THE

WHARTON
SCHOOL
 Program Overview

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has earned a reputation as one of the top business
schools in the world, but its reputation as a competitive “finance school” may be unwarranted. While its core
curriculum rests heavily on analytical competence, Wharton has strengths in marketing, entrepreneurship, health
care, and more! The school also places an incredible emphasis on collaboration and the ability to work in teams.

From the Team Based Discussion during the interview to the program’s focus on group academic projects,
Wharton makes teamwork a priority. At matriculation, students are divided into 12 cohorts of approximately
70 students and bond with their section mates via the Pre-Term Olympics and Cluster Cup (which include
friendly games of chess and football, for example) and monthly Cluster Suppers. The cohorts are further
divided into five- to six-person Learning Teams that become like families after three intense pre-term weeks
and a semester of challenging core courses.

At Wharton, students can choose from 19 majors and nearly 200 electives to further pinpoint their study in-
terests. Although finance-based careers are at Wharton’s core, an emphasis on business analytics (the school
launched a new major in this field a few years ago) and tech-based entrepreneurship has emerged. Wharton
is also home to the preeminent health care management program among business schools. Students who
choose the Health Care Management major in their application have access to an alumni mentor program, an
interdisciplinary faculty from various UPenn schools, and assistance with obtaining summer internships within
the field, among other benefits. Wharton describes its marketing faculty as “the largest, most cited, and most
published... in the world” and boasts more than 40 professors in this field. Some may be surprised to learn
that Wharton also has a popular real estate program (2.1% of the Class of 2021 went into real estate post-
graduation) and that the school sends its graduates to such fields as retail (2.5%) and social impact (1.2%).
Finally, the MBA/MA joint degree with the Lauder Institute draws applicants each year with its emphasis on
international studies and an interdisciplinary curriculum.

Most Wharton students live in the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, where they can walk to school
while taking advantage of 2401 Walnut, a satellite Wharton space that hosts academic groups, professional
clubs, and summer startups. However, students also have the opportunity to spend a semester at the school’s
San Francisco campus.

Wharton weeks culminate each Friday in MBA Pub, which is held at The Armory. These meetups are often
themed and provide a chance for students to unwind and connect before the weekend. Students also tout the

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 opportunity for “stretch experiences” at Wharton—a way to try something new and challenging, such as skating
for the intramural hockey team, sleeping under the stars on an MBA Leadership Venture in Antarctica, learning
bhangra for Wharton Dance Studio, or sharing one of those experiences in front of a crowd at Storytellers.

Whether you are interested in professional clubs, such as the Family Business Club, the Social Impact Club,
and the Travel and Hospitality Club; cultural and affinity clubs like the French Association and the Veterans
Club; or clubs with an athletic or social focus, such as the Soccer Club and the Poker Club, Wharton likely has
an option for you! For a fun night of friendly (but heavy!) competition, check out Penn Fight Night, a student-
run amateur boxing event that raises money for local charities and welcomes roughly 2,500 attendees from all
UPenn schools each year to cheer on the boxers from their respective schools.

The Wharton building (called Huntsman
Hall) is nice, but honestly a little small for the
number of students. The Penn campus is
beautiful, though, and more importantly, I’ve
absolutely fallen in love with Philly. There
are so many good places to eat, drink, go
for walks, have picnics, or anything else you
could want as a 20-something in a city. And
it’s so affordable.
I can’t say enough good things about the
career center. They really know what they’re
doing and not only work hard to make
sure you are prepared for applications and
interviews, but also work to source so many
companies to come to campus. They also
do a great job keeping recruiters at bay and
making sure companies are fair to Wharton
students—they really protect our interests!

— Wharton student and former Stratus — Stratus counselor and Wharton

client graduate

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 Curriculum

Wharton has adapted its curriculum to meet the changing requirements of business while maintaining a high
analytical standard. The school offers a core curriculum of courses spanning the areas of communication,
leadership, operations, and finance that are heavily weighted in the first semester. However, two-thirds of the
program requirements are flexible, giving students the freedom to pursue one (or more!) of 19 majors or even
take classes across UPenn’s campus to accomplish their MBA goals. Flexible core course areas include man-
agement, communication, marketing, and accounting.

Many students take advantage of the opportunities available: the internationally focused Lauder MBA/MA
program, the JD/MBA program, or the Health Care Management major. With faculty names including Adam
Grant, courses diving into topics such as big data analytics, and a Venture Initiation Program as part of a
larger entrepreneurial ecosystem, Wharton is constantly reevaluating offerings to reflect new trends and
students’ aspirations.

I first heard Professor Sarah Light speak
during my Wharton Welcome Week—she
taught a mini lecture on innovation and
ethics, and I knew then that I wanted to take
a class with her. I took “Negotiations” with
her this past fall, and it was amazing. She
brings so much energy but also compassion
to her teaching and is able to engage the
class whether in person or over Zoom!
— Wharton student and former Stratus
client
The P3 Program, hosted by the McNulty
Leadership Program, was super valuable!
You meet weekly with a small group of
students to read the book Springboard and
explore what success and happiness means
to you, and how to achieve it. In addition,
I went on a Leadership Venture (also part
of the McNulty Leadership Program) in the
Andes Mountains, and while it may have
been the most uncomfortable and strenuous
week of my life, I’m so glad that I had that
opportunity!

— Stratus counselor and Wharton

graduate

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 Extracurriculars

Some of the most popular pastimes at Wharton include cheering on your closest friends as they skate (or
stumble!) across the ice during Wharton hockey games, watching a member of your Learning Team box a law
school student in the classic black-tie Fight Night, or joining the Wharton Ski and Snowboard Club, which
hosts ski trips where students descend upon a ski community for a weekend of fun.

