12
Technology
Mktg/Sales
Sponsored
Rochester-Simon
MBA
Looking back after completing the MBA application process, I am convinced that it was thanks to Round One’s support that I was able to gain admission.
Despite having a GMAT score far below the average of admitted students, and an exceptionally low TOEFL listening score—levels rarely seen in past successful applicant records—I was able to secure offers of admission from several schools, including Rochester and IESE. Moreover, I began GMAT preparation only in September, wrote my résumé in November, and did not begin working seriously on my essays until December. I was under extreme pressure, as I was applying under company sponsorship and therefore had to gain admission to a well-known school designated by my employer.
Under these circumstances, I received precise and highly effective essay counseling from Ms. Emma Round, and was ultimately able to complete and submit eight applications that I felt genuinely satisfied with. Although all eight applications were extremely challenging from a test-score perspective, I received offers of admission from four of those schools. This would not have been possible without the support of Ms. Round and Mr. Round.
The reasons I recommend R1 can be summarized in the following three points.
With R1’s guidance, I was able to gather information efficiently, evaluate target schools effectively within a limited timeframe, and make sound judgments even under the pressure of “having to get in.” This reduced wasted time and lowered the risk of rejection. Mr. Round’s strategic advice and Ms. Round’s essay guidance were, in this sense, extremely valuable and highly satisfying.
MBA applications require managing an overwhelming number of tasks. In my case, I was studying for the GMAT while simultaneously writing essays for eight schools, and later had to add interview preparation on top of that. Since I was working full-time during the day, efficient time management was essential. Even under these extreme conditions, Ms. Round’s advice enabled me to proceed with essay writing and application preparation in a highly efficient manner. For applicants who are not reapplicants, the MBA process is usually an entirely new challenge. Access to detailed know-how and guidance specific to MBA admissions translates directly into time savings—and that, in turn, becomes the key to success. Receiving counseling via email through R1 also contributed significantly to making the process more efficient.
In my case, it took considerable time to improve my TOEFL and GMAT scores. As the first and second rounds passed and I found myself facing third-round applications, the advice I received from R1—grounded in extensive experience—was something I could truly trust, and it became an important source of emotional support. Amid the flood of opinions and rumors surrounding MBA admissions, having advice you can rely on is invaluable. I was often overwhelmed by anxiety, burdened by fears such as “What if I don’t get into my target schools?”—especially given my low scores and late application timing. Even so, thanks to R1’s encouragement and support, I was able to keep fighting until the very end without giving up.
In MBA admissions, I believe that meeting an experienced and trustworthy essay counselor is the key to success. Ms. Emma Round is one such counselor, and Round One is unquestionably one of the very best essay counseling services available.
