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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
5 star
159
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Based on 159 reviews
October 31, 2021
AntoineTAG

Joined: Jan 06, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 5

Great Help

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I was targeting INSEAD and had HEC Paris as back-up plan.
I was lucky to work with Nonie to refine my application strategy. Though being very positive overall, she gave substantial pieces of advice which made me change a lot both my essays and CV.
Another crucial aspect was timing. We had two weeks before INSEAD round 2 application deadline and still achieved to apply on time (though looking back I would not advise anyone to rush in a similar fashion!) thanks to her reactivity.
In the end, I was waitlisted (and later accepted) by INSEAD and accepted with 10K€ scholarship by HEC, and I have chosen to go INSEAD.
Thanks again Nonie

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August 03, 2021
Rumbi87

Joined: Sep 30, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

would not have made it to my M7 school without Emma's help

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If you want a consultant who is meticulous, supportive, knowledgeable about both top US and European schools and who will walk with you through the long haul I highly recommend Emma!! I finally made it into an M7 US Business School and Emma was absolutely instrumental to my success. I first met Emma in 2020. When it was time to apply in 2021 I knew I wanted to work with Emma because of of how supportive she is. Emma went above and beyond the services I had paid for. She gave me detailed feedback on my previous application as I was reapplying to an M7 school. Her review of my essays and resume was comprehensive and on time. I was waitlisted and she helped me come up with my waitlist strategy and reviewed all my correspondence to the waitlist manager. Thank you so much Emma! I am super excited to start my MBA journey at an M7 school next year!

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July 15, 2021
eduperz

Joined: Jul 15, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

The Best MBA Coach!

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I was fortunate enough to work with Sharon as I navigated the MBA application process. I worked with her during Round 2 of this past cycle (2020 – 2021). From the start, I decided to apply to five of the “Top 10” MBA programs in the US. And, with her help I was able to get interviews at three of them getting accepted into my target school!

Sharon’s support and honest feedback allowed me to portray my uniqueness in my essay and through the rest of my application. Additionally, because of experience in admissions I was able to tailor my applications to each of the schools I targeted.

Some of the major actions Sharon took for my success were the following:
- She reviewed my profile and helped me come up with a strategy for each of the schools I was targeting.
- She defined a clear timeline for my application deliverables (especially helpful with recommendation letters).
- Her approach and coaching strategy provided accountability for me to stick to my deadlines.
- She went above and beyond providing extensive feedback to the multiple iterations of my essays.

All of the above Sharon did while being positive, supportive and someone who I really enjoyed working with. Again, I couldn’t recommend more working with her. She was organized and clearly on top of things.

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July 15, 2021
hyrdra123456879

Joined: Apr 28, 2019

Posts: 23

Kudos: 22

Self-reported Score:
700

Amazing experience working with Melissa

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Working with Melissa at Fortuna Admissions was such a great experience.

Being a reapplicant to INSEAD, I was very stressed out that it may not work the second time. However Melissa took the time out to review my old application in order to advise me on how I could improve.

She exceeded my expectations in helping me craft a story and probed me to add depth to my reapplication essay to show a more meaningful side of my life and motivations.

Melissa was always organized and responsive. Her turn-around time for providing feedback was exceeded my expectations (usually < 24 hours). I was successfully able to get an admission to INSEAD, thanks to Melissa.

Overall, she is an absolute joy to work with and I high recommend her!

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July 12, 2021
KatKsr

Joined: Jul 12, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
700 Q44 V42

Professional and Tangible Help

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I worked with Caroline at Fortuna Admissions for my INSEAD application and am happy to say that I was accepted! Caroline's help was definitely key. She has such a strong knowledge of the INSEAD process and was able to provide practical tips and best practices specific to the school.
Working with Caroline was an enjoyable process, she definitely took the time to understand my story and background and provided feedback that accentuated it, and never made me feel like I had to be inauthentic. For the interview process, she had many helpful INSEAD-specific resources to share that got me feeling prepared and confident, and I received positive feedback in the moment from my interviewers.
I couldn't recommend Caroline, and Fortuna Admissions, more if you are applying to INSEAD.

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June 27, 2021
jhung128

Joined: Aug 31, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
760 Q49 V44 (Online)

Excellent experience with Sharon!

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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 extra curriculars, 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 everyday 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.

