How to get into Wharton

Wharton is one of the oldest and most reputed business schools in the world and that makes its admissions process one of the most competitive in the world. However, even with such strong competition, Wharton follows an admissions policy of ‘Read to Admit.’ The admissions committee weighs in all the components of your application before making a decision on your candidacy and looks for reasons to admit you rather than looking for reasons to deny admission.

So, how do you convince the Wharton admissions committee of your candidacy? Take a look at this article to know how to get into Wharton.

What makes Wharton one of the most sought after business schools?

• Reputation for academic excellence: Wharton is consistently ranked among the top business schools in the world for its MBA program and is known for its rigorous curriculum and emphasis on practical, hands-on learning experiences.
• Strong alumni network: Wharton has a large and accomplished alumni network, which can provide MBA students with valuable networking opportunities and mentorship. Wharton’s alumni network is over 100,000 alumni spread throughout 153 countries. Here are some famous alumni of Wharton’s MBA program:
  • Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet and Google
  • Ashwini Vaishnaw, Indian Politician and Minister of Railways and Minister of IT and Communications
  • Robert S. Kapito, founder and president of BlackRock (the world’s largest asset manager)
  • Rakesh Gangwal, chairman and CEO of US Airways
  • Vikram Limaye, Managing Director and CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India Limited
  • Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Group
  • Sachin Pilot, Indian politician
• Location: Wharton is located in Philadelphia, which is a major business hub and home to many Fortune 500 companies such as Comcast, providing MBA students with access to a wide range of internships, job opportunities, and industry events.
• Diverse and accomplished faculty: Wharton has a diverse and accomplished faculty, which includes experts in various fields of business, providing MBA students with access to the latest knowledge and research.
• Global reach: Wharton MBA program has a global reach, with students, alumni, and partnerships around the world, offering a diverse learning environment.
• Entrepreneurial focus: Wharton MBA program has a strong focus on entrepreneurship and innovation, with resources and programs to support student ventures and startups.
• Curriculum flexibility: Wharton MBA program offers a wide range of elective courses and opportunities for specialized study, allowing students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals.
• Career services: Wharton MBA program offers a wide range of career services, including career coaching, networking events, and job search resources, to help students launch their careers after graduation.
• Research opportunities: Wharton MBA program offers research opportunities that allow students to contribute to the business community and deepen their knowledge in specific areas.
• Networking opportunities: Wharton MBA program provides students with opportunities to engage with business leaders and professionals through guest speaker sessions, case studies, conferences, career treks, and off-site visits.

Wharton MBA Class of 2024

Enrollment

Applications Received by Wharton – 6,319

Total Enrolled – 877

Enrollment rate – 13.8%

Test Scores, GPA, and work experience

Average work experience – 5 years

Average GPA – 3.6 on a 4-point scale

GMAT Score

• Average GMAT – 733
• GMAT Range: 530-790

GRE Score

• Average GRE Quant – 162
• Average GRE Verbal – 162

Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate Major	Percentage of Wharton Class of 2024
STEM	34%
Humanities	34%
Business	32%

Pre MBA Industry of Wharton MBA Class of 2024

Pre-MBA industry	% of Wharton class of 2024
Consulting	27%
Technology	12%
Nonprofit/Government	12%
Venture Capital/Private Equity	9%
Other	9%
Investment Baking	8%
Investment Management	7%
Financial Services	5%
Health Care	5%
Energy	2%
Media/Entertainment	2%
CPG	2%
Retail	1%

What does Wharton look for in applicants?

Wharton looks for a variety of qualities in its full-time MBA applicants. Some of the key qualities include:

• Leadership potential: Wharton is looking for applicants who have a demonstrated track record of leadership, whether in their professional or personal lives, and demonstrate the ability to lead and inspire others.
• Strong work experience: Wharton values applicants who have a minimum of 2-3 years of professional experience, and also values diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Intellectual curiosity: Wharton seeks applicants who have a passion for learning and are eager to take on new challenges, and those who have demonstrated their intellectual curiosity in the past.
• Teamwork and collaboration: Wharton values applicants who are able to work effectively in a team and have a collaborative approach to problem-solving.
• Communicative skills: Wharton looks for applicants who have strong written and verbal communication skills, as they will be expected to participate in group discussions and presentations.
• Adaptability: Wharton values applicants who are able to adapt to new situations, are flexible, and can cope with change.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: Wharton encourages applicants with entrepreneurial mindset, who are willing to take risks and create something new.
• Global perspective: Wharton values applicants with a global perspective, who have had international experiences, are comfortable working with people from different cultures, and are interested in global business issues.
• Ethical awareness: Wharton values applicants who have a sense of social and environmental responsibility and have demonstrated an understanding of the role of business in society.
• Strong academic background: While Wharton looks at the overall package of the candidate, they also look for applicants with a strong academic background and good GMAT/GRE scores.

These are some of the key characteristics that Wharton looks for in MBA applicants. However, it’s important to note that they also take into account the unique characteristics of each individual.

