SBC’s Top Ten Most Popular Blog Posts
Wondering which blog posts this year’s crop of MBA applicants visits the most on the Stacy Blackman Consulting site? We were, too! Thanks to modern technology—AKA Google analytics—you now have the news you need right at your fingertips. Without further ado… SBC’s ten most-visited blog posts of late.
HBS and Stanford: Admitted to Both, Then & Now
Have you heard of the term “dual admits”? That’s what we call those singular applicants who receive admissions offers from both Harvard Business School and Stanford Graduate School of Business. SBC reviews its admit pool each season to identify key trends and lessons. Several seasons ago, we developed a list of eight lessons for dual admits. Back then, the economy was strong, and MBA demand wasn’t nearly as robust.
With demand now surging, our team sought to stress-test the original eight dual admit lessons. Would the current season admits still reflect this eight-prong framework?
Harvard Business School Acceptance Rate, Deconstructed
The Harvard Business School acceptance rate is the second-lowest of all MBA programs worldwide. It’s eclipsed only by Stanford GSB, in part because the GSB has a much smaller class size.
To help demystify the Harvard Business School acceptance rate drivers, we decided to evaluate SBC client data from the 2019-2020 season.
Stanford MBA Acceptance Rate, Deconstructed
Stanford’s Graduate School of Business is the most competitive MBA program in the world. Just how hard is it to get into the GSB? Well, the Stanford MBA acceptance rate typically hovers between 6%-7%.
To help demystify the Stanford MBA acceptance rate drivers, we decided to evaluate SBC client data from recent seasons. Here’s what we discovered.
Career Trends
Investment Banking MBA Career Path
Many professionals with their eyes on an investment banking MBA career path know that a degree from an elite business school can help them achieve that goal. Because the investment banking MBA career path is so popular, we’re sharing a Q&A with SBC consultant Puja, whose professional trajectory followed a similar route.
MBB Consulting: Salaries, Trends, Myths & the MBA
The management consulting career path is considered integral to the early career and/or the professional aspirations of countless MBA applicants that our team has advised over the last two decades. We’re taking a 360-degree view of the management consulting career path. Experts from the SBC team and Davis Nguyen, CEO of My Consulting Offer, weigh in.
Targeted Application Component Advice
Write a Winning MBA Personal Statement
The majority of candidates who apply to the leading business schools are bright, personable overachievers. Honestly, they would be an asset to any program. That’s why when it comes to the MBA personal statement, you need to think beyond your obvious achievements.
Diversity Essay for the MBA: Tips + Samples
It’s no secret diversity, equity, and inclusion are incredibly important in MBA admissions. Business schools value broad representation in the admitted student class to enrich the program’s experience for all. For this reason, many schools have a diversity essay within the application.
Interview Intel
HBS Interview Prep: Format, Criteria + Sample Questions
The SBC team has several Harvard Business School admissions experts, including former HBS Admissions Officers who also hold HBS degrees. In other words, their expertise is deep. SBC consultant and former HBS Admissions Officer Andrea has exclusive insider advice about preparing for the HBS interview.
Stanford GSB Interview Prep: Format, Criteria + Sample Questions
We asked, “What does Stanford GSB Admissions look for?” of the former Stanford GSB Admissions Officers (AdCom) on the Stacy Blackman Consulting team. Here’s the consensus: Stanford GSB seeks talented, diverse, and smart people who will make a significant impact in business and society.
Finally, the Eternal Question:
How to Get Into Harvard Business School
“How can I get into Harvard Business School?” That’s the first question that the majority of our prospective clients ask. Our SBC consultants have guided more HBS admits than any other program, in large part because the demand for the Harvard MBA is so high in our client pool.
We have several former HBS Admissions Officers on our SBC consulting team, so we decided to gather HBS admit data across our client pool to define themes and strategies that can help future MBA applicants.
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We hope this roundup of blog posts serves as a helpful jumping-off point as you begin to prepare for your MBA application journey in 2022 and beyond. Good luck!
