Fortuna Admissions | MBA Admissions Consultants

Julie is incredibly knowledgeable, smart, and caring. She helped me through the entire application process, which led to an acceptance at my top school. I would highly recommend her to anyone considering an admissions consultant.

Working with Melissa was an absolute pleasure. We were super efficient in communicating across time zones and she really took the time to understand my profile and helped me to craft my application optimally.

Melissa’s help was highly valuable and constructive and working with her really helped me to get past the difficulty of articulating myself in the application itself. Melissa’s support was continuous and her wisdom of the process is clear to see, so having her there was a big part of my admissions journey, ultimately closing with admission to my first choice MBA program!

I can’t over-emphasize enough how much I enjoyed working with Rachel!!! I applied as a somewhat non-traditional candidate and while interviews with other consultants made me question if I was “right” for an MBA, Rachel was supportive of my candidacy from the get-go (while also being very realistic with solid feedback). Applying for MBA programs is an incredibly introspective (and occasionally vulnerable) experience, so I found it incredibly helpful to work with someone who I knew believed in my candidacy and set high standards. Working with Rachel, by the time I applied, I knew I had put together my most authentic and best application I possibly could.

What I enjoyed most about working with Rachel was her ability to shift between helping me articulate and refine the “big picture” narrative as well as dig into the nitty gritty details (as she said, putting together an application is kind of like “a big puzzle”). After working through my career vision, I worked with her to develop the essay, which took many many revisions. She gave me incredibly helpful feedback and pointers on how to develop a logical flow, and compelling narrative, and then gave feedback on word choice, grammar, etc.

Rachel also went above and beyond to make herself available as we neared the application deadline. A day before applications were due, I was still making minor edits to my resume, essays, and short answers. Rachel was super responsive and helped me work through last-minute edits (which I should have done earlier).

In short, if HBS is your top choice, I HIGHLY recommend working with Rachel.

I reached out to Fortuna because I had heard how successful they were in coaching you through your MBA application. I liked the fact that one would work with a coach that really knows the school and the application process. In my opinion, there is no better way to apply for an MBA than with a team of people that includes former admissions committee members.

I got matched with Melissa Joelson and knew from our first meeting that she was the perfect coach for me. Melissa is amazing in getting your story across and seeing things in your profile that you did not even realize were valuable assets to your application. She will also not hold back from looking at your weaknesses and suggesting ways for you to improve.

The main factor that made Melissa an amazing coach for me is the passion that she brings to your application. I went through a busy time during my application process and Melissa did not lose her motivation one bit. Applying to such prestigious business schools can be intimidating and stressful. Having someone on your side that wants you to succeed nearly as much as you – that’s what really made the difference for me and my application. I was admitted to and can’t wait to go to my dream school. I really appreciate all the efforts that Melissa made to help me achieve my dream.

Just having read the previous reviews on Melissa’s page has put – an embarrassing big self-conscious smile on my face. I couldn’t echo their sentiments more. The memories I tried to shut out in the darkness, Melissa made them shine as powerful tools for my interview. You may say my title is exaggerated, but I feel it is an understatement and here is why.

I am the worst at interviewing. I believed I did not have the “right” background and did not have a clue where to start and how to best use my time, given I was in the middle of a relocation and assigned a new programme to lead.

I did many intense interview preparation sessions with Melissa. When we were in the flow, Melissa stayed on past her paid time to ensure we got to where we needed for that session. There was homework with the right focus, so I did not have to worry about anything else.

To be able to decipher someone, break down their beliefs and build them up again to be someone that can use their setbacks as strengths in an interview and beyond takes more than skill, experience and knowledge. It is all of that, with the complete devotion that Melissa had put into my success, that made this happen.

I put my faith in Melissa’s guidance, and it paid off. I am now on the INSEAD Global Executive MBA (GEMBA) programme starting in October.

Thank you, Melissa Joelson. My family thanks you too and so do my friends. See you at my graduation!

I was introduced to Melissa for an additional interview mock. She provided candid and resourceful feedback for each one of my answers. Everytime I was uncertain about any of my answers she would provide additional feedback. I was super nervous (even though it was a mock interview) but she gave solid advice and helped provided tips to help ease the nerves. Even though she was not my primary consultant I worked with Melissa extremely kind enough to offer another session out of goodwill because she genuinely wants you to succeed and get into your dream school. Thank you so much for your help, Melissa!

Rachel has been a great coach to lead the whole process and provided meaningful feedback. She made herself available as necessary and gave me inspiration when I almost gave up.

