47
Finance
Legal
Self-funded
Chicago-Booth
MBA
This spring, I was finally admitted to Chicago Booth, which I had set as my first-choice school from the moment I decided to pursue an MBA abroad. I write “finally” because this was my second time applying to MBA programs.
As a self-funded applicant with limited financial flexibility, in my first year I tried to cut costs wherever possible. When I saw other applicants spending hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of yen on essay counseling, I wondered whether it was really necessary. As a result, I relied on inexpensive online editing services for my essays, and for each résumé or essay I worked with a different counselor. The outcome was admission only to safety schools. I was rejected by all of my first-choice schools. I kept asking myself what had gone wrong. The counselors had told me, “These are good essays,” after all. That was when I recalled a phrase I had once heard: “An application must be a coherent, unified package.”
Résumé, essays, recommendation letters, application forms, test scores—every element must work together to fully and consistently represent a single applicant: *me*. Seen in that light, my first-year application was a patchwork created by multiple counselors who did not truly know me. Even if costs were kept down, failing to gain admission to my target schools ultimately defeated the purpose. So in my second application cycle, I decided that even if it cost more, I would work with one counselor who would take the time to truly understand me, and carefully build each school’s application from the ground up. After researching my options, I became interested in Mr. Round’s small, selective counseling approach and scheduled a meeting. His attentive, sincere, and calm manner—and his ability to objectively identify my strengths and weaknesses—convinced me to place my trust in him and see the process through.
For essay counseling, I worked with Mr. Round’s sister, Emma. We built the application package efficiently and systematically, in the order of completing my résumé, clarifying my career goals and appropriate recommenders, and then writing essays. Career goals, in particular, are the most critical element for self-funded applicants. I believe my lack of clarity in this area was the main reason I failed to achieve strong results the previous year. Career goals naturally evolve after entering business school, and admissions committees understand that. However, unless you can convincingly explain, “This is what I want to accomplish, and this is why I need an MBA,” admissions committees have no compelling reason to admit you— no matter how strong your test scores or application materials may be. Because Emma herself is an MBA graduate and a business professional, she was able to provide extremely valuable guidance in shaping career goals that admissions committees would find credible and compelling. In this respect, I believe she has a clear advantage over counselors who do not hold an MBA.
Finally, there is something I would like to share with those who are about to begin the MBA application process. The single most important thing you need is “mental strength.” Test scores and essays are, of course, important—but without psychological resilience, it is impossible to endure the long application journey. You will constantly find yourself worrying, “Will I really get admitted?” and rumors will circulate endlessly—“You need a GMAT score of at least X for that school,” or “This school prefers company-sponsored applicants.” It is easy to be shaken by such noise, and many of you will experience this to some degree. When that happens, do not let it overwhelm you. Find ways to relieve stress and take breaks when needed. And if you have even the slightest concern, do not hesitate to consult Mr. Round or Emma. They will carefully and thoroughly address each anxiety, one by one.
I sincerely wish you all the very best in your application journey.
