131
Finance
Banking-Inv.
Self-funded
INSEAD
MBA
I was admitted in the first round to INSEAD 17D (January intake).
Due to various circumstances, I decided to apply to INSEAD as a self-funded applicant around January 2016. Many counselors were already fully booked with second-round applicants and turned me away, but Round One was flexible and somehow accepted me as a client. Specifically, I received support with résumé preparation, essay writing, recommendation letter advice, and interview practice. Although the timeline was extremely tight, we were able to meet the March application deadline.
The aspects of Round One that I found particularly strong are as follows.
Because I was focused exclusively on INSEAD, this point was very important to me. While there are other well-known counselors, I believe Round One is unmatched in its strength with INSEAD applications. I understand that INSEAD places great emphasis on fit, so receiving guidance from Ms. Round—aimed at aligning my profile with the type of candidate INSEAD seeks, from essays through interviews—was extremely helpful. In addition, since INSEAD interviews are conducted by two alumni and Ms. Round has personally served as an interviewer as an alumna, her support was especially reassuring.
During the application process, I interacted with multiple counselors, and there were some with whom I did not feel a good personal fit. In contrast, Mr. Round and Ms. Round both have excellent personal qualities, and I never felt stressed communicating with them. Given that the process involves a long-term commitment and a significant financial investment, being able to build a stress-free working relationship is, in my view, critically important for peace of mind.
Because the application deadline was in early March, I had to complete my application materials in a very short period (about one and a half months). Since both counselors are normally based in Canada, being able to communicate late at night Japan time was extremely efficient for someone like me, whose long working hours meant that late nights were often the only available time to work on applications.
Once again, I am deeply grateful to Mr. Round and Ms. Round at Round One for their support in successfully gaining admission to INSEAD. To those of you who will be applying in the future, I encourage you to find a counselor who is truly a good fit for you and to approach the application process with confidence.
