Wharton 2009 MBA Admissions Deadlines, Questions, & Tips

Wharton has posted its 2009 deadlines and essay questions on the adcom blog. My comments are in red.

Wharton Fall 2009 Admission: Application Deadlines

Round 1: Thursday, 9 October, 2008
Round 2: Thursday, 8 January, 2009
Round 3: Thursday, 5 March, 2009
Wharton Fall 2009 Admission: Application Essay Questions First-Time Applicant Questions
1. Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect an MBA from Wharton to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program? (1,000 words)

Wharton's #1 for years has been this classic b-school goals question (or a variation on this theme). This question explicitly asks you to connect the dots between your past, present, and future. Use specifics to highlight your achievements and pivotal experiences in your past. Then show how your future goals developed from those experiences and how Wharton will help you to achieve your goals.

Make sure you address the Why Now part of the question. It doesn't ask why is now a good time for you to leave the work force or get an MBA, but it asks why is now the right time for you to attend Wharton.


2. Describe a setback or a failure that you have experienced. What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself? (500 words)

Like most failure questions, this is not an easy one to answer. It requires honesty and candor...and a little damage control. So choose a real failure, preferably a few years ago so that you can show how you handled a different situation with aplomb since the initial bomb. Also, try to use this question, and all questions, to bring out a different side of you.


3. Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential? (500 words)

Optional last year, this question is now required. The best way to show "capacity and/or potential" is to discuss 1-3 times when you led. Title is not important; deed is. Examples illustrating your leadership style will be far more compelling than a list. Leave lists in boxes, not in essays.

4. Please respond to one (1) of the following questions:

a. Describe an experience you have had innovating or initiating, your lessons learned, the results and impact of your efforts. (500 words)

This question begs for an anecdotal response, and your story has to demonstrate initiative. Creativity will spice it up too. Then add the dressing: lessons learned and impact. Lessons learned are usually qualitative. Impact is usually quantitative.

b. Is there anything about your background or experience that you feel you have not had the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee in your application? If yes, please explain. (500 words)


If your previous essays show leadership and teamwork, then use this essay to show breadth or simply to reveal something distinctive about your background. Wharton values breadth so if you started a small business in college or along side your full-time employment, this essay may be a great place to bring out that side of you. Or the fact that you are a singer, guitar player, butterfly collector, marathon runner, mountain climber, environmental activist... the list could go on and on. Let both the breadth of your experience and your individuality shine through.

OPTIONAL: If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, TOEFL waiver request, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words, maximum)

Wharton's optional question is a narrowly defined one. It is not the place to talk about extra-curricular achievements. It's for weaknesses and extenuating circumstances, and it probably is not the note you on which you would prefer to close your essays. If you can, turn lemons into lemonade by describing how you ultimately overcame those nasty circumstances. Alternatively, if it fits, tuck a negative into another essay.. However, if the other essays are strong and this is the best place to explain a blot on your record, then do so. It's better to explain it here than leave admissions readers wondering why you did what you did.

Reapplicant Questions (for candidates who have applied for admission for Fall 2008 or 2007 only)

1. Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect an MBA from Wharton to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program? How has your candidacy improved since the last time you applied? (1,000 words)

2. Describe an experience you have had innovating or initiating, your lessons learned, the results and impact of your efforts. (500 words)

3. Please respond to one (1) of the following questions:

a. Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential? (500 words)

b. Is there anything about your background or experience that you feel you have not had the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee in your application? If yes, please explain. (500 words)

OPTIONAL: If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, TOEFL waiver request, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words, maximum
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