GMAT Club

Heidi Hillis Reviews

Company: Fortuna Admissions

Heidi Hillis graduated from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1998, where she was the student chair of the Global Management Program (GMP) and helped craft the first Global Management Immersion Experience (GMIX) to China in 1997. For several years she served as an alumni interviewer for the Stanford GSB.

Heidi’s 24-year career in business has taken her across the globe, helping her to develop a truly international perspective on the value of a business education.  She has worked as a director of micro-finance for a nonprofit in Russia, a amanagement consultant for McKinsey & Co. in London, a senior product manager for a European e-commerce company, and a finance director for a major South American telecom. Most recently she helped launch an industrial minerals company in southern Chile.

In the course of her career Heidi has created several business internship programs and has interviewed hundreds of job applicants. In addition to the MBA she holds an MA (1991) and BA (1990) from Stanford University.


5.0 /5 Average Rating
Based on 53 reviews
April 29, 2024
900000dddddd

Joined: May 14, 2021

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Highly recommended (HBS, Wharton admit)

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

I went into this process wanting to ensure that I put my best foot forward, and Heidi was the best consultant to work with to make sure that happened. She was super available and turned around edits very quickly, often times even in the same day. We spent many hours together talking through what I wanted to communicate in my essays and refining and revising. She also pressure tested my career vision and helped me craft a story that was authentic and appealing for admissions. We also spent a lot of time working on prep packets for my recommenders to ensure those letters turned out well, which I think made a huge difference.

I always trusted that Heidi was being honest with me on if something was working or not. By the time we got to submitting the applications, I felt super confident that it was the best that I could produce, no matter what the final results were. I purchased the 3 school package, but the learnings I got from working with Heidi helped me with the two other schools I applied for as well. The interview prep was also essential, particularly Fortuna's mock group interviews for Wharton.

I would highly recommend working with Heidi, as she is an expert in helping you shape your application for success. I felt very supported in this process knowing that I had her in my corner for advice on every single step. It gave me peace of mind to know that what I was submitting had Heidi's stamp of approval, which saved me a lot of time and headache in this long process. I ended up being accepted to 4 out of 5 schools I applied for and will attend HBS this fall!

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 18, 2024
oregonducks

Joined: May 11, 2015

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Heidi helped me complete an application marathon

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

Heidi lent her guidance, support, feedback, direction, and redirection throughout what ended up being a 2.5-year-long application process. She supported me on my applications to HBS, the Stanford GSB, and Harvard Kennedy School. While I was not admitted to these programs (I am 34 and had below-average test scores and grades), I can enthusiastically affirm that Heidi helped me put my best foot forward in my applications.

Heidi provided specific feedback that drove the repeated rewriting of my essays and kept me on track from a timing standpoint, helping to minimize stress. She was consistently kind, thoughtful, and encouraging.

While Heidi did not partner with me on preparing my application to MIT Sloan, she did support me during the interview process, delivering crucial input on my interview essays and providing feedback that I believe helped secure my admission to MIT Sloan.

Given her dedication and compassion, I wholeheartedly recommend you choose to work with Heidi as your admissions coach. She is an invaluable partner in the often-daunting marathon that is applying to graduate school.

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 18, 2024
Aziz_33

Joined: Apr 18, 2024

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Greatest Coach ever

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I had the pleasure of working with Heidi Hills as my MBA application coach, and I cannot recommend her services highly enough. With her guidance, I successfully gained admission to prestigious business schools such as Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth, Saïd Business School at Oxford, and Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management.

Heidi's approach is meticulously tailored and highly effective. She not only assisted me in finding the right GRE coaching—which significantly improved my scores—but also played a crucial role in refining my application essays and CV. Her insights into storytelling transformed my applications, allowing me to present a compelling narrative that truly stood out. she is very responsive and even during her leave time.

Thanks to Heidi's dedication and expertise, I felt prepared and confident throughout the application process. Her deep understanding of the intricacies of business school admissions and her commitment to her clients' success are truly unparalleled. If you are looking for a coach who will invest in your success and guide you to achieving your goals, Heidi Hills is the best choice.

