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MBA ADMISSIONS BLOG!
Recommendation Letters: Questions for Your Recommenders

These questions can also be found in the on-line application's "Application Instructions: Recommendation" section, but for your convenience they are below.

Your recommender will find more detailed information via the on-line submission site, but knowing the questions ahead of time can help them to organize their thoughts. Considering these questions ahead of time can also be useful to applicants as they begin to manage the recommendation process.

The AdCom Staff

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1) How long you have known the applicant and describe your relationship to the applicant?

2) How would you rank this applicant relative to his/her peer group? Please describe the peer group to which you are comparing this applicant (e.g., employees with comparable work experience and level of responsibility).

3) How would you describe the applicant's personal integrity?

4) What observations do you have concerning the applicant's leadership abilities, team and/or group skills?

5) How would you describe the applicant's sense of humor (seriously)?

6) What are the applicant's most salient strengths?

7) What are the applicant's weaknesses? What efforts has the applicant made to address these areas?

8) What do you see this candidate doing and achieving in 10 years?

9) Do you have any additional comments that you think would assist the Admissions Committee in making its decision? If yes, please elaborate.

27 Aug 2008 01:01 PM in Application Preparation | Permalink

UPDATED: Wharton Online Feedback Chats

Please note our new updated schedule for our online feedback chats.

On these chats, admissions officers will be providing opportunities for generalized discussion about the reapplication process through online chats, on student2student (http://s2s.wharton.upenn.edu/wh-wharton), on the dates below. While not an opportunity for individualized feedback, these one-hour chats give applicants who did not receive feedback the chance to learn how to manage the reapplication process.

Inside tips for Reapplicants: Online Chats with Wharton MBA Admissions
*to access chats, you must log into student2student online discussion board and click on the "chat" tab*

Wednesday, 30 July, 2008, 5:00 p.m. ET

Monday, 4 August, 2008, 5:00 p.m. ET

In addition, we have extensive information-- inccluding on the student2student (s2) discussion board, on the blog and on our website-- about the review process and how candidates are evaluated. Of particular interest may be the section on "Preparing a Successful Application"at http://mba.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/admissions/process/prepare.php

Many candidates who utilize our online resources find them as effective in preparing a reapplication as direct feedback. In any given year, reapplicants fare well in the application process because they have taken steps to enhance their candidacy or have had more time to reflect on their reasons for an MBA and goals going forward.

Please note that whether or not you receive feedback has no bearing on your admissions decision as a reapplicant.

We hope to meet with you online or at one of our events in the fall (now posted on our website!).

28 Jul 2008 02:26 PM in Application Preparation | Permalink

Reapplicant Online Feedback Chats

One of the more difficult challenges we face in Wharton MBA Admissions is turning away many accomplished candidates. As we have received more than 7,000 applications this year, we were forced to deny many fine applicants who would do well at Wharton and who would contribute to the community.

Applicants who requested feedback through the designated channels were randomly selected to receive sessions with admissions officers. Regrettably, demand for feedback far outstrips our bandwidth to provide it; as much as we would like to provide feedback to all candidates who request this service, the appointments we offered are filled for this year.

However, admissions officers will be providing opportunities for generalized discussion about the reapplication process through online chats, on student2student (http://s2s.wharton.upenn.edu/wh-wharton), on the dates below. While not an opportunity for individualized feedback, these one-hour chats give applicants who did not receive feedback the chance to learn how to manage the reapplication process.

Inside tips for Reapplicants: Online Chats with Wharton MBA Admissions
*to access chats, you must log into student2student online discussion board and click on the "chat" tab*

Friday, 11 July, 2008, 10:00 a.m. ET

Wednesday, 30 July, 2008, 5:00 p.m. ET

Monday, 4 August, 2008, 5:00 p.m. ET

07 Jul 2008 07:57 PM in Application Preparation , Application Processing , Application Strategy | Permalink

Fall 2009 Applicants: Deadlines and Essay Questions Posted

For applicants for admission in Fall 2009 (for the Wharton Class of 2011): below are the deadlines for submitting your application, as well as the essay questions that will be included in that application.

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.

