I couldn't be more thankful for Karen's (and Judith's!) support throughout the entire MBA process. I knew I was in great hands at every step of the way - from the beginning steps of my application essays, through interviews, through crafting a waitlist strategy. I received effect and timely advice, and felt that Karen helped me tell my story and illustrate my potential better than I ever could by myself. Karen kept me organized, energized, and calm throughout the entire process, and I have already recommended her to multiple people. I wouldn't have been admitted to multiple M7 programs without you -- Thank you, Karen!

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Karen brings three key things to the table: 1. stellar organizational skills, 2. deep experience in crafting compelling stories, and 3. sustained and personable support (and trust me you will need a lot of it)

My background was not the easiest to work with: management consultant with an undergraduate degree in business and a below average GMAT. To add to this, I was also only looking at top schools. Over the course of several months, Karen challenged me again and again to go deeper in my stories to find the relevant examples that would bring my story to life. I received candid feedback in a timely manner and could always count on Karen's extremely fast turnaround time for essays.

Above all, I particularly enjoyed how involved Karen was. She believed in me, my story and the hard work we put in. I always knew that Karen had my back and when I received the first rejection letters, she made sure that I would remain motivated. She went above and beyond, even going outside her mandate to help me on additional essays to get scholarships.

I have nothing but great things to say about Karen and I trust that whoever hires her will get the same service as I got. As for me, I am going to Booth this fall and could not be happier.

PS: as for Fortuna, I liked the fact that there is a 2-step process, first with your consultant and then with a director!

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Who am I? I am a military pilot with a good GPA from a state school and an average GRE score for my target programs.

My success: 2019-2020 application cycle, applying R2, I had done zero work on my applications or essays and had roughly 45 days until the R2 deadlines. Sharon was instrumental in my ability to complete applications to 7 Top 10 MBA programs within 45 days— I was working full time. I received 6 admits, 1 waitlist, and ultimately accepted an offer to attend Wharton w/$.

How she helped:
1) Identifying the characteristics, each school was looking for and the underlying questions each essay was asking.
2) Selecting my best story to tackle each question.
3) She changed my writing style from procedural to creative writing, AKA good storytelling. Also, she corrected grammar mistakes and improved my word choice.
4) Helped me avoid applications landmines, that would have otherwise suck my applications.
5) Supporting and kept me on task, on schedule (accountability).

I worked with Sharon on an hourly basis, which was the most cost-effective route given my situation. She was very generous with her time. I felt as if she was there anytime I need help, and that my money was well spent.

I contribute much of my success to Sharon, my name is Eric, if you contact her, she can pass you my contact information, and I would gladly chat 1:1.

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I have worked with Sharon from start to finish on a number of applications and I can safely say that it was the best decision I made. I was admitted to Yale SOM, UCLA Anderson, NYU Stern, USC Marshall and other schools on my list and I could not have done it without her excellent guidance and help during the admissions process. She knows the business school application process and different programs really well and thoroughly cares about her clients. She dedicated an incredible amount of time to getting to know me (including discussing my strengths after a CliftonStrengths assessment) brainstorming my professional goals, gave detailed feedback on my resume, all my essays (including many drafts) and all parts of the written application and worked extensively on interview prep with me which I believe made all the difference in my applications. Despite our time difference, she was very flexible and responsive over phone, Skype and Google Docs and was available at very short notice close to the deadlines. Even at most stressful times during the application process, she kept me on track with her support, positivity and mentorship. I 110% recommend her to anyone looking to apply to the top MBA programs because you will not find a better teammate than Sharon in this process, she is a rockstar!

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I bought the 3 school package with Sharon Joyce and it was the best investment I made in preparation for the business school admission process! I strongly recommend working with Sharon as an admissions consultant.

In June/July 2019, I interviewed multiple admissions consultancies and I'm telling you right now, stop what you're doing, stop talking to anyone else, pick up the phone and call Sharon!! By the end of our first call together I already knew Sharon was different and that I was in incredible hands. She had this remarkably wide, expansive view of the world and my place in it, yet also picked up on little (most would think innocuous) details in my stories that would go on to play major roles in our future brainstorming sessions/my essays. She has this incredible empathic ability to understand you, make you feel understood, and then bring out the best in you and your work all the while making you feel calm and relaxed during one of the most stressful times of your life. 