Read More

April 17, 2024
indian_techie

Joined: Oct 27, 2022

Posts: 6

Kudos: 2

Best Of The Best Anyone Could Ask For! Just Amazing!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by gmat club tests [?]

I reached out to Heidi Hillis for HBS, Stanford, and MIT applications, which I knew was a tall ask coming for an overrepresented candidate like me. My experience with Heidi over the last 6months was nothing short of excellent. Her expertise in understanding my profile and listing out strengths to highlight and weaknesses to address set the ball rolling. Particularly, her ability to take everything from my long journey and help me build an effective narrative was astounding. Her guidance helped me focus my energy on things that matter and cut through the clutter of information available online.

On top of all things, her deep insights into all the schools especially GSB and HBS, and their values proved to be very valuable in working through the long and challenging application where every single word makes a lot of difference. On a personal level, she was very flexible and always available to help me out when I was stuck at any point by getting on a call and over email.

Finally, on the decision date, got admits from HBS and GSB, and I cannot even begin to express my gratitude towards Heidi and Fortuna for helping this dream become a reality.

Thank you, Heidi, again for your guidance and partnership this past year!

Read More

April 17, 2024
vvindu

Joined: Apr 17, 2024

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
730 Q45 V45 (Online)

In Heidi I trust

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

Best in the world? Let's get the obvious out of the way, with Heidi's unparalleled knowledge of the MBA application process and her ability to draw out your full story, you'll undoubtedly get into the school(s) of your dreams (from a Wharton & CBS admit).

With Heidi as your coach, what you're really getting is a life coach who will guide you through perhaps one of the toughest years of your life. Through your journey applying, there will be unexpected things that creep up, making you doubt your candidacy and if it's worth applying to business school, especially if you're juggling 10 other priorities. However, Heidi always made sure I kept true to my goals and dreams. It was with her nudges that helped me endure taking the GMAT until I reached my goal score. As somewhat of a perfectionist, she probably saved me 100s of hours pouring over every detail in my essays by giving me the confidence that I was putting my best foot forward. I will also be carrying her wisdom forward as I'll be enacting the career vision she helped clarify. This is why I'm convinced that while automated MBA application platforms may demystify the process a bit, that's not where the true value of having a world-class coach comes from.

The best athletes in the world are usually trained by the best coaches in the world. If you're lucky enough to work with Heidi, she's your MBA equivalent.

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
January 20, 2024
mbernard08

Joined: Jan 20, 2024

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Navy Veteran - HBS, Wharton, MIT Sloan Admit

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

I am beyond grateful for the exceptional support and guidance provided by Heidi during my MBA admissions journey. Her dedication and expertise played a pivotal role in securing admission offers from Harvard Business School, Wharton, and MIT Sloan, all while navigating the challenge of a below-average GRE score.

Heidi demonstrated unparalleled commitment from our first consultation to the final application submission. Her deep understanding of MBA admissions intricacies, coupled with a meticulous eye for detail, elevated the quality of my applications. She worked tirelessly on refining my essays, ensuring they effectively conveyed my unique story and aspirations.

What truly sets Heidi apart is her ability to tailor her guidance to my individual strengths and challenges. Despite my below-average GRE score, she strategically highlighted other aspects of my profile that showcased my potential for success in the MBA programs. Her insights into the preferences of each school's admissions committee were not only accurate but crucial in securing my acceptance letters.

One unique aspect of my experience was Heidi's flexibility in working from Australia. As a new parent juggling a demanding job, her willingness to accommodate evening consultations made the process accessible and convenient for me. This thoughtful consideration of my schedule enabled me to receive valuable guidance during times that suited my commitments, ultimately contributing to the success of my applications.

I wholeheartedly recommend Heidi to anyone pursuing an MBA. Her commitment to excellence, personalized approach, and proven track record make her an exceptional partner in achieving academic and professional goals. I am immensely grateful for her role in helping me secure admission to three top business schools and eagerly anticipate thriving in this new chapter of my academic and professional journey.

