I engaged with Melissa to finalise and fine-tune my applications to INSEAD, Columbia and LBS. As I was already very far in the process, I was more looking for fine-tuning and information from the admissions perspective on my essays, CV and shorter information fields.
I was very happy with the service that was provided and especially also with the speed and flexibility that the hourly consulting services provided. In total, I was able to specifically adapt my CV and essays with further, stronger information and practiced both video and regular interviews in the lead-up. While my personal return was perhaps slightly lower than it could have been due to the standard already being relatively high, I was very pleased with the standard of care, thoroughness and especially peace of mind I got through being able to talk the application through with an expert.

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I cannot recommend Melissa enough as an MBA coach. Her guidance was instrumental in helping me secure a spot at INSEAD. From our first meeting, Melissa demonstrated a deep understanding of the MBA admissions process and an uncanny ability to pinpoint exactly what makes a candidate stand out.

What sets Melissa apart is her personalized approach. She took the time to get to know me, my career goals, and my unique strengths and weaknesses. This allowed her to help me craft an application that was not only compelling but authentically represented who I am. Her feedback on my essays was invaluable, pushing me to refine my narrative until it was perfect.

Moreover, Melissa’s support went beyond just the application. She provided strategic advice for interviews, helping me feel confident and well-prepared. Her encouragement and constructive feedback made all the difference during this often stressful process.

If you are looking for a coach who genuinely cares about your success and knows how to help you get there, Melissa is the one.

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I applied to INSEAD during round 3 and was thrilled to be accepted, thanks to Melissa Jones. She was incredibly skilled at helping me dig deep into my life to find powerful anecdotes for my essays. Like fitting together a jigsaw puzzle, Melissa expertly tied my stories to what the admissions team sought, resulting in compelling essays. Her deep knowledge of the INSEAD admissions process was invaluable, especially since it was the only MBA program I applied to. Melissa even went above and beyond by preparing me for my interview on a Sunday, ensuring I was fully confident and ready. If, like me, you have no clue where to start with your essays, trust Melissa to steer you in the right direction—she will exceed your expectations.

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Melissa Jones, a former INSEAD admissions officer turned MBA consultant, brings unparalleled expertise to her consulting practice. Leveraging her insider insights and the collective wisdom of the Fortuna team, Melissa provided tailored guidance for my application. Her unwavering support and diligence were evident as she consistently delivered useful and timely edits, even accommodating early mornings due to time zone differences. Melissa's proficiency in all things related to INSEAD makes her the go-to expert. If INSEAD is your dream school, choosing Melissa is a strategic decision that ensures personalized support and a pathway to success. Thank you very much Melissa!

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Highly recommend! I was admitted into INSEAD in R2 for the 25J batch. Melissa was very helpful speeding my process along since I had started my process a bit late for INSEAD. She made sure we both were on top of our task lists and that we were making up for lost time. She also ensured that both her and my admission officers understood who I am as a professional and as an individual. She provided constructive feedback when I was preparing for interviews. I'd suggest her to any student that is struggles to write about themselves like I do as she did a great job in expressing my thoughts into a vision.

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I worked exclusively with Melissa on my INSEAD application, which was the only school I applied to. She was very knowledgeable about the process and what the school was looking for. She expertly pulled together the ingredients from all parts of my life and put them together for the best possible application. She responded quickly to all questions, and worked efficiently on email and Zoom. She was also a rigorous practice interviewer which prepared me well for the real thing. This work culminated in an offer. Couldn't recommend her highly enough! Thank you to Melissa Jones and the Fortuna team.

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I recently had the pleasure of working with Melissa as my admissions consultant, and I am beyond impressed with the exceptional service and guidance I received throughout the entire process. From our first interaction to the moment I received my acceptance letters, Melissa demonstrated an unparalleled level of expertise, professionalism, and dedication.

Her in-depth knowledge of the admissions landscape, seamless and efficient communication/feedback, a genuine passion for my story truly sets her apart. Right from the beginning, she invested time in getting to know me – my academic background, professional experiences, aspirations, and unique qualities. This personalized attention was evident in the meticulously crafted application strategy tailored to highlight my strengths and address potential weaknesses.

I always felt supported and confident in the guidance I received. Choosing Melissa was one of the best decisions I made, and I am immensely grateful for the guidance that played a pivotal role in shaping my academic and professional future.

