FAQs

We want to make this important conversation as useful as possible for you. Typically, we discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your profile, possible schools to consider, ideas for your recommenders and your realistic chances of admission at your target schools. Before the call, send us your resume, and any relevant information about your GMAT/GRE and target schools. Then think about what you would like to get out of the discussion – and tell us what you have in mind when we start the call.

Once you have confirmed that you would like to engage Fortuna’s services, we will send you an invoice. You can pay the entire invoice using your Paypal account or a major credit card. Fortuna also offers interest-free installments monthly with Splitit. To find out more about Splitit, click here.

You will set up calls or Skype sessions with your Coach, for example when developing your application strategy. We will also invite you to join us on Podio, our online collaboration platform, where you will exchange documents and drafts with your Coach, and get access to various resources that will guide you through the application process.  Some clients find it easier to send documents back and forth and check in on an ad hoc basis on the phone, others prefer scheduled meeting times. We will accommodate your communication preferences.

There is no guarantee of admission – your chances of getting admitted depend not only on your own profile, how it is presented, and how you perform in interviews, but also on who else you are competing with in your round. What we do guarantee is an honest evaluation of your chances, so that you go into the process with your eyes open. We’ll give you the best possible advice on how to present yourself to maximize your chances. If you are unsuccessful in your applications, we’ll figure out your next steps together.

If you don’t get accepted to a program you wish to attend, we’ll give you feedback on what may have been the driving factor(s). We’ll also work with you on an action plan for your next steps – whether to reapply, and if so, to which schools, and whether to make any changes to you profile e.g. by retaking the GMAT or getting additional professional experience.

Our success rates can be as high as 91% for some of the top 10 schools.

However, as you might expect, people work with Fortuna because they are applying to the top schools, and it would be reckless to suggest that we can guarantee a place at HBS, Stanford or Wharton. As former admissions officers we are perfectly positioned to evaluate your chances of admission, so reach out for a free and very honest assessment of your chances.

This depends on how far in advance you start, how well you know your target schools, and how comfortable you are with writing. But we suggest that over a 3 month period, for one application you should plan on spending at least a couple hours per week on the application itself, and then a couple more hours each week on your school research and networking.

We have coaches in North America, Europe, South America, Asia and the Middle East. To date we have worked with clients in over 75 countries.

Our turnaround time is typically 48 hours on business days; often we will get back to you more quickly than that.

There is no specific limit on the time we spend on your application – we spend the time necessary to make sure that your application is as good as it can possibly be.

We have a boutique, high-touch approach. Our coaches rarely work on more than 6 or 7 clients per round. It’s important to us that we get to know you and your story well, and build a strong relationship with you, so we prefer to focus on a small number of clients where we can really have a high impact.

We match you with a coach that best suits your needs, taking into account the schools you are targeting, your professional profile, and your geographical location. All of our coaches have outstanding professional credentials and extensive experience as admissions coaches.

We are also a very collaborative team and often turn to other colleagues if they can offer relevant experience. With insider admissions experience at 11 of the top 15 schools, we have an unbeatable breadth of expertise.

Many admissions coaching firms will charge you higher fees if you decide to add on another school at a later date, rather than signing up for that school with your initial package. We don’t. You can upgrade your package at any time. For example, some clients start with an 8 hour package, and then decide to upgrade to a 1-Comprehensive Package. Comprehensive Package clients often decide to add on further schools e.g. switching from a 2 to a 3 Comprehensive Package. For further details on pricing, please click here .

There is no limit on the number of iterations, but we normally find that 3-5 iterations is sufficient. The prep work we do with you before you start writing, and the feedback we give you on each draft, are all designed to help you write effectively and enable you to make strong progress with each iteration.

We typically start work with clients 2-4 months before their first application deadline. The length of time that is best for you depends on how many schools you are applying to, how much free time you have to work on your applications, and whether you are juggling writing your applications with GMAT prep. If you have a very busy schedule, we recommend signing up 3 months or more in advance of your first application deadline.

If you sign up for a one school package and are dinged from that school pre-interview, but get invited to an interview with another school, we will happily switch your interview prep to the latter school. Our goal is always to help you succeed.

For all school packages, in addition to your coach you will have an Advisor working with you on your project. Your Advisor will be an extra set of eyes on your essays and will be available to work with you and your coach to solve any issues you may encounter as you develop your application. Our Advisors and Coaches also work together closely behind the scenes, discussing your case and any tricky issues you face with your application, to ensure that we give you the best possible advice.

Yes, absolutely! The chemistry between you and your Coach is really important, so after your initial Free Consultation, you can request to schedule a call with your Coach, before committing to work together.