B-Schooled: Get Your MBA Admit

Stacy Blackman Consulting, the leading MBA admissions consulting firm
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Nov 26, 2025 • 24min

The Benefits of an MBA During Uncertain Times: B-Schooled episode 269

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.
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Nov 19, 2025 • 28min

Key Questions To Consider for Round Two Applicants: B-Schooled episode 268

For this episode Chandler and SBC consultant Dawn talk about key questions to consider when applying during Round Two. 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 to help applicants stand out during the Round Two, including: Why do business schools have more than one round for admissions? Do you think there is a difference in applying round one or a later round? Is there any advantage in applying in Round Two? Chandler and Dawn will also share a number of specific client examples and lessons learned from Round Two applications. Listening to this episode is a must for any applicant applying during Round Two.
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Nov 5, 2025 • 22min

Chat with HBS alum Rahul Mehendale (Part 3 of 3: Being an HBS alum): B-Schooled episode 267

In the final episode of Erika's three-part conversation with her HBS classmate Rahul Mehendale, they discuss the unique role Rahul has taken on in her graduating class that's brought everyone closer together. It's an uplifting, inspiring talk you don't want to miss, full of great advice for aspiring MBAs.
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Oct 29, 2025 • 33min

Chat with HBS alum Rahul Mehendale (Part 2 of 3: At and After HBS): B-Schooled episode 266

In part two of this three-part discussion, Erika chats with her HBS classmate Rahul Mehendale about his experience at business school, as well as his consulting and entrepreneurial career to-date.
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Oct 22, 2025 • 25min

Chat with HBS alum Rahul Mehendale (Part 1 of 3: Getting in): B-Schooled episode 265

In part one of this three-part discussion, Erika chats with her HBS classmate Rahul Mehendale about what he did to differentiate himself from thousands of other Indian male engineers applying to business school.
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Oct 15, 2025 • 37min

Overcoming MBA Anxiety With The Help of an HBS Admissions Officer, Part 3: B-Schooled episode 264

Overcoming MBA Anxiety With The Help of an HBS Admissions Officer Part Three: Three Meditations For Your MBA Application Journey For the final episode of this very special three-part series, we are joined by SBC Consultant Pauline. Pauline holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, worked for years as an HBS Admissions Officer, and has presented/lectured at Stanford, Tufts and Villanova. Pauline is uniquely positioned to speak about anxiety as it relates to the MBA application process. Pauline is passionate about Business, Education and Spirituality and worked as a Level 1 Hospital Trauma Chaplain. She also holds a Divinity degree in Pastoral Counseling and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. In episode one of this series we talked about anxiety in the MBA context: what anxiety is, where it comes from, and discussed very specific strategies for what to do when anxiety strikes in the present moment. In our second episode we dug deeper and talked about how you can HARNESS this worry and anxiety in healthy and productive ways to IMPROVE your application. In today's episode we talk about how meditation can help you release worry and anxiety as well as tap into deeper parts of your own lived experiences. In this episode Pauline: Talks about how meditation can be helpful to anyone during times of worry and anxiety (or anytime, really). Chandler and Pauline also share specific suggestions about how meditation can be a useful aspect of your MBA application journey. Walks our listeners through three meditations specifically centered around the MBA application process: Getting into a positive state of mind The use of mantras in meditation And a breathing excercise Shares her own advice about how her clients have used meditiations Suggests other free online meditation resources our listeners might be interested in. Chandler and the entire SBC team would like to thank Pauline for this very special three-part series; a must for anyone facing worry or anxiety as a part of their MBA journey. Additional gratitude to Tiana McCaskill for composing and recording the special music for these meditations.
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Oct 1, 2025 • 25min

Overcoming MBA Anxiety With The Help of an HBS Admissions Officer, Part 2: B-Schooled episode 263

