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Wharton Business School Admissions Essay Requirements
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)
U.S. News Ranking: 4
BusinessWeek Ranking: 3
Financial Times Ranking: 2
Wharton has long been one of the top MBA programs in the world, and this year is no different. Unlike many of the other top programs, however, Wharton’s essay requirements are fairly light. You only have to write three essays that total just 1500 words (maximum) of writing.
On the one hand, that means you’ll have to spend less time writing these essays than you would if there were a half dozen required prompts and two or three thousand words required. Some applicants will view that as a positive. On the other hand, however, since you will be submitting less writing than you otherwise might, every word is even more important. It’s absolutely imperative that your responses to the essays below be polished, personal, and focused.
Also, because you’ll only be submitting three essays, pay extra attention to make sure that you’re not repeating information between essays or focusing on similar content in the various pieces. You still need to provide a glimpse at multiple elements of yourself, so read the prompts closely and direct your responses at providing detailed answers to each question.
Ready to start writing your Wharton essays? EssayEdge has you covered with detailed analysis of all the 2011-2012 Wharton essay prompts below.
Prompt 1: What are your professional objectives?
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Approaching the prompt With the narrow word count limit of 300, this short essay needs to be designed for only one or two paragraphs. However, Wharton is looking for a broad vision in this essay. Think big. Demonstrate how your professional objectives align with Wharton's commitment to student diversity in terms not only of ethnicity and nationality, but also a broad range of representative industries. What impact do you see yourself having in your career? Keep your focus on the impression you will make on the dynamic, globalizing business world. Common pitfalls Submitting an Undeveloped Essay: At this stage in reading your essays, Wharton is looking for an extended elevator pitch. They want you to intrigue them and demonstrate that you have the kind of vision that would contribute to their school. You will have the opportunity to expand on these ideas in the later essays. Instead of trying to cram too much into this essay, paint in broad strokes while also foreshadowing what the admissions officers will read in the subsequent, longer essays. Focusing on Past Achievements: The decision to attend business school is an investment into your future. The admissions committee has a copy of your CV. Now it is time to tell them about what it is that you want to accomplish as you develop your skills and solidify your career path. No one is asking you to predict the future; the essay is not a contract. It is an opportunity to demonstrate ‘passion and purpose’ in the decision to apply to Wharton. |
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Prompt 2, Option 1: Reflect on a time when you turned down an opportunity. What was the thought process behind your decision? Would you make the same decision today?
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Approaching the prompt For this essay, Wharton is telling you the exact structure they want you to follow: provide a relevant anecdote; describe your thought process; tell the admissions committee if you still agree with your decision today and why. Although examples from the business world are excellent, don’t overlook other areas of your life where you may be able to provide insight into your character and strong decision making skills. It may have been an opportunity for travel, education, or even a date. Moreover, it does not have to be something that you regret. Perhaps you had a situation where the risk was too great and you did not foresee a positive outcome. Ultimately, the circumstances themselves are not as important as your internal process and your ability to reflect meaningfully on that experience. Common pitfalls Making Others/Outside Circumstances the Focus of the Essay: In this essay, Wharton genuinely wants to understand ‘how you tick’. They want access to the process by which you integrate information, evaluate the ‘pros and cons’, and if you can accurately assess the risks/rewards of any given situation. Taking a Negative Tone: Growth is a major aspect of the MBA experience. If you passed up on an opportunity and regret that, write about it here. It makes for captivating essays that really hold the reader's attention. However, you should always take a positive tone and end the essay with how you have become better at assessing opportunities because of that experience. |
Get expert editing to make your MBA essays shine and improve your chance of admission. "Excellent editing job - I was accepted at 5 out of 5 programs! Thank you!" - Rosanna, MBA Extended Service |
Prompt 2, Option 2: Discuss a time when you faced a challenging interpersonal experience. How did you navigate the situation and what did you learn from it?
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Approaching the prompt Even professional human beings are just human, and personality clashes, overinflated egos, and simple raw nerves can make completing the simplest of projects difficult. If you choose this prompt, Wharton is looking for you to show how you managed all of these. While an anecdote about how you used patience and finesse to make your way to success is a good bet, times where you made mistakes are equally compelling. Did you step on someone’s toes? Were you assigned to a less than ideal supervisor and, well, didn’t exactly respond in the most professional manner? If you choose something like this, state upfront that you were wrong and then show how you have integrated this experience into a better interpersonal skill set. Common pitfalls Looking too slick: This is the very nicest way possible of saying that you behaved in a way that was manipulative to others. Wharton wants students with excellent business acumen, and this includes superior interpersonal skills – not Machiavellian tendencies. Be sure that your essay emphasizes respect for all parties and transparency in communications. Showing a Willingness to Compromise Ethics: 'Peace at any price' is a Faustian bargain for any business. When ethics get compromised in the name of making progress, sooner or later negative ramifications will surface. Show a dedication to helping everyone stay on task while also honoring common business ethics and specific company policies. |
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Prompt 2, Option 3: "Innovation is central to our culture at Wharton. It is a mentality that must encompass every aspect of the School - whether faculty research, teaching or alumni outreach." - Thomas S. Robertson, Dean, The Wharton School
Keeping this component of our culture in mind, discuss a time when you have been innovative in your personal or professional life.
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Approaching the prompt This is the most straightforward of the three. However, it does offer quite a bit of leeway in that ‘innovation’ can take numerous forms. Focus on times where you created something or took an action that was unique, particularly if you had a perspective that others overlooked or devalued, but turned out to be the ideal solution. Common pitfalls Thinking the 'Innovation' Aspect of the Essay is Obvious: In all likelihood, the admissions officers do not know you personally. Therefore, it is a huge risk to assume that they will make the needed connections within your essay. Don’t rely on that. Instead, connect the dots very closely between your accomplishments and Dean Robertson’s statement. Not Being Innovative: Because the word ‘innovative’ has supplanted the now cliché ‘thinking outside the box’, it is more often being used to reflect any type of uncommon thinking/acting. For this reason, be sure that your essay reflects something truly innovative as in ‘original’ or ‘never before seen’. |
Whether you need help with brainstorming, revising, or anything in between, EssayEdge can help you write the best essays that you are capable of. "Both of my editors provided excellent comments on how to improve my essays. I also liked that they didn't try to alter my style or make it their own essay." - Jennifer, MBA Standard Service |
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