How to get into Wharton

Wharton MBA admissions is a tough nut to crack. However, there are a few steps you can take to improve your chances of getting into Wharton.

Step 1 – Assess your baseline scores

Although Wharton has no minimum score criteria for GPA, GMAT, or GRE, the admissions team places special emphasis on your test scores and college grades. Wharton also focuses on the duration and quality of your work experience, any honors or recognitions, and leadership experience. You need to have a high GPA and GMAT/GRE scores. This is where the class profile data comes in handy. The average GPA for the Class of 2024 is 3.6, average GMAT score is 733, average GRE quant and verbal scores are 162 each, and average work experience is 5 years. You will be expected to have at least these average numbers if you want to be looked at as a serious applicant. Moreover, the quantitative scores that measure your math, and data analysis skills tend to be more important.

Therefore, before applying to Wharton, assess your baseline and estimate the amount of work you need to put in to be considered a serious Wharton MBA applicant.

Step 2 – Do your research

The first thing that you need to know is Wharton’s admissions philosophy i.e., “Read to Admit.” According to Blair Mannix, Wharton MBA admissions director, for every application to the Wharton MBA program, the admissions team is looking for reasons to admit and not for reasons to deny. 

In this video, Blair Mannix explains and provides tips related to Wharton’s MBA admissions process.

Apart from these tips, there are several steps you can take to research for your Wharton MBA application:

• Visit the Wharton MBA website to learn about the program’s curriculum, admissions requirements, and application deadlines.
• Review the profile of current students and alumni to understand what type of students Wharton is looking for.
• Attend an information session or webinar to learn more about the program and ask questions.
• Talk to current students and alumni to get their perspectives on the program and the admissions process.
• Research the industry and companies that interest you, as well as their location to understand the opportunities available to Wharton graduates.
• Research the faculty, their expertise, and their areas of research to understand the resources available to students
• Research the different clubs, student groups, conferences, and centers available at Wharton to understand the resources available to students.
• Research the career services support provided by Wharton to understand the resources available to students through the program.

Overall, research is a crucial part of the MBA admissions process. It will help you understand what the program has to offer, and how it aligns with your career goals.

Step 3 – Create impeccable essays

Writing a good essay for your Wharton MBA application is essential to making a strong impression on the admissions committee. Wharton asks its applicants to write two mandatory essays. Re-applicants also have the opportunity to write a reapplicant essay. Applicants also have the opportunity to write an optional essay.

Here are the essay prompts:

Essay 1: 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)

Essay 2: Essay 2: 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)

Required Essay for all Reapplicants: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)

Optional Essay: Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words)

Here are some tips to help you write a compelling essay:

• Understand the prompt: Before you begin writing, make sure you understand the prompt and what the admissions committee is looking for in your essay. Do check out the video shared right below this section. 
• Be specific: Use specific examples and anecdotes to illustrate your points and make your essays more interesting to read.
• Show, don’t tell: Instead of simply listing your accomplishments, use concrete examples to show how you have demonstrated leadership, teamwork, or other important qualities.
• Be authentic: Write in your own voice and be honest about your experiences and achievements. Avoid exaggerating or making things up.
• Proofread: Make sure your essay is free of spelling and grammar errors.
• Tailor the essay to Wharton: Show why you are a good fit for Wharton specifically, and how the school’s resources align with your goals. This will require in-depth primary and secondary research. As a first step, you can begin with secondary research wherein you can glean significant information from Wharton’s student blog, website, social media channels, club pages and more. Additionally, primary research is an important next step. We recommend that you speak with students involved with the activities and academic endeavors that you are most interested in.  
• Show how you will contribute to the community: Explain how you will contribute to the Wharton community and how you will add value to the class.
• Keep it concise: most MBA programs, including Wharton, have a word limit for their essays. Be sure to stick to the word limit and make every word count. In fact, even if you wish to exceed the word limit, you cannot do so as you have to paste your essay responses in the applicant portal and Wharton’s MBA application portal does not allow you to exceed the word limit by even one word. 

Here are a few more essay tips from Blair Mannix, The MBA admissions director at Wharton.

Remember, the admissions committee is looking for applicants who are a good fit for the program and who will make the most of the resources and opportunities available at Wharton. By following these tips, you can write essays that help you stand out and make a strong impression on the admissions committee.

Step 4 – Create a strong resume and secure strong letters of recommendation

Wharton places special emphasis on the resume and letters of recommendation. 

In order to be considered for admission to Wharton, candidates must submit two letters of recommendation from recommenders that have directly experienced a candidate’s work product and interactions with others for at least nine months and can offer honest, concrete, and fact-based stories and observations.

In addition to choosing some adjectives about you, there are two required prompts for recommenders: 

1. Please provide example(s) that illustrate why you believe this candidate will find success in the Wharton MBA classroom. (300 words)
2. Please provide example(s) that illustrate why you believe this candidate will find success throughout their career. (300 words)

The letters of recommendations are a crucial aspect of your application. According to Blair Mannix, Wharton admissions team puts a lot of thought into the questions and analyzes each word that your recommender writes. She goes on to say that you can say many things about yourself but the words someone says on your behalf are really powerful to them. In fact, it is with this philosophy that Wharton has a recommendation process that is totally different from other MBA programs. In other words, Wharton does not follow the common recommendation format, i.e. the GMAC common LOR format, followed by most top schools. 

