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Peter Johnson Reviews

Company: Fortuna Admissions

Peter led Full-time MBA Admissions at Berkeley Haas for over a decade before serving as the administrative program head for six years, overseeing student experience, academic affairs, and admissions. He’s passionate about helping candidates gain access to the life-changing opportunity that an MBA program can provide. While leading Full-time MBA admissions at Berkeley Haas, Peter chaired the admissions committee, reviewed thousands of applications from US and international candidates, and co-created the interview and application review process. After more than a decade with Berkeley Haas, he moved to Europe and spent four years as Vice President for Central European University in Budapest before returning to Haas as assistant dean. Peter was elected to the Graduate Management Admissions Council (GMAC) board of directors and currently serves on the board of the Forté Foundation. He graduated from Pacific University with a degree in modern languages and an MA in International Relations from Golden Gate University.

5.0 /5 Average Rating
Based on 2 reviews
April 03, 2025
peanutbj

Joined: Aug 19, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Highly Recommend!

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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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March 29, 2025
lucyyyxiao

Joined: Jul 22, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
750 Q50 V42 (Online)

A Trusting Coach Who Listens and Elevates Your Story

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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.

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This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.