GMAT Club

Sharon Joyce Reviews

Company: Fortuna Admissions

With over 25 years of experience in admissions and student affairs, Sharon is a seasoned professional in higher education who has been lauded for her innovative approaches in streamlining interview processes at multiple institutions and her efforts to create inclusive communities in graduate education. At UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, she served as the Associate Director of Admissions for the full-time program MBA program, while also collaborating on the overall strategic plan for Haas admissions as a member of the Senior Management team. While at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business, she contributed to the success of the MBA program in a role that encompassed admissions and career services. Sharon received her BA from Chatham University and holds a doctoral degree in Administrative and Policy Studies in Higher Education from the University of Pittsburgh; her doctoral research was focused on first-generation college students and their rise into graduate programs. Sharon is also a Certified Coach in CliftonStrengths, and specializes in early stage planning with many of our Fortuna clients.

5.0 /5 Average Rating
Based on 68 reviews
March 26, 2025
Hadi777

Joined: Oct 24, 2023

Posts: 2

Kudos: 1

Verified GMAT Focus score:
615 Q81 V83 DI77 (Online)

I recommend it 10000%, especially as a non-US citizen

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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.

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January 20, 2025
alb2

Joined: May 28, 2024

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
730 Q45 V46 (Online)

Strongly recommend Sharon Joyce!

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I cannot recommend Sharon highly enough! Thanks to her expert guidance, I was admitted to four out of the five MBA programs I applied to—including Harvard.

From the very beginning, Sharon’s deep expertise and strategic insights were invaluable. As someone with a somewhat untraditional background, I was initially unsure how my story would resonate with top business schools. Sharon not only helped me craft a compelling and authentic narrative but also gave me the confidence to present my best self. Sharon's expertise especially came through when we brainstormed how to approach the essays for each school based on her knowledge of these programs and my story.

Beyond her strategic expertise, Sharon was a constant source of support. She answered all my questions—big and small—and provided reassurance during moments of doubt. She celebrated every interview invite with me, helped me prepare those, and shared the excitement for each acceptance.

I’m incredibly grateful for Sharon’s guidance and unwavering encouragement throughout this journey. If you’re looking for an MBA consultant with exceptional experience and a true passion for helping applicants succeed, I wholeheartedly recommend her!

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January 13, 2025
Spencerhh23

Joined: Jan 13, 2025

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Focus score:
655 Q79 V86 DI82

Fortuna and Sharon Joyce are fantastic!!!

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Sharon and Fortuna could not be any better. I can confidently say that my application process would have been significantly more stressful and probably had a different outcome had I not worked with Sharon. I applied and was accepted to two school, one of which was an M7 and the other was a T10. Sharon is very thorough, dedicated, patient, kind, and organized. Additionally, it is extremely beneficial how Fortuna brings in other consultants to review certain products to provide an outside view and perspective on essay responses and resume drafts. I cannot say enough how great of an experience it was to work with Sharon, and would recommend her to anyone considering applying to Business School.

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May 13, 2024
elbon1292

Joined: May 13, 2024

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
680 Q42 V41 (Online)

Best Investment I Ever Made

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Coming from a non-traditional background of physical therapy, the majority of the MBA application process was foreign to me. It was like trying to learn another language. I knew I needed help from someone who was not only spoke the language of the business world, but had experience with admissions committees, what they would be looking for, and how to best sell myself to them. Sharon was the best interpreter I could have ever asked for. From our first consult call, I immediately connected with her calm and confident personality. She was kind, patient, and compassionate while also holding me accountable and pushing me to take advantage of every opportunity. She walked me through career research to figure out what my goals were. We narrowed down the list of schools I would apply to based on those goals, my preferences, and culture fit. She helped me package and brand my stories and background in a way that would translate best to the business world. I’ve never been someone who wrote multiple drafts of every essay, but Sharon helped me see the importance of using every word count available to better frame and craft my application. She pushed me to reach for schools and scholarships I wouldn’t have thought I could consider. The results? I got into 6 of the 7 schools I applied to with multiple scholarship offers, including a full ride to the school best matched for me and my goals. Sharon was just as excited I was for each acceptance and even helped me talk through my final decision making process. When I started on this path to pivot my career, I was worried it was a long shot that wouldn’t make sense to anyone else. Sharon not only validated my choice, but showed me step by step how feasible it was. She didn’t change anything about the me or the base facts of my application. She took my background and my stories, and she helped be re-package them in a way that highlighted what the admissions committees would respond best to while still being authentically me. I wouldn’t be where I am without Sharon, and I cannot recommend her highly enough.

