53
Finance
General Mgmt
Sponsored
LBS
MiF
Admitted program: London Business School – Master in Finance
TOEFL: 102 (R30, L25, S20, W27)
GMAT: 710 (Q48, V38, AWA 5.0)
I was able to conclude the approximately one-year application process to overseas business schools in the best possible way, by gaining admission to my first-choice program, the London Business School Master in Finance. Looking back, I strongly feel that without Round One’s support, it would not have been possible to achieve this result within such a short preparation period of one year.
The competitive advantages of Round One, as I see them, are as follows:
Round One’s support begins with strategic guidance. Drawing on the extensive experience and knowledge of the counselor, Mr. Round, applicants build their application portfolio based on his advice. Because I was applying to a Master’s program (Finance) rather than an MBA, I believe I was a relatively challenging client. Nevertheless, Mr. Round conducted his own research while taking my preferences and aspirations into account, and identified programs that were a good fit for me from among the many finance programs in the U.S. and Europe. At times, I was overly selective—perhaps beyond my own standing—and found it difficult to stay motivated when researching schools I initially ranked lower. Even in those moments, Mr. Round responded professionally and persistently, helping me understand the importance of constructing a well-balanced application portfolio. His attentive advice was both valuable and meaningful. Building an application portfolio helps visualize the subsequent application strategy and schedule, making it a critical first step toward effective preparation. Thanks to Mr. Round’s support, I believe I was able to build an application portfolio that was both ideal and realistic.
Following strategic guidance, the next step is essay counseling. In the initial phase, under the guidance of my assigned counselor, Ms. Round, I carefully reviewed my past experiences and set future goals while developing my CV (résumé). In hindsight, this process not only became an essential foundation for my subsequent essays, but also a deeply valuable opportunity to reflect on myself and seriously consider my future career. Based on this groundwork, Round One follows a proven approach in which clients draft their own essays and then work with counselors to elevate them to a level that meets the rigorous standards of business school admissions. While this approach naturally requires time, it ultimately produces essays that are coherent, consistent, fact-based, authentic, and persuasive—clearly reflecting the applicant’s own motivations and voice.
Round One’s essay counseling operates on an appointment-based system, with dedicated counselors (Mr. Round / Ms. Round) and a limited number of clients. Because I tend to focus intensely on a single task at a time, this structure functioned as an ideal pace-setter. It helped me avoid the critical mistake of neglecting essays due to work demands or TOEFL/GMAT preparation. Conversely, I never experienced the stress of being unable to secure counseling time due to overbooked schedules.
Round One’s services are conducted primarily via Skype and email. This allowed me to save the time and cost of commuting to a counselor’s office, and because sessions took place at home, I could work on other tasks when Ms. Round was reviewing materials. I found this system extremely efficient (some clients reportedly even attend GMAT prep classes during that time). Initially, I worried that non–face-to-face communication might limit effective interaction, but I had opportunities to speak with Mr. Round in person when he visited Japan in late spring and summer. In addition, I could always reach out via email or Skype calls when needed, so I felt almost no disadvantages from the lack of in-person meetings. Because counselors are assigned exclusively, they develop a deep understanding of each client’s personality, strengths, and weaknesses, resulting in efficient, tailored support. The flexibility to add sessions when necessary is another major strength of Round One.
Interview success depends not only on English proficiency, but also on how well one organizes their thoughts in advance and practices delivering them concisely and effectively. With this in mind, I participated in multiple interview training sessions with both Mr. Round and Ms. Round, and I was extremely satisfied with the quality. In the initial Type A training, I completed a 30-minute mock interview with a counselor, followed by a detailed written report outlining my strengths and weaknesses. The interview content closely resembled real interviews, and the report became an invaluable reference for subsequent practice. After reaching a certain level through Type A training, I proceeded to Type B training, which allowed me to receive feedback on each question within a 50-minute session and repeatedly refine my responses. This was particularly effective in strengthening my weak points.
Mr. Round’s character is often praised, and I was truly helped by Round One’s attentive service. As part of strategic guidance, I received advice on how to contact admissions offices, how to phrase emails in English, and the timing and considerations for campus visits. Even during busy periods of essay counseling, it was rare for Mr. Round not to respond within 24 hours. Round One was a consistently reliable presence throughout what is often a lonely application journey. I vividly remember a moment when I asked to pause essay counseling for a month in order to focus on improving my GMAT score. Although this request was sudden and likely not ideal from a business perspective, Mr. Round readily agreed and offered warm encouragement. I was deeply moved by how clearly client interests came first. I believe my subsequent GMAT score improvement was made possible precisely because of this supportive, client-centered approach.
Admission to a top business school requires meeting comprehensive criteria, including background and experience (CV, essays, interviews), test scores (TOEFL, GMAT, GPA), and other factors such as motivation and school fit. Choosing Round One—who truly understands each client and provides integrated support from application strategy through essays and interview preparation—was, for me, a major turning point in securing admission to the LBS Master in Finance program. I sincerely hope that those who are about to apply will also find the best possible partner and achieve outstanding results.
