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Hourly Consulting Services Reviews

 
 Fortuna Admissions
Hourly Consulting
Advisory services from Fortuna Admissions on an hourly basis, to help you focus on specific areas of the MBA admissions process that require expert input.

Start with a free 30-min consultation .

5.0 /5 Average Rating
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Based on 160 reviews
March 09, 2023
hmeers

Joined: Mar 05, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
710 Q46 V42 (Online)

Exactly what I needed

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I decided to work with Patty for a few reasons, but the deciding factor was that she believed in me; from our first conversation, I truly felt like she understood my story and believed I had a fighting chance at getting into my first choice schools. Her confidence and support did not waver.

Patty and I worked together on my two R1 full-time MBA applications (i.e., Stanford, MIT). For context, we worked together on an hourly basis as I had a good sense of what schools I wanted to apply to, why I felt like they were a good fit, and generally what I wanted to do post-MBA. I was seeking support with defining and curating my story in order to put the best application forward.

Patty was exactly what I needed. In addition to reading every iteration of my application (from my resume to essays to questionnaires), she helped me refine and perfect my story. She was always quick to reply with thoughtful feedback. I am extremely happy with the results - I will be joining MIT Sloan's MBA Class of 2025. I could not have done it without Patty.

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February 06, 2023
mba9999

Joined: Feb 06, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Best of the Best

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Silpa was an incredible advisor during the application process. She takes the time to truly know you, your aspirations, and your story. Silpa is very intelligent, professional, and qualified (previous experience in admissions at GSB), putting her in a category by herself. I had full confidence in Silpa throughout the entire process. We had an hourly engagement where I was able to focus our time on what I chose. Silpa was extremely accommodating to busy schedules and was particularly flexible in the week prior to the deadlines, even going above and beyond the normal call of duty. Ultimately, I was admitted to Harvard, Columbia, and MIT. I would highly recommend Silpa for anyone considering applying for an MBA.

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February 03, 2023
airb1019

Joined: Jul 27, 2020

Posts: 1

Kudos: 0

Re-applicant to scholar!

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“These b-schools are hyper competitive and I don’t see components that meet the bar.”

This stupendously demotivating piece of advice is the first piece of feedback that I received from an admissions consultant. Partly, I can’t blame them – I’m a part of the infamous IT Indian male cohort. And I’m a reapplicant.

Emma, on the other hand, went against the grain, took a step further and dove deeper into my profile. What she really excels at is understanding which parts of an applicant’s character, work experience, and extra-curriculars appeal to the folks sitting in the admissions office at the absolute top notch international b-schools.

From our very first meeting, I saw her experience stand out. With the dexterity of a well-seasoned surgeon, she cut into my character to understand which parts of story can be tailored to craft the perfect reapplication and stand out in an over-represented group.

She infused my application with, as a Gen Z faithful would say, “main-character energy” (words from my little cousin, not me.) I was reassured that I was in good hands, especially given the financial burden of such services.

The essays were as smooth as can be – each iterative feedback loop was productive, with clear TODOs and the reasons behind proposed changes.

The video essays were the highlight of the service – Emma, being an interviewer herself, was exceptional at giving me a blunt assessment of my mannerisms, for e.g. telling me when my body-language was off. This piece of advice seeped into my in-person interviews as well.

At the end of this process, I’m proud to say that I got to choose between Oxford, INSEAD, and LBS. And with scholarships from INSEAD and LBS! A privileged position to be in, a position that couldn’t have been reached without Emma.

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January 17, 2023
npmba89

Joined: Jun 05, 2020

Posts: 4

Kudos: 0

Highly recommend Silpa Sarma!

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It has been such a pleasure to work with Silpa on my full-time MBA applications to Kellogg (A), Tuck (A), and GSB (WL). When I started the admissions process in June of 2022, I didn't think that I had a shot at getting into any business school with my low undergraduate GPA, average test score, and nonlinear personal and professional path. I wanted to work with an admissions coach who would encourage me to shine a light on my story instead of shying away from it. From the very beginning, Silpa was pragmatic about my chances yet invested in my success.

