114
Finance
Banking-Inv.
Sponsored
Duke-Fuqua
MBA
Once my company-sponsored MBA assignment was confirmed, I had no hesitation when it came to choosing a counselor. At my company, many employees over the past 20-plus years have worked with Round One and gained admission to the MBA programs they hoped for. Everyone I knew who had used Round One was satisfied with the service. This year as well, many company-sponsored candidates were admitted to global top schools thanks to Round One’s counseling.
Balancing full-time work with a dual-income household—while also handling household responsibilities and childcare—made the MBA application process far more demanding than I had imagined. In particular, from the fall onward, when my TOEFL and GMAT scores were not improving as hoped and I had to juggle test preparation alongside essay writing and interview preparation, the process became extremely challenging both mentally and physically.
I was able to overcome this demanding application journey solely because of the support I received from my counselor, Mr. Round. Many of you reading this may be uncertain about how to choose a counselor, but I strongly recommend Round One. Below are the reasons why.
Throughout the application process, Mr. Round responded quickly and carefully to an extraordinary number of questions. These ranged from broad, strategic concerns—such as “Which schools are the best fit for me?”, “Should I focus on essays or GMAT preparation right now?”, and “When is the best time to do campus visits?”—to very specific questions like “What kinds of questions should I ask at information sessions to make a good impression on admissions?” and “Is this email draft to the admissions office appropriate?” No matter how small the question, he answered with a courteous and supportive attitude, never showing any reluctance.
As noted above, the application process is extremely demanding and often feels like a lonely battle. In that context, Mr. Round consistently stayed close and supported me through every situation, no matter how minor. This sense of reassurance allowed me to focus confidently on each step of the process.
Round One provides counseling primarily online via email and Skype. Some may worry that not meeting face-to-face would be a disadvantage, but that was not the case at all. Just as in everyday life, many matters can actually be handled more easily and accurately by email, and Skype—with video—allows communication that feels very much like meeting in person. Online counseling also eliminates travel time to meet a counselor.
Mr. Round visits Japan several times a year, and I personally met with him in Japan in both the spring and summer. Being able to speak with him in person and fully understand his personality made it very easy to transition smoothly into more intensive counseling from the fall onward.
I began preparing essays in the fall and ultimately applied to around 10 schools. Among them were schools I decided to apply to just before second-round deadlines, as well as schools that requested additional essays after interviews. There were many moments when I worried whether I could meet all the deadlines. However, Mr. Round structured the schedule appropriately and conducted counseling with a strong sense of urgency. As a result, I was able to submit applications to all of my target schools as planned, and I have absolutely no regrets about the overall application process.
Through counseling, Mr. Round taught me many approaches to self-analysis and ways of thinking that I believe will be extremely useful throughout my life. The essays I created using these methods were able to express who I truly am. I received interview invitations from most of the global top schools I applied to, and I believe the strength of my essays played a major role in those results.
This time, I was able to matriculate at one of my dream schools. For me, Round One was indispensable to my MBA application journey. If you are uncertain about which counselor to choose, I strongly encourage you to contact Round One.
