B-School Experts Provide Roadmap to Success in Their New Book "The MBA Application Roadmap: The Essential Guide to Getting Into a Top Business School"

Authors Stacy Blackman and Daniel Brookings Give Students the Edge


LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwire - September 5, 2008) - Most applicants to top business schools are qualified to attend. In fact, the average applicant to a top school has scored close to 700 on the GMAT. With acceptance rates as low as 10% at some schools, and rising numbers of applicants, how do business school candidates ensure that their applications will rise to the top of this highly qualified pool?

In their new book, "THE MBA APPLICATION ROADMAP: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GETTING INTO A TOP BUSINESS SCHOOL" (Firstbooks.com, Paperback, August 2008, $29.95, www.mbaroadmap.com), MBA consultants Stacy Blackman and Daniel J. Brookings share their MBA admissions knowledge, providing applicants with essential information to effectively market themselves to business schools.

"Over many years on the admissions committee at Rice, I always felt we possibly rejected some 'diamonds' because their applications presented a 'lump of coal' -- this guide will show these diamonds how to break out of the dirty layer and shine... one of the best guides I have encountered in the marketplace," Lisa Anderson, Former Director of MBA Admissions, Rice University.

In this concise 272-page guide, featuring 56 short, easy-to-digest chapters, Blackman and Brookings offer expert advice on everything from admissions essays to interviews to recommendations and more. Essential reading includes "Tales from the Road," quotes from real people that have gone through the b-school admissions process that will give the reader a range of differing perspectives. For the all-important business school essay, the book provides insights on how to develop "brand you," along with hands-on practical advice, including:

"Between juggling a full time job, the GMAT, scores of essay questions and other application logistics, most people don't have time to read a 500-page book cover to cover," said co-author Blackman. "Our book was designed as an essential resource that is light enough to take on a plane, and contains that which you need to know to help you successfully apply to the business school of your dreams."

About the Authors:

Stacy Sukov Blackman has been consulting on the MBA application process since 2001. She earned her MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and her Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Following business school, she transitioned into a career in marketing and has since worked in marketing roles at companies such as Charles Schwab, idealab! and Haagen Dazs. Through her work in marketing, Stacy identified similarities between traditional marketing and admissions strategy. Blackman (www.stacyblackman.com) has helped clients gain admission to every top business school as founder and president of Stacy Blackman Consulting. Profiled in publications worldwide, including Businessweek, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and more, Blackman is renowned for her ability to help MBA applicants create an effective business school admissions strategy. Stacy and her husband live in Los Angeles, with their two children.

Daniel Brookings. After graduating from the Harvard Business School, Daniel J. Brookings worked as a strategy consultant. In 2003, Daniel began working with MBA applicants to help them create an effective personal branding strategy and craft compelling applications.

About the Book:

Title: The MBA Application Roadmap
Subtitle: The Essential Guide to Getting into a Top Business School
Author: Stacy Blackman and Daniel Brookings
Publication Date:  September, 2008
ISBN-10: 0912301899
ISBN-13: 978-0912301891
Web site: www.mbaroadmap.com
Price: $29.95 paperback easily purchased via Amazon.com

Contact Information: Publicity contact: Lisa Hendrickson LCH Communications 516-767-8390

B-SCHOOL EXPERTS PROVIDE ROADMAP TO SUCCESS IN THEIR NEW BOOK: 'THE MBA APPLICATION ROADMAP: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO GETTING INTO A TOP BUSINESS SCHOOL'