Rachel is a terrific coach – I started working with Rachel with only about 3 months left till the application deadline. I don’t know how I would have gotten through the process without her meticulous help on every step of the application. Rachel has a skill for really listening to the core values and pursuits of the candidate as well as pulling out the WHY. She helped me stay on top of the tasks for every step and was very patient with all the iterations of my personal statement. She provided in-depth interview practice, helping me fine-tune my answers down to minute details.

I can’t say much beyond what’s already been said on this review board. Karen is absolutely the best in the business. Even before I got the positive news on admittance, I knew the value of what I was getting from our sessions and her input in the actual application deliverables.

No doubt having a cohesive and unique story across your application is critical to your getting admitted, and I think a prior reviewer said it best in that Karen spends so much time understanding who you are, what your story is, and how she can help refine the telling of that story so that it resonates with admissions. Even more true, she challenges you on your profile and encourages you to have an open mind about what makes you the most appealing and digestible applicant possible. She is equipped to do this well because she knows the schools and the process well.

I know for a near fact I would not have had the success in my application that I did without Karen. I picked her because of her reputation on the P&Q platform (and elsewhere), and I am happy to now be here on the other side able to contribute to her story!

I had an excellent experience with Bill. He was incredibly supportive and always there for me when I needed him most during this application journey! There were many times when I wanted to give up due to work pressures, but he kept motivating me to go through with my application. We built an excellent rapport that he could give any advice by phone or email and be there for support when needed! I am genuinely grateful that I got a chance to work with Bill and would highly recommend him to anyone who wants to give executive education a shot.

Tatiana was critical in gaining admission to UVA Darden. First off, before beginning my process, I was rejected by two consulting firms and was told that I was either aiming too high or that I should consider doing a master’s that didn’t require any quantitative requirements. After meeting with Tatiana, she truly believed I had an exciting story and goals that could be leveraged to be admitted into any top business school (I even applied to GSB). Tatiana went beyond her duties as a consultant. She was a therapist, a guide, and a motivator. I´m sure that if any person is willing to put in the effort and follow Tatiana´s introspection exercises, with a clear agenda in every step of the application process, they will gain admission to a top MBA program.

After talking to three other MBA consultants I chose Sharon because a friend had recently taken her help and she seemed most empathetic to my situation. She was realistic and encouraging, something which some other consultants did not possess. Being a male Indian software engineer, I was told my chances of getting into Haas to their EW MBA program are slim (this in spite of the fact that I scored 163 in EA and other strong credentials).

Sharon helped me structure my essay and also performed the duty of a therapist to keep my spirits up. Additionally, her coaching was paramount when it came to the video interview.

I strongly recommend Sharon to anyone and esp. people from a similar background as me.

Karen was the absolute best. She helped me cultivate a unique and compelling story for who I am and how I can contribute to each school’s application. She was always responsive and available for all my questions, and I could tell that she genuinely cared about my applications. With Karen’s help, I was admitted to the six schools I applied to with merit scholarships from four of the six. If you are looking for someone to help guide you through this rigorous process and get the results you desire, you should work with Karen.

Bill just helped me a lot in the application.
I am a young professionals on Finance and Real Estate, who is not on Executive level (Just manager grade). Every consultant that I have call with, told me that, nah, you should go to Duke/Insead or some other schools. You got no chance to get into Chicago Booth, blah bla bla.
But Bill gave me confidence, he is the ONLY consultant that affirmed my potential and thinks that I can be admitted to Booth.
Not only that, he gave me constructive advice. You can schedule any time for call from him, and he will help you shape your story, make your personality stand out, tell you how to be fit into Booth and give your prompt feedback.
He was the Associate Dean of Booth, so basically he knows everything that Booth wants.
There’s too much to say about Bill, I admire and thank him so much.
If it’s not him, I could not be admitted to Chicago Booth Executive MBA with my profile (GPA<3.2, age only 31, and managerial grade only).
If your dream school is Booth, just don't hesitate.
Bill Kooser is the BEST choice, and that's not even close.

After my experience working with Nonie and the rest of the Fortuna team, I have nothing but praises for her and the team!

Fortuna’s advising process first started with calls to understand my background and set up the “backbone” of my application to INSEAD. The advice and feedback provided to me in these initial calls showcased Nonie’s keen understanding of INSEAD and the strengths sought after by INSEAD.

Throughout the entire application process, she has shown professionalism and dedication. She has been extremely generous with her time and experience, be it during the crafting of my essays or the time spent conducting mock interview video sessions with me.

