Fortuna Admissions | MBA Admissions Consultants

Karla was absolutely everything anyone could ever ask for in an admissions consultant. She’s extremely unique in the sense that she’s able to personally connect with her clients on a very intimate level. I found this to be one of her best traits. This relationship allowed us to work together seamlessly and have a healthy feedback loop. I felt comfortable and safe explaining to her my life failures, successes, and everything else in between. Combining this with her sharp mind about everything business school limited my stress and instilled confidence that I was in the best of hands. Karla genuinely cares about her clients and truly loves her job. I consider Karla both my admissions consultant and a friend. I would recommend absolutely anybody to her and strongly suggest you pick her!

It was an amazing pleasure working with Michel and the Fortuna Admissions team on my MBA applications. I had a phenomenal experience with the 5-school package (Harvard, Wharton, Stanford, Sloan, CBS) and would highly recommend it to any prospective applicant.

I applied as a deferred enrollment applicant and I was so uncertain about my chance of getting in any of the schools, because I consider myself lack both working experience and impressive life stories. I was going on a very traditional track to IBD and didn’t have something “interesting” to write about at that time. Throughout the application process, Michel took the time to get to know me on a personal and professional level. Although we had a 16-hour time difference, she always responded in a timely manner and consistently found ways to improve my skills to present myself to the admissions. Michel is extremely approachable and patient. We can always find a time to chat, brainstorm, or edit if I need.

Michel was a huge help during every stage of the application process. She helped me with things include what to include in my resume, to whom I should ask for recommendation, countless times of editing essays (she paid huge attention to improve every word) and preparation for interviews.

With Michel and Fortuna’s help, I was very fortunate to be admitted by the Wharton Deferred Enrollment program! I can’t wait to be there in around 2 years, and I sincerely recommend Michel as a consultant to whoever wants to take on the challenge and discover their potential in the MBA application process!

Michel is an all-star strategist in the MBA admissions process. She brings immense domain expertise and a deep understanding of brand development that is crucial to the admissions process. With Michel’s help, I was accepted to MIT Sloan and Harvard Business School for deferred admissions!

I would highly recommend working with Michel, particularly to my fellow deferred admissions candidates! First, she helped me step back from the process and understand what I would bring to an MBA program and how I can tailor my application to reflect that. Second, her deep understanding of each school on an individual level helped me best explain my candidacy and interest to the respective admissions department. Third, Michel’s eye for clarity and narrative in application essays made it possible to tell my story within the required format of the respective programs. Fourth, her patience and dedication to my success helped me stay on the ball and meet deadlines under stress. Fifth, her interview preparation had me prepared to comfortably and confidently meet with admissions staff and describe my professional and personal background. Finally, she became a friend during an anxiety-producing process and was an excellent ally.

If you want an expert and partner in the MBA admissions process, no one would be better than Michel!

I came to Cassandra 1 week prior to my target school’s round 2 deadlines. I was unsure whether to apply now or wait for round 3. However, Cassandra advised me to take a week off work and give it a shot: should the application not look coherent or strong, she would recommend I postpone.

The week was a real marathon during which we nailed every essay and question from scratch. Cassandra was reading and reviewing my drafts within a couple of hours per iteration. We submitted on time and then did a mock interview during which she gave me precious insights to help me excel in the interviews. I ended up being admitted into one of the top MBA programs in the world! This journey would have not been possible with anyone else.

Malvina is simply the best coach you can have to advise you during your interview process. Long story short, I had practiced for my MBA interviews with other three coaches but I didn’t feel comfortable working with them during the previous days before my interviews. I was nervous because I had only one week left before my interview and I didn’t think I had enough time left to get ready. But luckily, I saw on P&A a post about Fortuna and Malvina, and in just a matter of hours they agreed to help me get ready in just a week for my interview. Despite the short time to prepare, Malvina walked me through the whole process with complete mock interviews and accurate feedback about my performance. Contrary to other mocks I had with other coaches, Malvina’s interviews were more exhaustive and the questions were more challenging and tailored to my profile, which mimic the real MBA interview. Besides the excellent quality of Malvina’s advice, I loved her positivism and friendly personality, she made me feel more calm and reduced the nervousness I had during the days before my interview. This was key to make me feel more confident and to reflect the best part of me during my interview. Needless to say, she also helped me giving excellent feedback on my post reflection essay with the university. In conclusion, Malvina is simply the best option to prepare during the interview process. I couldn’t find anyone better and not only she will give you the best mock interview practice, but she will also help you build confidence during this challenging process, which is key to help you show the best version of you during the real interview. I am going to HBS in august and I couldn’t be more grateful to Malvina 🙂

Rachel is hands down an AMAZING coach. She was instrumental in my admission to 4 top schools including my dream school: Harvard Business School! 

Early on, she invested the time to get to know me and understand my personal journey and my work experience. Because of her genuine interest in me, Rachel challenged me to dig deeper and to be introspective during the essay writing process. She was able to diligently sift through my stories to uncover recurring themes and help me refine my thoughts. She often challenged my assumptions and provided honest feedback even when it countered my initial thought process.
Looking back, I have so much admiration for the honest and tough feedback that she provided to help me craft a compelling story and find my own voice. 

Her ongoing encouragement was key in helping me surmount the roadblocks encountered in a particularly challenging year (test retake, writer’s block, self-doubt). She was particularly helpful in our mock interviews by providing direct and actionable feedback that enhanced my interviewing skills.

She was highly responsive and flexible throughout the entire process. Her turnaround time was unmatched. Our sessions were always productive and enriching. She leveraged the Fortuna network and knowledge base to help thoroughly answer my questions about the specificities of the different school programs.

While I was generally aware of the MBA application process, I underestimated the time, effort and commitment that the process would require over a period of time.  She was tactical and helped me stay on track of each step of the process. We worked through numerous essay edits and introspective exercises, even in the wee hours sometimes. Her can-do attitude, her empathy, and her attentiveness are unmatched!