Overcoming MBA Anxiety With The Help of an HBS Admissions Officer Part Two: How Anxiety and Worry Can Be Helpful To Your Application For this very special three-part series, we are joined by SBC Consultant Pauline. Pauline holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, worked for years as an HBS Admissions Officer, and has presented/lectured at Stanford, Tufts and Villanova. Pauline is uniquely positioned to speak about anxiety as it relates to the MBA application process. Pauline is passionate about Business, Education and Spirituality and worked as a Level 1 Hospital Trauma Chaplain. She also holds a Divinity degree in Pastoral Counseling and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. In last week's episode we talked about anxiety in the MBA context: what anxiety is, where it comes from, and discussed very specific strategies for what to do when anxiety strikes in the present moment. Today, we are going to dig deeper and talk about how you can HARNESS this worry and anxiety in healthy and productive ways to IMPROVE your application. In this segment Chandler and Pauline: Share specific examples of how previous clients have harnessed worry and anxiety to improve their MBA essays, Discuss how thinking through your own "worst case scenarios and greatest fears" can help you prepare for your interviews, Roleplay specific scenarios in which applicants transform what they consider to be their greatest weaknesses as an applicant into strengths Provide a template to use when discussing failures or things you are not proud of in the MBA context This episode is a must for anyone grappling with worry, anxiety, or self-doubt along their MBA journey.
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Sep 24, 2025 • 30min

Overcoming MBA Anxiety With An HBS Admissions Officer, Part 1: B-Schooled episode 262

Overcoming MBA Anxiety With The Help of an HBS Admissions Officer Part One: Understanding What Anxiety Is In The MBA Application Context For this very special three-part series, we are joined by SBC Consultant Pauline. Pauline holds an MBA from the Wharton School of Business, worked for years as an HBS Admissions Officer, and has presented/lectured at Stanford, Tufts and Villanova. Pauline is also uniquely positioned to speak about anxiety as it relates to the MBA application process. Pauline is passionate about Business, Education and Spirituality and worked as a Level 1 Hospital Trauma Chaplain. She also holds a Divinity degree in Pastoral Counseling and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership. This episode starts with a bit of radical candor about the fact that there are LOTS of things that applicants can find themselves worrying about. This includes the test taking process, starting your application, writing (and rewriting) those essays, pressing send, preparing for interviews, managing worries while waiting for your decision, wrestling with imposter syndrome, and so many other topics. In this episode, Pauline draws from her work as an HBS Admissions Officer—as well as her masters and doctoral work—to: Dive into the scientific underpinnings of anxiety, what it is, and where it comes from Share perspectives from various experts about physiology of anxiety Discuss the neurocognitive components, including the way anxiety affects the way you process information And there is good news—so much good news. Chandler and Pauline also share: a reminder that ALL applicants face anxiety at some point in their application process the benefits of "leaning in" to the discomfort anxiety sometimes brings understanding your own "window of tolerance" as it relates to anxiety ways procrastination and anxiety are often interconnected specific tips and tricks to implement IN THE MOMENT when anxiety strikes the difference between "self-care" and "self-preservation" on your application journey powerful things you can learn about yourself by facing anxiety head-on This podcast is a must for anyone struggling with anxiety, worry, or self-doubt on their MBA journey.
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Sep 17, 2025 • 28min

Do's and don'ts after you submit: B-Schooled episode 261

After you submit your MBA applications, should you contact the admissions committee with updates on your candidacy? What should you do if you find an error in your materials? Should you start preparing for your interviews now? This episode answers those questions and more, and advises listeners on the best way to make use of their time between submission deadlines and their interviews.
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Sep 9, 2025 • 23min

Life Lessons I'd wished I learned 20 years ago, part 2: B-Schooled episode 260

Life Lessons I'd wished I learned 20 Years Ago – Part 2: B-Schooled Episode 260 For this occasional ongoing podcast series, our host Chandler speaks with a number of corporate executives, nonprofit leaders, and wellness icons and asks the question: what life lessons do you know today you wish you'd known 20 years ago? In this episode, Chandler shares 5 pieces of wisdom that stood out – including a personal piece of advice from Stacy Blackman, our founder. Some of these lessons are narrowly focused on applying to business school. Some lessons are about making the most of the magical period of time you are actually *in* business school. And some lessons center the many years that come after… as you use what you have learned to build a life that is hopefully full of meaning, joy, and impact. Whether you are applying to business school, in business school, or working as a professional post business school – this is a very special episode not to be missed.

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