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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.

waiting for MBA results

What To Do Now That You’ve Submitted Your MBA Application

Jan. 6th, 2024 | by: Catherine Tuttle

You’ve logged long hours at work to keep clients happy, agonized over essays, juggled GMAT study sessions amid competing priorities, and exhausted loved ones with your near-obsessive commitment to perfecting your business school application. Finally, you’ve hit submit. Now what? First, congratulations – what an enormous accomplishment! DO stop to celebrate this huge milestone, you […]

Tips For MBA Recommendations: Does Prestige Matter and Mistakes to Avoid

Jun. 24th, 2021 | by: Matt Symonds

Would it help my MBA admissions chances if I secured a recommendation letter from the President of the United States? As hypothetical as it sounds, we fielded this question from a prospective candidate during the Obama administration. While it was a subject of much discussion among our coaches at Fortuna Admissions, ultimately, we advised against […]

financing MBA

MBA FINANCIAL AID: MAXIMIZE YOUR RESOURCES

May. 23rd, 2021 | by: Caroline Diarte Edwards

Investing in an MBA will pay great dividends. On average, those who earn an MBA at one of the world’s premier schools will also double their pre-MBA salary within three years. It’s also one of the largest financial outlays you’ll ever make, and it comes with the added cost of foregoing your annual salary. That’s […]

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How to Ace Your MBA Video Questions

Nov. 16th, 2017 | by: Matt Symonds

The video statement isn’t only a challenge – it’s a valuable opportunity to bring your application to life. More business schools are adopting a video component in their applications than ever before. This year, the MIT video statement went from optional to mandatory, and last year Rotman, Yale and INSEAD adopted the practice. While programs have different […]

When it comes to b-school, should women approach the MBA application process any differently?

Jul. 17th, 2015 | by: Matt Symonds

If asked how they evaluate applications from female applicants relative to their male counterparts, many admissions officers would likely avoid suggesting that women applicants are handled differently. However, with years of MBA admissions experience reviewing thousands of files, we have identified a few common characteristics that are worth exploring. We won’t suggest how we think things should […]

12 Steps on How to Apply to B-School – Step 10: Letters of Recommendation

Jun. 19th, 2015 | by: Matt Symonds

In this step we’ll discuss a very important component of your application: letters of recommendation. Every MBA application requires candidates to submit letters of recommendation, which provide the admissions office with valuable insight into how you’re viewed by others. The recommenders that you select, and the strength, thoroughness, and enthusiasm of what they write is […]

12 Steps on How to Apply to B-School – Step 9: MBA Application Essays – Strengths and Weaknesses, Accomplishments and Failures, Open-ended Questions

Jun. 17th, 2015 | by: Matt Symonds

Previously in this series, we identified five common themes found in essays. In addition to those, some of the most daunting essay questions for candidates to address are topics that force you to be self-reflective and reveal your level of self-awareness. Candidates can sometimes be unduly modest and uncomfortable promoting themselves and discussing their strengths. […]

12 Steps on How to Apply to Business School – Step 8: MBA Application Essays ‒ Your Contribution To The MBA Program And Fit

Jun. 12th, 2015 | by: Matt Symonds

  There are several themes that recur in essay questions that business schools ask so we’ll provide some MBA essay tips for these. Earlier in this series, we looked at three common themes around ‘Why an MBA now?”, “Why this MBA?”, and “What’s your career vision?”. Admissions committees also want to ensure they’re admitting positive […]

The 12 Steps on How to Apply to Business School Series – Step 4: Your Academic Record – GMAT, GPA, and GRE

May. 19th, 2015 | by: Matt Symonds

An MBA emphasizes studying business and often the “M” in MBA, which stands for “Master’s”, is overlooked. Any self-respecting business school will want to ensure that you have the academic aptitude to handle a graduate degree. You’ll need to be skillful in math, critical reasoning/logic, and language. Therefore your academic results are important components of […]

The 12 Steps on How to Apply to Business School Series – Step 2: Plan your Timing

Apr. 30th, 2015 | by: Matt Symonds

On average, leading business schools organize three or four rounds of admissions in the 12 months before matriculation (with the exception of Columbia Business School and a small handful of other schools who have rolling admissions and review applications as they’re received). Common sense suggests you should apply only when you’re ready, but let us […]

The 12 Steps on How to Apply to Business School Series – Step 1: Do Your Research

Apr. 20th, 2015 | by: Matt Symonds

Fortuna Admissions was asked by The Economist to write a multi-part series explaining how to improve your chance of getting into a top business school. Our experts from Wharton, INSEAD, Harvard Business School, London Business School, Chicago Booth, IE Business School, Kellogg, and UC Berkeley Haas have contributed to this series of articles. Below is an […]

Getting Into London Business School – Insider Tips For LBS

Sep. 12th, 2014 | by: Matt Symonds

This week we’re focusing on insider tips for another top-ranked European business school – London Business School (LBS). It’s hard to believe that until the mid 1980s, middle management from the Commonwealth had a free ride for their business education at LBS. It seems it was mostly French and U.S. students who bore the total […]

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