Further, Nonie was also kind enough to put me in contact with several specialists within the Fortuna team in relation to my resume building and further strengthening my case for INSEAD with Caroline.

All in all, I have nothing but praises for Nonie and the rest of the team for all the hard work they’ve put in to share their knowledge, experience, and perspectives. I was admitted with a partial scholarship in R2 of INSEAD’s 23D class.

I started the consultation with Nonie about 9 months before I intended to apply to INSEAD. She was able to give me some actionable advice immediately so I could craft my profile, which paid off during the application. She was very helpful and professional with her advice while writing essays and working with recommenders, and was very knowledgeable about what INSEAD looks for in applicants. This was also evident during our preparation for interviews. Overall, she was very easy to communicate with and the experience exceeded my expectations. I would definitely recommend her if you are looking to get into INSEAD, and I am sure she would be able to assist if you are applying to other schools as well.

Emma has been extremely helpful throughout the MBA admissions process and EXTREMELY responsive. I cannot stress how important this is, especially on application deadline dates. Emma’s insights into UK schools are second-to-none. She will breathe life into your story and is not afraid to challenge your ideas. When I was finding consultants in the beginning, too often did I find ones that would stick with the status quo and suggest only minor changes. Being in professional services, I also understand the temptation of admissions consultants to steer clients towards more costly packages. Emma does none of this. In fact, she was extremely generous with her time and did not charge for bits and pieces. Emma treats your application like her own. I really felt as if I had (an extremely MBA-knowledgable) family member guiding me along and giving me honest feedback.

I worked with Heidi last fall for my Round 2 applications with a comprehensive 3-school package, and also leveraged those resources to apply to two other schools. Heidi kept me on track throughout the process, always checking in and turning around feedback in often 24 hours or less. With her extensive experience and knowledge, Heidi’s thoughtful and candid advice was invaluable in crafting a strong and compelling story and pushing my applications to be better. When it came to interview prep, Heidi provided specific, actionable feedback that really helped me feel prepared for the real thing.

Heidi is truly invested in her clients and the results speak for themselves. With her guidance and support, I received acceptances at 5 out of 5 schools (four M7 & LBS) and will be attending HBS this fall. I could not have done it without her!

Karla is absolutely fantastic to work with – there is no one better equipped to walk you through the entire admissions process, and at her level of depth. She was instrumental in my MBA application process. I will be attending Wharton in August thanks to her expert guidance and coaching.

I started my MBA application process late. I applied in round two (deadlines in Dec ’21/Jan ’22) when I hadn’t even taken the GMAT/GRE as of Nov ’21. I did not have much confidence in getting multiple applications done in time, let alone studying for entrance exams being 6+ years out of undergrad. But, Karla is a superhuman ridiculously invested in your success – so, together, we got it done.

When you hire Karla, you become part of a supercharged team guided by a deeply caring coach, confidante, cheerleader, and friend. Hearing my trepidation about how daunting it felt to start so late in the game, Karla assuaged my fears, firmly but kindly. We came up with a game plan and worked our way through the various deadlines and checklists for each application. Through multiple essays, drafts, and mock interviews, Karla made everything easier.

Writing this review post-acceptance, I can say that Karla is hands-down the consultant you need for your MBA application needs. The past few months have been a whirlwind that will change the trajectory of my life, and I am beyond excited to attend business school because of her.

From brainstorming what schools were the right fit for me, to help me decide which school was the best fit after acceptance, Karla was always there, a call or text away. She is able to navigate the intricacies of different applications (HBS, GSB, Wharton, Sloan, SOM, etc.) and efficiently maximize your content and essays for each application. Karla’s processes and check-ins had me well prepared for the madness and rush of application season.

As a person, Karla is overly caring, extremely kind, and empathetic. Among many of her superpowers, one is listening and asking deeply insightful questions, allowing you to connect deeply with her and have her draw out the personal side of applicants. This is so critical to the MBA application process. She gave me the confidence to write about topics that I initially thought were too personal to include on my application, while her editing skills and eye for prose are superb.

Karla has a gift for drawing out the best in people, and I am so grateful to her. Invest in yourself and work with Karla!

Working with Fortuna was a crucial factor in my success. I connected with them (spoke to Matt) as soon as I had the idea of applying to b-school, and boy am I glad to have brought Fortuna onboard from the early stages, nearly one year before my submission. My coach Nonie’s help was of immense value in many areas, most notably her experience in admissions and career expertise, and her motivational spirit. Fortune’s team of ex-adcom was my number one reason for hiring them.

