158
Finance
Biz/Data Analytics
Sponsored
Columbia-DSI
MS-DS
Columbia University’s Data Science program and the MBA program at the University of Oxford — I was able to receive offers of admission to both.
Thanks to Mr. Round’s support (and Ms. Round’s support for interviews), I was able to receive offers of admission to Columbia University’s Data Science program and the MBA program at the University of Oxford. In my case, I had an unusual—and frankly quite ambitious—plan to apply to both an MS program and an MBA in the same year, with the intention of attending both. I was able to achieve this because I chose Round One Admissions Consulting. Below, I would like to describe three features of Round One Admissions Consulting that stood out to me.
Mr. Round’s counseling is, so to speak, like the process of having a tailor-made suit made—taking careful measurements of every part. From resume preparation and application portfolio strategy to essay counseling and interview training, they provide guidance that matches each client’s preferences and circumstances. In my case, I applied to both an MS program and an MBA, which was an unusual application portfolio, but they flexibly accommodated my non-standard needs and adapted their support to fit my goals. In my case, my company sponsorship was decided in March, and from that point I had literally one year to apply to two very different programs: a technical Data Science MS program and an MBA program. Nevertheless, thanks to Mr. Round, I was able to secure admission to an Ivy League school and an Oxbridge school for Data Science and an MBA. In addition, when requesting a deferral from one of the schools, I received thorough advice and was able to successfully obtain approval for the deferral.
While receiving Mr. Round’s services, I strongly felt that he puts the client first. Starting from the contract stage—when my scores were not yet in place—I felt that he respected the client’s intentions throughout. He never told me to change my target schools simply because my scores were weak, and he never made the kind of pushy, prescriptive suggestions you sometimes hear about with other counselors, such as “Write this way and you’ll get in.” Of course, he did advise me not to do something when it was risky, but overall I felt he consistently prioritized respecting the client’s wishes.
As other reviewers have also noted, both Mr. Round and Ms. Round were always gentle and truly admirable people. The MBA / overseas graduate school application process is extremely challenging and can be both mentally and physically exhausting. While I had heard there are some high-handed counselors out there, having advisors who were always supportive and encouraging was a major source of strength. They also responded with great care and speed no matter the situation.
I would like to close with one episode that I felt particularly reflected Mr. Round’s personality. Initially, I planned to enroll in another Ivy League Data Science program. However, at the very last moment, I renegotiated with Columbia University—after having once declined their offer—and decided to enroll there instead. Even though the consulting period had already ended and I was already an “alumnus,” he still listened carefully and supported me. I believe this was only possible because of Mr. Round’s outstanding character. Even after becoming a Round One “alumnus,” I felt again that I was glad I chose him.
