4
Gen. Trading
Corp. VC
Self-funded
Penn-Wharton
MBA
Admitted School: Wharton
Other Offers: Kellogg; Chicago
Work Experience: 10 years total at an IT manufacturer and a general trading company
Funding: Self-funded
GPA: 2.8 (Private university, Faculty of Commerce)
TOEFL: 267 (L27 S26 R27 W5.0)
GMAT: 710 (V37 M49 AWA 5.0)
Overseas Experience: 2 years stationed in the U.S. with a general trading company
I first met Mr. Round in the spring of 2004 in Tokyo and asked him numerous questions about my desire to study abroad. Three years have passed since then, and I am deeply grateful that I have now been able to secure admission—an outcome made possible thanks to Mr. Round’s support.
At that time, I was unsure whether to apply for the Class of 2007. Although my test scores were already in place, the possibility of a U.S. assignment had emerged. Because I was aiming to attend one of the so-called Top 5 schools, I felt that postponing my application in order to gain U.S.-based professional experience—and to strengthen my relatively weaker overseas exposure and spoken English—was a very compelling option that would enhance my competitiveness. When I discussed this candidly with Mr. Round, he listened carefully and offered thoughtful advice. I ultimately decided to accept the overseas assignment and apply later. Two years later, once my work abroad had stabilized and I was approaching the upper age limit, I contacted him again, and that is when essay counseling began. He remembered me clearly and agreed to work with me without hesitation. I believe he also did an excellent job of incorporating my two years of overseas experience into my essays.
As many others have noted, one of the greatest advantages of working with Mr. Round is his outstanding personal character, which makes the otherwise grueling process of essay writing feel consistently positive and manageable. He first takes the time to understand my background and career goals, then proceeds with an approach that preserves the points I most want to convey while firmly correcting areas that need improvement. This made the process extremely productive. Some schools pose particularly tricky essay questions that leave applicants unsure what to write, but drawing on a deep understanding of my background, Mr. Round was always able to provide precise advice on how to craft essays that would resonate with admissions committees. When an essay turned out well, he would praise it—and before I knew it, I found myself motivated to write essays that would earn that praise. In that sense, he skillfully guided me through the process.
Because I was living overseas, face-to-face counseling was not an option in any case, so the combination of email-based communication with occasional Skype sessions when needed was ideal. I set my regular time slot for Monday evenings, allowing me to use weekends for essay writing. Since there was no time difference between California, where I was based, and Mr. Round’s location, I was fortunate to be able to secure time slots that were not heavily used by applicants in Japan.
Mr. Round’s meticulous attention to detail is particularly reassuring for Japanese applicants. Beyond essays, MBA applications include short-answer questions that can be especially burdensome for non-native speakers, and in many cases it is far better to have the entire application reviewed. Mr. Round routinely reviews applications in their entirety, which allowed me to submit my materials with confidence. This point is often overlooked, but for Japanese applicants who feel uneasy about their English, it is an invaluable service.
Interview training—whose importance has grown significantly in recent years—was another area in which the Skype-based sessions with Mr. Round and Ms. Round were exceptional. They provided written scoring sheets that quantified strengths and weaknesses, allowing me to objectively assess my performance. In addition, habits and inappropriate phrasing that I would not have noticed myself were pointed out not only verbally, but also in written reports, making review and improvement much easier. This naturally fostered a strong sense of purpose—“I want to improve my score next time”—and made interview practice both engaging and effective.
The moment that impressed me most occurred during an interview at one of the schools where I was ultimately admitted. Until that point, the interviewer and I had not particularly clicked, but toward the end, I was asked an unusual question: “What do you think you would find difficult if you came to our school?” This was not a common question, yet it was one I had practiced with Mr. Round just the day before. My initial instinct had been to list potential drawbacks of the school, but Mr. Round had advised me that the ideal response to such a question is to acknowledge the challenge while actually turning it into an opportunity to highlight the school’s strengths. I had practiced this exact approach. When I delivered my prepared answer, the interviewer smiled knowingly, and the conversation suddenly became much more animated. Needless to say, this moment played a significant role in my admission. I see this as clear proof of the value of Mr. Round’s experience.
For anyone considering investing a substantial amount of money in essay counseling, compatibility with the counselor is absolutely critical. I know several applicants who were forced to switch counselors midway through the process. In that respect as well, choosing Mr. Round—who combines exceptional character with deep experience—is an outstanding decision. We now call each other by our first names as friends, and as one of Mr. Round’s successful applicants, I hope to continue contributing to his work in the years ahead.
