89
Media/Entmt
Mktg/Sales
Self-funded
Oxford-Saïd
MBA
With the support of Mr. & Ms. Round, I was able to gain admission to Oxford, one of my top-choice schools. I am what is often referred to as a “pure domestic” applicant, and my background was not particularly common among MBA applicants, so I approached the application process with a certain degree of anxiety. However, they became a tremendous source of support not only with my essays, but throughout the entire application process.
There are many reasons why I am glad that I chose Round One, but I would especially like to highlight the following three points.
As noted above, my background was not especially “MBA-like,” but when I first spoke with Mr. Round, I was struck by how he genuinely appreciated my background and found it interesting. For applicants who are pure domestic candidates, the MBA application process is often a continuous series of challenges. In my case, it took four attempts to achieve my target GMAT score. Furthermore, when applying to Oxford, I struggled to meet the school’s high English language requirements and only managed to secure the necessary scores just before the 3rd Round deadline. During that period, there were times when things did not go as planned and my motivation dropped significantly. Even so, the consistently positive advice and encouragement I received were an enormous source of emotional support. In terms of essay counseling as well, I have heard that some counselors repeatedly deliver harsh criticism, but Ms. Round’s style—rarely negative, yet always clearly indicating how to improve—suited me perfectly.
At first, I was concerned about the time difference between Japan and Canada, where Mr. & Ms. Round are based, but that concern proved to be completely unnecessary. Essay counseling sessions were generally available in three time slots—morning, afternoon, and evening Japan time. Even then, due to my own schedule, it was sometimes difficult to fit into the standard slots, but they were flexible and accommodating in adjusting times to suit my needs. Before GMAT exams, they also encouraged me to pause essay counseling and focus fully on GMAT preparation. In addition, when unexpected interview invitations arose, interview training sessions were arranged immediately, allowing me to receive timely advice.
During the application process, there were several occasions when I had to respond to unexpected requests or communications from schools. In situations where I was unsure how to proceed on my own, consulting Mr. Round always resulted in effective and practical solutions. I found the support provided for communication with schools—not just essay and interview counseling—to be extremely valuable.
I decided to work with Round One based on a recommendation from someone who had previously used their counseling services. Having now experienced their support firsthand, I can confidently recommend Round One to future applicants who are in the process of choosing a counselor.