Working with her helped me better formulate my story; I found myself presenting my qualities in a more confident and articulate way professionally as well as personally. She helped shed light on my areas of weakness and shared with me interesting videos and articles that were crucial in my self-development. I found the input from the more senior coach (ex-director of admissions) vital in some areas of my CV and story.

The turnaround time was excellent and I received feedback within only a few hours. My coach Nonie was an admission officer herself which meant her detailed knowledge of the processes and a deep insight into the school I was applying to. That knowledge was priceless as it saved me hours of research and second-guessing. If you are looking to bring your A-game to the table, you need a great team around you, and Fortuna is the best in their field – definitely worth the money.

I talked to quite a few consultants before deciding to work with Heidi. A lot of them discouraged me from applying due to me not having a clear “reason to apply to the more competitive deferred admissions pool”. However, Heidi encouraged me to give it a shot and believed in me. Not only did she work with me to help clarify the “why” behind applying, but also she was extremely good at drawing out the stories that clearly persuaded the admissions committees of the most competitive business schools. I was impressed by her supportive attitude and her ability to connect with me and my perspective. I applied AND got admitted to both the GSB and HBS, and it would not have been possible without Heidi. She is absolutely amazing and I would 100% recommend her!!! The fact that I got into the deferred MBA programs of both these schools after working with Heidi speaks for itself.

Very grateful to have worked with Brittany during my application cycle! As a non-traditional applicant coming from the public sector (and applying for R2!), I was a fish-out-of-water navigating the application cycle. With Brittany’s help, I was able to secure a spot at my dream M7 school (with a scholarship). She brought concise and thoughtful feedback to my written application and provided calm coaching help during my interview prep. Most importantly, she was direct and timely in her communications – something I greatly appreciated! Many thanks to Brittany!

I am really glad that I engaged Nicola’s help with my INSEAD MBA application. At first, I had many doubts about getting any help from an admissions consultant, but I had no choice because I was juggling between work, GMAT and the application within a very short timeline until the INSEAD application deadline.

To cut short, I would recommend Nicola to anyone who is preparing for an MBA application. First of all, Fortuna Admissions has a very systematic approach to evaluating my past experiences, self-reflection, and putting them together in an MBA application, so following through with the prep documents before I even had the first call with Nicola, I felt quite confident about the application process.

However, not everything came together all at once, and this is where the work with Nicola was the most helpful. I had so many contents written down and brainstormed, and Nicola guided me through picking the most important pieces of my past experiences for the MBA application. After 5 draft revisions of my essays, I was finally done with the whole application, and I really appreciate that Nicola encouraged me throughout this whole process.

The 8 hours I signed up initially were spent very efficiently throughout the whole process, Nicola kept track of the time very efficiently and I got to spend the time on everything I needed the help with, within the 8 hours.

Even after the hours were all used up, Nicola regularly checked in with me to see if I had any other questions and how my application process is going until I received the final admission! She even shared some tips on alumni interviews through email, which was also quite helpful.

Overall, I really could not have made the deadline with such quality of application within such a short timeline without Nicola’s help. She was the best supporter of my MBA story, yet at times pushed me for the better, which really enabled me to put my best foot forward on the MBA application process. I highly recommend anyone working with Nicola for any MBA admissions!

First of all, I would like to acknowledge the incredible support before and after payment for the service was arranged. I was on a budget, nevertheless, the level of support I received from Emma and her team was invaluable. While eventually I was accepted by LBS, I was surprised by how humanly they treated me, especially considering the fact that I am from Ukraine I received comprehensive assistance in all formal and informal stages of my preparation for my essay, interview, etc.
The strategy of forming essays as well as a clear understanding of the purpose and vision for my goal school encouraged me to reveal my strengths in the right expression through discussions with Emma.
I’m sure there are quite a few alternative candidates/firms to be found with assistance to price and the same service, however, I’m convinced few are able to provide the incredible 24/7 support I’ve received and I’m sincerely glad to meet Emma and the Fortuna team. Regardless of your level of preparation to form the necessary strategy for your admission, I advise you to make at least one call with Emma, ​​undoubtedly you will find a way to solve for your weaknesses and position them correctly.

