B-Schooled: Get Your MBA Admit

Four our special 200th podcast episode we are sitting down with an early SBC client – Stephen Frayne, Jr. -- who worked with SBC almost 20 years ago. Chandler and Stephen talk about a number of important topics of interest to any MBA applicant, including:  How to think about the value of investing in working with an MBA consultant, The ways in which an MBA consultant can serve as a mentor, Advice from a re-applicants who don’t get in the first time… but ended up getting into his dream school the second time, Lessons learned from that same applicant who ended up TURNING DOWN his dream school for reasons he never would have expected, Suggestions for MBA applicants interested in the intersection between entrepreneurship and intellectual property, Lessons learned from standing up for yourself early in your career, The benefits of asking for help and coalition building, The power of taking a “portfolio approach” to life, Keeping a “beginner’s mindset” throughout the course of one’s career, and The perils of thinking small.    Special thanks to Stephen for this very honest and candid conversation.

For the past two years our co-host Chandler has ended each of his podcasts with the same 9 words: “Be authentic, be brave, and have a solid plan”.    In the first segment of this series Chandler talked about WHERE YOU ARE NOW as an applicant what you have learned thus far in life.   In the second segment he discussed how to articulate bold goals for where you ultimately WANT TO BE.    In this critical third segment we connect the dots by discussing how to you GET FROM HERE TO THERE in ways that are specific, tangible, and – perhaps most importantly – realistic.   In this episode, Chandler discusses how to: Articulate what you want to get out of your MBA experience, Describe your short and long term career goals, Detail the career stepping stones connecting your MBA experience to your ultimate career objective, Identify and describe your own “career exemplar”, and Pressure test your career plan with an industry expert. Chandler closes the episode by pointing listeners to a range of other free SBC resources for those interested in additional career planning support.

For the past two years our co-host Chandler has ended each of his podcasts with the same 9 words: “Be authentic, be brave, and have a solid plan”.   In many ways, these words summarize so much of Chandler’s entire MBA application philosophy. In this three part series, he will dive deep into authenticity, boldness, and career planning—and how each of these relate to MBA applications.   In this episode Chandler talks extensively about how to be bold in your MBA applications. Among other things, Chandler talks about why top business schools are looking for bold applicants and how to: Be bold by centering your passion and being specific, Incorporate bold elements into your career goals, Think about what you want to do with your life, Talk about your accomplishments without sounding like you are bragging, Talk about the elements of your application you are the most nervous about (and why this is a very good thing),  Write the essay that scares you, and  Decide how personal is “too personal” for MBA essays and interviews.

For the past two years our co-host Chandler has ended each of his podcasts with the same 9 words: “Be authentic, be brave, and have a solid plan”.   In many ways, these words summarize so much of Chandler’s entire MBA application philosophy. In this three part series, he will dive deep into authenticity, boldness, and career planning—and how each of these relate to MBA applications.   In part one, Chandler talks extensively about authenticity and aggregates a great deal of free resources related to this critically important topic. Among other things, Chandler talks about how to: Channel your most authentic self when writing your MBA essays, Highlight what you've learned and how you've grown, and  Deal with self-doubt while on your MBA journey Chandler concludes by challenging listeners to use authenticity as a way to reframe doubts into boldness. By turning your deepest fears on their heads, you might just discover the fuel you need to take your application to the next level.

Are you in the extraordinarily enviable position of having to decide between two or more MBA programs? Are you nervous about your choice or unsure of how to go about making such a huge commitment? This episode pulls together advice from the entire Stacy Blackman Consulting staff on how to approach this decision and what factors to consider (both short-term and long-term).

