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Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Michel Belden
Strengths:
Great end-to-end advisory process
Would make the product better:
Nothing - Fortuna and Michel were great
I’m very grateful for Michel, who served as my advisor through the MBA application process over the past six months. She was key to my success in getting admitted to four of my dream schools (out of six) within the M7—something I didn’t think was possible from the outset. From our very first meeting, it was clear that Michel brought not only deep expertise in the admissions process, especially given her time working in admissions, but also an incredible sense of empathy and strategic insight.
Her expertise shone through throughout every step through thorough every step of the process, from giving me guidance on how to select schools, to helping polish my resume, to the essay writing process, and finally the interviewing. In addition to great strategic coaching, she was able to give great insights from both a larger admissions lens and an individual school-specific level. Michel never applies a cookie-cutter approach; every brainstorming session, essay draft, and mock interview was tailored specifically to who I am, what I hoped to achieve, and my authentic style of written and verbal expression.
In particular, Michel was incredibly helpful in providing feedback for essays. She was a consummate professional, always responding in a timely manner with clear, actionable feedback. In addition, I really appreciated that she struck the right balance between encouraging me to write my own authentic story and challenging me to dig deeper to clarify my motivations and sharpen my story. A good example is a comment on an essay for the school I’m now about to attend, where she pushed me to strengthen my ending by “showing” how I grew from the experience, rather than “telling.” While I was responsible for identifying the right anecdote to tie the essay together, I never would have reached this level of detail had I not had her feedback, and this could have been the difference needed to get into this top school.
I had a similar personalized experience with her interview coaching. This was especially important with the rush of interviews I was fortunate to get invited to. As the interview style differs amongst the top schools, she was able to streamline my process preparing and get me focused and confident to perform my best. In particular, her experience working at Wharton, which is unlike all other interview styles, was a moment that reflected her years of expertise on the admissions side.
While it can be intimidating going into the admissions process and picking a coach, now on the other side, I can confidently say that I’m so thankful I chose Michel. Her top coaching helped me unlock my very best potential and I cannot recommend her enough as your MBA admissions advisor!
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Peter Johnson
Strengths:
Extensive experience as a former admissions.
Dedicated and proactive,
Lots of good research and materials
Working with Peter from Fortuna Admissions has been an excellent experience. As an international candidate, bridging the information gap was crucial for me, and Peter’s background provided a wealth of insights from the other side of the table.
He is consistently on top of things, providing detailed, thoughtful feedback that is actionable and clear. Despite the challenges of managing time zone differences, Pete was incredibly accommodating, often working over weekends to make sure our sessions were productive.
Beyond his expertise, Peter’s encouragement and positivity were a huge support throughout the nerve-wracking application process. His genuine care made those stressful waiting days far more manageable.
I would highly recommend Peter to anyone seeking an experienced, supportive, and exceptionally dedicated MBA coach.
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Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Patty Keegan
Strengths:
Works great for someone who's looking for an in depth analysis and road mapping for a successful MBA application
Would make the product better:
N/A
As an applicant from an overrepresented background, I knew standing out was critical. Patty was instrumental in helping me craft an authentic and compelling narrative during my HBS and GSB applications, providing strategic insights that sharpened my story. Her guidance also played a key role in my successful Berkeley Haas application, where I was admitted. Patty’s deep understanding of the admissions process, personalized feedback, and ability to bring out my unique strengths made all the difference. I truly appreciate her support and highly recommend her to anyone looking for expert MBA admissions advice to maximize their chances of success.
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Peter Johnson
Strengths:
Very responsible coach with deep experience and great listening skills to elevate your story
Would make the product better:
N/A
I was quite stressed when I decided to apply for an MBA just one month before the round’s deadline. I needed a trusted advisor who could eliminate the guesswork in how to best represent myself—someone with both experience and my best interests at heart. I was very fortunate to meet Pete, who turned out to be exactly that and more, ultimately helping me gain admission to two of the three schools I applied to (Berkeley and UCLA).
Given my short timeline, Pete was an incredibly responsible and calming presence. He helped me set clear priorities and efficiently navigate school selection, recommender preparation, and the crafting of my essays and résumé—all without compromising thoroughness or attention to detail. I particularly appreciated his relentless effort in iterating on my essays and résumé. Every time I sent him materials for review, he didn’t just focus on the latest updates; he reread everything carefully to incorporate new perspectives and ensure consistency. His professionalism also kept me accountable, pushing me to submit only my best work throughout this intense process. Additionally, Pete proactively involved other consultants with specific expertise in certain schools or areas, providing invaluable additional feedback. I’m also incredibly grateful for his flexibility—he made himself available on weekends and holidays to promptly address my questions and requests as the deadline approached.
What pleasantly surprised me about working with Pete was his ability to listen deeply and work with my existing materials with both respect and expertise. Like many applicants, I found that my application stories became quite personal and vulnerable at times. Pete’s thoughtful approach made me feel comfortable sharing my experiences, and his deep admissions expertise helped me identify the stories that best represented me while staying true to myself.
