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.

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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.

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​I had the privilege of working with Melissa as my MBA interview coach during my application process, and I am thrilled to share that, thanks to her exceptional guidance, I was accepted into INSEAD. Melissa's deep understanding of the admissions landscape, particularly her experience of working at INSEAD, provided invaluable insights that were instrumental in my success.
Her online coaching sessions were meticulously tailored to my personalities, helping me to articulate my experiences and aspirations effectively. Melissa's constructive feedback and strategic advice not only enhanced my interview skills but also boosted my confidence throughout the process. I wholeheartedly recommend Melissa to anyone seeking a dedicated and insightful MBA interview coach.

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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!

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Melissa Joelson is an exceptional and highly effective Consultant. I had the absolute pleasure of working with her during my application process for the INSEAD and LBS MBA programs. Thanks to her guidance, I was thrilled to secure a spot in both programs. Melissa came highly recommended as someone who knows INSEAD “like nobody else,” and after going through the application process with her, I can confidently say that this reputation is well-deserved.

Melissa’s experience and expertise were evident from our very first interaction. She has an extraordinary ability to assess your strengths and weaknesses, craft a tailored action plan, and guide you in presenting your best self. What truly sets Melissa apart is her talent for storytelling—she knows exactly how to elevate the quality of your application by helping you weave together your experiences and achievements into a compelling narrative.

As someone who tends to be skeptical, I was particularly impressed by Melissa’s calm, confident approach. She was not just a consultant but a coach who seemed genuinely invested in my success. Whether it was navigating the stress of an initial below-average GMAT score or chasing down recommendations, Melissa was there every step of the way with encouragement and practical advice. Her responsiveness and ability to instill confidence were invaluable throughout the process.

Melissa Joelson is, without a doubt, an exceptionally gifted consultant who brings out the best in her clients. For anyone applying to INSEAD, LBS or any other top ranked school I cannot recommend her highly enough. I would choose her again in a heartbeat.

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I worked with Melissa over a period of about 8 months and she helped me gain admission to HBS, Wharton and INSEAD. I really do believe it may not have been possible without her expertise.

The most impressive thing about Melissa is the effort and time she puts into building a meaningful relationship with you. The school essays, by their very nature, are incredibly personal and so it very important to have someone that you trust and who can help tease the best ideas out of you.

She is very knowledgeable about the schools and what they are looking for. Her feedback is insightful and to the point and she is incredibly patient. She makes time to help, at short notice, and is obviously very invested in your successes.

I would absolutely recommend her to anyone!

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My first experience with admissions consultants was not a good one. When I first considered MBA plans I spoke to a number of consultants early on, one of which told me that it was very unlikely with my background that I would get into LBS or INSEAD. "It's just not going to happen", were the words used.

Then along came Melissa. After researching several admissions consultancies, Fortuna stood out as adopting a more personalised approach, taking the time to delve into a candidate’s background to properly understand their story and strengths for the different MBA programs. Working with Melissa was less about the applications initially, and more an exercise in deep and considered self-reflection. Who am I. What experiences shaped me. What do I want in life. And why.

It wasn’t until I started working with Melissa that I developed any confidence in my ability to attend a top MBA program. Melissa was instrumental in drawing that out. She was clear, concise, realistic and, facing tight-deadlines, firm. She kept me honest and focussed throughout the whole process, gave clear instructions as to what was expected, and, importantly, ensured the responsibility for delivering rested with me.

Melissa genuinely believes in the candidates she works with and wants them to succeed. Even when Melissa had to travel between the US and France for family emergencies, she remained online and connected through every step of the way – late night calls to match time-zones, email exchanges from airports ahead of deadlines – Melissa was unstoppable.

I hadn’t even planned to apply for INSEAD – I had already ruled myself out. After working with Melissa to understand my strengths as a candidate we were able to rule INSEAD back in.

I am truly grateful for my time working with Melissa. She was critical in helping me put my best foot forward and receiving offers that I never thought were possible. Thank you so much!

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For my MBA admissions I used Fortuna Admissions' services. I had a wonderful experience working with Melissa Joelson. She guided me in every step of my applications journey, right from the beginning to interview prep. She made sure she brought out the best of me. She thoroughly reviewed my life experiences, work experience, and made sure I convey the right things. She challenged me to focus on my WHYs and WHATs of MBA application process and beyond. She has experience working with diverse set of candidates and would be an amazing mentor for anybody looking to get into "tough to get into" category B-schools. Melissa was extremely friendly and empathized with my situations while pushing me to do more when I could. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with their services and recommend it to others as well.

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Working with Melissa was an amazing experience. She assisted me in every part of the application process, helping me finding more about myself, making me feel more confident and changing the perspective I had about myself. Overall, it would be impossible for me to prepare on my own an application like the one I ended up submitting. The only resemblance between the original documents I wrote and the ones I submitted is the white background paper... She was tireless in getting the best of each sentence, trying to get the most of the story I was telling. Melissa kept pushing me to go deeper in every detail, which allowed me to write unique essays that truly reflected who I am. And it wasn’t just the writing. After preparing my interview with Melissa, the real interview with the admissions team felt like I was doing it for the second time. Melissa’s help was absolutely decisive for the success of my application to IESE!
Melissa was kind and patient, but at the same time she never allowed me to go out of focus, making it the perfect balance. At the end of this journey, Melissa is not ‘just’ the coach who helped me writing all the documents I needed. She is a person from whom I seek real advice and I whose opinion I completely trust. My application process has just ended and I already miss my meetings with her…

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I was so lucky to be able to work with Melissa Joelson. I had a difficult timeline for my applications and she worked with me to make sure we could achieve what I needed to in a short window. When reviewing my essays, Melissa was amazing at asking the right questions and prompting me in different ways to think about how to further flesh out my thoughts or to get to the heart of what I was trying to communicate. She never tried to change my voice or vision, but rather to help me present it in a more effective way. She showed so much kindness, compassion, and support along the way. I really felt like she was invested in my success and not just in the application process. Thank you, Melissa!

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