Today’s guest is Hanson Li, Founder and Managing Partner of Salt Partners. Salt Partners is a restaurant industry focused investment and operating company. Since 2014, Salt has been involved with of 8 significant restaurant companies—including 4 restaurants with Michelin stars. Salt Partners has also invested in 15+ technology and branded companies in the food and beverage industry. Prior to Salt, Hanson spent 10 years as Managing Director at The Hina Group, a China focused private equity firm and investment bank.  Born in Hong Kong, Hanson grew up in Asia and Rochester NY. He graduated from Stanford Graduate School of Business as both a Siebel Scholar (awarded to top 5 graduates) and an Arjay Miller Scholar. He also holds a BA and MA from Stanford. Finally, Hanson currently sits on the board of Golden Gate Restaurant Association, Center for Asian America Media, and the advisory board of OpenTable. In this episode Hanson and Chandler talk about a wide range of topics, including:  Advice for applicants who grew up outside of the United States, Suggestions for those interested in the fields of PE and investment banking, Advice for entrepreneurs hoping to start their own enterprises, and Suggestions for anyone interested in “non-traditional” MBA careers (generally) or those with a passion for the food and beverage world (specifically),  Hanson also offers suggestions that will benefit any MBA, including: The best decision he made in business school,  The one thing he wishes he'd done differently while in business school, and  Important lessons he's learned from failure.

This episode offers insight into Harvard Business School's unique type of MBA interview, as well as advice on how to best prepare.

In this episode we sit down SBC’s test prep expert Anthony to talk about critical reasoning questions on the GRE and GMAT, with a special focus on the one logical fallacy that every test taker should be prepared for. In this episode, Anthony shares: General tips for critical reasoning questions, Specific advice about one critical reasoning question type that trips up many test-takers, and Suggestions for how to tackle these problems so that you won’t be caught off guard on test day. In this episode we will be reviewing to actual GMAT questions. For those of you following along we have included the full text of those questions here: QUESTION ONE:  Asthma, a chronic breathing disorder, is significantly more common today among adult competitive swimmers than it is among competitive athletes who specialize in other sports. Although chlorine is now known to be a lung irritant and swimming pool water is generally chlorinated, it would be rash to assume that frequent exposure to chlorine is the explanation of the high incidence of asthma among these swimmers, since __________. young people who have asthma are no more likely to become competitive athletes than are young people who do not have asthma  competitive athletes who specialize in sports other than swimming are rarely exposed to chlorine competitive athletes as a group have a significantly lower incidence of asthma than do people who do not participate in competitive athletics until a few years ago, physicians routinely recommended competitive swimming to children with asthma, in the belief that this form of exercise could alleviate asthma symptoms many people have asthma without knowing they have it and thus are not diagnosed with the condition until they begin engaging in very strenuous activities, such as competitive athletics QUESTION TWO:  It is widely assumed that people need to engage in intellectual activities such as solving crossword puzzles or mathematics problems in order to maintain mental sharpness as they age. In fact, however, simply talking to other people—that is, participating in social interaction, which engages many mental and perceptual skills—suffices. Evidence to this effect comes from a study showing that the more social contact people report, the better their mental skills. Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the force of the evidence cited? As people grow older, they are often advised to keep exercising their physical and mental capacities in order to maintain or improve them. Many medical conditions and treatments that adversely affect a person's mental sharpness also tend to increase that person's social isolation. Many people are proficient both in social interactions and in solving mathematical problems. The study did not itself collect data but analyzed data bearing on the issue from prior studies. The tasks evaluating mental sharpness for which data were compiled by the study were more akin to mathematics problems than to conversation. Anthony scored in the 99% percentile on the GMAT and has numerous perfect GRE scores. Not only is he one of our favorite guests, he is also available for one on one test coaching. To learn more about Anthony, visit please visit  or check out his SBC bio .

This episode gives advice (and warnings) to those attempting to pull together MBA applications in the final weeks before the deadlines.

In this episode Chandler sits down with longtime friend, Anna Anderson, who leads celebrity and influencer engagement for The Nature Conservancy. Anna brings a long history of leading corporate social responsibility and social impact efforts at a number of leading social change organizations.   In this episode Anna shares incredible advice for MBAs interested in careers in corporate social responsibility (CSR), Environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) and a variety of other social change areas.  Anna answers a number of bold questions, including: The best lessons she learned while in business school, What she wishes she'd done differently while earning her MBA,  Advice for MBA students looking for summer internships in the social change space,  Advice for MBA grads looking to get into CSR, ESG and related social change arenas,    And much more...  This podcast is a must for anyone interested in using their MBA to advance social change.

