21
Technology
Mktg/Sales
Self-funded
NWN-Kellogg
MBA
I never imagined that the day would come when I would be writing something like this, but after more than two years of running the long MBA application marathon side by side with Mr. Round, I was finally able to reach the finish line. I believe that my admission to top schools in Europe and the U.S. was largely thanks to Mr. Round’s guidance. Since those reading this website are likely debating which essay counselor to choose, I would like to describe my experience with Round One in an FAQ format.
Background: Master’s degree from an engineering university in Tokyo (via a technical college route), nine years working at a foreign-affiliated manufacturer. During my technical college years (equivalent to high school), I spent one year in the U.S. as an exchange student.
Test profile: TOEFL in the high 270s, GMAT below 650, GPA 3.8 averaged across technical college, undergraduate, and master’s programs.
Admitted schools: IMD, Kellogg, Oxford, Texas at Austin
Rejected schools: Cornell (TMO), Darden, Tuck
Withdrew mid-process: RSM
School selection rationale: I chose schools that fit my background and career goals and that offered close-knit communities focused on developing soft skills.
When I was in high school, I studied in the U.S. as an exchange student. At the time, my host brother—then a high school senior—was applying to universities. Watching his process from the sidelines, I was struck by how fundamentally different it was from Japanese admissions. It was not determined solely by test scores and grades; essays, interviews, and volunteer and extracurricular activities played major roles. Based on that experience, I realized I had no clear criteria for determining which aspects of my background would appeal to admissions committees, nor did I have confidence in my ability to write effective essays in English on my own. That is why I decided to look for an essay counselor.
I discovered Round One through Mr. Round’s reputation online and immediately applied for an interview. During my assessment interview, I found him extremely personable and quickly sensed that we would work well together. At the time, before fully committing financially to the MBA process, I did feel the fees were high. However, the positive impression from the interview led me to choose Mr. Round. In hindsight, compared with other services, the overall cost and hourly rate were not significantly different.
I initially planned to study abroad in 2006 and applied to Round One in December 2004, when I had my assessment interview. Due to personal reasons, I postponed my plans by one year to 2007, which meant I worked with Mr. Round for over two years in total.
Mr. Round. My counselor remained the same throughout the process. Because sessions were held regularly once a week, as time went on, he developed a deep understanding of my background and interests. This allowed us to share context and intent behind my essays almost instinctively, making the process far more efficient. I believe this dedicated-counselor system is one of Round One’s greatest strengths.
Mr. Round’s services include Strategic Guidance, which covers application strategy and overall schedule management for the MBA process. At first, I thought this was simply an enrollment fee, but it turned out to be extremely valuable. It helped me manage my pace during GMAT and TOEFL preparation, and during difficult moments, Mr. Round’s encouragement was invaluable. In the end, this service far exceeded my initial expectations.
Yes. I received Interview Training, including online case interviews. The post-training reports were extremely detailed, clearly outlining my strengths, weaknesses, and specific steps for improvement. These reports were instrumental in helping me get through what is often considered one of the toughest MBA interview days—IMD’s full-day interview process. To be honest, I was even more satisfied with the interview training than with the essay counseling.
Because the service is primarily online, it can be somewhat difficult to build relationships with fellow Round One clients. That said, there are face-to-face training sessions early in the application season where clients can meet, and afterward, it is possible to stay connected through mailing lists or occasional meetups. I believe this potential weakness can largely be mitigated depending on how proactive participants are.
Care is taken to avoid concentration in a single industry or company, so the client group was highly diverse—much like an MBA class itself. I found this diversity stimulating and motivating.
Because sessions were held online at a fixed time every week, this format suited someone like me who frequently traveled overseas and needed external pressure to stay on track. As the weeks went by, the once-a-week rhythm became ingrained, which greatly helped with schedule management. It also reduced the likelihood of rushed, last-minute work, leading to higher-quality essays overall.
Naturally, there is no ghostwriting. Mr. Round helps you identify, among the essay topics you propose, which ones best fit each school and explains why. You then write the essays yourself, after which he provides feedback on grammar, phrasing, and structure. Everyone has good stories to tell, but what applicants think are good stories and what admissions committees find compelling are not always the same. The essence of essay counseling lies in having someone like Mr. Round—who understands admissions perspectives through extensive experience—evaluate your ideas through that lens.
Thank you very much for reading through to the end. Recently, available slots seem to fill up quite quickly, so I recommend first applying for an interview to see whether you are a good fit with Mr. Round and to experience his outstanding personality firsthand. You can always decide whether to proceed after that.