I found Julie at a super difficult and disappointing time in my application process where I thought there was no way I could make decent applications this year. I am not exaggerating when I say she saved my life. She worked with me relentlessly on all elements of my applications, was very candid about the different aspects of my profile, and blew me away with the incredible insights she gave to help me tell my story. From articulating my career vision, to writing my essays, to reaching out to recommenders, to preparing for interviews, waitlist strategies, and even interacting in school events, she has been my rock at every step of this grueling journey, and now that I am headed to one of the best MBA programs in the world, the greatest of credits goes to her. This period was some of the most challenging in my personal life as well, including health emergencies which really pushed me for time, but she held my hand and got me through to the other side in one piece. I understand that one engages a consultant hoping for success in one’s applications, but irrespective of whether your dream school makes an offer, I promise you that Julie will help you submit the absolute best most compelling application that you could have. She neither holds back on encouragement, nor criticism, and you can rest assured that she will be honest with you. I could not recommend her more!

I happened to connect with Sharon through Fortuna Admissions. Sharon has been extremely insightful while reviewing my credentials and my life story. She gave my application a unique perspective and a highly personal touch. The best part of working with Sharon was that she is very detail-oriented and laid stress on the impact every single word would have on my application. She has a lot of experience consulting and helped highlight aspects that could bring out the best in my profile, increasing the admission chances. She pushed me at times to delve deeper into my life experiences and think from an alternate perspective, bringing out more examples to aid my application. I, without a doubt, highly recommend her for the MBA admission process!

Working with Karla was a really great decision. She began our work together by having a personal discussion about my background, goals, and aspirations. This way, she was able to help me craft a true, personal, and unique application, not a cookie-cutter one. I was busy with my job throughout the process and she helped me manage the application process with lower stress. Her insider experience in the HBS admissions process made me confident in my application. Her essay feedback was so useful and helped me put my best foot forward – her attention to detail throughout the whole process helped me not miss anything. When I got the interview, our mock interview sessions were so useful and invaluable preparation for the real thing – we drilled questions and Karla greatly increased my confidence. Overall, working with Karla was a great decision and something I would highly recommend to others.

I have worked with Karen from June 2021 until the admissions outcome in April 2022. During this period, Karen constantly provided her insights, reviewed the application materials, and overall, has been instrumental in my successful applications to LBS and Oxford Said MBA. I come from an overly overrepresented pool of candidates, yet Karen has helped me to develop outstanding and successful applications. She was always available to provide help and advice at every step, and I believe that I would not be able to achieve such results without her help. Thank you, Karen!

I have been working with Emma since June 2021 until being admitted into LBS, and I believe that this would not have been achieved without her help. We began by outlining the strengths and weaknesses of my applications, and Emma assisted with the self-reflection process. She then helped me to develop school applications in a way that would present me in the best light, stressing my strengths, while also being tactical about areas of development and aligning those to the solutions that the school has to offer. In the end, I probably had the best application essays in my life 🙂 I highly recommend working with Emma to everyone who really wants to get into a top business school.

I worked with Jenifer through Fortuna admissions for my INSEAD application. I was apprehensive of the cost of Fortuna’s consultancy when I was initially scouting for a consultant to work with. However, one free consultation call with Jenifer was all that it took for me to know that I wanted to work with her and her only. I took Fortuna’s 1-school full package

She strives to bring out the best in you throughout the application process and she helps THE REAL YOU truly shine on the application. She patiently worked her magic through all my drafts and helped me hit some impossible word count limits. Despite her claiming several times that she isn’t my therapist, she helped me dig really deep and process my thoughts into an application that I was 100% satisfied with.

I would absolutely recommend her to anyone in need of an MBA admissions consultant.

Spoke with several consultants from a few firms before deciding to go with Bill. He was very helpful throughout the entire process by being very honest and transparent with me across my application. Bill was readily available whenever I need his advice or insight. He was quick to respond and review my essays/documents. Very well-rounded consultant. Highly recommend.

Working with Karen allowed me to produce the best version of myself and get accepted to two of Europe’s best business schools!

With a GMAT score that was well below the average for my top target school, I was nervous that I had not done enough to get accepted to my dream school. Karen coached me in a way that ensured I was able to communicate my key strengths and value add throughout the application. Each part of the application became an opportunity to sell my story. This approach was refreshing and is what I believe ultimately got me accepted to my dream school.

Karen was always super responsive, regardless of the time of day. Karen was also extremely flexible which allowed me to fit my application work around my demanding job and family life. This shouldn’t be taken for granted as to produce the best possible application, you need to carve out time that you didn’t realize existed before working on an MBA application!

From start to finish, the whole Journey with Karen was a pleasure. Karen genuinely cares for her clients and always gives you 110%. I could not ask for more from an admissions consultant.

