Matt Symonds

Founder

Highlights & Achievements

Co-Founder of Fortuna Admissions & Founder of the QS World MBA Tour
Columnist for Forbes, The Economist, BusinessWeek, BBC & AméricaEconomía
Author of Getting the MBA Admissions Edge, sponsored by McKinsey, Goldman Sachs & Bain
Delivered MBA Admissions Workshops to 80,000+ Applicants Worldwide
28+ Years of Experience in Global MBA Admissions Strategy

Matt Symonds is one of the most influential voices in global business education. As Fortuna’s co-founder and the “S” of QS, he launched the QS World MBA Tour in 1995 and has spent nearly three decades working with leading business schools, deans, faculty, and applicants across every continent. A trusted columnist for Forbes, The Economist, BusinessWeek, the BBC, and AméricaEconomía, Matt brings a world-class perspective to Fortuna’s clients.

Matt is often the first point of contact for applicants, helping them assess their candidacy with directness, warmth, and an unmatched knowledge of what top-tier MBA programs are looking for. His bestselling book Getting the MBA Admissions Edge, sponsored by McKinsey, Goldman Sachs, BCG, and Bain, remains a go-to resource for serious applicants. Known for his candid assessments and belief in human potential, Matt has helped thousands of candidates – from all walks of life – get into programs like HBS, Stanford, Wharton, INSEAD, and beyond.

His reach in the industry and deep understanding of admissions strategy make him a sought-after speaker, media guest, and guiding voice in the MBA world. Prior to launching Kaplan Test Prep in Europe, Matt was lead singer in a rock band, and is still game for a karaoke challenge!

Real Reviews From Real Clients

Candidates Love Working With Matt

Went Above and Beyond the Stats
“Matt took a real interest in me as a person…he went beyond the stats to understand my goals and find the true strengths in my application.”

Stanford GSB, MIT Sloan
and Wharton admit

Supportive, Kind, Expert Guidance
“Matt believed in me even when I didn’t believe in myself. His support, kindness, and expert guidance played a huge part in my application journey.”

HBS admit

Expertise is Second to None
“One of the best in the industry…Matt’s expertise, insights and comprehensive understanding are second to none.”

Multiple schools admit

Q&A with Matt

What’s your coaching superpower?

I’m typically one of the first members of the Fortuna team to speak with enquiries, and with more than 25 years’ experience working with MBA applicants I can usually give them a very informed sense of their chances of admissions success to the top schools. That means being very candid about their chances, whether at HBS, Stanford, INSEAD or any other school. They all seem to appreciate the honesty, and are sometimes surprised by my belief in the quality of their profile and their personal story. It is so lovely many months later to then see them being admitted to their dream school. Humility is a wonderful quality, and more powerful when matched with self-belief.

What’s your top piece of advice for admissions candidates?

Though the selectivity of the top MBA programs can be daunting, my advice is to embrace this opportunity to think about what you really hope to achieve in life, and enjoy applying to business school. Just as you can tell when somebody is smiling on the other end of the telephone, so it is with admissions officers – they can tell when you have enjoyed this chance for self-reflection, and the outcome is always more positive.