GMAT Club

Melissa Jones Reviews

Company: Fortuna Admissions

Melissa has successfully coached hundreds of candidates from around the world with their MBA applications to top business schools globally, including many acceptances to Columbia, Harvard, Wharton, Stern, and Yale. As one of Fortuna’s first coaches, for over a decade she has a stellar track record of helping MBA hopefuls gain admission to M7 and top 15 US schools, as well as prestigious European schools like INSEAD and LBS. Her success is rooted in a laser eye for talent and a deep understanding of what top business schools are seeking. Her expert support for Fortuna Admissions clients is rooted in her previous experience as Assistant Director for the MBA Program at INSEAD in France. During her tenure, she connected with thousands of applicants and advised them on the admissions process and their path to business school, traveling extensively and delivering countless presentations to candidates across many countries. Melissa was a member of the review committee responsible for selecting scholarship recipients, so she knows what it takes to make the cut. Melissa has also worked in marketing and communications for global brands such as Sony, InBev, and Xerox.

5.0 /5 Average Rating
Based on 61 reviews
February 25, 2019
jalajshah11

Joined: Jul 09, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
710 Q47 V40

Best in business for INSEAD

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My conversation with Matt was the deciding factor for me. Unlike other consultants in the business, he did not give me generic/standard responses; instead gave me recommendations that were applicable to me. At that moment itself, I was convinced that I would want to work with Fortuna.

INSEAD was my top choice and I’d taken the full package for INSEAD and Wharton. I started working with Melissa and from early on found myself catching up as she was always very prompt. Fortuna’s strategy session & questionnaire is awesome. It is as introspective as it can be and sets one up quite nicely for the entire process. One thing that stands out about Melissa is that she she is very keen on keeping the application as authentic as possible. She was always available and usually came back with her edits/recommendations latest by next working day. Melissa had probably the best insight into the admissions process from her previous experience at INSEAD and that was not only helpful for the application but also in understanding and connecting with the school.

As an Indian male working in tech consulting, I was in the most competitive pool of applicants and don’t think would’ve gotten in without Melissa’s help. The tool that Fortuna uses for submissions, communication, resources etc. is also commendable. It has a world of knowledge hosted there.

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February 13, 2019
kkev

Joined: Aug 02, 2014

Posts: 3

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
680 Q44 V39

The Best for Top Canadian MBA programs

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Melissa is the best coach I could ever have. She went above and beyond what I had expected. The full package is truly worth every penny.

From the initial free consultation call with Matt, I was amazed by his comprehensive knowledge of MBA programs I wanted to apply. After talking with him, unlike other consulting firms, I was able to see strengths and weaknesses in my profile and felt more confident in my application. He put together a detailed action plan very quickly and connected me with Melissa.

Melissa personally took the time to review all my data and all my drafts essays and CV. She was very responsive (within 24 hours) and insightful. Thanks to her, I was able to create killer applications that bring the best out of me and appeal to adcoms. With her honest feedback and encouragement, I overcame my fear of interviews.

I got admitted into my dream school with a hefty scholarship. Thanks Melissa and Fortuna!!

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December 02, 2018
Enim

Joined: Dec 02, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
730 Q47 V42

Over and Above Experience

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I was hesitant to pay the hefty price tag for the full package with Fortuna, but they have delivered over and above what I expected.

I was lucky to work with Melissa Jones who has unparalleled insight into the admissions process which is clear in her invaluable feedback on the essays.

However, I believe that Melissa's true strength as a coach was her ability to get me through the self-doubt, writer's block and the numerous other obstacles that had almost caused me to give up on the application entirely.

Melissa showed a balance of patience and persistent encouragement, intuitively knowing to send amazing motivational videos and mental hacks that helped me work through the things that were holding me back.

With her support, I actually ended up enjoying the application process and was very proud of the final result. I also got admitted into my dream school!

I could not have asked for a better coach.

She genuinely cared, was very insightful and knowledgeable, and showed diligent attention to the slightest detail.

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July 14, 2018
Rei

Joined: Apr 26, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Super Coach

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Yes, as mentioned in previous reviews, Melissa certainly has unparalleled insight into the admissions process which is clear in her invaluable feedback on the essays.

However, I believe that Melissa's true strength as a coach was her ability to get me through the self-doubt, writer's block and the numerous other obstacles that had almost caused me to give up on the application entirely.

Melissa showed a balance of patience and persistent encouragement, intuitively knowing to send amazing motivational videos and mental hacks that helped me work through the things that were holding me back.

With her support, I actually ended up enjoying the application process and was very proud of the final result. I also got admitted into my dream school!

I could not have asked for a better coach.