Wharton Fall 2009 Admission: Application Deadlines

Round 1: Thursday, 9 October, 2008
Round 2: Thursday, 8 January, 2009
Round 3: Thursday, 5 March, 2009

Wharton Fall 2009 Admission: Application Essay Questions

First-Time Applicant Questions

1. Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect an MBA from Wharton to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program? (1,000 words)

2. Describe a setback or a failure that you have experienced. What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself? (500 words)

3. Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential? (500 words)

4. Please respond to one (1) of the following questions:

a. Describe an experience you have had innovating or initiating, your lessons learned, the results and impact of your efforts. (500 words)

b. Is there anything about your background or experience that you feel you have not had the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee in your application? If yes, please explain. (500 words)

OPTIONAL: 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, TOEFL waiver request, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words, maximum)

Reapplicant Questions (for candidates who have applied for admission for Fall 2008 or 2007 only)

2. Describe an experience you have had innovating or initiating, your lessons learned, the results and impact of your efforts. (500 words)

3. Please respond to one (1) of the following questions:

a. Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential? (500 words)

01 Jul 2008 02:14 PM in Application Preparation , Application Processing | Permalink

Looking Ahead: Applying for Admission in Fall 2009

As we approach the end of this year's admissions season, we know that many candidates are beginning to think about applying to Wharton for admission in Fall 2009. We very much appreciate your interest in the School, and we look forward to sharing with you our curriculum, community and culture.

Getting to Know Wharton

There are a variety of ways to get to know Wharton, including through our website, at our events around the world and by visiting campus. Our events include general and diversity-targeted receptions, MBA fairs, student and alumni coffee chats, meet-and-greets, and online chats, to name a few. Over the summer, we will begin to post details about events at which Wharton MBA Admissions staff, alumni or current students will be present this fall and winter. Our event calendar is continuously updated, so please check back periodically to find out when Wharton will be in your city.

For those applicants interested in visiting Wharton, we host visitors every day that the office is open and offer an information session given by an admissions officer. In the fall, once classes are back in session, we allow applicants to experience Wharton further by attending a class, having lunch with current students and taking a campus tour.

Fall 2009 Application

Our application will be available online for Fall 2009 applications by late summer. However, we will post our application deadlines, as well as this year's essay questions, right here on our blog before the application goes live (generally, by mid-summer).

For those applicants eager to learn more about the MBA degree now, or to start preparing for the application process, we encourage you to check out the information about making the MBA decision and preparing a successful application on our website. You may also be interested in visiting our student2student discussion board, on which current Wharton students, alumni and admissions officers answer questions from applicants (as well as dispel myths!) about Wharton and the admissions process.

Again, thank you for your interest in Wharton, and we look forward to reading your application.

15 May 2008 04:53 PM in Application Preparation , Application Processing , Application Strategy , Events | Permalink | Comments (2)

Wharton MBA Round 1 Application Deadline is this Thursday, 11 Oct 07!

To All Round 1 Applicants:

Remember that the deadline for Round 1 is this coming Thursday, 11 Oct 07 at 5pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST) or local Philadelphia time. Beat the last minute rush and apply early in the week.

Your online application, including all supporting materials, must arrive in our office by 5pm on Thursday in order to be considered in Round 1 (Incomplete applications will be moved to Round 2. Please note: Round 2 is comparable to Round 1 in terms of admissibility, so no need to worry!)

Any hard copy materials that you need to submit in addition the online application may be sent to:

      MBA Admissions and Financial Aid
      The Wharton School
      University of Pennsylvania
      420 Jon M. Huntsman Hall
      3730 Walnut Street
      Philadelphia, PA 19104.6340
      fax: 215.898.0120
      email: mba.admissions@wharton.upenn.edu

***Check back early next week for more Round 1 details!***

07 Oct 2007 07:05 PM in Application Preparation | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack

Wharton MBA Online Application is Now Live!

The Admission Commitee is happy to announce that the online application for the Wharton MBA Program has just gone live! If you plan to apply for the entering Fall 2008 class, you may now begin...

Check back for our upcoming "MBA Admissions Essentials" series that will guide you in the application process.

23 Aug 2007 04:12 PM in Application Preparation | Permalink | Comments (4)

2007-2008 Application Deadlines & Decision Release Dates

The Wharton MBA application for the entering Fall 2008 class will be available online in early to mid-August. Application essays are listed on our 12 July 07 Blog! posting below.

Application deadlines and decision release dates for the upcoming 2007-2008 recruiting season are:

                  APPLICATION DEADLINE* DECISION RELEASE DATE*
Round 1    11 Oct 2007                            20 Dec 2007
Round 2    03 Jan 2008                            27 Mar 2008
Round 3    28 Feb 2008                         15 May 2008

* applications and all supporting materials must arrive in the Wharton MBA Admissions Office by 5:00pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST) of the deadline date. Decisions will be released by 5pm on the release date.