Beyond being an amazing coach and subject matter expert, Rachel is a genuine and caring person who offered me support and advice as a friend would. While working with her, I have also gained an amazing advocate and mentor. I could not recommend her enough! 

My experience with Sharon was excellent! I struggled with confidence regarding my MBA profile; although I have a strong GMAT and high GPA, going into the process, I had very poor work experience (0 promotions, long layoff periods, no brand name companies, and low salaries), non-existent extracurriculars, and I am a male ORM. I viewed myself as pretty unremarkable, with nothing unique to write about and that showed in my essays. During R1, I got 0 interviews from any of the 6 T15 schools where I applied.
Working with Sharon, I was able to use her suggestions to pinpoint what my essays were lacking. Through her guidance, I discovered that things in my past, that I viewed as unremarkable, could be leveraged into storytelling that would appeal to admissions committees. I incorporated these experiences into my Round 2 essays, texting and emailing Sharon practically every day as deadlines neared to quell my insecurities – she kept me in a positive mindset and kept me on the right track. I ended up with interview invitations to all 5 T15 schools that I applied to in Round 2, resulting in 2 Waitlists, and 1 acceptance with a generous scholarship. I attribute some of this success to also doing comprehensive interview preparation with Sharon – she helped me focus on what would be important to convey and what would be important to emphasize at the programs where I interviewed.
Aside from the noticeable improvements in my applications, I think the best thing about working with Sharon was the mental support she provided me. When I was looking for a consultant, I actually had a company tell me that I had no shot at any of the schools I was targeting, stating my work experience as the biggest downfall. Sharon was very supportive of my aspirations, reassuring me that my profile was solid and my story will be strong enough to gain admissions to a competitive and selective b-school.

I am so grateful that I found Jessica to help me with my application process. Before I found her, I wasn’t sure exactly what type of help I needed, or even where to start – all I knew was what schools I was planning on applying to. She helped me prioritize what I needed to get done, gave great feedback that pushed me to think past the words in front of me, and checked in with me every step of the way.
The insight and support she provided for me with my resume, essays, and even admissions decisions after I was accepted helped me navigate through it all with confidence. Highly recommend Jessica for all application needs!!!

Michel has been extremely helpful in my MBA admissions process. I entered this cycle as a deferred MBA applicant, which I knew wouldn’t be easy, and I was able to get into Stanford and Wharton with Michel’s help!

To begin, she broke down how I should approach the process of applying to difficult MBA programs. From helping me ideate different essay topics to conducting mock interviews, she was willing to go above and beyond in order to ensure that I felt prepared and confident in every single aspect of my application. She displayed a unique ability to help me see the bigger picture and develop a roadmap, and I felt that this was essential when I was writing my essays and preparing for interviews. Having bought the comprehensive package, another thing about Michel that I really appreciated was that she did not try to rush me through the process or set a limit to the number of hours I could ask for her help. In the heat of the essay writing period, she was willing to meet with me multiple times a week to go over numerous revisions and essay versions, which I felt was something incredibly unique about Michel and Fortuna. Having that immediate access to advice and analysis on my application was critical to my success at Stanford and Wharton. I highly recommend Michel and Fortuna to anyone beginning the MBA application process!

Hiring Karla as my consultant was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made. With Karla’s help, I was able to get into both the GSB and HBS. While searching for a consultant, I spoke with many individuals across a number of different firms, and no one believed in me the way Karla did. Everyone advised me to wait another year before applying because the 2020 – 2021 application cycle was expected to be the most competitive to date, and my hobbies and interests were relatively new. However, Karla saw something in me that no one else did and was able to help me develop a story that wove my past experiences into my present interests and future goals. She helped boost my confidence and made me feel like I really had a shot at one of the two top schools. Before meeting her, I doubted that I would even get into one, let alone both, of the two schools I ultimately applied to.

To give you some context, I knew absolutely nothing about the business school application process when I decided to apply. I knew that I needed a consultant who was high-touch and who could guide me throughout the entire process. Karla was that person for me. Not only did she make sure that I met deadlines and knew exactly what deliverables were required, she provided encouragement and helped calm my nerves.

I loved working with Karla because she was always responsive and put her clients first. She always worked late into the night to get me comments on essay drafts as soon as possible. Even though she had many other clients, she always made me feel like I was her top priority. Any time I texted her, she always responded within 15 – 20 minutes, and she always made herself available for a Zoom call or phone call whenever I needed a pep talk (one time, we had a call at midnight because that was the only time I was available, and I was in crisis mode).

Honestly, before working with Karla, I was skeptical of business school consultants. I was worried that I would be put into a mold and that my story would be massaged into something that the schools would want to see rather than the story that I wanted to tell. Karla, however, was able to elevate my story by working with me to draw out forgotten memories and make connections that I would never have made on my own. She did not write my story for me – rather, by serving as a sounding board, she enabled me to write the best possible story that I could have written by myself. At all stages throughout the process, she encouraged me to be my most authentic self and assured me that the schools would appreciate me for who I was. As someone with high social anxiety, I needed this type of reassurance.

More than a consultant, Karla has become a life coach and a friend. She has helped me develop personally throughout this incredibly reflective application process, and I plan to stay in touch with her throughout my business school journey and beyond. She has amazing and interesting perspectives on life, and she is one of the first people I would text if I needed any professional advice.

The confidence that Karla has helped me build through this process is something that I will have with me for the rest of my life. For others who are planning to apply to business school – especially if you are applying to one of the top two programs – hiring Karla is a MUST. Her experience working in admissions for both Stanford and Harvard is invaluable, and her personability makes her service so worth it (since you are basically getting an admissions consultant, therapist, and friend all in one). I would recommend hiring Karla without any hesitation, and I genuinely believe that she is the best consultant that you can find.

Finally, if you need someone who can help you navigate the waitlist process, Karla is your person. I was initially waitlisted at HBS, and Karla helped me navigate every step of that grueling process and ultimately helped me get in. There is probably no one out there who is as knowledgeable about the waitlist process as Karla is.

Karla was extremely insightful and supportive. It’s amazing how well she managed to inspire confidence and helped me push through the tough process. She also has great attention to detail and patiently helped me get every minute aspect of my application right. She was very generous with time and adjusted her schedule to match my timezone requirements. Super glad it worked with her for my applications.

Working with Emma Bond has been an amazing experience and far beyond my expectation in almost all aspects. With her enormous support, I have been successfully rewarded with several great offers from the world-leading business schools (top 10 in the world).

Not only with invaluable insight and constructive advice, Emma Bond is also incredibly responsive, dynamic, and super responsible. She was able to work around my schedule in order to meet the tough deadline (less than two weeks since the first consultation), even actively supported me during the Easter Holiday.

The mock interview was of great value, definitely, you would be more confident in the real interviews.

A great “gatekeeper”! I strongly recommend!

Michel is an amazing person to work with, and I highly recommend her services to anyone who needs help with their MBA application. Her experiences and knowledge have been really insightful, which really helped me a lot during the process! Michel is also very patient with any doubts and questions I may have. With her guidance, I was able to submit various applications under a tight deadline and she really helped make my story come to life. I cannot thank Michel enough for her guidance and it has been an incredible journey working on the applications with Michel.

Karla is the best consultant ever! I was a re-applicant who had worked with someone else previously and not even sure whether business school would still make sense for me. Whereas other consultants told me that I likely didn’t have a shot at some of the places I had earlier applied to, Karla had a completely different and refreshing take. She believed in me from our first introductory call. She is so insightful and knowledgeable about what top schools are looking for (stemming from her direct experiences), something that was instantly evident to me while talking to her, and helped me present my story in the most compelling way. She worked tirelessly with me on all aspects of my candidacy from the essays to the interviews, beyond what I could imagine from any other consultant! She was my biggest cheerleader, advisor, and trusted friend through the whole process, encouraging me whenever I had any doubts and helping rein in my little worries 🙂 With her help, I got accepted to 4 top schools (M7) and even received scholarships. I am so very grateful to her for her support and believe that her guidance made THE difference this time around. I honestly can’t recommend her enough!!!

Karla was an amazing source of support and knowledge as I was navigating my HBS interview. She helped me understand how to prepare and think through my experiences so that I could share my story in the most impactful way. She was also incredibly generous with her time and someone I felt I could trust. Her insights were always on point (especially because of her past experience with HBS) and I went into the interview day fully prepared and relaxed. Would 100% recommend working with Karla!

I bought the comprehensive package for one school – INSEAD, and I chose Nonie Mackie as my consultant. Finally, it turned out that this is the best decision I’ve ever made during the application journey.

Just from the first Skype call with Nonie (the free version consultation), I realized that she’s the person who can help me, not just because that, as the Former Assitant Director in the INSEAD MBA Program, she is very knowledgeable about INSEAD culture and taste of admission committee.

Before the call, I researched several other admissions consulting firms and scheduled virtual meetings with their consultants. I’ve had no feeling that there is one consultant like Nonie who cares about YOU, not the business. It proved in the 2nd conversation with her. She read carefully about my Strategic Questionnaire and knew me better than myself. She could identify my strengths where I didn’t see but where the admissions officers may want. The most important thing is that Nonie followed what inside a person and she wanted to know me and dig up unique experiences and hidden values from myself.

Nonie is very patient and humble, with much experience in INSEAD and with her previous clients. I am not a native English speaker, and I always shared my concerns and left the most difficult decisions with her. She would be very patient to ask each question timely. She even replied to me sometimes during the holiday because I started preparing in a tight timeline (please prepare in advance and give you enough time). Throughout the whole journey, Nonie guided me step by step.

I had a low GMAT score, therefore, to me, essays would be kind of game-changers. When Nonie and I worked on my essay edits, I believe that she spent a lot of time thinking strategically and thoroughly. As you know, there are many questions in the INSEAD MBA application. But, for each question, after several times fourth-and-back tweaks and edits, Nonie turned my essays into something! Because Nonie followed my experience and strengths, all the essays are shining and enjoyable to read for me. I worked full-time and had long working hours. By choosing Nonie and Fortuna, I saved time to finally achieve my goal. For example, for other various deliverables, such as resume, online application, recommenders, Nonie also consistently supported me.

About my interview preparation, Nonie’s assistance during the video interview and alumni interview process were very helpful. Such high-quality mock interviews gave me confidence for the actual interviews.

Overall, I very much appreciate Nonie’s endless help and support during my MBA application process. I got admitted to INSEAD MBA and would highly recommend Nonie for candidates chasing their dreams.

As a non-traditional candidate coming from one of the over-represented backgrounds, I have the average work experience and went to the average school. I applied for the class of 2022 on my own and was rejected by all schools without an interview. After deciding to reapply with the help of an admission consultant, I did several 30min free consultations with different firms. Everyone, except for Fortuna, told me to forget about HBS/GSB. Then I started to work with Tatiana, who helped me get the interview, then waitlist at Stanford, as well as the acceptances from Kellogg and INSEAD.

This is what helped me get to this point from where I started:

1. Developing my personal narrative. Tatiana spent several 1-hour sessions on the phone with me going through my life stories since childhood in detail. She was very patient, empathetic, and inquisitive. I became comfortable with her immediately. She has a very deep understanding of human psychology and was able to understand my stories/points very quickly. This process by itself was quite therapeutic. She also took notes on everything while we speak and helped me connect all the dots at the end.
2. Leveraging my non-traditional background. While I tried to fit my work experience into the mold of business, Tatiana helped me identifying elements that are unique and attractive to schools and then amplifying those elements in my application. This really helped me stand out from a crowded applicant pool. She understands what makes an applicant special to the admission committee and her unique perspective added tons of strength to my application.
3. Career coaching. When new career opportunities presented themselves during my application, I was able to discuss everything with Tatiana and get solid advice from her. Her experience of working in a very diverse range of sectors/industries helped me identifying and prioritizing opportunities for my own career development and consequently, strengthening my application.

At the end of the process, I gained not only offers of admission but also the confidence and career advice that will help me in the long run. Throughout this journey, Tatiana was tremendously supportive and her expertise made me confident that I have put my best foot forward this time. I would recommend Tatiana with my full heart!

I worked with Jenifer over the course of this past year to apply to dual-degree programs. She was great to work with – she was detail-oriented in reviewing my materials, and very responsive in making herself available whenever I had a question. She struck a good balance between talking me up so I’d feel confident (especially during interviews) while also telling me the truths that I needed to hear. More than that, she was a wonderful person to have on my team during the application process – she genuinely cared about me and made sure my story was authentic to me – which was only possible because she took the time to get to know me. Her mentorship went beyond just my applications. I am grateful for her help and look forward to staying in touch with her.

Before selecting Fortuna, I spoke to dozens of consultants as I was not sure whether these professionals would bring value to the table. What convinced me was Malvina realism: she did not overpromise but she gave me a candid assessment of my profile and pinpointed weak points on which we’d need to work on. I really liked her attitude, characterized by a positive mindset but grounded with realism. After I spoke to her I knew I wanted her on my side throughout the application process. She was super available, helped me out extensively in the research and storylining phase. Then, we reviewed together countless iterations with substantial narrative twists until we found, over the course of 4 months, the version of the essay that really spoke to who I am. It was a long, tiring, and sometimes stressful process, but Malvina was an essential mentor (and friend!!) that truly made a difference in my application process. I applied to just 2 schools, Wharton and Harvard Business School, and through Malvina’s support (both application and interview prep) I was offered a place at both schools with a SUBSTANTIAL scholarship. There are not enough words to describe how thankful I am to Malvina! THANK YOU!!!!

I had a great experience with Michel throughout applying to deferred MBA programs. She not only gave insightful feedback on my essays but also helped me to feel confident throughout the interview process. Michel was very responsive during the application cycle and made sure that I submitted each application with time to spare. With her help, I was admitted to an M7 school (I only applied to two schools). If you’re a college senior thinking about deferred programs, Michel has great expertise and can definitely improve your chances.

I worked with Jenifer on my applications to 2 leading schools in the UK and I must say that I was really satisfied with her services. If you are serious about maximizing your chances at any leading business school, then Jenifer is a must-have on your team. Jenifer’s strengths are:

(a) She will push you (and that’s a great thing!): This is by-far her biggest strength. During my applications, Jenifer gave me a lot of advice that felt like more work. She stress-tested each line in each material I gave her, and she never let even the smallest detail go unaddressed. While this means that you will work harder at your application, it also means that the quality of your application will be that much better. I could see that I was able to articulate my story much better because of Jenifer’s constant focus on refining my material to bring out the key message clearly. And it was hard work as well, but Jenifer’s ability to communicate her advice with empathy meant that I was always assured that the extra efforts were worth it.

(b) She will go above and beyond for you: I reached out to Jenifer just a month before the deadline for my target school. It was obviously very tight, but over the next one month, Jenifer ensured a 100% record in turning around materials within 24 hours, even on weekends. I wouldn’t have been able to submit my applications in time. Had it not been for Jenifer’s support, I do not think I would have been able to meet the deadline.

(c) Jenifer is straightforward: Last but not the least, Jenifer will not shy away from pointing out deficiencies in your material. And that’s the sign of someone who cares about your success.

I am glad that I chose Jenifer to help me on my business school journey.

Karen is such a fantastic coach – I cannot recommend her highly enough!! See below for key reasons why Karen is so fantastic. If you have the chance to work her, do not hesitate!!
1. Consistently shares the WHY (teaches you how to think – not what to think):
a. When I first spoke to Karen, I was on the fence about applying in the 2020-2021 cycle. She recommended that I apply now but I was still skeptical. It was the WHY (the context) she shared that ultimately led me to apply earlier than I originally had in mind.
b. When it came to writing my essays, she stopped me in my tracks when my initial idea was not up to par. She highlighted the ideas that had merit and pushed me to dig much deeper. There was about a month during which Karen continually challenged me to start from my scratch on my main story – when I finally came back with my final version, she confirmed that it was compelling and shared several ideas on how I could build on that theme across my application materials
2. Inspires you to go beyond your limits (takes your performance to the next level):
a. I had some pretty tough times with the GMAT. I was prepared to take it at one point but had to sideline it for months because of a religious commitment. When I took my first in-person test, I scored a bit below the score I wanted and I was crushed. When I IM’d and spoke with Karen, she provided an objective assessment of my score and also was a great sounding board as I thought of what I would do differently in my next attempt. I took the exam again two weeks later and got the score I needed to apply. I only knew that I didn’t need to take it a third time because of Karen’s advice. Karen reviewed my scores and confirmed that my GMAT + above-average GPA would not block me from receiving interviews at any of the HSW – she was right (received interview invites at all 3 in the same round + major merit-based scholarship).
b. Lastly, she pushed me to sharpen my communication during interview prep. I went in thinking I was prepared and left with so many ways I could improve beyond what I viewed as “great”. She met with me several times to practice the interview types across HSW and other schools – that timely support made a huge difference.
3. Really cares about seeing you succeed (helps you manage through the highs and lows of the process)
a. Karen was optimistic and supportive throughout the process. I got on numerous calls with her over the nearly 12 months that we worked together. Not many folks knew I was applying to business school and I didn’t have the luxury of applying through a program like MLT, so it made all the difference to have something in my corner whom I could always contact

I highly recommend working with Sharon; not only did I enjoy the process, but I felt very cared for and supported. First, Sharon’s experience was evident from the very beginning. I targeted Haas, and after talking with some other advisors, she stroke me as someone who really understood the school and program and had experience in distilling my story. Additionally, when you work with Sharon, you will get access to the Clifton Strengths assessment, which is a very valuable resource to identify new insights that can help you shape your story. Sharon’s experience as part of the admissions team was very helpful in bringing a clear perspective of what would be ignored and how best to highlight important pieces of my story. I struggled a lot with testing, and Sharon was very, very supportive through the whole process emotionally and with resources for studying. I have heard horror stories of advisors who are very rude to candidates with low scores and even had some advisors I talked to initially say, “reach out again when you have a better score.” I think a good advisor is someone who will help you tell your story and overcome the barriers you will face in the process: Sharon is that kind of advisor. From her mindful follow-ups and detailed plan of action, all our interactions were very positive. I know and truly feel she cared about my success. I felt particularly supported through my interview processes. Sharon helped me prepare very thoroughly, going over each possible question in detail and until I felt comfortable sharing my story and bringing it to life beyond my texts.

I worked with Sharon on my Haas application, and the whole process was also extremely useful as I crafted additional applications. I am currently on the waitlist at Haas, but I already see this as a success considering my GMAT score, and I am certain our work together contributed to me getting into the waitlist.

I highly recommend Sharon particularly for those who, like myself, like to have a very structured plan and clear next steps and are looking to feel supported through and through in this journey.

Trisha was instrumental in helping me get admitted into several of my top schools, including my dream school. She helped me identify what made my story compelling and effectively communicate it through my essays. She was readily available and was always quick to provide feedback on all of my work. She was also critically helpful in helping me prepare for my interviews. I could not have done it without her, and she was a joy to work with. I cannot recommend Trisha enough.

From the first time, we talked I knew I could trust Jenifer. I have only good things to talk about Jenifer while we worked together for many months.

While working with her, I could tell that she cared about my success and my goals. She will build your confidence and lead you to the right path. Even when she is busy, she will make time for you and spend as much time as needed to help you. I feel that a consultant like Jenifer is very hard to find, with her commitment and passion she has put out into helping me achieve my goals.

Many like me during the application will feel stress and anxiety, but just talking with Jenifer has allowed me to turn this stress and anxiety into confidence.

I would highly recommend her to anyone that is looking for a consultant that would commit to helping your goals. I believe working with her was the best choice and I believe I have built a lifelong relationship with her. Thank you so much, Jenifer!

Caroline went above and beyond to help me achieve my dream of getting into the INSEAD MBA program. She was extremely kind and generous with her time, knowledge, experience and resources. I highly recommend any potential MBA student to reach out to Fortuna Admissions (and to Caroline, especially) to increase your chances of being admitted.

Sharon was the absolute BEST to work with as an admissions consultant! She was able to help me achieve my goals of getting interview invites from 3 of the 3 top-25 schools that I applied to (and acceptance letters from 2 of 3) in Round 2 of the 2020-2021 admissions cycle, arguably the most competitive cycle ever. All of this while under a serious time-constraint and with my relatively low test scores/GPA! She was quick, efficient, fair with timing, and gave helpful advice throughout the process. It was always a pleasure to speak with her, as she had the ideal personality of someone you spend hours working with! I would recommend Sharon to anybody looking for an admissions consultant.

I attribute my success to Sharon! With her guidance, I was thankful to be in the enviable position of choosing between offers from two top programs, one of which was my “dream school” in the 2020-2021 application cycle, which proved to be a very competitive year.

The efforts Sharon put forth were numerous: phone call/video chats to brainstorm, multiple iterations for each essay until we were both satisfied, many email exchanges (200+, I counted!) to discuss how to polish each element in my application package to differentiate myself, mock interviews with comprehensive comments and notes ranging from behavioral interviewing techniques to etiquette.

As an Expert Coach, Sharon has in-depth knowledge of the end-to-end MBA application process, from brainstorming long/short term career goals, through presenting impressive stories, to conducting mock interviews. Sharon is a gifted coach who encouraged me to dig deep to find my strengths/areas for growth and then the guidance to articulate my “brand” concisely and professionally. Not once did we shortcut on any of the discovery process, which enabled me to bring out my best and most authentic self.

Sharon is timely, candid, thoughtful and provides direct feedback. Knowing that I’m from a tech background, she was conscientious in reminding me to avoid jargon and to avoid being too “in the weeds” on project details when conveying my stories. Beyond serving as a consultant, she was more of a mentor to me in the MBA application process — she had an uncanny knack to immediately zero in on what I needed to improve and, most critically, the reasons behind those improvements.

Sharon made my application so much better and she even shaped my understanding of the MBA degree in a broader sense and what I should look to leverage in my studies to get the best return on my investment. We both had a great work rhythm and Sharon was always responsive to my emails with flexibility — even on Thanksgiving eve! In each step of the way, I felt more comfortable and confident than ever with her coaching and mentoring.

In searching for an MBA Admissions firm, I talked to many consultants and they simply didn’t bring the same level of energy and enthusiasm Sharon displayed during our initial phone call. I signed up with Sharon thinking of her as a Coach and I am leaving the process thinking of her as a life-long friend. I give her my highest recommendation!

I would recommend Sharon Joyce to anyone and everyone, full-time and part-time. I got into my top school, Indiana Kelley, and I could not be happier. First and foremost, she has a unique perspective, which I valued throughout this process and became abundantly clear during our first conversation. It was also abundantly clear after having conversations with quite several other MBA consulting firms. And, she can bring out unique talking points in essays, such as personal life experiences, and ensure that they fit well with the overall essay. I applied to four of the top online programs and got into three. If any of my friends were applying to MBA programs, I would recommend her in a heartbeat.

Sharon is an amazing consultant. Right from our first call she was supportive and easy to talk to. She has great intuition for what works in an essay and has extensive experience in the workings of admission committees in different schools. She was efficient and smart and helped me finish essays for 3 schools and practice for interviews with just the basic hourly package. Thanks to her I got accepted to a top 10 part-time MBA program with a scholarship! I highly recommend Sharon as an MBA coach.

I highly, highly recommend working with Melissa – I had an amazing experience working with her and couldn’t have asked for more.

Melissa brings a fantastic attitude, invaluable insight and great prior experience. Throughout our time working together, she was always incredibly responsive, and happy to work around my schedule no matter how much of an imposition. She had a really great eye for detail, and an impressive way of helping me to open up about some very tough moments in my personal journey – but in a very sensitive, understanding and powerful way. 

Above all, she is also just an incredibly friendly and positive person, and an absolute joy to work with.

I couldn’t recommend Melissa more, and I know you won’t look back after taking her on!

Working with Jenifer has been an amazing journey. I felt the instant connection with her right during our first initial call and I decided to work with her, even though I was still undecided about the consulting companies right before the call. She was more than just a coach, but also a mentor at the same time. She supported me at some of my personal decision and genuinely had my best interest at heart, and would look out for my wellbeing in this somewhat taxing journey of MBA application. I could always trust her to have my back as she would encourage me on my GMAT journey, reassure me during my application process. I felt supported and not so alone in this arduous application journey.

Her turnaround on my essay edits was really fast and she would make sure the little details were captured right down to the last edit, all so under a tight timeline. She is dedicated and positive, always making sure I’m putting in the best version of myself in the application.

Thank you Jenifer for going through this important journey of my life with me.

I worked with Jenifer for my MBA applications and had a great experience. I felt comfortable with Jenifer from the very first free consultation call itself, and knew that I wanted to work with her as my coach. She truly helped me understand that the application doesn’t necessarily have to check every box (I was applying with only 3 years of work experience, lower than the 5-6 year average at the schools) and that highlighting my strengths and truly embracing my values and presenting them well is more important. I enjoyed working with her both on my essays and interviews. I got great constructive feedback from her on my interviews and it really helped me be more confident at my actual interviews. I would strongly recommend working with Fortuna and with Jenifer.

Choosing Emma was the best decision I made! She is immensely experienced, was always available and advised me patiently and spot-on during the whole process. If you want to get into a top business school, I can highly recommend working with Emma!

I applied to INSEAD and was waitlisted. After reading up reviews for Fortuna online, I decided to take on their waitlist strategy package. The Fortuna coordinator was able to connect me with a senior (Director level) member of Fortuna that deals with admissions specifically with INSEAD. She was able to give me some really good advice on my essays and most importantly, was able to provide me the email for INSEAD’s director of admissions. I reached out to the director and they advised me to reapply to INSEAD for next year. I did just that! This time I took another 2-hour session with Fortuna and I was connected to an ‘Expert Coach’ (Nonie Mackie). Nonie thoroughly went through my complete INSEAD application and advised me on what I needed to change very specifically. I carefully followed the instructions I was provided, including advice on my correspondence with the school, and reapplied. I’m happy to say that I was accepted into INSEAD and this would not have been possible without the guidance from Nonie.

I am an R2 admit to London Business School, class of MBA2023. I applied to both Stanford, and LBS in R2 and gotten interview invites for both and got an admission offer from LBS.

Before working with Emma, I had done a ton of research on the consulting services and had quick calls with various established consultants. Emma and the Fortuna team were extremely supportive yet customized in their engagement approach. Even before formally engaging with the team, she made sure to understand my background to give solid advice on approaching b-school applications.

Throughout my MBA application journey, Emma was always responsive to my questions and turnarounds on essay edits. There were periods during the whole journey where the MBA application process had to take a step back for work; Emma was very understanding but also gave strong reminders on progress. Thanks to Emma’s help, encouragement, and quick turnaround, the stress was manageable and she made the whole process even enjoyable.

One of the key highlights of the Comprehensive School Package is that she reviews every aspect of your application holistically to make sure your profile and branding are consistent across all inputs (essay, resume, etc) and the impact of this really shines through after working with Emma; she made sure to use different inputs to enhance different aspects of my profile valuable to the LBS. This is also incredibly helpful given it’s tough distilling your life story into a written application and making yourself shine among other outstanding candidates! Coming from Asia, I have the natural tendency to understate my profile; Emma was absolutely instrumental in ensuring my achievements shine through while keeping the appropriate language and voice intact.

After receiving the interview invites, she also coached me on interview prep to highlight my candidacy to business school – balancing between showcasing both my professional and personal fronts and weaving in the LBS support through her second-to-none knowledge of LBS. I was quite nervous in my first round of interview prep and Emma was generous to conduct another round for me to internalize the comments and improve. This generosity spirit also shows during the Stanford application process. With just a few days to the application deadline, we realized my essays did not highlight my profile well after multiple rounds of editing. She did not hesitate to give me the feedback despite the time pressure, and we worked closely to rework the essay for final submission. I credit her candor during the application process, for my Stanford interview invite in spite of my low(er) GMAT score and typical consulting profile.

I strongly advise that anyone keen on LBS or business schools work with Emma; her advice is invaluable not just for business school application but re-evaluating your career & life aspirations in the process.

First let me preface this with my experience at Fortuna, when I contacted the company, after shopping around with other 5 firms, Fortuna set me up a few calls with some consultants. Due to the competitiveness of this application cycle (dubbed the most competitive ever), low scores (lower than average GMAT/GRE) and getting older (over 30, over 7 yrs of experience) I worked with 2 consulting firms so I had the chance to compare Fortuna with another top consulting firm. I used Fortuna’s services, or more precisely Emma’s services, initially for 2 applications and then, after working with Emma on the first applications, I saw the quality of her work and I decided to do 5 applications with her. I worked on an hourly basis as I was aware of the process (HBS re-applicant) and needed help with a few things. From the first moment I spoke with Emma I knew she was extremely aware of the admissions process and understood my story 100%.
Emma is caring, flexible, big picture but detailed-oriented, always on top of her game, extremely polite but also realistic and candid. Some of the most unique things that I found working with Emma were the following:
1.- She doesn’t charge you “extra” for small questions you may have and is always ready to provide advice to us, anxious applicants, about the process, essays or interactions with schools (other consulting firms do charge you even for the slightest question or e-mail, which I find insulting). Her response time is soooo fast, it was amazing. I remember sending questions at 3 am and getting an answer almost immediately.
2.- She really understood my story, my motivations to pursue an MBA, and she really listened to me whenever I wanted to change my essays in an X or Y narrative.
3.- Emma is so good at being big picture and detailed oriented that it was just sort of crazy (my other consultant was not like this let me tell you!) Emma sometimes remembered a small story that I vaguely remembered 3 months prior and then out of the blue she told to me include that story I barely mentioned. Her ability to recall small details about me, let alone all her clients, is just really impressive.
4.-She gave me a few crucial scholarship tips that I did not receive from any other consulting firm (think Forte, consortium-like) and told me to apply. This became crucial in my app as I got money and a fellowship from applying to these programs.
5.- I could not have unfolded my story the way I did to HBS/Wharton without Emma’s help. I was so proud of my application and it was so skillfully well-done that I sort of did not care so much about the outcome of my application. Nonetheless, I had good outcomes.
6.-She helped and knew what things to highlight in Essays and in the written application. She actually gave me many comments on my application and how that fit within the essays, it was truly a holistic service.
7.- She knew the process for European programs and USA programs inside out. Make no mistake Emma is great at knowing all top programs around the world. Another aspect is that she sometimes checks with other seasoned consultants with Fortuna and gets advice from the larger pool of consultants, not all consulting firms do that, and in fact, Fortuna was unique at that comparing against the other firms I worked with.
8.- Emma was candid about my chances to get in at HBS (after 2 terrible applications in different cycles with another consulting firm, making this my 3rd attempt), and Wharton (first time applicant with lower scores, but also a really competitive application season). I wish I would have met Emma 2 years before (when I was a bit younger) to get true advice on my applications and the chance to have improved my scores, unfortunately, I was borderlining the age where some adcoms pushed me to apply to the EMBA train (which I really did not want to do, and I think is a diluted MBA) or I could apply to 1 year programs (I did not want a 1 year experience). Allow me to say that I was not going to apply to Wharton but Emma really pushed me on applying to Wharton with a great app. Ultimately, I got interviewed at Wharton.
9.- I think the thing I loved the most working with Emma is that she was a great consultant and allowed me to share my inner self with her, and I truly think after working with Emma I found a really good advisor and someone I connected with on a personal level.
I could write on and on about how great Emma is. I would say, it is hard, almost impossible, to find someone as good as Emma. In fact, after having hired Emma, a current student told me to contact Emma (I never asked the student to give me consultant recommendations). Emma will help you to get into a great program and will make the process easy-peasy.
I ended up being admitted to 1 top 10, 1 Top 15 program (with a nice fellowship and scholarship money), waitlisted at 2 top ten programs (In this application season waitlisted almost means in another cycle admitted, and even at waitlist Emma knows the process there too!) and dinged at 2 (after interview).
If you want to have a competitive, candid, and friendly consultant go with Emma, after having had bad experiences with another consulting firm I could make comparisons among consulting firms and consultants.
Emma is a Rockstar, I can attest to every single thing that was posted by other people here on P&Qs. I think my review still does not make justice by how good she is. Emma will help you to attain your MBA application goals! Thanks Emma!!!!!!!!!

Heidi was a pleasure to work with – she was extremely responsive, warm, and helpful.

As for many, the business school admissions process was extremely stressful, anxiety-provoking, and time-consuming for me. By working with Heidi, I was able to truly reflect on my past experiences and then create a story that highlighted my authenticity and personality. Not only did Heidi enable me to craft my story, but she also worked with me to combine my story with my career vision.

Throughout the entire process, Heidi was extremely responsive and communicative – I would send her a question or an updated version of my essay at night, and then she would respond by the next morning.

I can’t thank Heidi enough for everything she did for me, she prepared me for both the business school process and the next life steps in my life/career. My biggest regret is not using Heidi sooner!

Jenifer is a coach with a heart. My interaction with Jenifer started during my first half-hour consultation with Fortuna. I had no expectations of Fortuna then, and was undecided in signing up for a coach. But within the first few minutes of our call, Jenifer’s warm and friendly persona drew me in like quicksand. There was never a mention of business sale. Our conversation was personal and authentic. It was at that point I knew engaging Fortuna was the right move for me.

Even though Jenifer was not a direct coach to my application, she played the role of a pseudo mentor and friend throughout my MBA application journey. She checked up on me every other week to see if I was doing well, giving me support and guidance to navigate through the gruelling 3-month process and life in general. She was genuine in getting to know me as a person person, including my personality type and values, and was tremendously prompt in answering my queries (+my occasional need for emotional support 😊). I believe that Jenifer’s care for people comes from a place with a high level of empathy, which is rare today. Her support is pivotal to me realising the importance of happiness in life, which led to me express this in my writing, and gaining acceptance into my dream M7 school.

If you are looking for a coach who cares for you regardless of your background, has strong credentials and experience ie. Wharton school, and has a genuine heart to see you succeed, look no further – Jenifer is the person for you.

I am grateful to have known Heidi, who has helped me gain acceptance into my dream school (M7). She is a spectacular coach who deeply cares about you, your application, and your persona. When I started my journey with Heidi, I was lost. My background felt normal and bland. Although I had made numerous accomplishments in my career, none of them felt like they stood out. Heidi thought otherwise. She pointed me in the right direction, making me realize my full potential by challenging me on my stories, values, character, career goals, and overall narrative.

