Wharton Essay 1

As a leader in global business, Wharton is committed to sustaining “a truly global presence through its engagement in the world”. What goals are you committed to and why? How do you envision the Wharton MBA contributing to the attainment of those goals? (750-1000 words)

Wharton Essay 1 Tips

Though it has a slightly different prompt this year this first Penn Wharton essay remains a standard "goals essay" wherein you have to combine your career goals and "why Wharton MBA?" into a wholesome write-up. Some lucid thinking and creativity will go a long way in transforming this from a well-disguised sleeping pill to the high point of your Wharton application. So make this opening essay a tour-de-force that sets the tone for your Wharton application.

With “a truly global presence through its engagement in the world” Wharton challenges you to define your goal and explain your vision in a larger context than of an individual's career. Strategic thinking, passion, vision and intelligence: show these in the essay and you'll have my vote.

Though not specifically asked a brief, well defined career progression can be used to logically lead to the Wharton and Post-Wharton phases of your career and life. Be credible in mentioning your career goals; uncovering and expressing a logical link between the past, present and future is a critical element in this essay. While the essay asks about your career plans do not be afraid to bring in non-career aspects that have influenced your choices.

"Why Wharton" is to be dealt with application, research and intelligence. Look beyond cutting/pasting info gleaned from the Penn Wharton website. Personalize your answer as much as possible and provide logical and well-supported reasons for how Wharton will make your career dreams come true.

Wharton Essay 2

Tell us about a time when you had to adapt by accepting/understanding the perspective of people different from yourself. (750-1000 words)

Wharton Essay 2 Tips

This spanking new Wharton essay question lays the ground for you to expound on incidents, situations or actions that have enabled you to assimilate cultural variations at work, play or living environments. The essay can explore your outlook and maturity in cross-cultural interactions.

While your international exposure could form the core of this Wharton MBA application essay, with a "culture shock" experience forming the core of the story, "people different from yourself" being a pretty broad term, you can easily choose almost any experience where a set of people shared a viewpoint different from your own. A conflict of opinion and perspective will make this a far easier essay to write.

Leadership, cultural diversity, people skills, adaptability and a broad open outlook are expected to make best use of the MBA program at Wharton, and an essay that illustrates some or all (and more) of these qualities will stand you in good stead.

It is imperative that the essay underlines your ability to adapt, change and better yourself. After all that is what is expected from you during the Wharton MBA program and in your post-MBA career.

Wharton Essay 3

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

Wharton Essay 3 Tips

This is an almost exact replication of last year's question: "Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself?"

That this question repeats itself in one form or another year after year in the Penn application shows how Wharton wants to see how you handle failure and the attendant learning opportunities therein.

As in most failure essays the key to getting it right is to begin your thought process from the second part of the question and then proceed to a significant and credible incident that has left it's mark on you. Wharton, with it's admirable focus on the individual, wants to know your personal reaction to the event and the lessons you learnt from it. Never forget that the failure essay is in reality meant to be a success story where you learnt, improved and readied yourself to be a better professional, better leader and (perhaps!) a better person.

While the qualities that you reflected while fire-fighting the incident or it's aftereffects remain the core reason for the essay, please take care to choose a failure that is "real". A fluffy failure not only makes for a weak essay but will also probably puts you on the hot seat during the Wharton interview.

Wharton Essay 4

Choose one of the following questions (500 words):

Wharton Essay 4a

a. Give us a specific example of a time when you solved a complex problem.

Wharton Essay 4a Tips

A great opportunity to address your skills in problem solving. The story could focus on your innovation and creativity with an apt example that highlights your out-of-the-box thinking. Alternately you can choose a leadership situation where your diplomacy, intelligence and people skills saved the day.

A leadership focused essay that also exhibits innovation and initiative would be the ideal response as long as you do not tread the same path you have taken in the previous two essays.

Ensure that you choose a truly complicated problem since the more complex your problem the more impressive will be your ability to solve it. A trivial problem not only makes for a weak essay but will also probably put you on the hot seat during the Wharton interview.

Irrespective of whether you choose from personal, academic, community or professional experiences, try to give a sense of urgency and a personal tone to the essay.

Wharton Essay 4b

b. Tell us about something significant that you have done to improve yourself, in either your professional and/or personal endeavors.

Wharton Essay 4b Tips

Once again the person most qualified to give you clues to this essay is the one you see in the mirror. Ask yourself what you consider to be your main areas of improvement in the recent past. Look at personal and professional situations in your life/career and identify which characteristics or qualities you have added on or improved most in the recent past. On the other hand the improvement could be an educational/personal/professional initiative that has improved the way you live/think/are.

Whichever be the case choose a momentous change that changed you and detail how you approached and managed the change. To shortlist your main improvement areas you could refer a few past appraisal forms at work, talk to your colleagues/managers or pick the brains of friends/relatives who have known you for some time.

