I was notified in early February that I had passed my company’s internal screening for corporate sponsorship. From that point, I immediately began focusing on score-making, but it was not until August that I finally achieved scores competitive enough to apply. I met Mr. Stephen Round in Tokyo in May, and Stephen himself agreed to take charge of my essay counseling. However, having decided on my own that “scores come first,” I did not begin working on my resume or the foundational elements—such as refining my core “Why MBA”—until late July. With first-round deadlines in late September to early October, the preparation period of less than two months was extremely tight. In fact, without Stephen’s highly efficient counseling, it would have been impossible for me to apply to even two schools. Under Stephen’s effective guidance, I was able to thoroughly and efficiently complete, without waste, the identification of past experiences and achievements that formed the basis of my resume, the refinement of my career goals, and the development of a coherent “Why MBA” that tied everything together—just enough to submit applications to two schools.