applicants might be letting on. :) In this episode, Chandler will share: Suggestions for what to do when you are feeling stuck about one or more elements of your application, Tips for how to deal with frequent application concerns that can create stress, Recommendations about dealing with self-doubt (and how sometimes doubt can be a good thing), Comments about the power of remembering all you have already accomplished, and Specific suggestions about what to do IN THE MOMENT if application stress and anxiety strike. This episode is a very hopeful conversation about dealing with application stress and anxiety. Ultimately this is a dialogue about how reframe these feelings; using them as optimistic and productive fuel to propel your application forward.

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 have supervised FAQ 2: Describe the biggest piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant FAQ 3: Are there any areas of development you imagine the candidate might focus on during business school. FAQ 4: Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the applicant (and why your recommender should not ignore this question). This week Chandler will share 5 additional critical recommendation tips, including: How to pick your recommenders How to create prep materials for your recommender How to make these recommendations part of your holistic application narrative What to do if your recommender asks you to write the recommendation yourself Recommendation timeline planning

B-Schooled Episode #118: Tackling Your Main MBA Essay (Part 2 of 2) Today we are dive into about one of the topics we get the most questions about: how best to tackle your main MBA essay. While different MBA programs approach this essay in different ways, what these programs REALLY want to understand is who you are as a person and what you are passionate about. Just as importantly, these schools want to understand WHY you are passionate about these things… and how you want to lead in these areas after earning your MBA. These questions can be intimidating. These questions can be overwhelming. These questions take real work. But, fear not! Today we are sitting down with SBC consultant Kevin Rockmael to talk about how to approach these questions, how to learn things about yourself in the process and – if you can believe it – actually ENJOY the experience. Part one already covered: Planning out your overall application narrative pinpointing your personal north star Clarifying your personal motivation(s) Part two will cover: Structuring your essay, and Stepping back and making sure your essay accurately sums up who you are and what you are all about.

In this installment of our Paths Less Traveled series, Stacy Blackman talks with both the CEO of AI firm Woz (withwoz.com) and Woz's intern. Ben Collins, the CEO and co-founder of Woz, is also a Stanford GSB alum and discusses the details of his career, how Woz differentiates itself, and why he chose current GSB student George Lankas to intern at his firm despite George's lack of technical background. And George shares why he was interested in working at Woz in parallel with his MBA studies, as well as how his Stanford experience is going so far. This episode also includes details about Stacy Blackman Consulting's new Woz-powered service -- SBC Lab -- and how 5 lucky applicants can pilot this AI-driven MBA-applicant differentiator. Apply before April 13 at https://www.stacyblackman.com/Lab/ !

In the second installment of our Paths Less Traveled series, Stacy Blackman interviews Terry Cumes and Tristen Langley, a married couple who share how the same Stanford GSB foundation led one to global wellness entrepreneurship and the other to top-tier technology investing — and what this says about career optionality, partnership, and long-term impact. Here are the full bios for these amazing interviewees: Tristen Langley has over twenty-three years of experience in venture capital, operations, M&A and equities research with leading international investment and technology companies. Langley sourced, led and was operationally involved with private investments that have returned over $5 billion to investors. Tristen Langley holds an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. She completed her graduate studies in software engineering at the Fraunhofer IESE, Germany. She earned a Bachelor of Science (First Class Honors) from the University of New South Wales and was the recipient of the University Medal. Tristen is now the Executive Director and Cofounder of Amalfi Capital Management, Limited. Terry Cumes is an international executive who has built, launched, and managed several global travel and education businesses. Terry is currently the CEO of Willka T'ika Essential Wellness, Peru's original luxury wellness center located in the Sacred Valley. Under Terry's leadership, Willka T'ika welcomes scores of groups each year from around the world. Each group is unique with programmatic themes ranging from yoga and mindfulness to transformative leadership in business. In 2022, Willka T'ika was included in "9 of the World's Best Wellness Retreats" by CNN and nominated "Best Digital Detox Retreat" by Vogue Magazine.

