The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is consistently ranked as one of the top business schools in the world. Admission to Wharton’s prestigious full-time MBA program is extremely competitive, with acceptance rates usually in the low teens. In addition to assessing an applicant’s academic and professional achievements, Wharton aims to select candidates who will add unique perspectives and experiences to their class.
As part of the MBA application process, Wharton asks candidates to respond thoughtfully to three essay questions. These essay questions change slightly each year but generally focus on similar themes of leadership, teamwork, challenges, and goals. The 2016 Wharton essay questions evaluated how applicants have overcome obstacles, contributed as members of a team, and envisioned their careers post-MBA.
The first question asked applicants to discuss a significant challenge or obstacle they have faced and overcome. Wharton wanted to see how candidates solve problems and learn from difficulties or setbacks. Responses should have addressed both the nature of the challenge and the specific steps taken to successfully overcome it. Reflecting on lessons learned and impact on personal development was also important.
Many strong responses to this first question described professional setbacks or obstacles related to career transitions, economic troubles for a company or industry, difficulties managingothers to achieve goals, failed initiatives or projects, or health issues. Personal challenges like family struggles, relationships, or struggles with confidence were also appropriate. Whatever the topic, the most compelling submissions clearly explained both the challenge itself as well as the concrete actions and thought processes that led to overcoming it.
The second essay question evaluated a candidate’s ability to work effectively on a team. Applicants were asked to describe a time when they made substantive contributions as a member of a team. Again, Wharton evaluators wanted to understand both the context as well as specific behaviors and efforts that strengthened the team and project outcomes. Simply acting as a cog in a larger machine or being generally supportive would not suffice.
Highly rated answers to the teamwork question described meaningful, tangible contributions where the candidate played a clearly defined leadership role for part of the team experience. For instance, taking ownership of an important piece of the project, coordinating efforts across a subgroup, resolving conflicts, leading significant discussions or presentations, or dedicating extra effort that advanced overall team success in a measurable way. Providing objective self-assessments along with feedback from teammates carried more weight than self-promotional responses alone.
The third and final essay asked candidates to envision their career goals five years after graduating from Wharton. This forward-looking question aimed to understand each applicant’s post-MBA aspirations, whether those goals be industry focus, job function, leadership responsibilities, geographical area, or specific types of impact and accomplishments sought. Wharton looked for thoughtful self-reflection on career passions, skills, experience so far as well as market or company research pointing to realistic yet appropriately ambitious goals.
Admissions officers wanted to see goals grounded both in applicants’ assessed strengths and interests as well as objective market factors and trends. Responses needed substance beyond generic career aspirations too broad or nonspecific to evaluate. Specific company names or job titles alone held less meaning without deeper context. Compelling submissions conveyed well-defined yet somewhat flexible goals, with clear plans for acquiring experience or skills to achieve them. Explaining how a Wharton education fit into longer term career strategy also created stronger impact. The most intriguing responses balanced optimistically inspiring goals against acknowledgement of inherent challenges and uncertainties.
As this overview shows, Wharton’s 2016 essay questions provided a comprehensive lens into key attributes of leadership, overcoming adversity, collaboration, and future ambition prized in their MBA candidates. Reflective yet substantive responses highlighting concrete experiences, challenges, and thoughtful strategic thinking represented applicants most favorably. While an MBA is an investment towards wider career opportunities, Wharton looked for applicants ready to become valued members of their diverse class as much as future leaders in their industries. Carefully crafting compelling, personal essays offered candidates a meaningful way to differentiate themselves and connect authentically with evaluators.
Overall, the essay exercise gave applicants space to share richer dimensions of their backgrounds, mindsets and goals beyond test scores or resume bullet points. In selecting a class, Wharton reviewed hundreds of data points on each candidate holistically. Essays served as an important qualitative channel for sharing self-knowledge, interpersonal skills, and likelihood of contributing meaningfully both in and beyond the classroom. Those who approached the questions introspectively yet optimistically seemed best positioned to showcase well-rounded strengths aligned with Wharton’s vision.