Admissions & Career Advisory Testimonial #190 (English)

Testimonial #

Industry

Function

Funding

School

Program

190

Finance

Banking-Inv.

Testimonial #: 190

Industry: Finance

Function: Banking-Inv.

Funding: Sponsored

School: Columbia

Program: MBA

One of the most important decisions I made

Initially, I learned about Round One Admissions Consulting (Round One) through a colleague at my company who was a company-sponsored student currently enrolled at an M7 school. When I met Mr. Round, the counselor, in an online meeting, I was immediately drawn to his personality and experience and decided to sign a contract on the spot. In hindsight, choosing Round One as my partner was one of the most important decisions I made in my MBA application journey. My eventual admission to my target school—despite my test scores not improving as ideally as I had hoped—would never have been possible without Round One’s dedicated support.

Looking back, I feel that Round One’s strengths can be summarized in the following five points.

Strategic and well-judged advice across the entire application process

From an early stage, even before I began intensive test preparation, Mr. Round helped me establish an overall schedule and define a target school portfolio, which allowed me to focus smoothly on the application process.
Thereafter, he continued to provide strategic guidance whenever needed, patiently listening to my concerns and helping me resolve doubts and anxieties on numerous occasions.
I struggled with GMAT preparation and missed the opportunity to apply in the Early Round, which is often considered advantageous for international applicants. However, Mr. Round encouraged me to “not give up, but instead challenge the Executive Assessment (EA) and aim for the Regular Round.” Trusting his advice, I followed this path and was fortunate to receive an interview invitation from my target school.

Broad scope of support for essays and applications

Support could be flexibly adjusted based on where assistance was most needed and on the applicant’s English proficiency. In my case, I received numerous thought-provoking ideas for approaching essay questions, grounded in Mr. Round’s many years of experience.
He also provided guidance on cover letters and communication with admissions offices—areas that are easy to overlook. Compared with my peers, my response rates were noticeably higher.

Meticulous and thoughtful feedback for interview preparation

Because feedback was provided immediately after interview training sessions, it was easy to practice repeatedly on my own and solidify my interview skills.
When I shared news of an interview invitation, I was fortunate that Mr. Round already had relevant information about the interviewer. He advised me on books to read in advance and likely discussion topics on the day, and conducted intensive training tailored specifically to that interviewer. Having a clear image beforehand allowed me to approach the interview calmly and perform at my best.
The brainstorming sessions for “killer questions” were extremely effective, enabling me to prepare high-quality Q&A. Their impact during the actual interview was tremendous.

Fast responsiveness at critical moments and the ability to handle heavy workloads

Regardless of timing—including during peak busy periods—Mr. Round was quick to respond to questions and requests, giving me great peace of mind knowing I had someone reliable to turn to.
He also handled sudden additions or changes to my list of target schools with flexibility, ensuring that everything was completed well before deadlines.

Motivation management throughout the application period

Round is sincere, calm, and steady, someone in whom I could place complete trust.
He encouraged me when I struggled with test preparation and gave me the courage and energy to overcome difficulties.

Final thoughts

Looking back on the long and demanding MBA application journey, I truly realized how greatly a counselor’s skill, dedication, and experience can influence the outcome.

Choosing Round One—which embodies all of these qualities—was, without exaggeration, a life-changing decision for me. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Round not only as an MBA application coach, but also as a mentor in life.