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April 24, 2024
sashok98

Joined: Aug 03, 2021

Posts: 13

Kudos: 4

Verified GMAT Classic score:
650 Q44 V36

Go with Fortuna-Great Team

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I worked with Sharon Joyce to apply for seven schools. When shopping around for consultants, I knew I wanted one with admissions committee experience. Sharon was a great consultant! She offered great insight into the admissions process and worked with me to highlight key parts of my professional and personal qualities while preserving authenticity. She didn't have a set number of edits/times to meet which I appreciate because accessibility was extremely important to me. She also provided interview coaching and resume reviews as well during this journey. Sharon helped me get into my dream school, and I am so grateful for it. If you are thinking of going with Fortuna, please go with Sharon!

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February 26, 2024
dao23

Joined: Jan 30, 2022

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Highly Recommended - Sharon Joyce

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I worked with Sharon for 3 school applications - all T25 business schools. Sharon was phenomenal to work with over the summer all the way through R! fall application cycle. Sharon was always available to meet weekly over zoom, call, or text if needed. Sharon always came to our meeting's with an upbeat attitude and really made the long and sometimes overwhelming application process really simple. We went school by school working on one application at a time until completion. Sharon was always so excited as I submitted each application and moved on to the next one.

I ended up receiving admission and scholarship funds to all three of my T25 school selections. Working with Sharon was a great experience and I wouldn't want to go through this process with anyone else!!!

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February 05, 2024
mattiestokes1896

Joined: Aug 06, 2020

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Highly recommend Sharon!!! GSB admit

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I recently had the pleasure of working with Sharon Joyce through the two-school package for my applications to HBS (Round 2) and Stanford (Round 1). The outcome was beyond my expectations, securing interviews at both prestigious institutions and ultimately gaining admission to Stanford, my dream school. This achievement was, without a doubt, significantly bolstered by Sharon's exceptional coaching and support.

From the outset, Sharon was a beacon of positivity and encouragement. Her approach was not just professional but also personal, making me feel supported and confident throughout the application process. Her insights and guidance were invaluable, especially in helping me to articulate my story in a way that was both authentic and compelling to the admissions committees.

Sharon's commitment to excellence was evident in her timely and thorough feedback on my applications. She always made herself available for questions, big or small, which was incredibly reassuring during the stressful periods of the process. Her accessibility and promptness in communication meant that I could rely on her not just for advice on my applications but also for moral support.

One of the things I appreciated most about working with Sharon was her ability to instill confidence in me. She has a special talent for identifying and highlighting strengths in a way that I had not considered, which was instrumental in presenting myself in the best possible light to the admissions committees.

I am over the moon with my admission to Stanford and cannot thank Sharon enough for her role in making this dream a reality. Her kindness, expertise, and dedication are truly remarkable, and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking to navigate the MBA admissions process successfully. In fact, I have already recommended her to some of my colleagues, confident that they will benefit from her guidance as much as I did.

I highly recommend Sharon as an admissions coach, and I am immensely grateful for her guidance!

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April 09, 2023
sukritnarang

Joined: Apr 03, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

An amazing partnership!

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The process of applying for Master in Management programs was long and tedious. However, Sharon was there every step of the way and I could not be more grateful. She helped me select the perfect extracurriculars, research programs to apply to, and finish my applications. She had a lot of knowledge about different aspects of the applications. For example, she knew exactly what admissions boards want to see in your resume and essays. Moreover, she would help me manage my stress as I completed my applications and awaited the results. With her help, I was accepted into the Georgetown and U-Michigan MiM programs. I could not recommend working with Sharon enough!

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April 02, 2023
patelkevin1

Joined: Apr 02, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
740 Q50 V40 (Online)

Professional from start to finish

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I am very happy to have worked with the best in the business for MBA consultation with Sharon Joyce. Sharon is incredible in the way she differentiates every school and always provides meaningful feedback for each school, application and essay. She takes the time to understand your background and brainstorming ideas to set yourself apart and making you unique. She keeps you accountable with realistic timelines so that nothing is missed and everything is in order to ensure your MBA applications and letters of recommendation are submitted well on time. Sharon immensely helped in combatting my low GPA and helping me getting into Duke Fuqua School of Business (with a merit scholarship). I highly recommend working with Sharon because she is truly the best in the world; and you would want to work with her for your MBA applications before anyone else does. She truly helps candidates all the way from the application stage to the accepted stage.

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January 24, 2023
militarytomba

Joined: Jan 24, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

A true partner!

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Sharon is the best! I purchased a 2-school package and then added on hourly essay reviews for a 3rd school. With Sharon’s support, I was admitted to and enrolled at Wharton (with scholarship).

Sharon helped me balance applying, transitioning out of the military, and navigating the admissions process. She was always supportive, organized, and responsive. If you are a military veteran or someone going through a period of transition in your life, I cannot think of a more empathetic and trusting partner! I highly recommend Sharon and cannot say enough nice things about her and the entire Fortuna team.

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