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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.

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General MBA vs. Specialized MBA

Feb. 7th, 2023 | by: Fortuna Admissions

As you take steps toward continuing your education with an MBA degree, you’ll need to decide between a general MBA and a specialized MBA. While many undergraduates take the path of a general MBA, focusing on a broad range of topics, some may find the specialized MBA path to be a better fit.  This article […]

Carnegie Mellon Tepper-Quad MBA

Applying to Carnegie Mellon Tepper: 3 Essential MBA Tips

Feb. 3rd, 2023 | by: Catherine Tuttle

My Fortuna Admissions colleagues and I have seen an uptick in interest in the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon. One of the smallest among the top 20 business schools, it boasts a close-knit culture and pioneering approach to management curriculum (a “management science” model over the case method, that’s now integrated within all […]

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10 Tough MBA Interview Questions & How to Handle Them

Jan. 26th, 2023 | by: Judith Silverman Hodara

What do you do when the MBA admissions interviewer asks you whether 3,599 is a prime number? (Besides trying not to break into a cold sweat.) Or, whether the government should apply tariffs based on a product’s environmental sustainability? Or how the pandemic has influenced the impact you’d like to make in your community? Now […]

MBA interview techniques

Mistakes to Avoid Before, During & After Your MBA Interview

Jan. 17th, 2023 | by: Karen Hamou

The MBA interview is a relational process, and the sphere of influence goes well beyond your assessor. It’s vital to recognize that every interaction before, during, and after your interview can impact your candidacy. As a coach at Fortuna Admissions, a Columbia Business School alumna, and a former recruiting lead at Deloitte Consulting, I’ve seen […]

Waive The Right To View Your Letter Of Recommendation

Should I Waive my Right to See Letters of Recommendation?

Jan. 7th, 2023 | by: Fortuna Admissions

When applying to a business school, just as in applying to college, you’ll have two options: waiving your right to view your letters of recommendation or retaining this right. It’s as simple as checking a box. But when it comes time to choose, many students are unsure of the best option. Generally speaking, waiving your […]

MBA admissions etiquette

MBA Admissions Etiquette: 5 Essentials & Mistakes to Avoid

Jan. 5th, 2023 | by: Brittany Maschal

I have a few MBA applicants who talk to me like we are buddies, and we are not. I fear that if they communicate with anyone else in the business school admissions process (admissions officers, alums, student ambassadors, etc.) in the same way they communicate with me, they will seriously harm their chances of admission. […]

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Insider Tips for The INSEAD Interview

Dec. 27th, 2022 | by: Melissa Jones

INSEAD is among the top schools that enlist alumni to conduct MBA admissions interviews. In doing so, the Fontainebleau, France-based program strives to pair you with one alumnus of a similar profile to yours and, for diversity’s sake, another with a very different background. It’s a signal of how deeply the school values the perspective […]

mba elevator pitch

Tell me about yourself: 5 Tips for Your MBA Elevator Pitch

Dec. 20th, 2022 | by: Sharon Joyce

So, tell me about yourself. This is a question you can expect to receive, in various forms, from any personal interaction related to the business school application process – from virtual coffee chats with second year students or alumni to your MBA admission interview. Reaching out to forge connections, gather information and deepen your understanding […]

brand building

Brand building & Storytelling for the MBA: Your How-To Guide

Dec. 15th, 2022 | by: Curtis Johnson

We all have a personal brand, regardless of whether you intentionally manage it or not (and if you don’t, let this be your impetus to start). In short, your personal brand encompasses what you represent, what you stand for and what comes front of mind to people when they see your name. What traits, qualities, and values […]

Customize your MBA application

How to Customize Your MBA Application

Dec. 11th, 2022 | by: Amy Hugo

It’s tempting to want to plug your winning story into play for each business school on your list once you’ve done the hard work of reflecting on where you’ve been, where you want to go, and how business school is going to get you there. If it’s good enough for Columbia, it’ll be equally compelling […]

The Difference Between an EMBA and a Part-Time MBA

Dec. 10th, 2022 | by: Fortuna Admissions

Have you ever considered getting an MBA but hesitated due to time commitments? Well, there are plenty of options available depending on your needs. But deciding between an EMBA (Executives Masters of Business Administration) and a part-time MBA can be a tricky task. An advanced degree such as an MBA increases your marketability and prospects […]

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How Business Schools Are Attracting Laid-Off Tech Workers

Dec. 8th, 2022 | by: Judith Silverman Hodara

Kellogg Northwestern is waiving GMAT and GRE exams for unemployed tech workers, a bold MBA admissions move that’s received both praise and criticism. In this episode of the weekly BusinessCasual podcast, Fortuna’s Caroline Diarte Edwards with co-hosts John Byrne of Poets&Quants and ApplicantLab’s Maria Wich-Villa, discuss the motives and implications of Kellogg’s MBA admissions changes, and how […]

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