The Wharton MBA application just came out, and here’s my initial analysis for the changes and the questions.
Wharton is keeping the overall structure of a mandatory career objectives essay and optional sections. The questions about failure and creating a class are gone, while the opportunity and the personal challenge survived. There’s a new question about innovation.
There’s not a specific place for “Why Wharton” or “Why MBA” in the Wharton MBA application, but you still want to address the issue – the question is where.
Yield is up this year at Wharton, despite a decrease in overall applications, and Wharton MBA has accepted more candidates from finance and consulting. If you’re in consulting and finance, it’s probably good news. For more information about your fellow future students check the Wharton MBA Class of 2013 profile.
REQUIRED ESSAY QUESTION:
What are your professional objectives?
Analysis: this is a classic career goals essays, with very limited direction. Talk about your past, present and future – and find a way to connect them. Don’t repeat information from your resume or details that are better discussed in the recommendation letter. Talk about why you are passionate about a specific industry/role. You might not have space to split this into short and long term goals, but make sure to include a vision and go beyond a specific job or title.
RESPOND TO 2 OF THE FOLLOWING 3 QUESTIONS:
1. Reflect on a time when you turned down an opportunity. What was the thought process behind your decision? Would you make the same decision today?
1. Reflect on a time when you turned down an opportunity. What was the thought process behind your decision? Would you make the same decision today?
This question is difficult to answer as you need to find a strong dilemma. Pick this questions if you don’t have a good answer for the 3rd option.
Analysis: talk about your decision making processes – your considerations, appetite for risk, and guiding values. Show your understanding of business, human nature, politics, organization, market place and yourself. Be careful: pick a significant decision, not something that was clearly not a good fit for your personality or career goals.
2. Discuss a time when you faced a challenging interpersonal experience. How did you navigate the situation and what did you learn from it?
To me this would be this would be the question to start with, as most people have interpersonal challenges on a daily basis.
Analysis: talk about conflict but don’t blame others. Analyze your weakness, cultural biases and how you managed feedback. If you are not exposing yourself the essay is probably too superficial and won’t leave a lasting impression on the reader.
3. “Innovation is central to our culture at Wharton. It is a mentality that must encompass every aspect of the School – whether faculty research, teaching or alumni outreach.” – Thomas S. Robertson, Dean, The Wharton School
Keeping this component of our culture in mind, discuss a time when you have been innovative in your personal or professional life.
To figure out whether you should answer the 1st or the 3rd optional question, develop the stories for both and compare their strength and contribution to your overall profile.
Analysis: don’t limit yourself to new technologies or process improvement. You can talk about training for a marathon , building an antique car or learning Spanish as long as they show innovation. If you’re working long hours and don’t have much time for anything else, you can go back to college or talk about something professional.
ADDITIONAL QUESTION FOR REAPPLICANTS:
All reapplicants to Wharton are required to complete the Optional Essay. Please use this space to explain how you have reflected on the previous decision on your application and to discuss any updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, extracurricular/volunteer engagements). You may also use this section to address any extenuating circumstances.
Analysis: noting special here as this is a common essay for re-applicants. To make the most out of this part you need to understand what (if any) went wrong last year, and to identify what events in the last year make you a stronger candidate.
Applying to Wharton? Email yael@admit1mba.com to get a free evaluation of your chances based on your resume. Coupon code WHARTON must be included.
Read the full article: Analysis: Wharton MBA Essays 2011/2012