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I am an applicant in the final round of the MBA application process. Among the various consultants available, I chose Melissa. I made this choice because she responds promptly and has a very organized approach to structuring my essay. She meticulously reviewed my life and work experiences and provided tailored advice for the schools I wanted to apply to. She also understood the potential weaknesses in my experiences and helped me address them in the optional essay, allowing the admissions team to better understand who I am through my application documents. The essay was completed in just about two weeks, which put my mind at ease for other application matters.

During the interview process, Melissa also shared some interview tips to help me prepare with confidence. I am genuinely thrilled to have successfully applied to my dream school in the final round, and I am very grateful for seeking Melissa's assistance from the beginning.

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Stats / Outcomes: 710 GMAT (lower quant score, higher verbal), 154 EA, Overrepresented Background. Accepted to Yale, NYU, and Georgetown (with some $). Interviewed but dinged at CBS; interviewed and currently waitlisted at Duke.

Melissa was an excellent consultant. She was very patient and a good listener as we refined my story together. She also offered great insight into what schools look for. Together we were able to delve into my backstory and goals and connect the dots into a thoughtful narrative.

As far as consultants go, I think Melissa is an amazing one! That said, I do want to temper expectations on how far a consultant can bring you. They are great at being a thought partner to sound ideas out and offer very valuable insight into what programs are looking for (Melissa did a great job at this and it really helped me shape my story to emphasize the right parts). However, you still have to put in the leg work to shape your story and sometimes be proactive in following up with them on key questions. It's a wonderful accelerator, but a big part of it is still dependent on how much you put in. (For example, I found it very helpful refining my story further by talking to friends rather than just with a consultant).

Melissa is kind, patient, insightful, and great at connecting you with other folks on her team when she thinks you would benefit from another perspective. She helped me connect with Matt to finalize my list of schools (a Fortuna pro who regularly interacts with all top 25 schools and gave incredibly helpful insight), and a couple admissions consultants who came from some of my target schools so that I could better understand the culture. She also convinced me to take a new test to make up for my lower GMAT quant score (something I truly never thought I would do because I hated tests so much, but that I am incredibly glad I did).

I wrote 5 total applications (Yale, CBS, Duke, NYU, Georgetown). I got Melissa's help via the "all in" package on Columbia and NYU, and a couple hours of advice on my remaining 3 schools. Overall, I was accepted to Yale, accepted to NYU from the waitlist, and also accepted to Georgetown with some generous financial aid.

One piece of advice that I would give potential applicants is that an admissions consultant is a great help - but remember to keep pushing your own path forward in tandem. Keep going to admissions events (even after applying), connecting with alumni and students to understand culture, and be proactive in your own journey. I also supplemented some of Melissa and team's advice by talking to very close friends about my story - they were able to share stories about my life / frames of reference that I never would have thought of as being relevant before.

I am very happy with my experience and would highly recommend Melissa, but I wanted to call out the disclaimers above because when I was first reading reviews like these, I remember getting somewhat of a wrong impression. As such, I wanted to share my lessons learned. Best of luck in the process - you got this!

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I worked with Melissa over the past few months on my INSEAD application. I am happy to announce that I've been admitted to INSEAD!

I chose to work with Melissa and Fortuna Admissions because they are truly the experts when it comes to global MBA programs. Melissa has worked at INSEAD, and Caroline, one of the co-founders of Fortuna, was the Admissions Director at INSEAD for several years.

I was really nervous going into the application journey - MBA application process can be quite overwhelming! I felt reassured while working with Melissa - she is truly an INSEAD expert and knows exactly what the school is looking for in candidates. We worked together to craft my story that would make me stand out from other candidates. I felt that Melissa is superb when it comes to strategizing and communication - I was able to build a strong and impactful story thanks to Melissa. Melissa is highly effective too- she always responded to me within one or two business days!

Melissa is also very accomodating. Much of my work with Melissa was done through an online platform that Fortuna uses. I am someone who likes to build relationships over calls. Melissa was willing to meet me virtually to discuss my application and I appreciate that she was able to adapt to my working style.

I also liked how Caroline reviewed my application towards the end. Given her experience as an Admissions Director, she added great value to my application too.

I loved working with Fortuna because the coaches I've encountered at Fortuna work with great integrity. If you're looking for an admissions coach who will write your essays for you, Fortuna is not the right partner for you. Melissa didn't write a single sentence for me, but gave extremely detailed feedback on all of my essays. I truly believe that Melissa helped me to become a better writer.

Working with Melissa and the Fortuna team was truly an amazing experience. If you're looking for an MBA admissions coach, especially to get into top global MBA programs such as INSEAD and London Business School, I highly recommend that you work with Melissa.

Thank you Melissa and the Fortuna Admissions team!

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