46
Healthcare
Biz/Data Analytics
Self-funded
IE
MBA
After spending approximately ten years working in pharmaceutical clinical development, I began to have concerns about the future of the industry, and in the spring of 2009 I decided to pursue an MBA—an entirely different field from my previous work. From that point on, it was a series of challenges, but I am deeply grateful that I received offers of admission from five schools in Europe and the U.S., something I believe would not have been possible without Round One’s support.
At the time I first decided to apply, I often wondered whether attempting business school was unrealistic given my background—being far removed from business, having a relatively low undergraduate GPA, and no longer being particularly young. It was with considerable hesitation that I first knocked on Round One’s door. Contrary to my expectation that I might be told to “think it over more carefully,” Mr. Round instead evaluated my career and my academic background—including the fact that I had earned two master’s degrees—positively. I was also drawn to his character, and decided to move forward with him.
Mr. Round was in charge of my Strategic Guidance, and to be honest, his support was invaluable. By asking questions frequently, I was able to resolve uncertainties quickly, and during periods when my TOEFL scores were not improving, consulting with him gave me a sense of emotional stability. Even though the year turned before my TOEFL scores reached the minimum requirements of the schools, I was ultimately invited to interviews by nearly all the schools to which I applied by mid-February, when my TOEFL scores finally exceeded the required thresholds. I believe this outcome was greatly supported by the application strategy I was able to develop with Mr. Round, including how we approached each school.
After consulting with Mr. Round, I traveled to Europe in late February for interviews and school selection, and I am very glad that I did so. From a purely interview perspective, it might have felt psychologically easier to interview in Japan, where I had a home advantage, but the information gained by talking and socializing with current students on site is worth many times more than what can be obtained from Japan. In addition, to maximize the cost-effectiveness of Round One’s high-quality services, I strongly recommend thoroughly discussing school selection and related strategy during Strategic Guidance sessions (in my case, discussions came somewhat late due to my insufficient research on each school).
My Essay Counseling with Ms. Round began with taking the time to carefully think through my career outlook. For someone like me, who had ideas about what I wanted to do but only in a vague sense, this process of thinking together with Ms. Round allowed me to develop a plan that went beyond mere rhetoric for admissions committees—one that I consider a true asset as a self-funded applicant seeking the next stage of my career. Online communication was also very comfortable. In my case, I needed to take the TOEFL repeatedly, and by holding counseling sessions early every Tuesday morning, I was able to establish a rhythm in which Wednesday through Friday were devoted to TOEFL preparation, and Saturday through Monday to essay preparation.
Initially, I had been aiming for U.S. schools, but after entering the winter season I shifted my focus toward European schools. Because European schools typically require a larger number of essays and probe more deeply than U.S. programs, there was a period when we had to accelerate preparation significantly. Even then, Ms. Round responded with speed and flexibility, helping me complete high-quality essays that strongly highlighted my past achievements and motivations. As a result, I believe I was able to compensate for my relatively low TOEFL scores.
I took Interview Training only a few times, but each session was extremely dense and effective. In particular, Ms. Round’s interview training was even more intense than the real interviews. Through these sessions, I learned how to handle both basic and advanced questions, after which I researched each school’s interview tendencies online and refined my responses. I then repeatedly practiced mock interviews with my wife, who is a returnee with native-level English.
What initially seemed like an unrealistic challenge—applying to business school—could never have ended in a satisfying outcome without Round One’s support. Applying while working full time requires tremendous effort, but I am convinced that Round One, which provides top-tier services online, is the best possible choice for preparing efficiently and achieving the results one seeks.