For anyone looking to get accepted to the world’s best MBA programs, look no further than Karen and the team at Fortuna.

Emma exceeded my expectations in every way and working with Emma was a pleasure from start to finish.

With a GMAT score that was well below the average for my top target school, Emma coached me to ensure that my unique experience was at the forefront of my application. With Emma’s guidance and first-class coaching, I received offers from two of Europe’s top business schools.

Emma genuinely cares for her clients and she really took the needed time to understand me, my story, and my goals. I constantly felt that I was working with the industry’s best.

From the support on my essays to the final interview prep, Emma was always extremely responsive and always ensured that I was producing my best work.

I wouldn’t hesitate to work with Emma again and would highly recommend her services to anyone hoping to join the world’s top MBA programs.

Emma made my dream come true. Thanks to her I managed to get accepted to LBS. She walked me through a long and difficult process. She reviewed every detail of the application until it was perfect, even giving me extra hours for some issues where I needed to improve (like the video assessment and interview). She taught me to trust myself and to believe until the end. This gave me the strength to continue improving and trusting myself in the final stages of the application. She also gave me very specific advice that was key to my final admission. Without her, I would not have made it in any way. Thanks, Emma!

Working with Jenifer was such a pleasure and made my MBA application process so much more enjoyable. She took great care in listening to my stories so that I could write up the perfect essays. We had such great rapport that I opened up to her about some parts of my life that I only opened up to my closest friends. She took great care even after the essays were done, making sure that I was well prepped for the interviews. She would check in regularly and send good vibes my way when she knew an interview was coming up. I would strongly recommend Jenifer to whoever is afraid of starting their MBA journey. 10/10 she will support you and give you the full confidence you need! Thank you, Jenifer!

I started working with Silpa only a couple of weeks before my deadline. She helped me look through every aspect of my application in detail, from how to think about filling out the extra-curricular section to fleshing out the right ideas in my essays. She had a keen eye for detail and helped me refine my application in a holistic way. If it weren’t for her, many aspects of my application would have remained neglected. I strongly believe that the finishing touch she brought made all the difference in the success of my application. I would strongly recommend others to work with her on their MBA application journey.

I highly recommend Heidi! As a reapplicant, I came to Heidi after working with several companies/consultants so I can confidently say that Heidi is definitely the best of the best! I chose Heidi after reading all of the raving reviews about her and I’m glad to find that they are all true. I worked with her on several schools and eventually got into my dream M7 school with scholarships. It was a dream come true!

We had a very pleasant working relationship. She first spent ample time and asked lots of questions to get to know me. We brainstormed about my career paths and future goals. When it comes to essay editing, she had a way to help me tie my stories together and make sure my past stories and future goals are aligned. I was amazed at how she was able to do magic on my essays every time I got my drafts back. The interview prep with her made me more confident with the actual interviews. Moreover, she was extremely supportive and encouraging throughout which definitely helped in this emotional rollercoaster process.

One tip for consultant selection is to ask how many clients they take on and whether she/he would spend the time with you to do the reflection work before essay writing. If you work with the right consultant, it will be a very fulfilling and reflective experience. I came out with much better self-awareness and I’m very grateful that I went through it. I would definitely recommend Heidi to anyone who’s on this MBA application journey.

I worked with Karla based on a strong recommendation I received from a close friend and mentor. Karla bent over backward and went over the top at every step of the process, starting with our initial (extensive) introduction call before I had even committed to applying to b-school. During the application prep process, Karla made me feel comfortable sharing intimate details about my life that ultimately shaped my essays and overall tone of applications. Working with Karla was a life experience in and of itself that has made me rethink the way I approach both my personal and professional interactions and goals.

The background behind the title of this review revolves around a quick anecdote Karla shared about an interaction she had with her Uncle. For some reason, this really stuck with me. He said, “Whatever you do, do great work”, and that’s what Karla does.

I feel lucky to have been introduced to Karla and intend to stay in touch during business school and beyond!

Working with Catherine was a fantastic experience. I had an average GPA and GRE score, but Catherine helped me dive deep into my experiences and motivations to tell my story. Without Catherine, my application would have been a mess which would not have accurately conveyed my qualities and motivation to the admissions committee. She was thorough, flexible, and helped adapt my application to multiple programs depending on their unique cultures and priorities. I would absolutely recommend her to applicants seeking to set their narrative and student/alumni connections front and center in their application.