By the end of my process with Pete, every word in my application felt like me—just at my very best. This became a grounding force throughout my application journey, helping me stay confident despite the overwhelming noise online about what schools are looking for. It also proved invaluable during interviews, where candidates and their stories truly come to life for schools.
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Emma Bond
Strengths:
Great platform for students, lots of good research, great set of consultants to offer views on resumes, interviews, essays.
Would make the product better:
NA
10/10 performance, I'm so glad I used Fortuna as my consultants. I connected with Fortuna at the start of my admission process and was nothing but impressed. I used Emma Bond, who was incredibly qualified in her understanding of schools in Europe, which was exactly the location I was targeting. Through her expertise, I was able to secure admission in all 3 top tier Europe MBA programs which I had applied to. Super impressed, and really really happy with the services provided by Fortuna as a whole. I would highly recommend that students look to Fortuna for consultancy services in the future. Consultancy is not cheap, but is worth it in the end.
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Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Sharon Joyce
Strengths:
Very comprehensive
Would make the product better:
nothing
My consultant coach was absolutely amazing. Sharon provided me with invaluable advice and insights that I wouldn’t have fully grasped as a foreign applicant. She took the time to understand my background, strengths, and aspirations, helping me shape my thoughts and express them in a clear, compelling, and impactful way. Her expertise and personalized guidance significantly improved my application, making my story more cohesive and persuasive. I truly appreciated her attention to detail and strategic approach, which gave me greater confidence throughout the admissions process.
I highly recommend working with Fortuna and Sharon! Again, many thanks for everything. I learned a lot on myself throughout the process.
REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by membership [?]
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Julie Ferguson
Strengths:
Deep school knowledge
Many years of experience
Storytelling
I loved working with Julie! She is so knowledgeable about the programs I was interested in and is incredible at storytelling. I trusted her opinion and felt comfortable asking her any question. I paid for the comprehensive package and she worked with me to create a schedule that tailored my needs and was always willing to meet or answers questions ad hoc. I also appreciated that she looked to her peers at Fortuna who were experts about Kellogg / Booth for additional advice / reviews of my application. She helped me get into both Kellogg and Booth with a combined scholarship of over $200,000!
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Melissa Kate Joelson
Working with Mel has been a transformative experience. Her coaching style is refreshingly direct and personalized. She invests time in understanding your unique story and aspirations, which allows her to provide tailored, insightful guidance.
What sets Mel apart is her unwavering commitment to bringing out the best in her clients. She's not afraid to challenge you or point out areas that need improvement, always with the goal of elevating your application to its highest potential. Her feedback is clear and actionable, striking a perfect balance between providing direction and encouraging independent thought.
Mel's approach pushed me out of my comfort zone in the most productive ways. She didn't spoon-feed answers but rather guided me to discover my own strengths and articulate them compellingly. This process led me to produce some of my finest writing in years, particularly in my essays.
Her method is not just about crafting a strong application; it's about self-discovery and personal growth. Mel's coaching helped me uncover aspects of my experiences and skills that I hadn't fully appreciated before, allowing me to present a more authentic and impactful version of myself.
I credit Mel for not only improving my application but also for enhancing my self-awareness and communication skills. Her influence extends beyond the application process – the insights gained through our work together will continue to benefit me in my professional journey. For anyone seeking a coach who will truly invest in your success and push you to reach your full potential, Mel is an outstanding choice. Her guidance has been invaluable, and I'm deeply grateful for her role in my application journey and final acceptance into INSEAD EMBA. Thank you Mel!
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Heidi Hillis
Heidi was wonderful to work with! She really worked to get to know me on both a professional and personal level and was so supportive throughout the entire process. The initial assignments that she gave were particularly beneficial in helping me to craft a compelling and cohesive career vision and highlight leadership stories to use in my interview and application. With most of the work and reflection done upfront, I was able to go into my essays feeling confident. Even after the bulk of the work was done, Heidi continued to provide support and guidance, and it was awesome to celebrate together once I got news of my acceptance! I cannot recommend Heidi & Fortuna enough. Thank you so much, Heidi!
Product Fortuna Admissions Comprehensive School Package
Consultant Rachel Erickson Hee
Working with Rachel was easily the best decision I could have made throughout this entire business school admissions process. It was clear from the outset that she really knew what she was doing. She took the time to get to know me and my background instead of prematurely jumping into the applications and essays. Throughout our time together, she would bring up anecdotes I had previously shared with her that I myself had forgotten about! She was strategic about maximizing the value of each story, word, and character. Rachel was both incredibly thorough and highly efficient. Her feedback was always insightful, pushing me to think deeply about what I was trying to convey and how to do so most effectively. In the midst of a high-pressure work environment, Rachel helped me stay on track and kept my morale high. I truly enjoyed our conversations. Having her in my corner alleviated so much of my anxiety surrounding the entire application process. Even when I felt like something was "good enough," Rachel pushed me to make it even better. She worked with me right up until I submitted each application and later supported me in preparing for interviews. I received admission to one of my top choices with a partial scholarship. I highly doubt that either would have occurred without Rachel's steadfast support!