Thank you, Heidi for being the catalyst for my success!

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
June 05, 2023
arstudent

Joined: Apr 14, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Heidi is a fantastic coach!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

I worked with Heidi on my MBA applications, and she helped me get into my top choice school. I'm so grateful for her advice and guidance. She has a very deep understanding of the process and how to create the strongest possible application, and this helped take much of the anxiety out of the process for me. I was able to approach my application and my story with much more confidence because Heidi took the time to understand me/my interests and help me solidify the themes I wanted to highlight. Heidi provided thoughtful guidance every step of the way (and helped me identify where my application could stand out). She was was able to be constructive and provide feedback while always being supportive and helping me believe in myself. I highly recommend working with Heidi!

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
June 02, 2023
yx123

Joined: Jun 02, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

Verified GMAT Classic score:
730 Q50 V39 (Online)

Best of the best!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by score report [?]

I would HIGHLY recommend Heidi! She is truly experienced, super easy to talk to and work with. I first met Heidi 2 years ago when I was thinking about applying to MBAs then but later decided not to. Heidi was very understanding and said that we can pick up whenever I'm ready. I started to work with Heidi again this year and she helped me get into LBS! What I appreciated most about working with her was that beyond the applications themselves, her worksheets and processes helped me reflect on my skills and what I want to do. Throughout the process, she was extremely responsive - always there to answer my questions and help improve my writings. She really hears me and helped me frame my stories in the best way. I truly enjoyed working with her and would highly recommend her to any applicants!

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.
April 23, 2023
wnj2025

Joined: Mar 24, 2018

Posts: 1

Kudos: 11

Self-reported Score:
750 Q50 V41

Truly helped me put my best application together

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

Heidi truly is an expert in the B school admissions space, and I am extremely grateful I was able to work with her. I ultimately got into HBS which I am over the moon about, but I think the more important thing I would stress here is that by working with Heidi I am 100% confident I put together the best application I could have. Even if I got dinged from HBS, I would feel no regrets because there is literally nothing else we could have done to make my application any stronger. And I think that's the ultimate goal when applying to B schools.

Heidi is patient, caring, smart, and highly experienced, particularly when it comes to HBS and GSB. She made me do a lot of work up front on the career vision, but this really paid off later when we were drafting essays, and even now as I prepare to enter my MBA, as that vision really was true to myself. She also has a really strong sense of what essays 'work' and what may not, and this proved invaluable when we were in the thick of the essay writing phase - there was a point when I was doubting our direction and almost scrapped our idea, but she gave me the confidence to stick with our vision, and in hindsight this was absolutely the right move.

There were also numerous times when Heidi brought up points I could add in my application or things I should remove from my resume to avoid red flags, and I 100% would not have been able to see all of this without her. If you are serious about putting together the best possible application you can, and especially for the very top programs, I highly recommend working with Heidi.

Read More

April 19, 2023
CgaR

Joined: Apr 19, 2023

Posts: 0

Kudos: 0

100% recommend!

REVIEWER IDENTITY VERIFIED by school email address [?]

Heidi has been phenomenal at every stage and is an incredible resource. I'm thrilled to have been admitted to an M7 school and would recommend Heidi to anyone looking to apply to a top business program and needing help!

In particular, I was incredibly conscious about my low undergraduate GPA. I'd scored well in the GRE but wasn't sure how best to market this or reflect it across my essays and applications. Heidi knew exactly how best to help on this and even made this improvement one of the selling points of my essays. I couldn't have done the whole process without her - thanks, Heidi!!!

Read More

verify-zero-posts
This reviewer has not participated on GMAT Club but it is a REAL person and a REAL review. GMAT Club has verified this test-taker's identity through GMAC/Pearson Vue Score Reporting system or .edu email address and confirmed that this reviewer indeed took the GMAT, is unique, and has not submitted multiple reviews.