The two Wharton MBA essay questions are designed to let the admissions committee get to know you on a personal and professional level.
First-time MBA applicants and re-applicants are required to complete both Wharton application essays. The Admissions Committee wants to get to know you on both a professional and personal level. We encourage you to be introspective, candid and succinct. Most importantly, we suggest you be yourself. Below is my advice on how to respond to each required Wharton admissions essay question, along with the overarching strategy to keep in mind for making a compelling case for your candidacy. (For a candid assessment of your chances of admission and to learn more about Fortuna’s MBA coaching services and packages, sign up for a free consultation.)
First, a bit of context. As Wharton’s former head of admissions, I can attest that Wharton is, without a doubt, team-based, but it’s also community-based. With more than 900 students in any incoming class, the Wharton MBA experience is about being part of a much larger organism than your learning team or your cohort. The admissions committee is interested in discerning how your unique experiences will shape the experiences of many of your fellow students, the program, and the institution writ large. Wharton’s two required essay questions explore these cultural values.
Decoding the Wharton MBA Essays
In essence, Wharton’s first essay question asks what you’ll get out of Wharton, while the second question asks what Wharton will get in return. This is a big bottom line for admissions: What are the forces that shape who you are, and how do they shape the kind of leader and community member you will be? Successful essays reflect self-awareness and a profound understanding of the community you’re hoping to join.
Wharton 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)
The first Wharton MBA essay question is straightforward. It asks you to connect a persuasive career vision to how a Wharton MBA will position you to achieve your greatest aspirations. Wharton admissions officers want assurance that you can create a viable path to follow. They understand that while actual industry and functions are variable, but want to be assured that you will enter the program with a sense of purpose.
The question also requires a deep understanding of Wharton’s values, culture and what makes it special. If you don’t convey a nuanced appreciation of its distinctive community and program offerings — gained by thorough research, thoughtful networking and, whenever possible, a campus visit — the admissions committee may not see you as a good fit. It’s key to acknowledge the specific things that stand out about the school and why they are important to you.
With the explicit reference to past experiences “you might consider,” Wharton is really looking to learn about skills you have gained in your career thus far and how these skills will propel you into your MBA program. Using the Wharton MBA degree, what are your short and long-term career goals? The important thing here is to clearly identify your long-term goal and describe how your short-term goal will help get you there. You want to create a cohesive story so Wharton understands where you’ve been, where you’re going, and how they fit into your story.
What do you want to do, and how will Wharton get you there? For a question like this, the “why” behind the goal is as important as the goal itself.
Chicago Booth’s first MBA essay poses a similar question, and my Fortuna colleague Bill Kooser (former Chicago Booth Associate Dean) offers this perspective: “Think of your long-term goal in terms of impact — personal, organizational and social/community wide — not just in terms of a position or role. Why is this goal important to you? What led you to it?”
For a deeper dive and some great examples of short and long-term goals, view this article by Fortuna’s Heidi Hillis on How To Create MBA Goals: Long-Term Vs. Short Term-Career Vision.
Wharton 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)
Your history is really important to Wharton in this question, especially how it relates to the next steps of a Wharton education. The admissions officers want to understand your ‘origin story’ and how it informs the next steps of your leadership journey. They want to know what you envision doing while a student in Philadelphia and then as an alumnus of the school as you continue to make an impact on your wider community.
The specificity of this question’s wording signals that you should connect the dots for the admissions committee between where you are coming from and where you are heading. There is little room for ambiguity but a lot of room for backstory. This essay question invites you to go deeper into clarifying how elements of your identity and background shape your awareness and why it matters going forward. Don’t just reinforce a link to how your background will “aid in my teamwork skills,” or how you’ve developed better communication skills. Rather, share specifics with your reader that go deeper into who you are, what makes you unique and what you stand to offer. The admissions committee wants specifics.
Do you have a background in community organizing that lends itself directly to such activities at Wharton? Does your choice of academic study, family background or culture influence what you have chosen to pursue professionally? In this question, Wharton is offering you a lot of leeway choosing which influences to focus on. Get introspective and be discerning about what historical threads you choose to share and their significance, both for you and the future community with whom you hope to engage.
Let’s Get You In
Fortuna Admissions is a dream team of former MBA admissions directors and officers from top business schools, including Wharton. With our unparalleled collective expertise, we can coach you to develop a clear vision of your goals for business school and beyond. We work closely with you throughout the application process and provide expert guidance at every stage to maximize your chances of admission to a top school.
Our free consultations are consistently rated as the best in the industry. To learn more about Fortuna and assess your chances of admission to Wharton and other top programs, book your free consultation session now.
Want More Advice?
Check out our team’s latest articles, videos, and analysis related to how to get into Wharton:
- MBA Admissions Masterclass: How to get into Wharton
- Acing the Wharton TBD (blog w/ video)
- What is Wharton Looking For? Key Criteria & Qualities of the Ideal Candidate (video)
- Personal MBA Experience: Insider Advice on the Wharton Business School (video)
Fortuna Admissions Cofounder & Director Judith Silverman Hodara is the former head of Admissions at Wharton. If you’re looking for more advice and a personal, candid assessment of your chances, you can sign up now for a free consultation.