How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words)
In earlier years this Wharton MBA essay was: "What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA?". Now, the wording has changed - the basic intent and the essence remains the same.
As a first step reflect deeply if you have not already done so, on your post-MBA career goals and longer-term aspirations. Be realistic as well as visionary while detailing your professional goals. When describing your short-term goal, clearly mention the industry and function you want to join after Wharton MBA. It would be helpful to convince the MBA admissions team that your aspirations are a logical extension of your experiences, skills, and interests.
Once you have articulated your future, think about what skills, knowledge, exposure, networks, and thoughts, to need to reach your goals. Then establish a strong connection between your goals and Wharton. Basically, you are at point A and want to reach point B - and Wharton will become your bridge.
With this thinking, you will realize what all you expect to gain from Wharton will aid you in reaching your goals.
To research the Wharton MBA, explore both online and offline modes including the Wharton website, and social media pages, speak with current Wharton students, and alumni, and attend online events, MBA fairs, and coffee chats - to learn as much as possible about the business school.
Think about how the Wharton curriculum, the Wharton Leadership Ventures, the international study opportunities, and immersing yourself in the rich diversity of the Wharton MBA class would propel you towards your goals and aspirations. The objective here is to demonstrate explicitly that your application is a reflection of your committed and specific interest in Wharton.
Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words)
There are several ways in which you can contribute to an MBA program. The keywords here in this essay are - SPECIFIC and MEANINGFUL.
You bring with you your experiences, industry and functional knowledge, your unique perspectives as well as your passions and interests. Find a way in which you could leverage all this to enhance the experience of your peers at Wharton and also the larger MBA community.
Before you start composing this essay, you'll need to do in-depth research on the Wharton MBA program and really understand the opportunities for engagement and contribution. These could be student-led organizations, clubs, activities, or more.
As a first step - we strongly suggest that you connect with the current students and Wharton alumni to understand what different opportunities would be available where you could lead or participate and make a positive impact. These could range from professional and social club activities to conferences, to global programs anything where you as a student can engage and provide your contribution towards the Wharton community.
As a second step - reflect on your strengths, passion, and assets and then make a strong connection between the two. What you are good at and how, with those strengths, you'd contribute to Wharton!
For example, if you are good in sports, then you can talk about getting involved in one of the sports clubs or even starting a new club and using that platform to build better social bonds among the community, or create leadership development opportunities for your classmates.
Whatever area you choose to talk about, make sure it is very specific, e.g. As President of Soccer Club, I would do xxxxx. And be very clear about how that impact would be meaningful to the larger Wharton community.
Go for it!
Please use the space below to highlight any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about your candidacy.
So what all you could write here? Anything that emphasizes your strengths and positions you as a good fit with Wharton.
The adcom already knows about your academics, career paths and goals, your interests and other active pursuits. One way to utilize this opportunity is to talk about the reasons behind your choices. You could build a story and show one or more themes running through your life events. This approach will help the adcom understand the person behind the achievements they see in your application and get a more accurate glimpse of you
Alternatively you could showcase a few of your key strengths that make you proud of yourself. Describe, with examples, your values, your passions, the things you care about in life. Since your first essay might be more heavily focused on work, you could use this space to talk about your outside-of-work interests and passions. You can take several different approaches and think about revealing many facets of your personality. It will also help to think strategically think about those aspects of your profile that will make you an attractive candidate for Wharton. This is your added opportunity to market yourself! You want to show that you have got all that it takes to excel at Wharton. Let your passion and enthusiasm show!
Please use this space to explain how you have reflected on the previous decision on your application and to discuss any updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). You may also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances. (250 words)
If you are a reapplicant, this short, seemingly low profile essay will be one of the most vital essays in your Wharton application.
If you were rejected (or waitlisted) last time, use these 250 words to tell the Wharton Admission Committee that there have been enough changes in your profile to justify a revaluation of your candidature.
Your aim will be to present the professional, academic and personal improvements that make you a stronger candidate for a Penn Wharton admission this year. State persuasively why you deserve a second chance.
What steps have you taken to strengthen your application? Stronger work experience, professional achievements, better GMAT, personal achievements, accomplishments on the social front, international exposure or academic accomplishments can all find place in this reapplicant essay. Proactive Wharton-specific steps taken by you, perhaps based on direct or indirect feedback from Wharton, might prove a trump card. As the Wharton site says, "The most important thing is that you demonstrate through essays, subsequent career growth, and/or academic preparation that you are a stronger candidate who will add to the Wharton community."
Go for it!
Instructions: Please upload all essays together as one document. Please include the question at the beginning of each essay.
Wharton MBA application requires you to submit a one-page resume along with details about your employment and academics. The typical MBA resume format consists of employment, education, and extracurricular details.
Wharton is interested in your functional job skills, breadth and depth of experience, demonstrated leadership and management skills, and your potential for growth. MBA resume tips
Wharton MBA admissions team requires two letters of recommendations from individuals who are well acquainted with your performance in a work setting, preferably from a current or former supervisor.
The title or position of the recommender is not as important as his/her ability to comment knowledgeably and specifically about you. Submit recommendations from people who can speak directly about your aptitudes and capabilities.
Like many top business schools, Wharton asks two main letter of recommendation questions. MBA LOR tips
Interviews for the MBA program are offered by invitation only. If you have been invited to interview, then you will participate in the Wharton MBA Team Based Discussion (TBD).
The Team Based Discussion is meant to model the highly collaborative nature of the Wharton MBA environment in order to identify characteristics (communication style, level of engagement, leadership skills, decision-making process, etc.)
The TBD is a 35 minute exercise that provides an opportunity for you to interact with 4-5 fellow MBA applicants in a lively team setting. Your discussion will have a prompt and a purpose and, as a team, you will work together to achieve a tangible outcome. TBD groups are assigned randomly. Following the TBD, you will participate in a 10-minute one-on-one interview with a member of the admissions team regarding your interest in Wharton. MBA interview tips