Silpa is super warm, easy to connect with, and an incredible listener. She'd often nudge me to lean into my personal story without losing focus on highlighting my professional strengths and career aspirations. This was instrumental in helping me write essays that were clear, concise, and accurately reflected who I am without diminishing the uniqueness of my journey.

There were times when I was overwhelmed during the application process and really doubted my ability to pull through. But knowing that I had someone like Silpa in my corner, rooting for my success and offering affirmations and guidance, really encouraged me to keep going. I highly, highly recommend her!

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January 07, 2023
mgk2022

Joined: Jan 03, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
750 Q50 V42

Thank you Emma!

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I wasn’t planning on working with an admissions consultant, but when I got to the application essays, I hit a roadblock. I struggled with developing a cohesive story and expressing my passion for the programs. I also had difficulty finding a balance between sharing my true self and highlighting the key attributes that I knew the Admissions Committee would be looking for.

Based on my needs, I decided to work with a consultant on an hourly basis. After speaking with a few firms, I chose to work with Emma due to her deep knowledge of European business schools, but also simply because I thought we connected well. Throughout the process, Emma provided prompt and honest feedback. However, what struck me most was how much she cared. Despite having a busy schedule, I never felt that she was rushing through my edits. Emma took the time to truly understand the story I was trying to convey and then helped me refine and package it.

Emma and I primarily worked together on my essays for LBS and Cambridge. However, I was also able to apply her feedback to my other applications. Thanks to her help, I received offers of admission from all four of the schools I applied to and fellowships from three of them.

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January 02, 2023
perhapsbilu

Joined: Aug 31, 2021

Posts: 25

Kudos: 4

Verified GMAT Classic score:
700 Q49 V34

Hourly coaching

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Bill was so professional when he coached me to chase my EMBA. It's highly efficient under the former gatekeeper of a top business school like Bill, preventing me from endlessly guessing what the adcom wants to know from me and focusing on the truly mattered aspects. Bill always responded to my email within 24 hours and was always prepared to call when I need one. He also had a mock interview with me. I couldn't get the offer from Wharton without Bill's help. He will be your best partner on your way to the application. I would like to tell everyone that hire him, right now!

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December 19, 2022
rhunzeker

Joined: Dec 19, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
740 Q44 V47

Thank you Emma Bond!

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Emma helped me with my R1 LBS and HEC applications. I reached out to her after realizing I was somewhat out of depth with the process and had a million questions on how to begin. She immediately broke everything down for me and laid out the process in clear and concise steps. She helped with everything from reaching out to recommenders, school outreach, application questions, and interview prep. Emma answered all of my questions and concerns with patience and really made me feel supported and secure throughout the process. Her edits and advise were invaluable in helping me receive offers and scholarships at both schools. I highly recommend Emma to anyone applying for MBA programs, particularly if you are interested in LBS or other European schools.

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August 27, 2022
elizabeth2024

Joined: Aug 19, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Admitted to HBS - HIGHLY recommend working with Rachel!

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

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

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

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

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August 18, 2022
Jessietaiwan

Joined: Jul 24, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Highly recommended

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

The Fortuna team is very professional and helpful. Jennifer Raver knows everything you need to know about MBAs. In the one hour consulting session, she provided me with a lot of useful information even before I was committed to work with Fortuna.

I later worked with Melissa Jones. She was so encouraging that I found the whole application process not as daunting as it could be. Melissa was a good story teller. She was able to capture what I wanted to express in my essays and elevate them to the next level. She was also open-minded. She was willing to work with me in the creation of my essays with satisfying turnaround time. I'm happy to have her in my application journey.

Also, the Fortuna app, Podio is a great tool which enabled my smooth communication with my coach. Overall, perfect experience!

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July 18, 2022
bhartta

Joined: Jun 20, 2022

Posts: 1

Kudos: 1

Self-reported Score:
750

Really comprehensive and thoughtful

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

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

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