| Round | Due Date | Notification
|
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| Round 1 |
Oct 1, 2009 |
Dec. 18, 2009 |
|
| Round 2 |
Jan 5, 2010 |
Mar. 26, 2010 |
|
Round 3
|
Mar 9, 2009 |
May. 14, 2010 |
|
It appears that Wharton's new admissions director is putting his imprint on the application. The first two questions are new. The third is slightly changed from last year. My comments are in red.
Below are the essay questions for the Wharton MBA Class of 2012. We post the essay questions now to allow you to plan your application preparation this year. The full application, which will include questions for recommenders and other application requirements, will be available on our website in August. As you begin to think about your responses to these essay questions, remember that the Admissions Committee is interested in getting to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid, and succinct. Most importantly, we suggest that you be yourself.
2009-2010 Questions – First-Time Applicants
Essay 1 (750-1,000 words)
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?
Business school application questions reflect the values of the school. This question reflects Wharton's consistent emphasis on global business and breadth, as well as its desire for people of initiative and achievement -- people who act and attain based on goals.
This is a goals question in broader framework. How did your goals develop? How will they impact and contribute to more than your bottom line. How will the Wharton MBA allow you to achieve your goals.
Essay 2 (750-1,000 words)
Tell us about a time when you had to adapt by accepting/understanding the perspective of people different from yourself.
This question asks for a focused response, perhaps a PAR response. What were the differences? How did you adapt or come to understand the foreign perspective? What was the outcome of your adaptation? What did you learn from the experience. A good story would work well here.
Use an experience not discussed in essay 1 in responding to this questions. Again, Wharton values breadth. Show yourself acting and affecting people in a different situation than in the previous essay.
Essay 3 (500 words)
Describe a failure that you have experienced. What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself?
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 one from 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.
Essay 4 (500 words)
Choose one of the following:Please complete one of the following two questions:
Which one to choose? Easy. Choose the one, that when added to the other elements of your application, adds a valuable component to the reader's impression of you. Both questions are asking for a specific experience and would do well with an anecdotal response. They can be of a personal of professional nature, but you don't want your application essays to be entirely personal or professional. The following is not cast in concrete, but I typically recommend a ratio of 2:1 professional:non-professional content in the essays.
a. Give us a specific example of a time when you solved a complex problem.
b. Tell us about something significant that you have done to improve yourself, in either your professional and/or personal endeavors.
Essay 5 (Optional) (250 words)
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).
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 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 blemish, then do so. It's better to explain it here than leave admissions readers wondering why you did what you did.
2009-2010 Questions – Re-Applicants
(Please note: re-applicant essays are for those who applied during the application cycle in 2007-08 or 2008-09 only. Reapplicants from 2006-07 or earlier are to complete the first-time applicant essays).
Re-Applicant Essay 1 – (1000 words)
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? How has your candidacy improved since the last time you applied?
Re-Applicant Essay 2 – (500 words)
Describe a failure that you have experienced. What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself?
Re-Applicant Essay 3 – (500 words) Choose one of the following:
a. Give us a specific example of a time when you solved a complex problem.
b. Tell us about something significant that you have done to improve yourself, in either your professional and/or personal endeavors.
Re-Applicant Essay 4 (Optional) – (250 words)
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).
If you are a reapplicant you need to focus on recent activities and ensure that this application addresses weaknesses. Don't simply submit your essays from last year. They didn't work last year, and they are less likely to work this year. Show growth, more responsibility, more impact, and more maturity this time around.
If you are aiming towards round 1 deadlines, now is a great time for you to start on your Wharton application essays, as well as the essays for the other b-schools that have published 2010 MBA essay questions. Not only will you really be ready when those deadlines roll around, you can save 15% on Accepted's (non-rush) MBA essay editing and advising services as well as our Wharton Comprehensive Packages if you purchase on or before July 31, 2009.