Wharton Optional Essay

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)

Wharton Optional Essay Tips

Wharton's essay lengths are almost always a threat and a challenge; in this case they are also a guide. Wharton is one of the few B School which gives as much as 500 words for a multiple-choice question. And yet the Wharton optional essay is given only 250 words. Being a card carrying member of the Anti-Optional Essay League I can only warn that unless it is absolutely necessary give this one a miss.

Since Wharton's clear focus is in providing you a chance to present an added perspective to any glaring weaknesses in your application, you might try a defense if you feel that is the case. But once again evaluate if the essay is actually going to make the Admissions Committee feel better about your candidature. If you can give strong, credible, mature reasons to explain the weaknesses and counter it with logic and passion, perhaps you can give it a try.

Then think again if the optional essay is a strong constructive addition to your candidacy. If yes, start working on the essay.

Go for it!

Wharton Essay 1

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

Wharton Essay 1 Tips

This is an important essay where Wharton has combined career progression, goals and "why Wharton MBA" into a wholesome write-up. The length (a full 1000 words) of the essay, stressing the importance Wharton gives it, is both a challenge and a threat. So make this opening essay a tour-de-force that sets the tone for your Wharton application.

The first part of the Wharton essay can be a well defined explanation of Pre-Wharton, Wharton and Post-Wharton phases of your career and life. Be credible in mentioning your Post-Wharton short-term and long-term goals. If possible be specific, both about the industry and the role you are seeking. Uncovering and expressing a logical link between the three phases is a critical element in the essay. While the essay asks about your career plans do not be afraid to bring in non-career aspects that have influenced your choices. In addition to a rough sketch of your career, your main career achievements need to find a place in this first Wharton MBA essay. As long as you don't repeat yourself in the subsequent essays, you can use this opportunity to reveal aspects of your personality that emerge attractively from your career progression stories.

The second part of the Wharton essay question is explicitly Wharton centric. Many Business Schools ask "why MBA" or "why MBA now": Wharton unmistakably asks you "why Wharton" and "why Wharton now". So give the question the respect it deserves and provide logical and well-supported reasons for both questions.

Wharton Essay 2

Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself? (500 words)

Wharton Essay 2 Tips

This is an almost exact replication of last year's question: Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. What role did you play and what did you learn about yourself?

As in most failure essays the key to getting it right is to begin your thought process from the second part of the question and then proceed to a significant and credible incident that has left it's mark on you. Wharton, with it's admirable focus on the individual, wants to know your personal reaction to the event and the lessons you learnt from it. Never forget that the failure essay is in reality meant to be a success story where you learnt, improved and readied yourself to be a better leader and (perhaps!) a better person.

While the qualities that you reflected while fire-fighting the incident or it's aftereffects is our core reason for the essay, please take care to choose a failure that is "real". A fluffy failure not only makes for a weak essay but will also probably put you on the hot seat during the Wharton interview.

Wharton Essay 3

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

Wharton Essay 3 Tips

Have you read a short story or an article in which YOU were the hero? These Wharton essays should read exactly like that.

Each person has knowledge and qualities that grant him or her the potential to lead in extraordinary ways. This essay is the perfect medium for putting down your leadership experiences (or potential) on paper.

This is a straightforward essay that calls for an revelation of your leadership qualities. Assemble your most significant leadership experiences till date and select one or more instances to portray your leadership capacity in the best light. While you can go back in time in case you want to show leadership progression, do not be stuck in a time capsule. Try to focus a substantial portion of the essay on recent experiences.

If the essay also uncovers your attitude and approach to leadership, the Wharton adcom will not complain.

Wharton Essay 4

Please respond to one  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)

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)

Wharton Essay 4 Tips

Good questions!

A great opportunity to address your innovative and creative side with an apt example that highlight your out-of-the-box thinking. Alternately you can choose an episode where you championed an initiative.

A leadership focused essay with innovation and initiative would be the ideal response as long as you do not tread the same path you have taken in essay 3. Describe the lessons you learnt during the course of this accomplishment. Recount the key consequences of your action  - on your team, your organization, the community at large or on a process/product. Irrespective of whether you choose from personal, academic, community or professional experiences, try to give a sense of urgency and a personal tone to the essay.

For the second option, two essay questions from previous years are excellent indications of what you can focus on: "Describe a personal characteristic or quality that will help the Admissions Committee to know you better." and "What do you do best and why?" This Wharton choice gives you complete freedom to choose almost any quality or skill of yours and expound on it with incidents and anecdotes. Choose areas where you have good stories to back you up.

Wharton Optional Essay

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)

Wharton Optional Essay Tips

Wharton's essay lengths are almost always a threat and a challenge; in this case they are also a guide. Wharton is one of the few B School which gives as much as 500 words for a multiple-choice question. And yet the Wharton optional essay is given only 250 words. Being a card carrying member of the Anti-Optional Essay League I can only warn that unless it is absolutely necessary give this one a miss.

