211
Finance
Banking-Inv.
Sponsored
LBS
MBA
Matriculated school: London Business School, MBA
Other admitted school: HEC Paris
Gender / age (at time of application): Male, 29
Employer: Japanese life insurance company; years of service (at time of application): 6; company-sponsored
Overseas experience: Several one-week trips abroad and a one-week overseas training program (Boston); no long-term overseas residence
Final test scores at time of application – GMAT Focus: 685 (Math: 90, Verbal: 83, DI: 79) / IELTS: 7.5 (R: 8.5, L: 7.0, S: 6.5, W: 7.0)
In the MBA application process, I spent more than a year devoting a great deal of time and effort. While there were enjoyable aspects, such as encountering new learning and new connections, overall it was an extremely demanding and challenging journey. I had virtually no overseas experience prior to this, and (as is likely the case for most applicants) I began the process with absolutely no knowledge of MBA admissions. As a result, in the early stages I was overwhelmed by anxiety and impatience. That said, being able to overcome these hardships, grow significantly through the process, and ultimately gain admission to my first-choice school, London Business School, would not have been possible without Round-sensei’s sincere and deeply supportive guidance. I am profoundly grateful.
After passing my employer’s internal selection process for company-sponsored study abroad, I was receiving various pieces of advice from a senior colleague in the same department and team who had been dispatched the previous year. Through this, I was introduced to Round One. Following that introduction, I contacted Mr. Round, and in March 2024—while Mr. Round was staying in Japan—I had my first in-person meeting with him. During that initial meeting, I felt his sincere commitment to listening carefully to me, even as I spoke in imperfect English, and his genuine effort to deeply understand my background. Moreover, he identified positive potential in my background, which led me to decide to engage his services. Thereafter, I received support for nearly a full year, until February 2025.
Below, I describe several aspects of Round One’s support that I found particularly outstanding. A common thread across all of them, however, is the excellence of Mr. Round’s character. Throughout the long and arduous application process, I was repeatedly helped by his calm, sincere, and compassionate personality.
If I were to summarize the defining characteristic of Round One in a single phrase, this would be it. The breadth of services—covering nearly the entirety of the vast and complex MBA application process—combined with the meticulous attention given to each individual service, is truly exceptional compared to other counselors.
Specifically, at the outset of the engagement, Strategic Guidance is conducted to align on the overall approach going forward. This is not a rigid, one-size-fits-all plan. Instead, Mr. Round conducts a careful and thorough review of the applicant’s target schools, background, and, in the case of company-sponsored applicants, the constraints imposed by the employer. Based on this, he presents a highly customized plan complete with milestones and target scores. At the very early stage of the application process—when one is effectively in the dark—being shown this comprehensive overview of the application schedule provides a strong sense of reassurance, like being given a bright guidepost in the darkness. It also enabled me to clearly explain my plan to my employer. As the process progresses, things often do not go exactly according to the initial plan, but in such cases Mr. Round proposes optimally adjusted schedules that prioritize the applicant’s best interests. This allowed me to entrust him with schedule management with confidence.
In addition, when it comes to interview preparation, many counselors focus primarily on rehearsing standard template questions. In contrast, Round One offers “Killer Question” preparation, in which they research the interviewer’s background using LinkedIn and other sources and then propose—or work together to develop—high-impact questions to ask in return. In practice, the “questions for the interviewer” segment is a crucial opportunity to demonstrate genuine interest in the school, yet it is often difficult to determine what questions will leave a strong impression. This service was therefore extremely valuable. Few other counselors go to this level of detail, making this a clear example of Round One’s meticulous support.
On an even more granular level, Round One provides support such as answering detailed questions about specific application input fields or helping draft email correspondence with admissions offices. These are areas that are often difficult or uncomfortable to ask other counselors about, but Mr. Round responds cheerfully and willingly, without the slightest sign of reluctance, thanks to his warm and sincere demeanor. At times, I even found myself reflecting that I might be asking for too much.
In the essay counseling process, before writing responses to each school’s prompts, the first step is for the applicant to comprehensively write out their background—from childhood, through student years, to professional life—and have Mr. Round review it. This process deepens self-understanding, and through follow-up questions from Mr. Round, communication is further enriched. As a result, when it comes time to revise actual essay responses, discussions can take place based on a deep understanding of the applicant as a person. MBA essay questions are often tricky and their intent difficult to discern, and when I struggled with what to write, Mr. Round would draw on his many years of experience and an MBA-oriented value perspective to suggest, for example, “I think this particular episode from this point in your life would be a perfect fit for this essay.” These were insights I would not have arrived at on my own and were extremely helpful.
In MBA applications, schedules often become very tight due to application deadlines, and situations can arise where timing down to a single day—or even hours—matters. In this context, Mr. Round always responded to my urgent inquiries promptly and in detail, allowing me to proceed with confidence even in time-pressured situations. As a result, I never missed a deadline.
Because the MBA application process is very long, maintaining motivation becomes a major challenge. Throughout this process, Mr. Round generously praised me when I achieved milestones, and when goals proved difficult to reach, he calmly and accurately proposed achievable alternatives and action plans. This consistent sense that he was truly “running alongside me” as a partner was essential for maintaining motivation, and thanks to this support, I was able to see the long and difficult journey through to the very end.
The MBA application process is long and demanding, and the appropriate approach and strategy vary greatly depending on each applicant’s background. In this context, the presence of a counselor who deeply understands the applicant and can provide precise, experience-backed solutions is indispensable. Choosing the right counselor is, in my view, one of the most critical factors in determining success or failure in MBA admissions.
For that reason, I recommend carefully selecting a counselor by speaking with many candidates. Based on my own experience, however, Round One offers high-quality services and is one of the best possible choices for MBA applicants. If you are considering applying to an MBA program, I strongly encourage you to consider Round One!