I can’t recommend Karen highly enough. I give my experience with her an A+. She is warm and down to earth. Her passion for helping me was so clearly evident every time we had a session together. Perhaps Karen’s greatest strength is that she makes you think about your story from every angle and helps you craft the best version of yourself. I went into this process thinking I knew how I would respond to each school’s essay prompts, but Karen challenged me to take it multiple levels deeper – something that is essential to having the story stick and having admissions remember you. I got into four of the six schools I applied to, and I can confidently say I wouldn’t have had this success without Karen.

Coming into this process, I was semi-skeptical about using a consultant but upon my consultation with Karen, I distinctively felt she believed in me as a person and was going to be in my corner throughout this experience. She was sharp, thoughtful, and masterful at piecing together the many vignettes of one’s life into a beautiful canvas. When a personal family emergency arose, Karen was deeply empathetic and acted as a trusted advisor who reassured me of my situation, and we strategized for the Round 2 timeline. Every time we spoke live or exchanged emails, it was clear that Karen puts a ton of thought into my applications, coming in with recommendations and ideas to strengthen the materials. Our efforts proved successful when I got accepted to two of H/S/W and many other top programs–you will not regret working with Karen!!!

Karen was tremendous to work with—I could not be happier with my decision to partner with her. I truly believe each of us has a special story to tell, and Karen’s guidance in connecting the dots between past, present, and future took my applications to the next level. Additionally, Karen was extremely professional, caring, and honest, making me feel comfortable from the very beginning. In the end, I applied in R3 (she was transparent regarding the challenges I’d face) and received offers from two M7s. If you have the opportunity to work with Karen, do not pass it up!

I worked with Emma directly with my LBS application from the beginning to the end at R3, the most difficult round with a lower GMAT score to start. She is the best you can get for LBS and/or any other TOP MBA school, and I honestly think your research is over! A few highlights for Emma and reasons for me to work with her after speaking with over 10 consultants from Spain, Netherland, US big and expensive MBA consulting firms, and some well-known independent consultants.
1) Emma is super insightful on matching your background and skills and bringing the best/shiny part of you among all of your life stories and career path with the school. She really spent time getting to know me and helped me to bring the best story no matter if it was leadership, professional achievement, or my motivation to pursue MBA with LBS.
2) Emma challenged me and really pushed me to give the best essay through her coaching and soul-searching on the essays and short answer questions for LBS! (Oh, yes, they are super-long). She is super detail-oriented and straightforward, which is why I love her so much. S, she knew my potential and was always be my cheerleader through all the difficult times: work stress, re-take GMAT stress, company re-organization…. I’ve been through a lot in the past application season, and knowing that Emma was always there for me to support me, offer me the best possible strategy to tackle those problems, and to address all the potential shortcomings of my application just gave me lots of confidence and peace of mind.
3) Emma cares about her clients! When I was working with her to prepare for the mock interviews, she went beyond and above to help me create narratives, and actually, all of her mock questions were asked during my interview! It took years of experience and second-to-none insight to achieve this, and for all the people who want LBS, you need someone like her, who truly cares about you and knows the school inside out.
4) Her lovely personality! While experience and knowledge are important when choosing a consultant, I do also believe chemistry is essential between clients and consultants. Emma is very patient, caring, and fun to work with. I think she is an ‘over delivery and under promising’ type of person, which is extremely rare in the MBA consulting industry. Her turnaround time for essay edits or questions is usually just within a day or so despite the 10-plus hour time difference. You can rely on her detailed edits, honest and fun personality, and first-class professional attitude.
Last but not the least, I do think it was Emma who helped me to get into LBS, and I wouldn’t have got get the result I have without her support.

I worked with Emma on a 2 school package as well as purchased hourly time with her for other schools. My experience working with her was amazing. I am someone with a unique profile in the sense that my scores (GPA & GMAT) were both relatively low but have several years of work experience as a management consultant. Although I was not able to push my GMAT/GRE scores to be as high as many of the schools required Emma guided me through the entire process and ensured that I excelled in my story, essay, video interview, and in-person interview. As a result, I was able to secure a spot at my top program of choice!! I cannot recommend her enough, she is super personable, fun to work with, and extremely caring.

A side note is that both my boyfriend and I worked with her and applied to the same program which we both got accepted into!!

I worked with Heidi for the past year while applying for the M7. I could have not asked for a better coach than Heidi. She has gone above and beyond in her support, and she was responsive and extremely flexible in finding a good time for our calls. (I took a 5 school package with Heidi, however, when she found out I’m applying to two more schools, she helped me prepare for the interviews of these two additional schools).