She genuinely cared, was very insightful and knowledgeable, and showed diligent attention to the slightest detail.

Melissa, it was wonderful to work with you. Thank you so much!

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June 19, 2018
vdsekhon

Joined: Aug 09, 2015

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Highly Recommend! Thanks Fortuna!

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I can’t imagine what the application process would have been like without the Fortuna team. They made everything tangible, and much more enjoyable even from the first call. The entire process was an adventure in itself and helped me gain a better understanding of myself including my strengths and weaknesses as well as my goals. I worked with both Melissa Jones and Emma Bond- a great duo. They are both extremely professional and helpful, had great insights on the process, paid great attention to detail and knew how to position my profile in the best way possible. They went above and beyond to help me prepare for my interviews and always available for questions. I know I was successful with my applications because of Fortuna and am extremely thankful I made the decision to work with them. I highly suggest working with them.

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June 08, 2018
Beatrice2

Joined: Jun 08, 2018

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Outstanding Experience! Accepted to LBS and INSEAD.

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I can't even put into words how amazing Melissa was during my whole MBA application process. She guided me through every step and always gave me invaluable advice. Melissa got to know me very well, both from a professional and personal standpoint, so when I started thinking about what to include in the MBA essays she was really able to help me pinpoint the most compelling stories that really showcased my strengths.
Melissa was always very responsive on email and available to help whenever I had a question. She is also extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the top MBA programs - especially INSEAD.
I would highly recommend the comprehensive MBA package.

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May 16, 2018
sunflowers484

Joined: Apr 02, 2018

Posts: 6

Kudos: 6

Verified GMAT Classic score:
670 Q42 V39

Thank you, Fortuna!

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After conversing with Matt and Melissa, it was clear to me that Fortuna would meet me where I was (schools selected and story roughly drawn out) and take my ideas to the next level. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Melissa who is efficient and proactive and provides thoughtful guidance relevant to the programs. She demonstrated knowledge of the difference between programs and connected me to resources that eventually would help me make my decision. After working hard on the applications and interviews I was able to secure a spot at my top choice MBA program in Europe. Massive thanks to Matt and Melissa for being there throughout the process!

Even if you have a strong sense of story and have zeroed onto your top choices, I highly recommend Fortuna and Melissa to hone your message and put your best possible case on the table. It makes all the difference.

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May 02, 2018
tcov89

Joined: Nov 05, 2015

Posts: 4

Kudos: 0

Excellent - Beyond worth the investment

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Melissa was a pleasure to work with from day one, and having her there to answer questions and provide feedback on my work was an invaluable "safety net" to have throughout the process. Fortuna was incredibly professional from the first evaluation call, to their comprehensive profile evaluation, all the way through essay and application stage. In the beginning, I was having trouble deciding which schools to apply to. Fortuna gave me very honest guidance and valuable insight (GMAT score minimums, etc.) that saved me countless hours of time by not applying to a school I would have had no chance of being accepted to. I also really appreciated their process in that Melissa reviewed my whole application and made sure it was perfect, then my profile was reviewed by a director who used to be a dean of admissions at an ivy league school. I felt very confident once I passed all of those reviews, and sure enough was accepted to three of my four schools! Thanks Melissa and Fortuna.

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December 26, 2017
theone100

Joined: Jul 08, 2017

Posts: 0

Kudos: 5

Verified GMAT Classic score:
680 Q49 V33

Experienced firm for Top Candian MBA programs

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After extensively looking for a consulting firm with the necessary experience to help me apply to the Top Canadian MBA programs, I finally decided to work with Fortuna Admissions.

I worked with Melissa Jones, a consultant with solid experience helping students apply to the top business schools in Canada, and who demonstrated the necessary professionalism and attention to detail to submit the best possible applications.

She used her expertise to guide me throughout the application process, from developing a compelling story that truly showcased my strengths, to helping me prepare for Skype interviews, asking relevant questions and providing feedback. Her responses were always very timely, which is a must-have in my opinion, especially when trying to meet school deadlines.

There are many consultants that claim having experience with Canadian schools, but in reallity not many do. I am fully satisfied with Fortuna's services, and I would highly recommend them.

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March 23, 2017
JackSha

Joined: Jul 25, 2013

Posts: 9

Kudos: 6

The Best in the business

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I thoroughly enjoyed working with Fortuna team. Right from the first call with Matt to, the kick-off with Caroline to preparing my application with Melissa. The team was extremely professional and informative; they know their field.

They spent a lot of time with me understanding about my journey in life and guided me to pick up the right stories. Melissa has a great attention to detail and was able to pick up the insights which even I didn't know about me. I found the whole process to be very reflective.

I got accepted for MIT Sloan and I don't think I could have made it without Fortuna.

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