Matt Symonds, Author at Fortuna

We offer a wealth of tips and strategies across a range of topics—from application advice on Harvard or INSEAD to acing the GMAT, writing essays, navigating MBA interviews, and more.

How to Position Your MBA Leadership Potential

Matt Symonds January 24, 2017

Donald Trump was 14 years old when John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural address. Long before Twitter, Kennedy knew the importance of inspiring others with a short and powerful phrase: “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” What did young Donald make of such a memorable line that defined a generation? What does the phrase mean to you? What would you say to demonstrate your leadership credentials, or to show what you can do for your country? You don’t need to wait to be sworn in to high office—applying to business school is a perfect opportunity to reflect on these questions.

MBA Application Round 2 Countdown: 5 Tips for the Home Stretch

Matt Symonds December 2, 2016

The countdown to Round 2 MBA application deadlines is on… Harvard, Booth, Kellogg, Columbia, Tuck, Duke, and LBS are all waiting to hear from you by January 4, 2017. If you haven’t begun your application yet, you had better get started. At six months out you had the opportunity to carefully craft your profile, but at about six weeks it’s all about packaging and presenting it. Fortuna’s team of former senior admissions staff have put together five tips for prioritizing your remaining time and making the most of your effort.

You’ve Interviewed – now what?

Matt Symonds November 24, 2016

You may have just finished your first interview for business school. What’s next? As former Admissions Directors who have interviewed many candidates over the years, we recommend taking a few important next steps at this stage. Read on for our recommendations…

Fortuna Ranking Of MBA Rankings 2016 – US Schools

Matt Symonds November 23, 2016

Hear Matt Symonds’ take on the 2016 BusinessWeek Business School Rankings

Fortuna Admissions, tailoring your MBA application

Wharton Interview Team-Based Discussions – What To Expect And How To Prepare

Matt Symonds November 9, 2016

Wharton recently announced their round 1 interview decisions, and as former Director of MBA Admissions at Wharton, I can share my understanding of what the school is looking for in the team-based discussions (Wharton’s interview style) which will begin soon. Also to help you prepare I’m offering an online simulation on Nov. 10 and 13… read on for more details.

Are you ready for your b-school interviews?

Matt Symonds November 2, 2016

In the coming weeks, round 1 admission interview invitations will begin winging their way to a select group of lucky recipients. Are you ready? As former admissions directors at top MBA programs, we interviewed thousands of applicants and it was always pretty clear who had done their homework and who arrived unprepared. The MBA interview is your chance to convey key information about yourself to admissions as well as an opportunity for the school to get to know you and to assess your fit with their program. So how can you maximize your chances of securing a class seat?

700+ Isn’t Enough: Communicating Character in Your MBA Application

Matt Symonds October 14, 2016

Your MBA application requires showcasing a lot of hard facts about your profile: your GMAT, academic track record, and professional accomplishments. But schools are looking for more in their candidates than just a great resume. They want to learn about who you are and what you deem worthy of your time and energy, and how are these shaped by the values that define your character? On top of communicating your accomplishments and skills, how do you best convey your character in your MBA application?

How To Say More With Less In Your MBA Application

Matt Symonds September 15, 2016

This year we’ve seen a continuing trend of reductions in word limits and essay questions across MBA programs, creating limited space for you to communicate your strengths, potential, and values to adcoms. With such limits, where do you begin?! What should you focus on? And how much should you write? Your challenge is to say more with less.

How To Ace (Or Fail) Your MBA Video Essay

Matt Symonds September 12, 2016

This year, more than ever, business schools are including video essays as part of their application process. While each MBA will ask varying questions and allow for different lengths of time for your answers, at the core of the video essay is the opportunity for adcoms to get an authentic and unscripted outlook regarding your personality, passions, maturity, and motivations. Read this article to help you prepare for your video submissions.

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