136
Energy
General Mgmt
Sponsored
MIT-Sloan
SFMBA
With the support of Round One, I was admitted to all of the schools I applied to, including my first-choice program, the MIT Sloan Fellows Program. I am deeply grateful to Steve, who handled my overall counseling, and to Emma, who was in charge of my interview training.
Given my age and professional experience, I targeted mid-career MBA programs. I would also recommend Round One to applicants pursuing mid-career and Executive MBA programs.
The reasons I chose Round One, and the benefits I felt throughout the application process, are as follows.
I placed tremendous importance on this point. MBA applications are a long-term endeavor, so it is critically important to choose a counselor with whom you have good chemistry and whom you can trust. I interviewed several counselors, including Steve, before ultimately choosing Round One. Steve never said anything negative under any circumstances and always treated me with warmth and professionalism. He encouraged me countless times. Having completed the process, I am once again convinced that choosing Round One was the right decision, and I strongly feel how important the initial choice of counselor truly is.
I had no fellow applicants around me, and there were few MBA graduates within my company, so I lacked information and know-how about MBA applications. At Round One, they not only provide the necessary information, but also work with you from scratch to build your target school portfolio and create application schedules. In addition, even outside of counseling sessions, you can consult them via email 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Being able to immediately seek advice and resolve even minor concerns before worrying on my own or searching for information was an enormous help, both mentally and in terms of time. Being introduced to alumni from my target schools was also a major plus for my applications. Until the very end of the process, I was able to prepare my applications with a constant sense of reassurance—truly as if I were walking on a red carpet.
By limiting the number of clients, Round One ensures that sufficient counseling time is secured for each individual. In my case, counseling sessions were held at a fixed time every week, which made it very easy to establish a steady rhythm. Even during peak periods for counselors, having guaranteed weekly sessions provided tremendous peace of mind. In addition, since counseling with Steve is conducted via Skype, time can be used flexibly—working offline during sessions as needed, or having Steve remotely review essays when my own work schedule was particularly demanding. This flexibility allowed me to use my time efficiently without waste.
Round One respects client preferences and responds flexibly. This flexibility goes beyond simply adding or changing counseling sessions. In essay development as well, rather than forcing unnecessary differentiation or relying on flowery language, they prioritize digging deeply into the story the client wishes to tell. How much “depth” an essay ultimately has becomes a major asset later during interviews. In my case, one of my target schools significantly changed its selection process compared to prior years, requiring additional document submissions even after the interview stage. In that situation as well, Steve provided agile, experience-based advice.
The difference between acceptance and rejection can sometimes come down to very small margins. Steve reviewed all emails exchanged between clients and school representatives. Beyond correcting English, he carefully considered what to ask and how to communicate effectively so that even small opportunities would work in the client’s favor. I also conducted interview training with Emma. She not only reviewed my answers, but also meticulously checked interview etiquette—such as what to say at the beginning and end of interviews, how to respond if you sniffle or cough, and phrasing for small talk. After each session, she sent detailed reports and advice. By training with both Steve and Emma, I was able to approach actual interviews with composure, even adjusting my questions and small talk depending on whether the interviewer was male or female.
For those like me who have little knowledge of MBA applications, or who want to focus as much as possible on what they personally need to do (such as test preparation and essay writing), I believe Round One’s services are especially valuable. I hope that this account will be of some help to those reading it as they pursue their own MBA applications.