It can be quite a challenge to fit an MBA application, data-form or essay response into the space provided when restrictive character or word counts are in play. This episode focuses on specific ways business school applicants can edit down essays and short-answer responses without compromising the power of their stories, anecdotes or statements.

What to do ONE MONTH before the deadline   This B-Schooled podcast is designed for MBA applicants one month out from their application deadlines. In this episode our host share specific tips and suggestions for applicants putting the finishing touches on the following application elements: Polishing your resume, especially in terms of adding additional quantification and additional context,  Ways to check in with (and support) those writing your recommendations,  Ways to take your essays from good to great over a few weeks,  Tips and suggestions for filling out the online application itself (AKA the data forms), and Ways to ensure your entire application is cohesive without being redundant. Finally, our host Chandler next encourages listeners tore-read their entire application from start to finish—then ends the podcast with 5 key questions to ensure your application is memorable, authentic and bold.   This podcast is a must for anyone wanting to make the most of their last few weeks before application deadlines.

This replay of a past episode covers how to prepare for the various kinds of video essays (pre-recorded, live with known questions, and live with randomized questions) several MBA programs require, as well as general tips on what you should wear, where you should record, and more.

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.

This episode explores why it's important to demonstrate your knowledge of and fit with the MBA programs you’re applying to – and how you can do so in both your written materials and your interview responses.

The first sentence of each of your business school essays is incredibly important. This is your opportunity to start your essay strong, grab your reader’s attention, and chart a bold course for where your essay will go. On the other hand, an opening sentence that isn’t compelling can dramatically increase your chances of losing your reader’s attention and decreasing their engagement.  In this podcast we will: Discuss why the first sentence is so important, not only for the essay itself but for the first sentence of each paragraph as well, Share examples of strong opening sentences and different categories of opening sentences you might consider Talk about the power of final sentences (for the essay as a whole as well as for each paragraph), and Share tips to make sure your first (and last) sentences are unique and memorable

In this replay of a popular episode, Erika is joined by her SBC colleague Lisa, former Director of MBA Admissions for the full-time and part-time MBA programs at Rice University’s Jones School, to have a discussion about when it is and isn't a good idea to share deeply personal stories in your MBA essays or interview responses.  While you want to present your authentic self across your materials, when it comes to writing about certain past struggles or traumas, there is a fine line between what will differentiate you and what might give admissions committees pause.

In today’s podcast Chandler sits down with David Morgenstern (he/him). David serves as the Global Kids Apparel Business Operations Director at Nike. David shares his answers to a number of questions, including:  What is the best decisions you made in business school? What things would you have done differently in business school? How can an MBA break into the world of sports/apparel? What advice for listeners wanting to thrive within a big company? What advice do you have for families about navigating family, work, and life? Note: David joins us on the podcast today to talk about the sports and apparel industry, thriving within a big company, and balancing the demands of career and family. David is not here at a representative of Nike.

For this podcast our host Chandler joins SBC’s Director Of Test Prep, Anthony, for a great conversation with our friend Tyler from Achievable—an AI-powered test prep platform for the GRE—to discuss the new shorter GRE and GMAT tests.  In this episode Tyler, Anthony and Chandler walk through recent changes in the GRE and GMAT tests, including: The new GMAT focus, which is shorter than the previous test, including: Changes in the GMAT focus algorithm,  New content focus areas for the GMAT focus, The ability to change up to 3 answers on the GMAT focus, The new shorter GRE test (what has changed and what hasn't), Differences between the two new tests, Pros and cons of the new tests, How to prepare for these new tests, Admissions offer perspectives on the GMAT vs the GRE, and How to choose the test that is the best for you. This podcast is a must for anyone wanting to learn more about these new shorter tests or anyone who is trying to decide which test is best for them.  This conversation first aired on GRE Snacks and is re-aired here with permission.

In the second episode of this two-parter, our co-host Erika details the class sessions she went to during her 20-year Harvard Business School MBA reunion and what she took away from them.