141
Manufacturing
Accounting
Self-funded
ESADE
MBA
Background: 31 years old, self-funded, overseas university graduate, accounting at a manufacturing company, living outside a major metropolitan area
Scores : GMAT 630 (V :26, M :49, IR :6, AWA :4.5)
Admitted school: ESADE
Waitlisted: IESE
I struggled greatly with GMAT score improvement and even considered postponing my study abroad plans by a year. However, determined to do everything I could, I reached out to Round One through a friend’s introduction. I did not even decide to apply until mid-January, which is extremely late and right in the middle of peak season for essay counselors. In fact, I was turned away by several well-known counseling firms. Under those circumstances, Mr. Round kindly accepted me, saying, “You are the kind of person who should pursue an MBA,” and that marked the beginning of my journey with Round One.
The counselor who worked with me directly was Ms. Round, Mr. Round’s sister, and she supported me from idea generation through final polishing with an exceptionally high level of quality. The consulting fee is admittedly not inexpensive, but I believe the output fully justifies the price. (Because the cost per session is significant, you naturally end up preparing with an almost desperate level of commitment.)
Despite my low GMAT score, I was invited to interviews in April by both of the schools I applied to, which I attribute entirely to the essays we developed at Round One.
Interview preparation was also extremely effective, with precise feedback that allowed me to approach interviews with confidence. (Unfortunately, due to a series of unexpected incidents, IESE resulted in a waitlist decision.)
Building an application strategy
First, I had a Skype meeting with Mr. Round, during which we narrowed down target schools and conducted a feasibility check. Taking into account my GMAT score and the number of remaining test attempts, we were able to efficiently narrow my school list and construct a realistic application strategy. Incidentally, Mr. Round appears to visit Tokyo around early April each year to conduct face-to-face assessment interviews with prospective clients, so for those who are searching for a counselor early, I believe this is a great opportunity to take advantage of.
Confidence-building counseling
Some counselors who are well known in the MBA admissions world have a reputation for being extremely harsh. In contrast, Mr. Round and Ms. Round are counselors who take the time to carefully listen to an applicant’s life story and dig deeply into strengths, weaknesses, and potential essay material. That said, their essay work itself is very rigorous. In fact, there were times when my draft came back from Ms. Round covered in red, with only three original words remaining out of a 400-word essay…
Even so, through this process, a story I had thought was insignificant began to shine, and I gained confidence in myself. The interview practice sessions also came with very detailed reports, clearly identifying the areas I needed to strengthen. I am truly grateful.
Attention to detail
What struck me as particularly professional was the fact that they reviewed every single document and application form submitted to schools from start to finish, carefully checking for consistency and appropriateness across all materials. As someone who is relatively optimistic and somewhat detail-averse, this was an enormous help. I also received extensive guidance on email correspondence with admissions offices, which helped maximize the impact of my communications with schools.
TOEFL and GMAT preparation is largely a solitary battle with oneself, but when it comes to essays and interviews, I believe it is essential to work with a counselor who has solid knowledge and experience. Compared to those living in major cities, applicants based in regional areas face disadvantages in many respects when aiming for an MBA. Finding a capable counselor is one of them. In that sense, I believe that having the opportunity to work with Mr. Round and Ms. Round—who deliver this level of high-quality service entirely online—was the single greatest factor in the success of my MBA application journey. For those living outside major cities, or for those who are too busy with work to regularly visit a counselor’s office, I strongly encourage you to consider Round One.