Wharton students have stepped up to show their support and a desire to better understand their community.
The Return on Equality coalition is backed by faculty and seeks to open discussions on inequalities based on
gender, race, socioeconomic status, and other factors. Out for Business is well-known on campus for taking
action and speaking out in support of LGBTQ+ people and allies (and for hosting the famous White Party).
Other cultural and affinity clubs include Wharton Women in Business, Male Allies, the Greater China Club,
and the Veterans Club.

In addition to clubs committed to international inclusion and identity, Wharton boasts the robust Social Im-
pact Club and Storytellers. Wharton students have also been working to make the school more family friendly
with a Partners Club and a Kids Club.

The Wharton Follies, an annual musical theater production, was first hosted
in 1977 and has since grown into one of the school’s largest organizations on
campus. The entire event is written, performed, and produced by students and
often features faculty members and other Wharton community members in cameo
roles. The theme of the show varies each year; the 2022 event carried the theme
“Follies’ Eleven,” while other past themes have included “Follies’ Angels,” “The
Huntsman Hangover,” “The Book of Wharton,” and “Lord of the GSR.”

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 Statistics

Class Profile
(Class of 2023)
877 5 years 3.6
Class Size Average Work Experience Average Undergraduate GPA

50% 35%
Women International

733 162 162

Average GMAT Average Verbal GRE Average Quantitative GRE

Career Placement Geographical Placement

(Industries, Class of 2021) (Class of 2021)

ƒ Financial Services: 35.1% ƒ United States: 92.4%

ƒ Consulting: 27.2% Š Northeast: 47.5%
ƒ Technology: 18.6% Š West: 25.6%
ƒ Health Care: 5.3% Š Mid-Atlantic: 9.9%
ƒ Retail: 2.5% Š South: 3.5%
ƒ Real Estate: 2.1% Š Southwest: 3.4%
ƒ Media, Entertainment, and Sports: 1.6% Š Midwest: 2.5%
ƒ Consumer Products: 1.4% ƒ International: 7.6%
ƒ Manufacturing: 1.4% Š Asia: 4.4%
ƒ FinTech: 1.2% Š Europe: 1.4%
ƒ Social Impact: 1.2% Š Canada: 1.2%
ƒ Energy: 0.9% Š Other: 0.6%
ƒ Legal and Professional Services: 0.9%
ƒ Future Mobility: 0.5%

Due to rounding, the combined percentages listed may be slightly over or under 100%.

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 Tips for Your Wharton Application Essays

For its application essays, Wharton doubles down and asks two questions that require you to present your
knowledge of its program. In short, Wharton really wants to know that you want to be at the school. So,
thoroughly do your homework before you start writing—talk to students and alumni and attend online or (if
possible) in-person admissions events. Really dig in! Wharton wants to be sure you didn’t just look at a ranking
when choosing a school or that it’s not just your backup option if you don’t get into Harvard Business School
or the Stanford GSB. Wharton wants to feel confident that you will accept a place in its next class. Be ready to
prove it!

? 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)

A strong essay response to this prompt will start by contextualizing your future goals. Although there is no
room here for an extended autobiography, by revealing growth and development professionally or potentially
through a particular interest, you can set the stage to reveal the leap you aspire to take in your career—one
that will be dramatically accelerated via the Wharton MBA.

Your goals should be true to who you are; there is no Wharton-specific goal that the school is hoping for you
to say. However, it is very important that the admissions committee really believes you need an MBA from
Wharton in particular. The school’s question makes this a focal point. Here is where you need to share your
research on the program—not as a data dump, but as a thoughtful discussion of how you will use the Whar-
ton experience to grow. You might almost think of this as an opportunity to share your Wharton game plan.
You can show the admissions committee that you are coming to campus on a clear educational mission (and
remember that education can occur outside the classroom as well!) and that the school can count on you to
execute both during and after your Wharton experience. You can also make it clear how you plan to leverage
their alumni network, which is the largest of any business school. If the admissions committee believes you are
going places, they will want to attach their brand to you!

? 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)

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 This essay is a challenge for many because it has two distinct parts, and if you divide them roughly equally,
you have 200 words, or only a few sentences, for each! In the first, you need to share an anecdote or experi-
ence that is formative or that clearly helped define who you are or how you walk through life. The experience
you describe should clearly illuminate specific values that you hold, and you should explain how you would
apply these values for the better at Wharton. It isn’t enough for you to just say, “I will bring this characteristic
with me to Wharton!” Instead, you need to show that you have a deep understanding of the applicability of
this trait at Wharton. (Where will your impact be felt? How will you contribute?) For example, will your trait
come alive in planning or executing the Wharton Follies, in helping your cohortmates or clustermates with
their job hunt, as a William P. Lauder Leadership Fellow, or all of the above? It doesn’t matter where it mani-
fests; again, it just matters that you have a clear game plan and that you know how you will execute it!

? 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)

This is an opportunity to explain how you have grown since you last applied. Ideally, you have improved on
some aspect(s) of your profile—whether that is a higher test score, more work experience, a promotion, or
something similar. Be sure to explain what it is about the school that motivates you to apply again. This can be
a great way to show the specific and sincere reasons you value a Wharton MBA.

? 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 experi-
ence, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness,
etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words)

This question only needs to be addressed if there are gaps in your employment or some specific situation
where providing background or context would be helpful. Some other examples would be if your recommender
is not your direct supervisor, or maybe your transcript is riddled with holes or bad grades. If you have any spe-
cial extracurricular causes or work that you believe would further illustrate who you are, this would be a good
place to share this aspect of your profile with the admissions committee. Whatever your topic, there is no need
to make this essay any longer than it needs to be to explain your answer. Just briefly provide the necessary
explanation or information without a lot of extraneous commentary.

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