32
Manufacturing
Mktg/Sales
Scholarship
UCLA-Anderson
MBA
I received an offer of admission from my first-choice school, UCLA Anderson! Despite applying after leaving my job and preparing while living in the United States, I was able to take on the challenge and achieve a major result—admission to my top-choice program along with a $30,000 scholarship. This outcome was made possible by the strong support of Mr. Round and Ms. Round, who consistently provided accurate advice and warm encouragement throughout the application period and beyond. I reported my admission to them immediately after receiving the decision, and we shared in the joy together. Having overcome the long and difficult journey of MBA applications, I now truly feel that choosing a counselor who is not merely “standard,” but exceptionally well-matched and genuinely trustworthy, is essential to reaching one’s goals.
Last October, when my GMAT score was still not finalized, I felt pressured to begin essay preparation and repeatedly searched online for “the best counselor,” eventually leading me to Mr. Round and the Round One website. It was honestly quite late to be starting essays, and I had no clear idea how to prepare effectively. However, Mr. Round, as my strategic counselor, clearly identified what I needed to do immediately and what could wait, while Ms. Round simultaneously began essay counseling. Thanks to this, I was able to quickly reset my mindset, regain my composure, and focus on preparing my applications. Meeting the two of them felt like gaining powerful allies—friends who truly supported me—and throughout the application period, their very presence was a source of immense strength. Here, I would like to share the particular strengths of Round One that stood out in my own experience.
After resigning from my job, I prepared for my applications while living in the United States, so at first I searched locally for native counselors. However, even after visiting major prep schools, I could not find counselors who met my expectations in terms of quality or communication. I then tried Japanese counselors who offered online support, but their per-email pricing structures made it difficult to make steady progress, and my anxiety only increased.
It was under these circumstances that I encountered Round One. With Round One, all preparation and communication could be conducted entirely online under well-structured time management. For someone like me—unable to receive in-person counseling in Tokyo and pressed for time—this was both extremely efficient and highly effective. All essay exchanges were handled via email, and it was common for feedback on essays I had just sent to arrive while I was still writing, or for questions to be answered almost immediately. For interviews as well, I was able to study the online materials, practice via Skype, and receive detailed feedback by email. In this way, I was able to complete all of my preparation entirely from home.
For applicants living in regional areas or overseas, or for those who struggle to find time due to work or other commitments, flexibility in counseling is a critical factor during the demanding MBA application process. With Round One, even without ever meeting the counselors in person (despite emailing daily with Mr. Round and Ms. Round—both reputed to be quite handsome—I still have yet to meet either of them!), I was able to prepare thoroughly without issue. Their rapid responses in urgent situations meant that problems could be resolved without waiting for scheduled sessions, allowing me to make effective use of my time throughout the application process.
I was primarily interested in studying marketing and struggled until the very end to decide whether to pursue a marketing-focused master’s program or an MBA. Ultimately, I decided to apply to both MBA programs and Master of Science programs in Marketing. Since many counselors specialize exclusively in MBA applications, I initially thought I might need to consult a separate counselor for non-MBA programs.
However, at Round One, I received the same high-quality support for non-MBA applications as for MBA programs, which allowed me to apply to Master of Science programs with confidence. As a result, I was admitted to my target MS programs in marketing at New York University and Northwestern University as well. While test prep schools often focus exclusively on MBA applications, Round One provides comprehensive, expert support for other graduate programs as well. Applicants applying outside the MBA track—or concurrently with MBA programs, as I did—can rely on Mr. Round and Ms. Round as true application professionals for essay and career counseling, school selection, and all related concerns.
You may have frequently seen comments online praising “Mr. Round’s” essay counseling, but many of you may not have been familiar with “Ms. Round.” I myself was unaware of her before beginning counseling. However, after learning about her extensive record of guiding applicants to top schools and working with her directly, I was extremely satisfied with the counseling I received—her responses were fast, precise, and consistently on point. Ms. Round strikes an excellent balance between strictness—clearly pointing out what is not working—and warmth, genuinely supporting and cheering on her students. Writing concise essays that highlight Japanese strengths while still delivering impact and confidence is quite difficult, but after working with Ms. Round, my essays improved dramatically. When I showed them to native-speaking friends, they almost always responded, “Perfect.” I truly consider myself fortunate to have received this rigorous yet compassionate essay counseling from Ms. Round, alongside the consistently outstanding strategic guidance from Mr. Round.
The MBA application process requires rigorous time management and careful control of one’s mindset while striving toward a goal. Simply wanting to attend a target school is not enough to secure admission, nor is having a strong company background or graduating from a good university. I strongly feel that choosing Round One—working closely with Mr. Round and Ms. Round on time management, rewriting essays repeatedly, and receiving encouragement when I felt close to giving up—was the reason I was able to achieve admission this time. Moreover, by acting on their advice to pursue scholarships, I ultimately achieved results that far exceeded the cost of Round One’s consulting fees. During campus visits, I met Round One alumni everywhere I went, and hearing them all say with genuine enthusiasm, “Round One is great,” made perfect sense. I hope to remain friends with Mr. Round and Ms. Round for a long time to come, continuing to share stories even after I arrive on campus. I sincerely wish all future applicants the very best, and hope that under the guidance of Mr. Round and Ms. Round, you too will secure admission and open the door to your next chapter.