Then think again if the optional essay is a strong constructive addition to your candidacy. If yes, start working on the essay.

Go for it!

Wharton Essay 1

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

Wharton Essay 1 Tips

This is an important essay where Wharton has combined career progression, goals and "why Wharton MBA" into a wholesome write-up. The length (a full 1000 words) of the essay, stressing the importance Wharton gives it, is both a challenge and a threat. So make this opening essay a tour-de-force that sets the tone for your Wharton application.

Wharton Essay 2

Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself? (500 words)

Wharton Essay 2 Tips

This is an almost exact replication of last year's question: Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. What role did you play and what did you learn about yourself?

As in most failure essays the key to getting it right is to begin your thought process from the second part of the question and then proceed to a significant and credible incident that has left it's mark on you. Wharton, with it's admirable focus on the individual, wants to know your personal reaction to the event and the lessons you learnt from it. Never forget that the failure essay is in reality meant to be a success story where you learnt, improved and readied yourself to be a better leader and (perhaps!) a better person.

Wharton Essay 3

Tell us about a situation in which you were an outsider. What did you learn from the experience? (500 words)

Wharton Essay 3 Tips

This spanking new Wharton essay question lays the ground for you to expound on incidents, situations or actions that have enabled you to assimilate cultural variations at work, play or living environments. The essay can explore your outlook and maturity in cross-cultural interactions.  While your international exposure could form the core of this Wharton MBA application essay, with a "culture shock" experience forming the core of the story, "outsider" is a very broad term, and you can take the meaning for the word that is able to best illustrate qualities that you want Wharton to know about.

Leadership, cultural diversity, people skills, adaptability and a broad open outlook are expected to make best use of the MBA program at Wharton, and an essay that illustrates some or all (and more) of these qualities will stand you in good stead.

Wharton Essay 4

Complete one of the following two questions:

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

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)

Wharton Essay 4 Tips

Have you read a short story or an article in which YOU were the hero? When these Wharton essays are read that is what you should be.

Each person has knowledge and qualities that grant him or her the potential to do extraordinary things. These essays are the place where you put those experiences (or potential) on paper.

Go for it!

Optional Essay

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)

Optional Essay Tips

If you can give strong, credible, mature reasons to explain any weaknesses in your application and counter it with logic and passion, in a manner that makes the Admissions Committee feel better about your candidature, perhaps you can give it a try.

Wharton Essay 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 Essay 1 Tips

The first part of the Wharton essay can be a well defined explanation of Pre-Wharton, Wharton and Post-Wharton phases of your career and life. Be credible in mentioning your Post-Wharton short-term and long-term goals. If possible be specific, both about the industry and the role you are seeking. Uncovering and expressing a logical link between the three phases is a critical element in the essay.

The second part of the Wharton essay question is explicitly Wharton centric. Many B Schools ask "why MBA" or "why MBA now": Wharton unmistakably asks you "why Wharton" and "why Wharton now". So give the question the respect it deserves and provide logical and well-supported reasons for both questions.

Wharton Essay 2 Tips

Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself? (500 words)

Wharton Essay 2 Tips

As in most failure essays the key to getting it right is to begin your thought process from the second part of the question and then proceed to a significant and credible incident that has left it's mark on you.

While the qualities that you reflected while fire-fighting the incident or it's aftereffects is our core reason for the essay, please take care to choose a failure that is "real". A fluffy failure not only makes for a weak essay but will also probably put you on the hot seat during the Wharton interview.

Wharton Essays 3 and 4

Complete 2 of the following 4 questions (500 words each):

Describe a personal characteristic or quality that will help the Admissions Committee to know you better.

Describe an impact you've had on a team, group or organization. How has this experience been valuable to you or others, and what did you learn?

What do you do best and why?

When have your values, ethics, or morals been challenged? How has this shaped who you are today?

Wharton Essays 3 and 4 Tips

Each person has knowledge and qualities that grant him (or her) the potential to do extraordinary things. These essays are the place where you put those experiences (or potential) on paper.

The first and third Wharton choices give you complete freedom to choose almost any quality or skill of yours and expound on it with incidents and anecdotes. The Wharton second choice should preferably exhibit your leadership qualities. The fourth Wharton choice is a tough call; choose it only if you feel strongly on the subject and have a good story to back it up. In both the Wharton application essay choices, choose facets of yourself that are not exposed in the earlier essays. Do not hesitate to take examples or situations from non-professional or non-career fronts. At least one of the essays can be used as a statement of your personality and your life away from work.

Go for it!

Wharton Optional Essay

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, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words)

Wharton Optional Essay Tips

Since Wharton's clear focus is in providing you a chance to present an added perspective to any glaring weaknesses in your application, you might try a defense if you feel that is the case. If you can give strong, credible, mature reasons to explain the weaknesses and counter it with logic and passion, perhaps you can give it a try.

Go for it!