148
Energy
General Mgmt
Sponsored
MIT-Sloan
SFMBA
Starting in the summer of 2017, I will be enrolling at the MIT Sloan School of Management. I applied primarily to mid-career programs, including those with a public policy focus, and would like to share how valuable the services provided by Round One were throughout that process.
Background: 13 years in the energy sector (company-sponsored study abroad)
Matriculated school: MIT Sloan Fellows Program (MBA)
Other admitted schools: Harvard Kennedy School (Mid-Career MPA), UC Berkeley (MPA), USC IBEAR (MBA), University of Washington GEMBA (MBA)
I applied not only to business schools but also to public policy schools. Due to my professional background, I was naturally limited to mid-career programs, which meant my options were relatively constrained. Even so, drawing on a wealth of experience-backed knowledge, Mr. Round helped construct and propose the optimal application portfolio. In addition, whether it was application timing or communication with universities, he consistently provided appropriate and timely advice.
Furthermore, because I was considering attending business school in the first year and a public policy school in the second year, I consulted Mr. Round regarding a deferral request to Harvard Kennedy School. He drafted the request letter, and the deferral was successfully approved. In this way, I believe Round One is equipped with optimal solutions to address the full range of individual client needs.
The process begins by developing an outline for each topic and having it reviewed. Based on that feedback, a draft is prepared and reviewed again. As a highly seasoned professional, Ms. Round refined my expressions with a clear focus on how best to appeal to the reader.
One important point to keep in mind, however, is that final responsibility rests with the applicant. Accordingly, rather than leaving everything entirely to the counselor, I recommend carefully conducting final checks and communicating as many times as necessary until you are fully satisfied with the result.
As a returnee who had always been required to communicate in English in my professional work, I initially believed that interview training would be unnecessary. However, after actually undergoing interviews and receiving feedback, I realized that this assumption was mistaken. They identified areas for improvement that I could not have noticed on my own, such as answers being overly concise, inadvertently conveying negative impressions, and unconscious gestures that were unnecessary. At the same time, they also clearly pointed out what I was doing well. For these reasons, even those who are confident in their English ability should not underestimate the value of interview training. I strongly recommend undergoing thorough interview preparation in order to overcome weaknesses and leverage strengths.
Each school’s program has its own unique characteristics, and the type of student each program seeks will differ accordingly. Therefore, beyond test scores, it is essential to analyze how well your personality, sense of purpose, and past experiences align with a given program. In consultation with Round One, first identify the program that best fits you. Then, by persevering based on Round One’s guidance, you should be able to achieve success.
