GMAT Club

The Admissions Director’s Evaluation Reviews

 
 Fortuna Admissions
The Admissions Director’s Evaluation
Not sure if you’ve done all you can to maximize your chances of admission? Submit it first to a Fortuna Admissions Director for a comprehensive review, and get an expert opinion on how your application package will be evaluated by the MBA Admissions Committee, including detailed feedback for improvement.

Start with a free 30-min consultation .

5.0 /5 Average Rating
5 star
15
4 star
0
3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
0
Based on 15 reviews

AI Super-Summary of Customer Reviews for The Admissions Director’s Evaluation*

Both reviews highlight the significant impact professional consultants had on their journey to getting admitted into prestigious MBA programs. The first review credits Caroline, along with Matt Symonds, for providing invaluable advice that helped an unconventional candidate secure admission to INSEAD. The second review features Heidi's guidance as pivotal for a Navy veteran achieving multiple offers from top-tier business schools including HBS, Wharton, and Booth, despite initial hesitance about the service cost. Both reviewers express deep gratitude for the consultants' expertise and commitment to their success.
2 users mention "Supportive"
  • "Caroline was really great to work with..." Read more
  • "Heidi was truly invested in my success..." Read more
2 users mention "Non-traditional Backgrounds"
  • "Despite being a somewhat unconventional candidate..." Read more
  • "despite a non-traditional background..." Read more
2 users mention "Admitted"
  • "Ultimately I was admitted..." Read more
  • "securing offers from Harvard Business School, Wharton, Tuck, Booth, and Darden..." Read more
1 users mention "US MBA Programs"
  • "Harvard Business School, Wharton, Tuck, Booth, and Darden..." Read more
1 users mention "Industry Specialist"
  • "Heidi s expertise and support throughout my MBA admissions journey..." Read more
1 users mention "Essay Editing"
  • "I really needed the inside view from Caroline on how my essays would be taken..." Read more
1 users mention "Europe MBA Programs"
1 users mention "Military Background"
1 users mention "Low GMAT Success"
1 users mention "Premium Service"
  • "Although I was initially hesitant at the price of her services..." Read more
*Review summaries are AI generated from 25 latest reviews in the past 2 years.
November 30, 2017
js823

Joined: Nov 29, 2017

Posts: 1

Kudos: 5

Verified GMAT Classic score:
750 Q51 V40

The Best Admissions Consultant for LBS!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I have worked with Emma for 'Director's Evaluation' service as well as 'Hourly Consulting Service' after I was invited for the interview. I enjoyed working with her because of her 1) expertise and knowledge about LBS, 2) insights in admission process (behind the scene), 3) responsive and enthusiastic attitude toward my application (and me).

1) If consultants can provide information that I can find from the web (or even worse, not knowing about the information I find), I think there is no value. In that matter, Emma, from her time at the school, knows every bit of the school that outsiders cannot really find out. Also, even though she left the school some time ago, she is up to date with all the history and changes to the programme (curriculum, events, culture, etc.) because she is still closely connected with many people (incluing admission team) at the school. When she received my full application for the 'Director's Evaluation', she was quick to recognize all the details about the programme I put in (even though some of the things were new this year), and provided more insights and details so that my application and essays looked like someone within the LBS community had written (in my opinion). I was also able to demonstrate my "fit" with LBS in interviews with additional inside knowledge Emma provided.

2) Also, as an applicant, I was always curious about what happens behind the scene with admission team when they are making a decision, and I could not really find the "answer" because most people can only "guess" (although some people/consultants are arrogant enough to say they "know" when they have never sat at the table). Because Emma has made the admission decision with the team before, she exactly knows what's happening behind the scene and what admission team is looking for. This was helpful in many ways: editing irrelevant information in my application that would only bother admission officer to read, changing perspectives in telling my story so that I can showcase my qualities that admission team is looking for, knowing my weakness and addressing it properly, even helping my mind to be at peace as I know what will happen when I hit the submit button, etc.

3) Lastly, her passion for applicants wanting to attend LBS is tremendous! She tries to help me in any way possible and is willing to communicate ASAP. For past 2 months, we've had more than 100 emails going back and forth. She got back to me by the next day (and this is at the latest! she sometimes just emails me back in a real-time). Her comments and actual edits are so detailed and insightful as well. For example, I think my CV initially had all the good contents, but only with her edit, the reader could actually see and easily recognize those great contents. (I believe this is so important for CV!) Also, just working with someone who is so willing and passionate about my admission definitely helps when I am so tired working on applications. And, I can actually build a trust toward her so that we can truly become a team!

All in all, I believe I wouldn't have received my admission if I have not worked with Emma. With Emma's input, my initial work has improved (more like evolved) to shine! If anyone is interested in LBS, I am 100% confident that Emma is the best consultant in the planet!