From resume building to formulating clear career goals, from writing and editing essays to interview preparation, she was instrumental in helping me reach the most optimal and consistent presentation of myself. Her perspective and strategic guidance were invaluable, as were her 'second-to-none' organization skills and methodical preparation. She was available, flexible, undoubtedly one of the most sincere people I have ever met. In the fall, I will be attending my first choice and dream MBA/MPH program (Berkeley Haas). There is no doubt that her expertise was essential to helping me accomplish my goal. 

I will forever be grateful to Sharon for her hard work, dedication, and ceaseless belief in me.

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3 months to the application deadlines, i was very confused and I wasn't clear about how to go about my applications. I was introduced to Fortuna and i scheduled a 30 mins free consultation call with Fortuna and i was matched with Karen Hamou. After the call, i was convinced i had to go with Fortuna.
Working with Karen, especially was fantastic. She was interested in learning my motivations and story and as a result, she was able to help me structure my thoughts and appropriately convey them on paper.
Also, her turnaround time was fantastic, typically reviewing my material within a day, even during the festive period.
Within a space of 3 months, i was able to come up with my resume and application materials for 5 schools.
With a GRE score of 326, i applied to Booth, Yale, Fuqua, Darden and Vanderbilt and i got admitted to all the schools!

Even after i had exhausted my consultation time, Karen kept in touch with me, sending me useful links and materials and wishing me success for my interviews

A big thank you to Fortuna and Karen. It was very great working with her and i highly recommend working with Fortuna, whether you're in or outside the US.

P.S: I am from Africa.

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Willie was a great advisor during the stressful business school application process. He provided me the feedback that friends and family couldn't or wouldn't. I was applying as a traditional consultant applicant and felt well prepared for the application process, but I asked Willie to review my essays. I was shocked when an essay I thought was ready for submission came back with significant feedback. Six months later it has become clear why he provided that feedback and I know that this feedback made a difference for me getting into Wharton and Kellogg. I would highly recommend him to anyone applying to M7 schools.

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I worked with Fortuna on an application to a global top 10 MBA program. I sincerely believe that Fortuna, and my coach Cassandra in particular, were instrumental to my subsequent admission. To put it briefly, Cassandra is an true pro. My experience collaborating with her on this application has felt like a year’s worth of professional coaching condensed into a matter of months. She is an expert in personal branding and offered an invaluable lens on my application materials, helping me produce essays that truly spoke to my strengths. She was a consistent presence throughout the application process, swiftly responding with feedback on my drafts and carving out time in her schedule to work with me. Her investment in me gave me additional confidence in my submission. Our interview prep also proved to be a key advantage for the alumni interviews; Cassandra helped me cover all my bases and highlight my key experiences. In summary, I believe that Fortuna and Cassandra helped me paint from my professional and personal experience to produce the best application possible. I am incredibly grateful for their invaluable guidance and thankful for the opportunities they’ve helped make a reality.

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I'm extremely happy that I chose Judith and the Fortuna team to work with me on my b-school applications. I had low standards for myself going into the process, and with Judith/Fortuna's support, I was able to get into my top choice school (HSW).

I worked primarily with Karen on my applications, but Judith provided valuable support throughout the entire process. When Karen was out of office at times, Judith did not hesitate to step in and provide her undivided attention. She was amazing from the start, coaching me on my recommender briefs through a short-notice phone call over a holiday weekend, to final checking my essays multiple times for each school. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Judith and would highly recommend her for anyone looking for an experienced advisor to boost your chances of gaining admission to the top business schools.

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I interviewed multiple admissions companies and Fortuna stood out for their attention to detail, expansive view of the world, and succinctly getting to the heart of things.

I have seen these same qualities in my every interaction with Karen, starting from our first conversation. Karen has been my cheerleader and supporter through every step of the application process, getting me essay edits back in less than 48 hours, answering all my questions big and small, and helping me really refine the essence of my story and what I can bring to an MBA program. I really appreciated her flexibility in working around my schedule (we’re in very different time zones) and in helping me think strategically when I encountered challenges in my personal life during the application process. For most of us this process is a daunting one that is a test of stamina, willpower, and self-belief, but knowing Karen was on my side really helped me manage the stress and uncertainty.

I highly recommend Karen to anyone looking for a supportive, strategic, and empathetic consultant during the MBA admissions journey.

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