73
Technology
Mktg/Sales
Sponsored
MIT-Sloan
MBA
Admitted School: MIT Sloan School of Management
Other Offers: Darden School of Business (University of Virginia), Kenan-Flagler Business School (UNC), Marshall School of Business (USC)
It has been about one year since I passed my company’s internal sponsorship selection process. As a result, with the tremendous support of Round One, I was admitted to my first-choice school, the MIT Sloan School of Management, and I am now spending my days busy preparing for enrollment. Beyond my deep gratitude to Round One, I decided to write this testimonial in the hope that it may be helpful to those considering an MBA, as I went through an extremely challenging process: my TOEFL and GMAT scores did not come together until the end of the year, forcing me to apply to a large number of schools in the 2nd Round after the New Year.
Below, I would like to touch on what I believe are the key elements of the application process.
I cannot make direct comparisons since I have not worked with other counselors, but I truly believe that being able to fight alongside Mr. Round throughout the application process was a crucial decision.
I first came across Round One last July, at a time when my commitment to the MBA process was still far too half-hearted. I was casually searching online, thinking it was about time to look for a counselor, when I filled out a web inquiry form. I was promptly invited to a Skype interview, and later had the opportunity to meet Mr. Round in person when he visited Japan. After speaking with him, I was immediately drawn to his personality and professionalism, and decided to work with him. (Mr. Round is based in Canada, so communication is primarily conducted via Skype and email.)
The MBA application process is, in many ways, a very special and unfamiliar world—one that friends or colleagues often cannot fully understand. Being able to vent my frustrations to Mr. Round, who truly understands how tough this process is, receive valuable advice, and get encouragement at each step was incredibly reassuring. The more effort I put in, the more he committed himself—despite his responsibilities to other clients. It felt less like a counselor–client relationship and more like a partnership between true comrades-in-arms. Needless to say, his performance and capabilities were exceptional.
I came to realize that it is extremely difficult to obtain truly satisfying information about MBA programs entirely on one’s own, and that the process can be a very lonely battle. In this sense, being able to leverage the Round One network was invaluable. With alumni from many different schools, I received tremendous help through shared experiences and advice during difficult times. During campus visits, current students who were Round One alumni provided generous support, which was another major reason I am glad I chose Round One. Beyond the Round One network itself, I now strongly feel how important it is during this process to keep one’s antenna up—meeting people at information sessions, talking to as many individuals as possible, and building connections.
Of course, TOEFL and GMAT are not everything, and high scores alone do not guarantee admission to top schools—I personally know people for whom this was the case. That said, these exams should never be underestimated. This is something I want to emphasize strongly, having struggled myself.
Because I had overseas work experience, I initially underestimated TOEFL. I still vividly remember my shock when, after several attempts, I failed to achieve a satisfactory score. Time kept passing, autumn arrived, and suddenly I had to deal with GMAT and essays at the same time—I was truly panicked. In the end, I failed to reach my target score of 110 and had to settle for an average result. GMAT was even more painful: I took it four times, and only at the very end did I manage to obtain a score that was barely competitive for top schools. I remember crying with relief. I never want to go back to the test center in Kojimachi again (laughs).
Throughout this process, Mr. Round advised me not to obsess over scores endlessly, but instead to graduate from the tests at the right timing within a strategy that suited me—in my case, focusing on essays and interviews.
I recognize that my tendency to only act when cornered contributed to my difficulties, but even so, higher scores are always better. I strongly recommend that everyone begin their preparation as early as possible.
For these two elements in particular, I am profoundly grateful that I had Round One’s support.
For essays, I had many topics I wanted to write about, but selecting the right topics for each school, gaining insights from a third-party perspective rather than my own limited viewpoint, and learning how to express ideas in a compelling way—these were things I could never have achieved on my own. While I cannot compare with other counselors, I firmly believe this level of guidance is only possible because of Mr. Round’s long career and his experience sending many clients to top schools.
As for interviews, they are often underestimated in importance, but in reality, the opposite is true. No matter how high your scores or how strong your essays are, a failed interview can end everything. In interview training with Mr. Round, we thoroughly prepared answers to both common questions and school-specific questions, from multiple angles, focusing on how best to communicate them. At the end of interviews, candidates are always given the opportunity to ask questions, and this is actually critical—it is a powerful way to demonstrate how well you understand the school. Mr. Round’s guidance on preparing “killer questions” was truly eye-opening.
Some say it is better to have different people for essay counseling and interview training, but in my case, training with Ms. Round—who initially knew nothing about me—helped me learn how to communicate my story effectively to someone unfamiliar. I found this extremely valuable.
As mentioned above, my strategy focused on essays and interviews. This strategy was derived through extensive discussions with Mr. Round, and I believe it was a decisive factor in my success. I am not strong at standardized tests and they required a great deal of time, but I had many stories to tell in my essays and tend to communicate well through conversation and gestures—making me better suited for interviews. We reached this conclusion together.
Strategy also extends beyond application components to include timing and school selection, and these were areas I discussed deeply with Mr. Round.
Regarding timing, if your scores are ready early and your essays are progressing smoothly, applying in the 1st Round can be advantageous. However, rushing is dangerous. For international applicants especially, 1st Round success requires very early and thorough preparation. I initially envisioned submitting some applications in the 1st Round to gain peace of mind before focusing on my top choices in the 2nd Round, but given my situation, I abandoned that plan and decided to submit everything in the 2nd Round. As a result, my essays reached a level I was truly satisfied with. Had I rushed into the 1st Round, I do not believe I would have achieved these results. The key is not to be swayed by others, but to move according to the schedule that best suits you.
Finally, the environment surrounding Japanese MBA applicants has been growing increasingly competitive year by year. In such circumstances, the decisive factor is how effectively you can express your own uniqueness. For me, meeting Mr. Round and being able to fight alongside him was absolutely pivotal. I strongly encourage everyone to contact Round One and have a conversation. If that leads you to decide to work with Round One, I believe it will be a wise choice.
Steve, and everyone at Round One—thank you so much!!!