Here is what Blair says about the letter of recommendation

As far as your resume is concerned, here are the tips you’ll need

Please submit a single-page resume. Through your resume, the Wharton MBA admissions committee looks at things like your job-specific abilities, your level of experience, your track record in leadership and management, and your potential for advancement. What matters more to them than how long you’ve been employed is how much you’ve learned in your roles.

Apart from these tips, Wharton also shares a few guidelines:

• Only include the important parts of your document. Do not include pictures, graphics, and unnecessary text.
• Save the resume as a .pdf file with the proper 3-letter extension. Please do not attempt to upload a document that is password-protected or that contains macros. This will cause the process to fail.
• Close the .pdf file.
• Check the size of your file. It should not exceed 10 MB.
• Upload your file using the buttons.
• Make sure the final document is clearly legible. Illegible documents will not be accepted and will delay the evaluation of your application.

Take a look at this video where Blair Mannix shares a few tips on resume for Wharton MBA admissions.

Step 5 – Prepare and ace the Wharton team-based discussion interview

If your application is deemed fit for Wharton, you’ll be invited to participate in the team based interview, also known as Wharton TBD. In the interview mail, you will find two things:

1. The prompt for the team based discussion
2. Slot you can pick within a three-week time period

The TBD is a 35-minute activity, not including personal interview, and it allows you to work with four to five other MBA applicants in an engaging group setting. Each discussion will be guided by a question or topic, and the group will work together to produce a real result. TBD groups are determined based on the slot you select for your interview. TBDs are held on Zoom. Following the TBD, you will have a 10-minute personal interview with a member of the admissions team to discuss your motivations for applying to Wharton.

In preparation for your interview, the MBA Admissions team will give you all the information you need about the TBD. The next step is to reflect on your professional and personal background and determine which of your abilities and methods would be most useful in a team environment.

Here are 7 tips for the Wharton team based interview:

1. Prepare a complete pitch: Some candidates focus on two or three requirements and miss out on some parts of the question. Read the prompt multiple times and make sure you don’t miss any part of the prompt as part of your response.
2. Time your pitch: Make sure you complete your pitch within the allocated 1 minute timeframe to ensure you don’t seem like a bad actor who is trying to gain an unfair advantage over other team members.
3. Practice: it can be uncanny to observe yourself in team settings. To the extent possible, record yourself on video during team interactions and view the video later to see if that’s how you want to present yourself.
4. Connection Check: This one is very obvious but sometimes it is the obvious things that let us down. If you don’t use Zoom meetings for video calls, make sure you break out of that mold and hold your meetings on video hereon so that you know if there are connectivity issues and you need to have a backup plan. Prior to your TBD, make sure you update your Zoom client to the latest version to avoid audio/video issues. Do not leave this step for the last minute as Zoom updates can sometimes take a few minutes.
5. Headphones: A good pair of headphones can be essential to avoid echo and make sure your voice creates an impact on the group. Last year, there was one successful candidate who sounded more impactful as a result of paying attention to this step.
6. Lighting & Background: With Zoom becoming the new normal, there is no excuse for not having good lighting. If your interview will be during the day, make sure you test your video during day time from your exact location to ensure there are no shadows or bad lighting spots preventing you from putting your best foot forward. Similarly, with your background, go for something solid that is not distracting. I recommend having the blur feature within Zoom turned off. While it is helpful, it can also lead to a suboptimal viewing experience when you move around and your limbs disappear!
7. Prepare for the personal interview: In all the anxiety to prepare for the team-based discussion or TBD, candidates sometimes end up spending inadequate time on the personal interview preparation. While Wharton’s two-question format is fairly straightforward, it still warrants attention.

Final Thoughts

The admissions procedure to Wharton MBA is extremely difficult, with thousands of applicants submitting their materials year. However, your chances of acceptance might be improved by familiarizing yourself with the procedure and the standards used to assess your application. A winning application will highlight your unique mix of abilities, experiences, and educational background to set you apart from other applicants. Emphasis should be placed on how well you match the school’s culture and mission, as well as your demonstrated leadership skills, professional achievements, and personal values. It’s also crucial to submit a well-written application that sticks to the rules. Recommendations from others and how well an individual does in the interview are also major considerations. If you put in the time and effort to prepare a well-thought-out application, you can improve your chances of getting into Wharton.

If you need support with your MBA application or are unclear about any aspect of the MBA admissions process, take the help of an MBA admissions consultant. We can help you get into Wharton with our decade-long expertise and experience in admissions consulting. In fact, Crack the MBA’s founder is a Wharton alumna. Finally, feel free to reach out to our team at crackthemba@gmail.com so we can help you put your best foot forward!