14
Technology
Mktg/Sales
Self-funded
Wisconsin-Madison
MBA
Until I met Mr. Round, I don’t think I truly had the resolve to commit myself to pursuing an MBA abroad. To use an analogy, I was a novice hiker standing at the foot of a mountain, murmuring, “That looks nice—I’d like to climb that someday.” Mr. Round was the seasoned guide. He always presented multiple options at the right moments and respected my autonomy in making my own decisions and taking action. The fact that someone like me—with extremely low scores, no overseas experience, a demanding job, and self-funded status—was able to successfully apply to MBA programs for the first time and gain admission is entirely thanks to Mr. Round and Ms. Round, who handled my essay editing.
Below are my comments on the Round One services.
Selection of target schools:
There are countless U.S. universities offering MBA programs, most of which I had never even heard of, and I was completely lost at first. Mr. Round suggested several specific schools based on my academic interests, location preferences, program level, and application timing. I applied to both the schools I had found on my own and those recommended by Mr. Round. The university I ultimately chose to attend was one I would never have selected on my own.
Application timing strategy:
Before meeting Mr. Round, the only information I had was a generic application schedule provided by a large prep school. I could not consult anyone individually about timing, and I was extremely anxious because I had no idea what to do. Mr. Round proposed a plan to continue improving my scores until the very end, given how low they were, and only then proceed with applications. He also created a balanced schedule for essay counseling and mock interviews aligned with application deadlines, allowing me to steadily prepare while juggling work, test preparation, essay writing, and application materials.
Score improvement strategy:
Until the end of December, I continued taking the TOEFL and GMAT every two weeks. My final scores were TOEFL 250 and GMAT 620, but thanks to his humorous encouragement, I never gave up or lost heart. He also provided advice on TOEFL and GMAT preparation. Even when applicants themselves struggle to believe in their chances, Mr. Round believes in their potential for admission—and that belief helps applicants persevere.
Résumé and essay ideation:
Résumés and essays are unfamiliar elements in the traditional Japanese exam culture, so it is often unclear what and how to write. For resumes, I followed a question-and-answer format to describe myself. For essays, instead of writing full drafts immediately, we first generated multiple ideas for the core message and conclusion, then narrowed them down to the most impactful and compelling angle before developing the essay. Moreover, because assignments were structured with clear submission deadlines, simply following the guidance and completing the homework naturally led to tangible output. Balancing work, test preparation, and application materials is extremely challenging, but by entrusting the application components to Mr. Round and Ms. Round, I was able to proceed with confidence.
Miscellaneous support:
From daily advice on how to become more comfortable using English, to how to respond when interview invitations arrived, how to handle waitlist situations, and how to choose a final school, I received accurate guidance on all aspects of the MBA application process whenever needed. This was truly personal counseling. Because Mr. Round himself holds an MBA and has sent many applicants to MBA programs, his advice was deeply credible, and I trusted it wholeheartedly.
Essay counseling was handled by Ms. Round. My rough drafts—full of grammatical errors, awkward phrasing, and off-target points—were transformed by her into refined essays that responded precisely to each school’s questions and conveyed my strengths powerfully. Having a third party review my essays helped identify unnecessary jargon and explanations that I would never have noticed myself, ensuring that only what truly mattered reached the reader. I am very glad I chose to have my essays reviewed.
Communication
I exchanged essays with Ms. Round primarily via email, and I believe this was the optimal communication method. It allowed me to use my time efficiently, and receiving feedback in writing made it easy to understand. When I submitted strong essays, she praised them; when I cut corners, I received firm feedback (or perhaps that was just my guilt speaking). The edited essays preserved my original voice as much as possible, and where content was lacking, she clearly indicated what needed to be added.
Recommendations and application review
In addition to essays, I asked for advice on recommender selection and application forms. All application materials were thoroughly checked down to the smallest details. As essays, recommendations, and applications multiplied across schools, the volume of work became overwhelming and deadlines approached rapidly. Even then, Ms. Round guided me step by step with well-timed assignments, ensuring steady progress. Without this structure, I truly believe I would not have been able to submit my applications at all.
Shared background
Because Ms. Round is an MBA holder and previously worked in the IT industry in Silicon Valley, she understood my background in telecommunications very well. This made it easy to align resume language and explanations of technical terms. I believe a person’s character inevitably comes through in their English writing. Ms. Round’s writing style felt neither overly masculine nor foreign to me—it resonated closely with my own voice.
By having all application-related materials reviewed, Ms. Round came to know me deeply, which I believe led to even stronger essays. Even after essay counseling concluded, she continued to advise me on school selection, and guidance rooted in a deep understanding of who I am proved invaluable.
I requested mock interviews with both Mr. and Ms. Round. The quality of feedback from both was exceptional. While the cost may be somewhat high, it is unquestionably worth it. Round One’s interview training stood out in two areas: timing (scheduling) and feedback quality. Interviews often arrive unexpectedly, and they adjusted schedules to ensure I could receive mock interviews at the most optimal times. Feedback was first delivered verbally immediately after each mock interview, followed by detailed written comments. The level of detail was extraordinary. Although I was thoroughly challenged in the mock interviews, the careful preparation allowed me to approach the real interviews well-prepared and deliver performances I was reasonably satisfied with.
Gaining admission to two schools and placement on the waitlist at three others with a TOEFL score of 250 and a GMAT score of 620 was unquestionably thanks to Mr. and Ms. Round. I am deeply grateful that they never gave up on me and believed in me until the very end.
