Wharton MBA 2017 - 2018: Essay Tips and Guidance

Essay 1:  What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words)

We recommend using half the essay (i.e., approx. 250 words), for briefly describing your past experiences and your goals.

Use the second half of the essay to describe what you hope to gain from the MBA - and it should be evident how that helps you achieve your professional goals.

• The most important test for this essay: The bridge between your experiences, the MBA, and your future goals should be clearly laid out.
• If you are looking for a career change - be honest and authentic about this - don't try to cover up and "fake" a transition bridge that is not aligned with your real goals - the AdCom can usually sniff this out. 

The essay is ONLY asking for professional takeaways from the MBA - not personal - so it is best to avoid any references to personal background or experiences - unless they are absolutely relevant to your story


Essay 2:  Teamwork is at the core of the Wharton MBA experience with each student contributing unique elements to our collaborative culture. How will you contribute to the Wharton community? (400 words)

Wharton truly prides itself on its collaborative culture - learning teams are formed with that in mind and students almost always cite the diversity of their learning teams as one of their most enriching parts of the Wharton MBA experience.

In answering this question, our best recommendation is to be as specific as you possibly can.  Stay away from generic, "motherhood and apple pie" statements about diversity, your cultural experiences, etc.  Be specific in terms of...

• Sharing your knowledge – how will you creatively share your knowledge and experiences with others who are interested in learning from you?  Think with an open mind, and don’t hesitate to be innovative! 
• Contribution to co-curricular and extracurricular clubs – e.g., the Energy club or the Entrepreneurship club, and how will you serve them? 
• Contributions to the classroom – which classes can you add specific value to?  How will you do so?  Can also be very creative with this!
• Networking / professional engagement with industry – what type of professional network do you bring with you and how will you tap this network to bring speakers, recruiters, etc. to Wharton? 

Interested in getting your essays reviewed by an alum, or in speaking to a Wharton alum to discuss your application?  Email us at essaycritique@gmail.com

Wharton MBA Essay Tips and Guidance 2013 - 2014

What do you aspire to achieve, personally and professionally, through the Wharton MBA? (500 words)

One half of this essay is pretty straightforward – in the professional side of this, include:

• Your past experiences (very briefly)
• Short-term and long-term goals
• How the MBA, and specifically Wharton, will allow you to meet those goals

The bridge between your current experiences, the MBA, and your future goals should be clearly laid out.

The personal front is slightly more challenging, since it can be difficult to articulate how the MBA fits into your personal life and trajectory.  A few things to address in this:

• Address your planned extra-curricular activities at Wharton – clubs and activities that you will participate in, interests and hobbies that you will pursue, etc. 
• Your engagement with the classroom and classmates – what diversity groups you will join, how you will engage with classmates, travel on treks, etc. 
• Non-profit or community service experiences – what you will participate in and how you will use it to further future interests
• Family life / living situation – if you plan to move internationally after the MBA, etc. 

We recommend using half the essay (i.e., approx. 250 words), for each, the professional and personal aspects of your story.


Academic engagement is an important element of the Wharton MBA experience. How do you see yourself contributing to our learning community? (500 words)

Every candidate will bring a unique set of professional experiences – in this essay, the school wants to know how you will utilize your past professional experience to add value to the academic side of school.

First, discuss what past experiences and knowledge you specifically will bring.  Then, there are a few ways of addressing how you will utilize them at Wharton:

• Sharing your knowledge – how will you creatively share your knowledge and experiences with others who are interested in learning from you?  Think with an open mind, and don’t hesitate to be innovative! 
• Contribution to co-curricular clubs – e.g., the Energy club or the Entrepreneurship club, and how will you serve them? 
• Contributions to the classroom – which classes can you add specific value to?  How will you do so?  Can also be very creative with this!
• Networking / professional engagement with industry – what type of professional network do you bring with you and how will you tap this network to bring speakers, recruiters, etc. to Wharton? 

Interested in getting your essays reviewed by an alum, or in speaking to a Wharton alum to discuss your application?  Email us at essaycritique@gmail.com