In this episode we discuss 4 things MBA candidates should consider when facing the "Bird in Hand" dilemma: meaning, when they have been admitted to at least one program, but are considering not claiming their spot, forgoing the sure thing and taking the risk of trying again in the future in the hopes of getting into a program they're even more interested in.

This episode discusses how accepted MBA candidates should go about asking for an increase in merit aid; the four situations a candidate might be in and their associated negotiating tactics; and detailed advice for approaching such an ask over the phone vs. email.

For years, MBA applicants have asked some version of the same question: "What job will I get after graduation?" It's understandable. Recruiting is a visible and important part of the MBA experience. But after decades working with business school graduates, Stacy Blackman has noticed something more interesting: the most meaningful MBA outcomes rarely follow a straight line. That's the premise behind Paths Less Traveled, a new B-Schooled podcast series launching this week. Each episode features conversations with MBA alumni whose careers evolved in unexpected directions over time. These aren't "first job after school" stories. They're about optionality, reinvention, and what happens when you treat the MBA as a long-term foundation rather than a short-term placement service. The series kicks off with Paul Earle, a Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management alum and Stacy's former classmate, who went on to found one of the fastest-growing emerging consumer brands in the U.S. His company, GOODLES, reimagines mac and cheese as a better-for-you product, and his current obsession is the Thrilled Cheese variety. But the conversation goes deeper than product launches. Paul reflects on what business school actually gave him: "I barely remember the technical classroom frameworks and methods and models. I vividly remember the friends I made and perspectives I gained and world I discovered. One of the best things I have ever done." It's a perspective that reframes what ROI on an MBA can actually look like, and one that applicants don't always encounter early in the process. If you've been thinking about the MBA primarily in terms of your first post-graduation role, this series is worth your time.

In this episode, Erika explains how your social media behavior could affect your MBA candidacy — positively or negatively. She covers what admissions committees might be looking for on your online profiles and platforms that could be problematic, as well as what kinds of social media posts might actually end up strengthening your candidacy. She also explains how reviews of your social media accounts don't end once you're admitted.

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.

In this episode, Alex Liff interviews Andrew Walker, GMAC's Director of Research Analysis and Communication about the latest MBA application trends survey that he just completed. Andrew offers interesting insights into the latest trends both on the applicant and corporate recruiter sides and talks about what to expect going forward.

Final Thoughts After 20 Years of MBA Advising: Part 3 B-Schooled Co-Host, Chandler, is preparing to step away from his co-hosting responsibilities in order to care for his aging parents and launch a new venture for philanthropists. Chandler has decided to conclude his four years as co-host (and 20 years of advising MBA applicants) with a three-part series in which he gets very authentic and very bold in order to help you create a solid application plan. In this final of three episodes, Chandler takes a no-holds barred look at the last stages of your MBA application. In this episode he shares his single biggest pieces of advice in each of the following categories: Confronting your MBA fears and insecurities, Managing worry and anxiety on your MBA journey, Knowing what to do when you get stuck, Surviving thriving on an MBA waitlist, Strategizing applications specifically focused on Stanford and Harvard, and Looking back at lessons learned in his 20 years since graduating from Stanford. Listening to this three-episode series is a must for anyone wishing to benefit from a senior SBC advisor's more than 20 years of MBA applicant coaching experience.

Final Thoughts After 20 Years of MBA Advising: Part 2 B-Schooled Co-Host Chandler is preparing to step away from his podcast responsibilities in order to care for his aging parents and launch a new venture for philanthropists. Chandler has decided to conclude his four years as co-host (and 20 years of advising MBA applicants) with a three-part series in which he gets very authentic and very bold in order to help you create a solid application plan. In Part Two Chandler takes a no-holds barred look at the "heart" of your MBA application: your essays, your recommendations, your interviews and the other ways you demonstrate who you are as a person, above and beyond a list of numbers and accomplishments. In this not-to-be-missed episode Chandler shares his single biggest pieces of advice in each of the following categories: "Storymapping" and structuring your essays, Special advice for the first and last sentences of your essays, The power of writing the essay that scares you, Interview prep (and what NOT to do even if you think it will be OK), Choosing and supporting your recommenders strategically, Doing your homework about—and building a relationship with—your first choice MBA programs.

