199
Technology
Product Mgmt
Scholarship
Michigan-SW
MSW
School Enrolled: University of Michigan
Background: Japanese IT company, consultant (approximately 9 years), female, self-funded study abroad
Graduate study aimed at a career change into the field of social welfare (Master of Social Work)
I first spoke with Mr. Round at the end of November 2021 through a referral from a senior colleague at my company who had pursued an MBA overseas. With Mr. Round’s support from then through the end of March 2022, I was admitted to all of the universities I applied to, including the University of Michigan—ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in the field of Social Work—as well as Columbia University and the University of Washington.
Initially, I also spoke with other agencies, but my impression was that many offered support only within limited scopes, such as a fixed number of sessions or essay preparation alone.
In contrast, Round One provided support covering *every* aspect of the application process: selection of target schools; essay, résumé, and application preparation, choosing recommenders; editing emails to admissions offices; reviewing application forms at submission; interview training; and even essay support for university scholarship programs. All of these services were of very high quality, and the application process was completed efficiently and with a strong sense of momentum. As a result, the only part I needed to handle entirely on my own was test preparation such as IELTS. Being able to consult Mr. Round whenever questions arose—whether about complex application procedures or unclear requirements—was extremely reassuring.
In my case, I was aiming for a career change from IT consulting to the field of social welfare, which is relatively uncommon, and before applying I had significant concerns about whether it would succeed. That I was able to believe in myself through to the end and ultimately secure admission was, I believe, because Mr. Round respected my passion, engaged with me sincerely, and continued to encourage me throughout the process.
Each school had different essay themes—such as analyzing social issues or expressing views on racial discrimination—but regardless of the topic, Mr. Round provided accurate and valuable advice starting from the core strategy. As a result, even for essay prompts that initially left me unsure of what to write, I had a clear understanding of the key points to incorporate before drafting, which allowed me to prepare efficiently. During essay counseling, Mr. Round consistently and precisely captured my intentions through discussions based on my drafts and elevated them into compelling essays that communicated my message more effectively.
In interview training as well, based on anticipated questions, I received detailed feedback sheets covering overall evaluations and areas for improvement. This made it easy to review afterward and enabled me to approach the actual interviews with confidence.
Graduate school applications were a lonely process with significant pressure. By setting weekly counseling sessions with Mr. Round and preparing toward those meetings, I was able to maintain my motivation and keep moving forward until the very end. Mr. Round, who is not only highly professional but also encourages with humor when appropriate, became an invaluable mentor to me and helped me overcome the most difficult periods.
For me, this was a challenge to pursue a career change into a field completely different from my current profession, but Mr. Round respected my decision and passion and accompanied me through the process to the very end. I do not believe I could have achieved admission to a top school in the field of social work without his support.
As a self-funded applicant, the cost was certainly not insignificant, but there is no doubt that the return far exceeded the investment. The quality of the core essay counseling was extremely high and deeply trustworthy, and receiving comprehensive support—including psychological support—throughout the application process, as well as assistance with scholarship essays that ultimately resulted in receiving a university scholarship, allowed me to realize my dream of pursuing graduate study overseas. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Round.
Even after my enrollment at the University of Michigan was confirmed, Mr. Round continued to provide generous support, including assistance with communication with the university and visa procedures. He also introduced me to other clients attending the same university, which helped me obtain essential information for starting life on campus. The network and community that Mr. Round has built over the years is, in itself, one of Round One’s great strengths.
I hope to become someone who can empower others, just as Mr. Round does, and I sincerely wish that everyone who uses Round One to pursue graduate study overseas will be able to achieve their dreams.
