26
Technology
Biz/Data Analytics
Self-funded
UCLA-Anderson
MBA
The moment I thought, “Ah, I should go for an MBA,” was in November 2006, when I was preparing for a trip to Rome during the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday season. I officially became a student under Mr. Round the following September, in 2007 (I really should have reached out sooner). Seven months later, I received an offer of admission from a school ranked in the Top 10 in the United States.
For applicants entering business school in Fall 2008, the MBA admissions cycle was extraordinarily competitive. Due to the U.S. economic downturn and the fact that the children of the baby boomer generation—an unusually large demographic cohort—were reaching typical MBA application age (around 27), application volumes reportedly increased by about 30% year-over-year (and with the economic situation worsening, it was expected that competition would become even fiercer the following year). In fact, one admissions officer told me after my interview that, because applications were up by 22% that year, the admissions decision might be delayed by several days beyond the original schedule. In the end, I was unfortunately rejected by my first-choice school, but I received an offer from my second-choice school. Being able to enroll happily this fall is a result I am genuinely pleased with.
Below, I would like to share my experience for those who are considering applying to MBA programs in the future.
I had been living in the United States for about 10 years and graduated from a local university, so my TOEFL requirement was waived. I also had access to real, on-the-ground information about MBA admissions, which meant I spent a year competing head-to-head with younger American and Indian applicants around age 27. However, no matter how immersed I was in life in the U.S., my background as a Japanese applicant did not change. I believe that admissions committees tended to evaluate expatriate Japanese applicants like myself largely within the same Japanese applicant category.
In the U.S., there are countless consultants offering MBA admissions support services similar to Mr. Round’s, and I contacted several individuals and firms. Since they are in the business of selling services, most were friendly at first. However, once some of them realized I was Japanese, they simply stopped responding—one well-known but rather brazen firm (Company V) in particular left a bad impression. That experience reinforced my belief that I needed a counselor who truly understood Japanese applicants, which led me to contact Mr. Round.
Above all, it is essential to speak at length and feel confident that you can run the marathon of the next several months together. Mr. Round is very approachable and gentle, and after having a long conversation with him over Skype, I felt comfortable deciding to work with him. In the end, it came down to gut feeling.
What I found especially valuable:
Experience and insight: Thanks to his extensive experience, Mr. Round clearly understands the core intent behind essay questions and provides precise guidance, allowing essays to be completed efficiently. For interviews as well, he has a deep repository of past questions and school-specific tendencies, making preparation highly effective.
A third-party perspective: I also had American acquaintances review my essays, but having someone with an objective, third-party perspective—someone who could assess whether my personality truly came across to people who did not know me well—was invaluable, and this is where Mr. Round’s input stood out.
Schedule management: Writing essays alone can easily lead to procrastination and missed deadlines. Because Mr. Round sets a firm schedule, I never had to worry about missing deadlines.
Emotional support: Tackling essay topics that require deep self-reflection while exhausted from work can be extremely daunting, and there are moments when confidence inevitably wavers. Being able to consult with Mr. Round, who was clearly “on the same boat,” was tremendously reassuring. In fact, I sometimes felt that the first few minutes of casual conversation at the start of each weekly counseling session were the most valuable part.
Advice from my experience: Even after receiving polished essays, you must review them yourself and make them fully “your own.” Start writing essays as early as possible, build in schedule flexibility, and, ideally, have your sessions scheduled at times when your counselor does not have back-to-back appointments before or after (this is, of course, an ideal scenario).
You should allocate more time to your higher-priority schools. While Mr. Round has his own methodology, do not assume that everything he says is automatically correct—be honest about what you believe, and discuss points thoroughly until you are convinced. Independent research is also crucial.
Ultimately, this is your life. Rather than relying entirely on your counselor, it is best to treat Mr. Round as a partner and running companion, working together toward the same goal.
Once you have mastered the fundamentals and format of the GMAT, I believe the key to achieving a high score lies in developing a kind of “dynamic vision”—the ability to solve problems accurately under strict time constraints. I only took about three computer-based practice tests and never fully became comfortable with the timing. Due to financial and mental fatigue, I stopped GMAT preparation relatively early in September and shifted my focus to essays. Looking back with hindsight, I realize there were more effective ways I could have prepared for the GMAT.
You should not choose schools based solely on rankings or brand name. At information sessions, every school repeatedly emphasizes the concept of “right fit.” Initially, I struggled to understand what this elusive “right fit” really meant, but campus visits made it clear. I strongly encourage you to visit campuses and find schools that truly fit you. Once you find a school you genuinely fall in love with and can confidently say, “This is it,” your essays are far more likely to stand out among thousands of applications. (In fact, the school that admitted me as my second choice felt like a better fit than my first-choice school that rejected me—a humbling reminder not to be swayed by name value alone.)
If asked whether I would recommend Mr. Round to my acquaintances, my answer would unquestionably be yes. At the same time, I would add this important caveat: how effectively you leverage his services—and how strong your final results are—ultimately depends on you.
