At Wharton, we’re committed to taking the overwhelm out of the MBA Application process. We want to provide you with a better understanding of our application process, and what we’re looking for when we read your application.
“We have a read to admit philosophy, which means that in every application we are looking for reasons to admit you and not reasons to deny you. We are looking for your best day and not your worst.” – Blair Mannix, Director of Admissions
We asked members of our Admissions Committee for their best tips to keep in mind when completing your application.
Alix, Senior Associate Director of Admissions
“Here are some common small errors I see when reading applications. Don’t forget to proofread a few times and get someone else’s eyes on your application before you submit!
• Make sure the date ranges of your degrees and professional experiences on your resume match what you’re adding into your application.
• Be careful when copy/pasting essays from Word or Notepad. Sometimes the formatting can get wonky when pasting into the application, so double check that your essays are easy on the eyes before you submit.
• If you’re applying to more than one school, take extra care to make sure the correct school’s name is in your essays.”
Jake, Director of the Moelis Advance Access Program
“An unfortunate spillover effect from the undergraduate admissions processes is that so many candidates (incorrectly) feel the need to craft some compelling reason(s) for admission. In reality, business school applications contain so much more of a candidate’s history – entire collegiate career, full-time work experience, and other lived experiences – every candidate will naturally be unique in the pool and the best way to find success in the process is to help us forecast their ability to thrive at Wharton and in their future career.”
Jeb, Director of Operations
“Be strategic when crafting your essays – a lot of candidates fall into the trap of reiterating their resumes. We can easily scroll to your resume in the application, so take the opportunity to present new information in your narrative. Feel free to use elements of your other application components as connecting points but avoid a direct rehashing of something you’ve already shared.”
Quinton, Senior Associate Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
“Your short-term and long-term goals are important, but so is your personal narrative of how you’ve arrived at this point in your life. Don’t neglect the story of your journey! It’s made you stronger and an important part of who you are.”
Blair, Director of Admissions
“When you craft your resume, think about who is reading it. The Wharton MBA Admissions Committee is looking to see your development as a professional and we know that does not always reflect in job titles. Think about writing your resume highlighting the skills you have gained and what you have learned as a professional during your career.
A lot of people worry about differentiating themselves in the application process but one thing that I think is important to understand about our side of the table is that applications feel so vastly different so quickly. Every applicant is different, different educational histories, different backgrounds, different career paths and goals for the program.”
The Admissions Committee has created a comprehensive Application Guide available for download to provide insight and advice on submitting a successful application that puts your academic accomplishments, leadership potential, and your personal and community contributions on display.
— Abby Behrends, Associate Director of Marketing and Communication, MBA Admissions
Posted: August 31, 2022
