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Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Bill Kooser
Bill was more than just a consultant—he was a steady presence through one of the most intense periods of my life. He took the time to truly understand my story, not just edit my writing. He helped me find meaning in past experiences and turn them into essays that felt like me, but stronger. Even when timelines were tight or I was overwhelmed, he was calm, responsive, and always encouraging. He never treated my application like just another project—he cared. And that made all the difference. I’m deeply grateful for his support and would recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for a thoughtful, strategic, and genuinely kind advisor.
Joined: Jun 17, 2024
Posts: 1
Kudos: 0
Verified GMAT Focus score:
685 Q84 V85 DI83 (Online)
REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Silpa Sarma
Strengths:
Thoughtful and strategic approach throughout process. Pushed me to continuously go deeper. Strong experience as a former GSB reader added valuable perspective. Story - helped build and shape my story from the ground up.
Would make the product better:
Nothing
I talked to a number of consultants, probably 10 total, before choosing Silpa. She asked thoughtful questions, gave honest feedback, and pushed me to think more deeply about my story. I never felt like I was being sold anything and her experience as a former GSB reader definitely came through.
3 years in venture and 4 years in private equity (more on the fund/portfolio side). White male. 685 GMAT focus, extracurriculars were solid but not amazing. 3.84 from top 40 undergrad, not a target school.
The essay process was where she really made a difference. She helped me go beyond surface-level goals and really dig into what matters to me and be able to paint a picture of what I could bring to each campus. She did much more than polish my story, she helped build it from the ground up, in a more compelling and passionate way than I could have ever thought of.
I applied to GSB, HBS, and Wharton. I got into Wharton and interviewed at HBS, which seemed like a lofty goal from the start.
She was also super responsive, usually turned stuff around in under 24 hours, and always had specific, actionable feedback. By the end, I felt like she knew my voice and story better than I did.
I'm a genAI power user -- having ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and Perplexity pro accounts, and while they were useful for brainstorming, drafting essays, quick phrasing tweaks, etc they can’t replace someone like Silpa. Having her took my story to another level and helped keep me sane throughout the process, especially during the stressful weeks of writing and interview prep.
Overall, couldn’t recommend her enough—smart, honest, supportive, and great at what she does.
Joined: May 13, 2024
Posts: 2
Kudos: 0
Verified GMAT Focus score:
695 Q87 V81 DI85 (Online)
REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Melissa Kate Joelson
It was an absolute pleasure working with Melissa, who was pivotal in securing my admits to LBS and INSEAD, my top two choices. I truly believe this outcome wouldn’t have been possible without her guidance.
I reached out to Melissa fairly close to the Round 2 deadlines in mid-November, but thanks to how efficiently and effectively she operates, it never felt rushed or overwhelming.
Before we even began the applications, Melissa invested several hours in understanding my background and the experiences that shaped me. As a result, even before writing a single word, I had a clear sense of my story and how to present it in the most compelling way.
Throughout the process, Melissa worked with me to craft and re-craft my narrative until it captured the most authentic and powerful version of my journey. Her sharp insights, honest feedback and the confidence she placed in me gave me the self-belief I needed during some of the most intense and introspective parts of the process.
The application process challenges you to reflect deeply, and I’ve emerged with a stronger sense of purpose and clarity—all thanks to Melissa’s guidance.
I would highly recommend working with her!
Also a quick shoutout to Emma Bond who reviewed my applications once they were close to completion and provided some great inputs. Her thoughtful feedback—grounded in how an admissions committee would read the application—helped sharpen the final version and ensured every piece landed exactly as intended.
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Patty Keegan
Patty is overall a wonderful person — she was a sincere and supportive coach throughout my application process. I had talked to other coaches and wasn’t planning to work with one, but Patty stood out. She was the only one who put effort in truly getting to know me, not just my “candidate” profile. Patty is a great thought partner with a blend of honesty, supportiveness, and warmth. She asked thoughtful questions on my goals and stories, listening carefully before sharing tailored advice. She helped me bring out my best and genuine self in my application — I didn’t feel like I had to fit into a certain mold. Despite my hectic work schedule, Patty was accommodating and patient. I was admitted to all my schools, including Stanford GSB and HBS. Thank you, Patty!
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Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Emma Bond
If you’re serious about getting into your dream MBA program, stop scrolling – Emma is the person who will get you there.
I came into the MBA process under serious pressure. My wife and I had already made major life decisions assuming I’d be admitted to a top European program, so I couldn’t afford to leave anything to chance. That’s when I found Emma – and from our very first call, I knew I was in the right hands.
Emma is a rare mix of strategist, coach, editor, and friend – sharp, honest, thoughtful, and endlessly supportive. She kept things moving at exactly the right pace while helping me build confidence and stay grounded. Before working with her, I was second-guessing every move. I had even applied unsuccessfully to a few schools on my own. But within just a few sessions, I had clarity, direction, and a compelling story.
Over time, Emma became as much a friend as a consultant – a testament to how deeply she connects with her clients. She spent hours getting to know me and unpacking parts of my background I had never fully explored. That depth made all the difference in crafting an application that highlighted what made me unique.
She’s also an exceptional writer. Beyond polishing your words into clean, natural prose, her real gift is listening – pulling out the right stories through conversation and weaving them into essays that are both personal and perfectly structured.
And she never sugarcoats. If something wasn’t working, she said so – and that honesty reassured me. I knew she held my work to the same high standards I had for myself.
Her support went well beyond essays. From networking strategies to all the subtle touches that elevate an application, she was there for everything – reviewing late-night drafts, jumping on calls at all hours, and answering every question promptly, no matter how busy she was.