Her detailed and honest feedbacks were an integral part that allowed me to get accepted at HBS. I truly appreciate all of her work and effort that allowed me to get into my top school choice.

Right from the start of my journey with Fortuna Admissions, Melissa took a keen interest in knowing me personally and made every effort to bring out the best stories I had. She helped bring out memories and stories which I used to think were insignificant but eventually, it helped build my application and essays. Melissa doesn’t shy away from calling a spade a spade and that was needed rather than me having false optimism about certain topics. She nudged me and helped me get my applications ready in time even though I was personally going through a rough time with a hectic work schedule and bad health.

By brainstorming and strategizing, Melissa helped me realize what the adcoms look for and how to build on those aspects to have a better shot on my applications and eventually got me into ESCP. We were on a very tight schedule, however, Melissa was able to very quickly edit and polish my essay drafts and got me ready in time. If not for Melissa and her tough love and how hands on she was, I would not have been able to prepare an application reflecting my true potential nor make the deadline.

After a terrible experience with a local consultant resulting in getting rejections from multiple MBA programs, I started researching an admissions consulting firm that could keep up with the high standards that top universities expect.

I approached two companies. The first one claimed to be the most prominent in the industry, they avoided even the free consultation that they advertise and they just sent me some emails, an approach I did not like at all so I did not pursue with them. The second company was Fortuna. I had a thorough conversation with Matt, and eventually, I decided to apply to INSEAD with Fortuna.
The consultant I was appointed was Melissa Joelson. Melissa played a huge role in my eventual acceptance to INSEAD. First of all, we had many 1 on 1 zoom conversations throughout the process which I believe were much better and more efficient than a mere exchange of emails and allowed for better communication, bonding, etc.

Second, she made sure that every achievement that I had made throughout my life was well portrayed. There were several times that I would mention an action/achievement that I thought was unimportant, but she would insist on including it and explained what positive impact it could have on my application.

In addition, she made sure every paragraph, sentence, and word was properly crafted and up to the high standard that the Adcom is waiting to see. If you decide to work with her be prepared to revise each and every part of the application multiple times before reaching the desired result. She will also make sure that everything is on point well before the deadline. We submitted the application in less than a month, a request I had made when we started our cooperation.

Overall, Melissa made sure that we presented the best version of myself to the Adcom. The worst thing a candidate could do is not have a personal “id” in their essays, a faceless piece of writing that will just pile up to thousands of rejections. Melissa made sure that through the essays I showed INSEAD who I am and what is special about me so that INSEAD considered and accepted me.
Melissa was also truly committed to our cause, during and after the application process, providing me with her opinion regarding any questions that troubled me. It was the only application that I submitted and was 100% confident that I would secure a spot. I just knew that there was not a single reason why I should be denied, as everything was so well thought out and written beautifully and professionally.

Emma was a valued expert and guide for everything in the admissions process. She provided support in many areas, including understanding what school values and how to frame essays, ideating content for responses, line-by-line editing, interview prep, and more. She clearly possessed a deep knowledge (including personal relationships) of the target schools. I was accepted to both MBAs that Emma helped with, in no small part thanks to her critical eye and guidance.

Cassandra was brilliant throughout the application process. I applied successfully to INSEAD and I know that Cassandra’s guidance had a strong impact in helping me to present myself in the best way.

I was working to tight timescales which Cassandra was able to adapt to, and I really felt she was invested in my success throughout. I always came away from our calls feeling better set up to tackle the challenge of applying to highly competitive MBA programmes.

I strongly recommend Fortuna and Cassandra in particular!

Jenifer came highly recommended to me by a close friend who had worked with her in a previous cycle and earned admission to GSB (along with several other amazing programs). I’m so grateful for that introduction: from my very first phone call with Jenifer, I knew that she cared deeply about getting to know me and helping me tell my story.

I’d decided to work with a consultant relatively late in the admissions process and initially felt stressed about the timeline. I was applying to 3 schools, and I had to retake the GMAT, brief my recommenders, update my resume, write my essays, and fill out applications all in the span of about 10 weeks. Jenifer put me at ease and helped me put together a realistic game plan to tackle all of this. She was incredibly supportive and spent hours helping me craft my personal and professional stories in a way that was authentic and compelling. Her guidance and wisdom were instrumental in helping me put together the best applications possible for all 3 schools.

Thanks to Jenifer, I was admitted to HBS, GSB, and Wharton (with a scholarship!). I cannot recommend Jenifer highly enough to anyone who is looking to apply to an MBA program – she’s incredible!