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June 22, 2021
jcho

Joined: Jun 22, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Jessica is the best!

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I am so grateful to have found Jessica during my application process.
From our very first conversation, I felt comfortable and immediately trusted her expertise and knowledge. I didn't know where to start, and really only knew what schools I wanted to apply to. She helped me figure out what to prioritize, challenged me to think beyond my goals, and provided super applicable feedback from start to finish. She brings significant experience to the table, and was incredibly valuable when I had UCLA and USC specific questions. The insight and support that she provided, specifically with my resume, essays, and admissions decisions, allowed me to stay confident throughout the entire process. With her help I was able to get into UCLA and USC! I highly recommend Jessica for all admissions/application services!

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June 13, 2021
ca2021

Joined: Jun 13, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Excellent, very helpful experience

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Incredibly helpful working with Heidi Hillis of Fortuna. Very empathetic and encouraging with her advice. Extremely responsive, sometimes within the matter of just a few hours. Very rigorous with her edits.

Fortuna met my expectations. I would highly recommend them.
The application process can feel like engaging a black box, and Heidi and Judith offered insights on how to engage that box, how to understand it. I felt at the end of the journey I was better able to understand, most of all, my own self, my trajectory, and how I can contribute the most to an MBA class, and how I can most succeed in my industry and function(s) of interest.

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June 11, 2021
punctualhope

Joined: May 24, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Fantastic experience - Sharon is a rockstar!

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I had an incredible experience working with Sharon and cannot recommend her highly enough as an admissions consultant. I targeted three M7s and one T10 and was admitted to two of the M7s and the T10 with scholarship offers at two of the three.

Like many, I spent a month or so taking advantage of the many free consultations that exist to learn more about the admissions consulting process, gauge the strength of my application, and determine whether partnering with an admissions consultant could be the right fit for me. I knew going in that if I did decide to leverage a consultant that I wanted to have someone who I could trust to be a confidant and to support me throughout the process.

After going through a handful of calls, I wasn’t optimistic – I hadn’t found the right person with a working style that resonated with me. However, after speaking with Sharon, I knew that she was the right fit immediately. In that initial call, she showed a genuine interest in my story and her warmth and empathy shone through (which, if you’re lucky enough to work with her, you’ll find out quickly!).

The application process is grueling and stressful. Working with Sharon was a dream. She was incredibly supportive, insightful, detail-oriented, efficient (especially important if you use an hourly package like I did!) and unafraid to push you to do more or dig deeper when you need it most. Perhaps most importantly, Sharon can do all of this well because of her extraordinary empathy. With Sharon, you will always feel like you have someone who is in your corner and who understands your unique story. If you partner with Sharon, you will not regret it.

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June 09, 2021
Nn88

Joined: Dec 20, 2020

Posts: 10

Kudos: 17

Hourly consulting service experience with Sharon Joyce

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I can’t recommend Sharon enough. I was able to secure admission to the Haas EWMBA program, which was my top choice, thanks in large part to Sharon and Fortuna admissions.

I chose the hourly sessions from her. She tracked all our work in a spreadsheet: minute by minute, so I was always aware of exactly what she was working on. I was initially skeptical about working with a consultant due to the cost involved, but if you are having similar thoughts, I highly suggest you evaluate the cost of consultation vs opportunity cost due to missed admit, or the fees of a top-tier MBA program, and suddenly this cost seems like a drop in the bucket. Sharon was very well organized and highly responsive during the entire process. I was in a time crunch and had just 2 weeks’ time before the R3 deadline when I approached her, but she made sure that I was able to get the best version of my application submitted on time. She made me introspect what truly matters to me and that helped me immensely while crafting my main essay for Haas. If not for her counselling, I would have submitted an essay which I thought was compelling at that moment, but rather a subpar one in hindsight. Being from an overrepresented male Indian engineer category, I wanted to distinguish myself from the pool of similar applicants and Sharon’s guidance helped me do just that. This is where her rich experience of working in admissions for over 25 years and as an Associate Director of Admissions at Berkeley Haas shines. She also did a thorough review of my final application and helped me cross all t’s to ensure that I don’t have any gaps. She recognized the strengths and weaknesses in my profile and gave me pinpoint advice on how to highlight or mitigate these respectively. She even introduced me to other Haas admits, so that we can network prior to school, which speaks volumes about how determined she is in helping her clients succeed.

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