216
Finance
General Mgmt
Sponsored
Imperial College
MBA
I was selected by a Japanese insurance company as a corporate-sponsored student and went through the process of applying to overseas MBA programs. Looking back at the previous company-sponsored students, many of whom had been admitted to renowned MBA programs, the application process placed enormous pressure on me, as I had absolutely no overseas experience and very little knowledge about MBA programs. In addition, everything was new to me, including the standardized tests, essays, letters of recommendation, and interviews, so the process was a constant source of anxiety. In particular, during a mentally difficult period when I felt as though I was losing sight of the path to admission, Mr. Round supported me with great dedication through the warm words he offered during our sessions. Based on this experience, I can confidently say that Mr. Round is the most reliable counselor and partner for many Japanese applicants aspiring to pursue an MBA overseas.
I first met Mr. Round through an introduction from the company-sponsored student immediately before me. I remember being confidently told that, because Mr. Round had supported many company-sponsored students from our company over the years and fully understood our company, I would undoubtedly receive support that would satisfy me. I first met him around the spring of 2025, when Mr. Round was visiting Japan. He listened carefully even to my limited English and kindly explained the support he could provide and how we would proceed from that point onward. Later, I received an email informing me that he would accept me as a Round One client, and I immediately decided to work with him.
What impressed me most about Mr. Round’s support was how detailed and thorough he was in every situation. He comprehensively covered the wide-ranging MBA application process, and through counseling, he developed a deep understanding of my strengths and characteristics. After fully considering my thoughts and hopes, he was able to propose the optimal strategy for me. As someone with limited overseas experience, I often struggled because I lacked knowledge of the conventions involved in communicating with admissions offices. However, Mr. Round supported me even with drafting emails and completing application forms, enabling me to complete the process smoothly without any communication problems.
The support I was especially grateful for was the interview preparation. He conducted mock interviews covering everything from the most frequently asked typical questions to questions reflecting the specific characteristics of each school, and he carefully revised my answers so that they would be clearer and more compelling. After each mock interview, he also shared the recording and transcript with me, which proved extremely useful for later review and repeated practice. These are only a few examples of the support I received; there were countless other ways in which he helped me.
In MBA applications, the results are unknown until the very end. During the middle stage of the application process, there was a period when I felt almost overwhelmed by anxiety and impatience. However, in the end, I was admitted to multiple schools and ultimately decided to attend my target school, Imperial College Business School. Looking back, I am truly glad that I continued to believe in the possibilities and kept challenging myself until the very end. Round One’s support was not simply about “getting me admitted.” Rather, it was support that deeply understood each person’s career and strengths and brought out that person’s individuality to the fullest extent.
Applying to MBA programs is by no means easy, but I believe that by preparing with a trusted partner, applicants can dramatically increase their chances of admission to their target schools.
I sincerely wish the very best to everyone who will be taking on the challenge of applying to MBA programs.