17 Jul 2007 04:39 PM in Application Preparation | Permalink | Comments (22) | TrackBack

Wharton MBA Admissions Committee Announces 2007-08 Application Essay Questions!

Let the 2007-08 Wharton MBA recruiting season begin! Here are the essays that were just approved today by the Adcom for individuals who plan to apply for the Entering Fall 2008 class. Our online application will go live in early to mid-August. Return here for ongoing updates...

2007-08 WHARTON MBA APPLICANT ESSAY QUESTIONS

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 you be yourself.

First-time Applicant Essays

All first-time applicants are required to complete four essays, with the option of a fifth essay that may be used to address extenuating circumstances. Reapplicants who applied for the Entering Fall 2006 or 2007 Class are to complete the re-applicant essays. All other reapplicants are to complete the first-time applicant essays.

REQUIRED:

1. Describe your career progress to date and your future short-term and long-term career goals. How do you expect a Wharton MBA to help you achieve these goals, and why is now the best time for you to join our program? (1,000 words)

2. Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. What role did you play and what did you learn about yourself? (500 words)

3. Tell us about a situation in which you were an outsider. What did you learn from the experience? (500 words)

4. Please Complete One Of The Following Two Questions:

Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential? (500 words)

Is there anything about your background or experience that you feel you have not had the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee in your application? If yes, please explain. (500 words)

OPTIONAL:

5. 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, TOEFL waiver request, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words)

Re-applicant Essays

Reapplicants are required to complete three essays, with the option of a fourth essay that may be used to address extenuating circumstances. (Please note: re-applicants essays are for Fall 2006 or Fall 2007 applicants only. Reapplicants from prior years are to complete the first-time applicant essays).

REQUIRED:

2. Tell us about a situation in which you were an outsider. What did you learn from the experience? (500 words)

3. Please Complete One Of The Following Two Questions:

Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential? (500 words)

Is there anything about your background or experience that you feel you have not had the opportunity to share with the Admissions Committee in your application? If yes, please explain. (500 words)

OPTIONAL:

4. 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, TOEFL waiver request, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words)

12 Jul 2007 02:17 PM in Application Preparation | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack

MBA Admissions Essential #8: Recommendation Letters

If you’re like most prospective students, you’ve heard plenty of things about what kind of recommendation letter is ideal for b-school. Common urban myth maintains that the best endorsements come from individuals of a certain stature, including:

“C” people (e.g., CEOs, CFOs, CIOs);
business school alumni;
business school professors;
persons with “name recognition;”
politically well-connected individuals; and/or
business moguls. :-)

Sounds persuasive, doesn’t it? This is particularly convincing news when you are trying to distinguish yourself in a highly competitive applicant pool. The truth, however, is that recommender stature would matter IF recommendations assumed a sole or decisive role in the evaluation process and applicants were selected for who they know and not what they know.

In addition to recommendations, other equally important criteria upon which candidates are admitted into MBA programs are academic profile, demonstrated work experience, leadership, management, personal qualities (e.g., integrity, initiative, creativity – the list is as extensive as the attributes that describe human nature), and contribution to school, work, and/or community. The picture that emerges of an applicant based on these combined areas is what drives the evaluation process.

So ignore the word on the street. More important than pedigree or title is how well a recommender knows you. A supervisor who has worked closely with you for a period of time, for example, is in an excellent position to comment in detail about your current skills and future potential. A former professor who knows you from a classroom setting only may not be the best choice if he or she can speak only to your academic performance. We know about your educational background from your transcripts and test scores. What we really need is information about the less measurable elements of your profile.

Avoid the scenario in which far too many candidates find themselves: submitting a recommendation from a political figure, like the President of a country, or a highly placed executive in a well-known organization, neither of whom has worked with you, who begins his or her letter: “I don’t know Jim very well, but what I hear is that he exceptional” or “Ann is the daughter of my colleague and former army buddy. I have known her since she was an infant and can confirm that she is the model of professionalism and integrity.”

So before you act to quickly mobilize any political or business connections you have or seek out colleagues who possess a nice-sounding title, make sure these individuals know you well. A recommendation is only as good as the direct, first-hand knowledge a person has of the person being endorsed.

09 Nov 2006 09:50 AM in Application Preparation | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack