Melissa Kate Joelson

Melissa’s reputation as one of the best MBA consultants in the business is rightfully earned.
From our very first conversation, I knew I was in good hands. Melissa helped me build a tailored application strategy that took advantage of my strengths and non-traditional background to present a clear and coherent storyline that elevated my application. She helped prompt me to reflect and uncover parts of my experience that I had not considered previously.
Throughout the entire process, she served not just as a consultant but also a mentor, genuinely invested in my success.
Whether it was overcoming challenges with test scores, refining essays, or securing strong recommendations, Melissa provided insightful feedback, encouragement, and practical advice at every step.
Thanks to her help, I received admissions to LBS, INSEAD, and Columbia and will be attending the first come August.
I cannot recommend Melissa enough and would choose her again without hesitation if I were to attempt the process all over again.

Working with Melissa has been a transformative experience. Her coaching style is refreshingly direct and personalized. She invests time in understanding your unique story and aspirations, which allows her to provide tailored, insightful guidance.
What sets Melissa apart is her unwavering commitment to bringing out the best in her clients. She’s not afraid to challenge you or point out areas that need improvement, always with the goal of elevating your application to its highest potential. Her feedback is clear and actionable, striking a perfect balance between providing direction and encouraging independent thought.
Melissa’s approach pushed me out of my comfort zone in the most productive ways. She didn’t spoon-feed answers but rather guided me to discover my own strengths and articulate them compellingly. This process led me to produce some of my finest writing in years, particularly in my essays.
Her method is not just about crafting a strong application; it’s about self-discovery and personal growth. Melissa’s coaching helped me uncover aspects of my experiences and skills that I hadn’t fully appreciated before, allowing me to present a more authentic and impactful version of myself.
I credit Melissa for not only improving my application but also for enhancing my self-awareness and communication skills. Her influence extends beyond the application process – the insights gained through our work together will continue to benefit me in my professional journey. For anyone seeking a coach who will truly invest in your success and push you to reach your full potential, Melissa is an outstanding choice. Her guidance has been invaluable, and I’m deeply grateful for her role in my application journey and final acceptance into INSEAD EMBA. Thank you, Melissa!

Melissa Joelson is an exceptional and highly effective Consultant. I had the absolute pleasure of working with her during my application process for the INSEAD and LBS MBA programs. Thanks to her guidance, I was thrilled to secure a spot in both programs. Melissa came highly recommended as someone who knows INSEAD “like nobody else,” and after going through the application process with her, I can confidently say that this reputation is well-deserved.

Melissa’s experience and expertise were evident from our very first interaction. She has an extraordinary ability to assess your strengths and weaknesses, craft a tailored action plan, and guide you in presenting your best self. What truly sets Melissa apart is her talent for storytelling—she knows exactly how to elevate the quality of your application by helping you weave together your experiences and achievements into a compelling narrative.

As someone who tends to be skeptical, I was particularly impressed by Melissa’s calm, confident approach. She was not just a consultant but a coach who seemed genuinely invested in my success. Whether it was navigating the stress of an initial below-average GMAT score or chasing down recommendations from recommenders, Melissa was there every step of the way with encouragement and practical advice. Her responsiveness and ability to instill confidence were invaluable throughout the process.

Melissa Joelson is, without a doubt, an exceptionally gifted consultant who brings out the best in her clients. For anyone applying to INSEAD, LBS or any other top ranked school I cannot recommend her highly enough. I would choose her again in a heartbeat.

Melissa has helped me gain admission to HBS, Wharton and INSEAD – working with me over a period of roughly 8 months. Over that time, she was a teacher, confidant and friend and I am incredibly grateful to her for her help. I very much believe it could not have happened without her.

The most impressive thing about Melissa is that she makes a genuine effort to get to know you as a person and to build a relationship with you. I cannot stress enough how helpful this is when discussing ideas for the various essays – they are, by their very nature, incredibly personal and so it is fantastic to work with someone you trust and who can help tease the best ideas out of you.

She is incredibly knowledgeable about the schools and what they are looking for. Her feedback is honest and to the point – but always insightful and she is incredibly patient. She makes time to help, even at short notice and is obviously invested in your success.

I would very much recommend her!

It was a wonderful experience working with Melissa! I applied very late in the round and was completely stressed out when I had only few days left till deadline but didn’t have anything in place. Melissa helped me work on 3 essays and CV within in 3 days. She gave incredibly swift response and feedback, usually in few hours. She respects all my ideas while giving straightforward constructive feedback. I could not have finished my two applications in time without her. I also prepped my interview for Oxford with Melissa. She was very insightful and prepared me for questions based on my application, which was later asked in the interview. I felt very lucky that I was well prepared because I have done the mock interview with her. If you want really good energy and a collaborative process with a consultant, Melissa will be your best choice! She will root for you along the way.

My first experience with admissions consultants was not a good one. When I first considered MBA plans I spoke to a number of consultants early on, one of which told me that it was very unlikely with my background that I would get into LBS or INSEAD. “It’s just not going to happen”, were the words used.

