214
Finance
Banking-Inv.
Sponsored
Berkeley-Haas
MBA
“Secure Your School in Round 1, Then Swing Big in Round 2”
After passing my company-sponsored study leave selection process, I decided to work with Round One based on the recommendation of a senior colleague who had also studied abroad through a company sponsorship program in the past.
I had about one year before application deadlines. While aiming for admission to top MBA programs, I also needed to manage my full-time job, my family responsibilities, and GRE preparation simultaneously. There was simply too much to do, and at the beginning I felt extremely anxious.
Looking back now, choosing Round One was absolutely the right decision.
Mr. Round was not simply a counselor. Throughout the entire admissions process, he stayed by my side as a true partner—someone I could consult casually at any time—and supported me all the way through. As a result, I was admitted to multiple target schools, including Georgia Tech (dual degree: MSA + MBA), Kellogg MMM (with scholarship), and UC Berkeley Haas.
I would like to share my experience in the hope that it may help future applicants, especially those trying to balance work, family, and applications all at the same time.
The single most helpful aspect of the process was that Mr. Round responded carefully and quickly to even the smallest questions.
For example, after one interview I asked him how I should write my thank-you email, and he proposed specific wording the very same day. When an ongoing email exchange developed with the interviewer afterward, he quickly shared draft responses that matched the interviewer’s tone, which allowed me to proceed with confidence.
Throughout the admissions process, situations constantly arise where judgment calls are required: how to contact the Admissions Office, when to schedule campus visits, how other schools are moving in Round 2, whether to submit additional applications, and so on. In every case, Mr. Round provided calm, experience-based, highly practical advice.
Having someone I could consult anytime—without hesitating or wondering “Is this too small a question to ask?”—was tremendously reassuring throughout the long admissions journey.
Looking back, the single biggest factor in my success was that Mr. Round pushed forward with my Georgia Tech application in Round 1.
At the time, I still had not completed my GRE score preparation, and honestly, I thought it would probably be too difficult to apply in Round 1. Nevertheless, Mr. Round realistically assessed where I could be competitive and encouraged me to proceed with Georgia Tech.
This ultimately became the decisive advantage.
By going through the entire application cycle early—application preparation, submission, and interviews—I gained tremendous momentum heading into Round 2. More importantly, simply knowing that I already had one admission secured gave me enormous peace of mind, allowing me to approach Round 2 calmly instead of with unnecessary panic.
Mr. Round created monthly counseling schedules (Essay Counseling and Interview Training), and following that structure gave me the sense that the process was steadily moving forward. The regular R1 Gazette newsletter also helped me understand exactly where I stood in the process and what I should focus on next.
What especially stood out to me was how flexibly he adjusted the strategy.
Immediately after I was admitted to Georgia Tech in Round 1, Mr. Round told me:
“Now that you already have a school secured, you can afford to be aggressive in Round 2.”
He strongly encouraged me to apply to Stanford, even though I had originally hesitated to do so. He told me, “Your story is strong enough for Stanford.” Without that encouragement, I do not think I would even have attempted it.
Ultimately, I was not admitted to Stanford. However, working through profound essay questions such as “What matters most to you, and why?” and “Why Stanford?” pushed my self-reflection to a much deeper level and clarified my personal core values. Indirectly, I believe that experience helped me respond confidently to virtually any interview question at other schools, including Haas.
In addition, I received admission to Kellogg MMM with a scholarship. I believe this was the result of the consistent way Mr. Round helped position my strengths and motivations across every aspect of the application—from essays to recommendations to the application forms themselves—so that they aligned clearly with the program.
One major advantage was being able to receive Strategic Guidance, Essay Counseling, and Interview Training consistently from the same counselor.
The story developed during the strategic planning phase flowed naturally into the essays, recommendation letters, and application forms, and then connected directly into interview preparation. Mr. Round remembered details from previous sessions extremely well and often suggested things like:
“What about using that episode you mentioned earlier here?”
For Interview Training, Zoom recordings from each session were shared with me afterward, which made review extremely effective. He carefully prepared school-specific question lists and tailored approaches, so when interview day arrived, it felt almost like “walking down a road I had already traveled once before.”
After one actual interview, I reported back that there had not been any especially difficult questions and that I had handled it smoothly. Mr. Round replied:
“By the final session, you were already fully prepared, so I was confident about the outcome.”
That response made me feel that my efforts had truly been recognized and evaluated carefully.
There were many moments during the admissions process when I felt completely exhausted and close to stopping.
Busy periods at work overlapped with application deadlines. There was pressure from retaking the GRE. I also needed to make time for my family.
During those difficult periods, Mr. Round never pushed me aggressively. Instead, he encouraged me calmly, steadily, and warmly. Even ordinary day-to-day exchanges somehow helped me regain my footing again and again.
For those who have passed company-sponsored study leave selection processes, and for those trying to balance work, family, and applications simultaneously:
Round One is not simply a place for essay editing.
It is a partner that helps you maintain momentum throughout a long admissions journey, develop strategy, encourage you to challenge yourself when necessary, and respond thoughtfully to even the smallest concerns.
That, in my view, is the true strength of both Mr. Round and Round One.
I am sincerely grateful that he guided me to places I could never have reached on my own.
Mr. Round, thank you very much.