Final Thoughts After 20 Years of MBA Advising: Part 1 This episode is bittersweet for our longtime podcast co-host, Chandler. Chandler is preparing to step away from his co-hosting responsibilities in order to care for his aging parents and launch a new venture for philanthropists. He would like to share how much he has enjoyed co-hosting and wants to say a HUGE thank you to Stacy, Erika, Yvonne, Esther, Alex and the entire SBC team for their amazing friendship and support along the way. As Chandler thought about how to frame his last podcast, he ultimately decided to take my own advice. As our loyal listeners know, Chandler has closed each of his podcasts over the past four years with the words "be authentic, be bold, and to have a solid plan". To that end, he will conclude his four years as co-host (and 20 years of advising MBA applicants) with a three-part series in which he gets very authentic and very bold in order to help you create a solid application plan. In this first of three episodes, Chandler takes a no-holds barred look at the first phase of the application process, and shares his biggest pieces of advice in each of the following categories: Planning your application (including the very best place to begin, which most people miss) Defining career goals, Addressing lower-than-desired quant scores, Quantifying your resume, Using the data forms strategically, and … a special surprise at the end of the episode he hasn't shared before.

This episode 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 narrative. You want this narrative to come across cohesively via all elements of your application: your essays, your resume, your recommendations, and your interviews. To help set you up for success, today we offer ten suggestions touching on the following topics: Thinking through your overall application narrative to make sure this boldly and authentically represents who you are Reviewing your essays for common typos and other errors Asking your proofreader to help you by looking for the right things Bolstering quantitative results metrics—as well as adding useful context—to your resume Following up with your recommenders Reviewing your social media footprint When to actually hit submit (and when not to)

AI AND THE MBA APPLICATION Today we are talking about ai and the MBA application with SBC expert, Yvette. After graduating from HBS, Yvette led the HBS Alumni Circle and served as VP of HBS alumni club. Unique among MBA admissions consultants, Yvette also has extensive experience in the AI space and is the architect of MBA AI, an AI specifically focus on MBA admissions. In this segment Chandler and Yvette sit down to discuss: · What top MBA programs are saying about AI with regard to their application processes, · Things you should DEFINITELY AVOID with regard to ChatGPT and AI regarding your application, · Several AI usages that generally seem to be compliant and effective with regard to improving your application, · A useful overview AI detectors (and how they can help you), · and a final tip that everyone should keep in mind when applying.

This episode focuses on UNC's Kenan-Flagler MBA program.

In this episode, we cover how to make the most of a program's data form—the actual online application itself—which is made up several informational data fields, dropdowns selections and short-answer fields. Too many applicants overlook the opportunities in this unassuming form! We'll cover: • Optional fields • Common questions applicants have about certain fields and dropdowns • The awards section(s) • How you can use the data form fields to strengthen your candidacy

The Benefits of an MBA During Uncertain Times Today's guest, Dawn, graduated as a PepsiCo Scholar from Harvard Business School with concentrations in finance and marketing. Dawn was also admitted to the Stanford GSB. Dawn is a full-time advisor and senior consultant with SBC who has 18+ years of experience getting clients from around the world admitted into full-time, deferred and executive MBA programs. Dawn has a high success rate having clients admitted every year. 99% of clients who work with her on four or more schools have gained admission. She has had several double admits to Harvard and Stanford. Outside of her work in admissions consulting, Dawn has experience at companies such as: Goldman Sachs, McKinsey, Pepsi, the Carlyle Group and Warner Bros. In this episode Chandler and Dawn talk about a range of topics related to the value of an MBA during uncertain times, including: The value of an MBA in today's changing world, Whether or not an MBA really matters if you are doing well in your current career, The benefits of earning an MBA for mid-career professionals, How AI will influence job and career opportunities in the coming years, and a range of other topics. Chandler and Dawn will also share a number of specific client examples and lessons learned from recent application cycles. Listening to this episode is a must for any applicant considering the value of an MBA in today's rapidly evolving world.