Then along came Melissa. After researching several admissions consultancies, Fortuna stood out as adopting a more personalised approach, taking the time to delve into a candidate’s background to properly understand their story and strengths for the different MBA programs. Working with Melissa was less about the applications initially, and more an exercise in deep and considered self-reflection. Who am I. What experiences shaped me. What do I want in life. And why.

It wasn’t until I started working with Melissa that I developed any confidence in my ability to attend a top MBA program. Melissa was instrumental in drawing that out. She was clear, concise, realistic and, facing tight-deadlines, firm. She kept me honest and focussed throughout the whole process, gave clear instructions as to what was expected, and, importantly, ensured the responsibility for delivering rested with me.

Melissa genuinely believes in the candidates she works with and wants them to succeed. Even when Melissa had to travel between the US and France for family emergencies, she remained online and connected through every step of the way – late night calls to match time-zones, email exchanges from airports ahead of deadlines – Melissa was unstoppable.

I hadn’t even planned to apply for INSEAD – I had already ruled myself out. After working with Melissa to understand my strengths as a candidate we were able to rule INSEAD back in.

I am truly grateful for my time working with Melissa. She was critical in helping me put my best foot forward and receiving offers that I never thought were possible. Thank you so much!

For my MBA admissions I used Fortuna Admissions’ services. I had a wonderful experience working with Melissa Joelson. She guided me in every step of my applications journey, right from the beginning to interview prep. She made sure she brought out the best of me. She thoroughly reviewed my life experiences, work experience, and made sure I convey the right things. She challenged me to focus on my WHYs and WHATs of MBA application process and beyond. She has experience working with diverse set of candidates and would be an amazing mentor for anybody looking to get into “tough to get into” category B-schools. Melissa was extremely friendly and empathized with my situations while pushing me to do more when I could. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with their services and recommend it to others as well.

Working with Melissa was an amazing experience. She assisted me in every part of the application process, helping me finding more about myself, making me feel more confident and changing the perspective I had about myself. Overall, it would be impossible for me to prepare on my own an application like the one I ended up submitting. The only resemblance between the original documents I wrote and the ones I submitted is the white background paper… She was tireless in getting the best of each sentence, trying to get the most of the story I was telling. Melissa kept pushing me to go deeper in every detail, which allowed me to write unique essays that truly reflected who I am. And it wasn’t just the writing. After preparing my interview with Melissa, the real interview with the admissions team felt like I was doing it for the second time. Melissa’s help was absolutely decisive for the success of my application to IESE!
Melissa was kind and patient, but at the same time she never allowed me to go out of focus, making it the perfect balance. At the end of this journey, Melissa is not ‘just’ the coach who helped me writing all the documents I needed. She is a person from whom I seek real advice and I whose opinion I completely trust. My application process has just ended and I already miss my meetings with her…

Pressed with time and applying with a slightly below average GMAT score, I knew that I had to get as much help as I could to make it into my dream schools.

As I started my search for a consultant, I was offered to meet with a few consultants to find a right fit and as soon as I met with Melissa, I knew instantly that she was the perfect fit for me. In our first conversation, she was very easy to speak with and dedicated her valuable time to listen to everything I had so say. Never rushed me to close a call and was always attentive when I was sharing about my personal background and my goals. She was very kind and it felt very natural to open up about myself, which was very important in my application process because all of these things ended being part of my application.

As we started my applications, she was extremely hands on, always giving me valuable feedback on where I could make some edits or providing me with ideas on what are my strengths based on all of the previous conversations we had (this is where having someone I felt I could open up to was extremely important). Our brainstorming sessions were extremely encouraging and she rightly pointed out what I should highlight in my applications, giving the confidence that I needed.

After a long process, I was finally admitted to UCLA Anderson, USC Marshall (with scholarship), and London Business School, where I will be attending!

I believe that I would not have made it to my dream schools without Melissa’s help. I’d definitely recommend her to anyone who is looking for a consultant to achieve their MBA dreams.

I was so lucky to be able to work with Melissa Joelson. I had a difficult timeline for my applications and she worked with me to make sure we could achieve what I needed to in a short window. When reviewing my essays, Melissa was amazing at asking the right questions and prompting me in different ways to think about how to further flesh out my thoughts or to get to the heart of what I was trying to communicate. She never tried to change my voice or vision, but rather to help me present it in a more effective way. She showed so much kindness, compassion, and support along the way. I really felt like she was invested in my success and not just in the application process. Thank you, Melissa!

I had the pleasure of working with Melissa as my MBA consultant, and I’m happy to say that with her guidance, I was accepted into both Yale and Booth with scholarships of $100k and $90k, respectively.

Despite my initial concerns about working with a larger consulting company, Melissa’s personal approach made it feel like a true collaboration. She took the time to get to know me personally and helped me to craft an application that truly reflected my goals, aspirations, and experiences.

One of Melissa’s greatest strengths was her ability to draw out my strengths and highlight them in a way that felt authentic and compelling. Throughout the application process, she was a constant source of encouragement and support, providing straightforward feedback that helped me stay motivated and focused.

I believe that I wouldn’t have been accepted into my dream schools without Melissa’s guidance and support. She is a skilled and dedicated consultant, and I would highly recommend her services to anyone looking to make the most of their MBA application.

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!

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.