With Emma’s help, I was admitted to all four schools I applied to: Oxford, Cambridge (with a scholarship), LBS, and INSEAD.
I can’t recommend her more highly. Her results speak for themselves – but let me make one thing clear: working with Emma will be one of the best decisions you make in your MBA journey.
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Heidi Hillis
There is absolutely no shot I get into the Stanford GSB without Heidi's guidance. Heidi not only helped in the ideation of my essays and short responses, but also was essential in refining my wording and tone to best convey my thoughts. She provided the essential outside perspective that was needed to make sure what I intended came across to the AdCom's. Perhaps even more impactful than her thoughtful and diligent work on my essays, was her ability to get me to spell out, in my own words, exactly why I was unique, what my "career vision" was, and how that specific school was integral to my success. This was especially impactful for me as someone who had an extremely traditional / "non-unique" PE background, as after working with her, I truly believed I was a differentiated candidate that had a lot to offer and to gain at these programs.
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Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Melissa Kate Joelson
Strengths:
Deep industry expertise
Attention to detail
Clear process for creating application
Holistic application support (GMAT, applications, interviews)
I had the pleasure of working with Melissa extensively during my MBA application journey, starting with my GMAT prep. I initially came in with a below-average score, but Melissa took the time to really understand my MBA goals and test-taking weaknesses. She guided me to the right resources, which helped me boost my score into the 90th percentile within just a few weeks. After that, we dove into the MBA applications!
Coming from a healthcare background, Melissa helped me go through a journey of self-discovery, helping me figure out my reasons for pursuing an MBA and what I truly wanted for my future. This completely changed my mindset, from being insecure about getting admitted, to actually feeling confident. Melissa has a remarkable ability to highlight your strengths and accomplishments in a way that makes you trust yourself more. That gave me a strong foundation when writing my applications, and helped me present the strongest, most compelling case for admission.
As I applied to multiple schools, Melissa’s expertise was very clear, especially with INSEAD! She helped me navigate each school’s unique questions in the best way possible. This continued into the interview phase, where we did tailored mock interviews for each school.
I also really appreciated Melissa’s attention to detail. Every single word I wrote, including the basic application questions, was meticulously thought and reviewed.
Melissa truly goes the extra mile for her candidates and fully invests herself in their journey! I’m so grateful to have had her as my consultant, not only for the amazing success in my applications, but also for the confidence she gave me and the clarity I now have about my personal goals and aspirations.
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Heidi Hillis
Strengths:
Incredibly helpful in getting the whole package together!
Would make the product better:
Nothing!
Working with Heidi was crucial to my MBA application process. I was working a busy finance job, and managing deadlines was already tough. From our very first conversation, she brought a thoughtful, strategic lens to my story — helping me not only polish the application, but rethink how I was presenting my goals and experiences to package it right
Heidi has a clear understanding of how top MBA programs evaluate candidates, and she helped me identify what truly stood out in my background. She was direct and honest with feedback — I like how she says something just isn’t up to par is directionally wrong if she thinks it, without trying to dance around it. I never felt like I was being forced into a template or told what I “should” say. Instead, she pushed me to be succinct and intentional. Her help with connecting the dots across essays, short answers, and recommendations made a big difference. Especially with recommendations as well – first draft of those were a disaster and looking over them together gave me such a piece of mind.
Throughout the entire process, Heidi was calm and incredibly responsive, and level-headed — exactly what I needed during some of the more stressful moments, especially as I navigated deferrals and waitlist, keeping me focused on what I could control. If you’re looking for someone who will take your application seriously, give you clear and candid advice, and help you bring out the strongest and most thoughtful version of your story, I highly recommend working with Heidi.
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Silpa Sarma
Would make the product better:
Silpa tends to focus on the GSB application the most, given her background and the application's length. I feel like maybe we should've spent a little more focus on the new format of the HBS application, which was my top choice.
Silpa was great to work with through every step of the application process. She was very helpful in ideating and shaping both my essays and my recommendations from early on. She worked with my ideas while also giving clear and constructive feedback. As we moved along, I appreciated Silpa's strategic eye in making sure that the totality of my application captured all of the details I wanted to get across, and maximized every character allotted. Above all, Silpa's availability to chat live and discuss ideas, changes, and concerns was most valuable to me. I am grateful for her guidance to get through this process!
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Silpa Sarma
Working with Silpa has been one of the most pivotal and empowering decisions I made in my MBA application journey. From the very beginning, she brought a level of empathy, strategic insight, and relentless commitment that made this intense process feel not just achievable, but deeply personal and meaningful.
Silpa didn't just help me craft strong applications — she helped me discover and own my story. She pushed me to dig deeper, question assumptions, and articulate my journey in ways I hadn't before. Whether it was late-night essay drafts, mock interview prep, or helping me reframe setbacks into strengths, she was always present with sharp feedback and encouraging words.
What set Silpa apart was her ability to balance warmth with tough love. She knew when to be direct, when to challenge me, and when I just needed someone to believe in me. She brought structure to chaos, helped me navigate moments of self-doubt, and celebrated every small win with genuine joy.
I went through some emotionally heavy narratives during this process, and Silpa never treated them as “content” — she held space for my experiences with care and respect, while guiding me on how to present them powerfully. Her intuition, editing skills, and school-specific knowledge were second to none.
Thanks to her support, I not only received admits from top MBA programs including Wharton with a merit scholarship — I also walked away from this process more self-aware, confident, and excited for the next chapter.
Silpa, thank you for being more than a consultant — thank you for being a coach, a sounding board, and a champion. I couldn't have done this without you.