Read More

July 03, 2017
kywab

Joined: Jul 03, 2017

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
700 Q47 V38

Fine tuning my essays/CV + video interview prep

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I was actually recommended by a former INSEAD-er who was helped by Caroline. Before deciding on Fortuna Admission, I actually shopped around for some other consultants but figured I would get the best help from the previous admission director of INSEAD (and I only applied for one school - so the stake was quite high).

The initial call with Matt was of great help! I got a lot of useful advice on how I should improve and work on my CV before starting to talk to Caroline.

In terms of essays, my friend who was admitted to Kellogg helped me in reviewing and fine-tuning a lot of them but Caroline definitely took them to another level. For example, I had questions on how much I should elaborate on the essay ' What would you do if you were to stay in the same company and same department' and she made sure I had the right level of details but not too much.

As she didnt make any major changes on my essays, she offered to give me a 45min mock interview session on my video interviews for free and sent me materials to prepare. (very very nice of her!) It boosted my confidence before actually going through those intense 45second preparation and 60second reply sessions.

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 09, 2017
achayan90

Joined: Dec 04, 2014

Posts: 23

Kudos: 5

Self-reported Score:
710 Q47 V41
750 Q49 V44

Moving from Good to Great and getting into INSEAD

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by membership [?]

INSEAD was on my radar for over 2 years and I had referred to all available free online resources and colleagues who were INSEAD alumni while crafting my application.

However, at the end of it, about a month before the application deadline, I felt that my application lacks a certain polish, that final touch that would convince me that I had put my best foot forward.

I reached out to Matt & Caroline for the Admissions Director's Evaluation as I felt that since I had already built my application, what I needed was the final touch.

Caroline, the expert that she is and with the tremendous history that she brings to the table, was the perfect addition. She was able to quickly and efficiently point out some of the holes in my application with suggestions on how to fill them.

Caroline always responded quickly and I felt I was getting her full attention. I often asked her opinion to break ties among the different options I had to put into my essays while sticking to the recommended word limit. Her vast experience as an Admissions Officer at INSEAD shone through and she was able to guide me to craft my application and bring more clarity to the essays.

I would definitely recommend Caroline's help if you're building out your INSEAD application to give it that final touch.

Read More

April 06, 2017
violining

Joined: Jun 15, 2014

Posts: 1

Kudos: 5

Self-reported Score:

No Better Advisor For INSEAD Than Caroline

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by membership [?]

I shopped thoroughly for consulting services before deciding on Fortuna to help finalize my INSEAD essays. You really can't get a better dream team than this group with Matt Symonds (who's built his career around the MBA industry and knows it inside-out) and Caroline Diarte Edwards (former Director of Admissions at INSEAD).

The screening process was professional and exceeded my expectations. My conversation with Matt was very encouraging. I also appreciated the peace of mind during this stressful period knowing the track record that Fortuna had established with successful INSEAD candidates.

I thought I was already in a pretty good place with my written essays, but Caroline really made a difference by providing detailed feedback and teasing out the qualities that made me stand out as an applicant. She was tireless with the iterations up till the day before the R1 deadline. It was truly exceptional to have such a dedicated advisor.

I was eventually admitted into INSEAD and even received a generous scholarship. Can't be more thankful for a smooth process and successful result.

Read More

June 05, 2016
danashaheen

Joined: Jun 05, 2016

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
720 Q46 V42

Admitted to LBS with the help of Fortuna Admissions!!!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I would highly recommend Fortuna Admissions and specifically Emma Bond for anyone looking to apply to the LBS MBA program. Emma previously worked in LBS' admissions team and knows the process requirements and what the Admissions Committee looks for inside out! She is also extremely helpful in highlighting information about the school that you may not otherwise know of that would be relevant to your goals / areas of interest. I chose an hourly strategy session with Emma to plan my essays and discuss my goals. During this session she helped point out specifics about the school I should me mentioning in my essays, and how to structure my thoughts. I then signed up for the Director's review package which involves a couple of revisions of my essays and a quick review of my references and applications. What I loved about Emma was that she did not stop until she felt my essays were as strong as they could be and reviewed each one 3 times. She also truly pushed me to highlight my strengths, helped me rephrase thoughts and ideas to make them as concise and sharp as possible, and all in all expertly guided me towards submitting the strongest application possible, which ended up in admission to the MBA Programme! She was also extremely helpful with the interview preparation. Emma's experience with and knowledge of LBS makes her the very best consultant to work with when applying to the school!!! She is also genuinely caring and a lovely person to work with. You won't regret working with her!

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
GMAT ® is a registered trademark of the Graduate Management Admission Council ® (GMAC ®). GMAT Club's website has not been reviewed or endorsed by GMAC.