209
Consulting
Banking-Inv.
Scholarship
INSEAD
MBA
Matriculating school: INSEAD
Background: Self-funded, female
First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude that, thanks to Round-sensei’s support, I was able to overcome a long—and at times very challenging—application journey and ultimately secure a place at INSEAD.
During the application period, a variety of unexpected events inevitably arise—both positive and negative—and there are many moments when it is difficult to handle them alone or to know what the best course of action might be. In such situations, Round-sensei provides strong, reassuring support grounded in nearly 30 years of experience, helping applicants make the best possible decisions. Because of this, I was able to carry out everything I needed to do in the best possible way, without hesitation, and ultimately arrive at the best possible outcome.
I truly believe that meeting Round-sensei was the single greatest stroke of luck in my MBA application journey.
I first learned about Round-sensei through a friend who had been admitted to INSEAD, one of my target schools. However, I reached out to him at a relatively late stage—approximately three months before applications were due. Prior to that, I had been working with another counselor, but as deadlines approached, I began to feel increasing anxiety due to a series of issues (such as communication frequency, output quality, and scheduling). Feeling desperate, I contacted Round-sensei, and fortunately, as the first round for U.S. schools had just concluded and there was availability within his client capacity, he agreed to take me on.
At the foundation of everything is the fact that Round One deliberately limits its intake to a number of clients that Round-sensei can personally and thoroughly support throughout each individual MBA application process. I strongly feel that this underpins all of the positive aspects described below.
By carefully aligning my personal experiences, strengths, and profile with the characteristics of my target schools, Round-sensei worked closely with me to develop strategy and provided thoughtful advice on which elements should be emphasized and how they should be expressed within essays and application materials. This enabled me to complete my submissions with confidence.
The MBA application process is often constrained by tight timelines, and urgent issues frequently arise that require immediate consultation. In those moments, the reassurance of receiving quick and appropriate advice was not only practically invaluable but also a tremendous source of emotional support (especially given that I had previously experienced anxiety around this aspect).
Round-sensei proactively proposed schedules for the following month with sufficient buffer, and I was especially grateful that sessions were typically set in the same weekly time slot, making it easier to build a routine. Occasionally, discussions extended slightly beyond the scheduled time, but because Round-sensei built flexibility into his schedule, sessions were never abruptly cut short.
By providing support across all areas—CV reviews, essay writing, scholarship essays, interview preparation, and all other tasks required outside the formal application process—I was able to execute everything that needed to be done in a truly comprehensive manner.
With regard to scholarship essays, this support led to receiving a very favorable scholarship offer from one of the schools I applied to. In addition, tasks outside the formal application process proved to be far more important than I had expected. Advice from Round-sensei regarding campus visits and participation in school events (including information-sharing about upcoming events), as well as introductions to Round One alumni, were indispensable for deepening my understanding of the schools and building my network. Furthermore, when I was given an opportunity—through a particular set of circumstances—to speak with a professor at my target school, I was able to prepare thoroughly based on Round-sensei’s precise advice and attend the meeting with confidence. As a result, I received extremely positive feedback from the professor. This was one of the moments that made me truly realize how glad I was to have sought his guidance, as I would not have known on my own how to approach such a meeting.
While MBA applications vary greatly from person to person, I came to realize that certain best practices do exist, and that it is critically important to make every possible effort to execute them. Those best practices form a core pillar within Round-sensei’s advice, which is grounded in his many years of experience. Thanks to this, I felt that I was able to proceed through my own application process with a clear, unwavering axis.
Ultimately, for someone like me who wanted to “do everything possible, in the best possible way, to maximize the chances of admission,” Round One’s counseling was an ideal fit.
Round-sensei’s consistently strong and positive guidance will no doubt continue to lead many more applicants to success. If you are considering applying for an MBA, I highly encourage you to reach out and make contact!