What I liked about Heidi is that she did not hesitate to provide honest feedback. This is usually overlooked when selecting a coach. Having your assumptions challenged is an extremely important part of coaching to steer your application in the right direction. Even though at times this feedback contradicted my internal logic, I took it as an indicator of growth and trusted her instincts completely.

What made the experience even more remarkable was her speed of turning around comments (typically less than a day), leaving me with an impression today that Heidi is an immensely reliable person running on a bottomless well of energy. Heidi played an important part not only in shaping my application but also in making me realize what was important in my life through reflections of my value system. No matter how challenging your situation is, I am most certain working with Heidi will leave you with wonderful memories.

Cassandra proved to be an excellent consultant, especially when helping me to transform my reasoning to get an MBA into an immersive and compelling story.
Also, the instant feedback I received during the interview training (both for video and face-to-face) really helped to crack the last 10%.
11/10 would recommend!

Working with Julie was the best decision I made through the application process.

Even with my unpredictable, full-time consulting schedule, Julie always made the most of the time we had together and provided a quick turnaround of edits/feedback on my essays. Her knowledge of how to use the essays to complete the full picture of your application, while fine-tuning it for the program, is invaluable.

Excited to be attending Booth in the fall and couldn’t have done it without her!

I interviewed a dozen consultants – all the top names on P&Q – and even worked on an hourly basis with another well-known competitor, but Judith is head and shoulders above her peers.

Her years of experience as an adcom really shows: she cuts through what is important and what is not, is very flexible around your goals and needs, and leverages experts from the rest of the Fortuna network to fine-tune applications for each specific school on your list.

Working with Judith was also seamless. She was very responsive all times of the week and answered all of my questions (I probably had too many).

From clarifying career goals to structuring approach to essays and interviews, Judith was there to support me every step of the way, and definitely made suggestions that helped contributed to my success.

Coming from an over-represented demographic, I was admitted to 4 out of the 6 M7 schools I applied to.

Don’t hesitate. Work with Judith. She’s amazing.

Malvina was a great resource in helping me navigate the HBS interview process, beginning with Pre-mock interview strategy sessions, to the actual mock and debrief, and then post-interview reflection support, etc. Long story short, Malvina was an instrumental part of helping me navigate this portion of the process, helping me refine my story, polish my responses, and then put my best foot forward for the last point of communication with the school before they made their decision. Highly recommend.

I worked with Jenifer from last May for my b-school applications and she not only helped me get into my top choice school, but she also helped me navigate a very difficult year and ensured I produced the best application that I could put forward. I struggled a lot when I was not able to crack the GMAT and apply in round 1, but her belief and faith in me and my capabilities kept me going, eventually resulting in me getting a 700+ score and an admit. She completely understood my aspirations and goals and even believed in what I wanted to do in my life and that was really important for me as it made working with her so effortless. It’s safe to say I wouldn’t be going to b-school if it weren’t for Jenifer and her guidance. She’s an excellent coach, an amazing mentor and a dear friend now. I would 100% recommend her to anyone applying to the best b-schools in the world.

I was introduced to Jenifer by a friend of mine who had already worked on his MBA application with her and he was very happy with Jenifer as he got admitted into some of the most highly-ranked programs. I must say that Jenifer far exceeded my expectations. I worked with her for almost a year, a period in which she helped me in every aspect of my MBA application journey. After understanding my interests and objectives, Jenifer helped me find the right schools for me and motivated me during my GMAT preparation. Despite I wasn’t yet a client of her, she was constantly helping me and giving me precious suggestions on how to reach my goals. My first GMAT attempt did not go as expected, but she motivated me even more and I took the test again. After my second attempt, we decided what would have been the best school I could have applied to since I did not want to apply to many schools. After this choice, she spent many hours helping me find my best qualities and strength points first, and then with my essays and interviews preparation, no matter whether we had to have our calls at late night hours or over the weekend. Thanks to Jenifer I made it to the interview stage with my top school and I am now waiting to hear the results! I honestly say that I couldn’t have done a better job without her help and I would not hesitate a second in choosing Jenifer again! Thanks Jenifer!!!

I did a comprehensive package with Fortuna and worked with Heidi over the last 7-8 months. She did an amazing job – she was incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the process. Even though I only started my applications in July for a Round 1 submission in September, Heidi helped structure the 2 months so that they were productive and everything got done in time and at a high quality. She also helped me differentiate myself, given my common background in finance / PE. Heidi is a full-time consultant and made herself available at all times, as much as I needed and answered as many questions as I had, which really helped put my mind at ease throughout the process. Thanks to her help, I’ll be joining HBS in Fall 2021!

I purchased hourly services from Jessica to help adapt my essays to UCLA and Yale. Given that I had already had essays to work from, I wanted to use Jessica’s expertise on both schools to tailor my essays to the values of those schools. Jessica was very helpful with letting me know what the schools are looking for, how they would perceive what I’ve written in my essays and suggesting ways to cut down and redraft my essay to highlight a better story for myself. She always turned in the edits within the 24 hour SLA and often even faster. She helped with interview practice as well and was very proactive in reaching out to make sure I was on track and that there was nothing else I needed. I ended up getting accepted into UCLA with a good scholarship and waitlisted at Yale.

I have made it to two of my top choices – Harvard Business School and Wharton!

This would not have been possible without Heidi’s expertise, patience, encouragement and support. I come from an extremely competitive demographic and had a below-average GMAT score for all the M7 schools I wanted to apply to.

There wasn’t a moment when Heidi didn’t have faith in me. She was extremely helpful in helping me cull out themes in my stories, fine-tuning my thoughts, and most importantly, helping me think about my story.

She isn’t just an expert at her work but also a wonderful person to have by your side as you go through what will be a stressful but introspective and fulfilling stage in your life.

Malvina has offered fantastic support during my application process. She continuously gave timely and useful feedback with which I was able to refine my application. I went for the two-school package and applied to GSB and HBS, and was able to get into one of them, and was interviewed by the other.