64
Finance
Banking-Inv.
Sponsored
NYU-Stern
MBA
Mr. Round is a counselor who works with you to build an application that is powerful yet grounded, and deeply infused with your own genuine intentions.
I was introduced to Round One by a senior colleague at my company. Because the prior reputation was very strong, I did not conduct extensive comparisons in advance. I decided to sign on, thinking that if things did not work out after a few sessions, I would simply change counselors. In reality, the experience met—and in fact exceeded—the reputation. I believe that my acceptance to NYU, a school with which I am extremely satisfied, was made possible by Round One’s high quality and attentive support.
The quality of Mr. Round’s work is exceptionally high. From the perspective of building an application that leads to admission, he provided critical advice and feedback on structure, content development, and nuance. When an essay was truly not acceptable from a professional standpoint, he clearly said so; at the same time, he made every effort to respect and incorporate the applicant’s own intentions, which created a strong sense of trust and reassurance. In addition, drawing on many years of experience and a wealth of accurate information, he strengthened not only the essays but the entire application package, giving it consistency and persuasive power. As a result, I received interview invitations from most top schools, including Harvard.
I was extremely poor at interviews and had a tendency to speak at excessive length. Through practice with Mr. Round, however, I felt that I became much better at delivering concise responses. The practical training sessions, followed by detailed written evaluation reports, were highly effective in strengthening my weaknesses in a short period of time. Round One offers several types of interview training; in addition to the above, there are sessions focused on discussing and refining interview strategies and response content. By using these in combination, I believe I was able to approach a state where I could communicate what I wanted to say in a clear and effective manner.
This is something I now deeply appreciate: through Mr. Round’s sincere and dedicated approach, Round One students maintain strong relationships with him. As a result, when he organized an event in the summer bringing together MBA alumni, many graduates voluntarily gathered. I was able to collect information and hear candid, honest perspectives on various schools. In addition, because many of Mr. Round’s former clients attend top schools, I was treated with great kindness during campus visits. Considering that Round One does not indiscriminately increase the number of students it serves—in order to maintain service quality for each individual (I was told that during my year, the intake was around 30 students annually)—the admission success rate to top schools is truly remarkable.
What one seeks from an MBA naturally varies from person to person. However, when it comes to applications, nearly everything is completed online, making it technically possible to create an application that “looks good” but is built on falsehoods. That said, it is far more likely that a school where you are admitted with an application that is both powerful and grounded—one that genuinely reflects your own intentions—will be a good fit, leading to a more fulfilling study-abroad experience. An MBA does not derive its value from the degree itself, but from how it contributes to one’s career development afterward.
Finally, I would like to touch on what might be considered the drawbacks of Round One (or independent counseling services more generally). First, they do not cover TOEFL or GMAT preparation. Schools often say that essays matter more than test scores, but in reality, top schools are extremely difficult to access without strong scores. This is not a service provided by Round One. Mr. Round does have experience with GMAT preparation and might assist if asked, but applicants should attend a specialized prep school or study diligently on their own. Otherwise, no matter how strong the essays are, one faces a high barrier from the outset. Test scores are essentially a cutoff—but an important one nonetheless.
Another drawback is the cost. During the most intense months, my entire monthly income disappeared into counseling fees. However, cutting corners here and lowering the quality of the application would defeat the purpose. I therefore believe it is important to prepare thoroughly in advance—drafting and refining essays, practicing interviews—so that counseling time can be used as effectively as possible.
In short, while Round One is powerful, top MBA programs are not so lenient that one can be admitted simply by relying entirely on an expensive service. One’s own proactive effort is, quite simply, the most important factor.
I sincerely hope that readers of this admissions experience will find a counselor who is right for them—and that this counselor will be Mr. Round.
