186
Finance
Mktg/Sales
Sponsored
Michigan-Ross
GMBA
School Enrolled: University of Michigan (GMBA)
Background: 33 years old, finance, company-sponsored study abroad, TOEFL score of 53 at the start
In December 2019, I suddenly received a directive from my company to “earn an MBA overseas,” and my challenge began with little understanding of what lay ahead. Despite having a fairly ordinary background—perhaps even below average among MBA applicants—Mr. Round extended his support to me from the very beginning. I would like to express my sincere gratitude here and share the reasons why I strongly recommend choosing Round One.
Beginning with aligning on the ultimate goal, Mr. Round provided meticulous advice on selecting target schools and planning test schedules. Around August, full-scale counseling began, during which he offered detailed guidance on target test scores for each school and application timing. Given that I was struggling with test preparation, I truly believe it would have been impossible for me to manage all of this on my own.
In addition, Mr. Round reviewed everything from application form entries to post-interview thank-you messages, allowing me to complete my applications thoroughly and without oversight. This was another aspect of Round One’s comprehensive support that I found invaluable.
Note: Round One is not a TOEFL/GMAT test preparation service. Individual effort is required.
First, Mr. Round and I thoroughly identified my background and strengths, which formed the foundation of my résumé and essays. By rigorously working through this step together, the subsequent résumé and essay writing progressed smoothly. I strongly recommend brainstorming as many ideas as possible at this early stage, even seemingly minor ones.
Based on this information, I drafted my résumé, essays, and application-related materials, after which Mr. Round’s impeccable editing transformed them into logical and persuasive documents. Because I was working on test preparation in parallel, this level of support resulted in a quality I was extremely satisfied with.
Each school has different essay characteristics and word limits, but Mr. Round skillfully tailored my content to fit each program.
Because I spent a considerable amount of time on test preparation and because my eventual school had an early deadline, I was only able to attend a few interview training sessions. Even so, although interview training is difficult to review on one’s own, I received written feedback analyzing my strengths and weaknesses during training.
Using this feedback, I was able to practice repeatedly on my own, and as a result, I was able to complete my interviews smoothly without getting stuck.
In interviews, applicants are invariably asked, “Any questions?” With Mr. Round’s guidance, I was able to prepare strong questions in advance. When I used them during interviews, they served as an effective way to demonstrate my high level of interest in the program.
Pursuing an MBA is a lonely battle. In such moments, Mr. Round works alongside you—sometimes seriously, sometimes with humor—to overcome daunting challenges together. This is something that is difficult to fully convey in words, and I encourage you to experience it firsthand by speaking with Mr. Round.
This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there were no in-person meetings. However, because Round One had already been providing polished counseling primarily via Skype, everything proceeded very smoothly. I had believed that trust could only be built face-to-face, but even online, Mr. Round’s personality came through clearly and without compromise.
Finally, the fact that most clients come through personal referrals, and that reading through each admissions testimonial reveals consistent themes, demonstrates that what I have written here is not merely subjective opinion.
