Heart of Wharton
Jon M. Huntsman Hall, the $139.9-million-dollar center of Wharton life, is where most of the business-related action happens at the school. It's the hub of both undergraduate and graduate life; as shown here, Baker Forum is large enough to accommodate the whole undergraduate class. Computer labs, classrooms, two cafés for undergraduates and MBAS, and 57 group study rooms open 24 hours a day help make Huntsman home. Says one undergrad in a BusinessWeek survey, "The mindset that you're in once you enter the Huntsman building is very distinct. You walk a little faster, you work a little harder, more finance-speak comes out."
Undergraduate Life
The little sibling of the MBA, Wharton's undergraduate program is an integral part of the Penn business family. The four-year undergraduate business program is also one of the world's highest ranked. Students apply directly to the program through a separate application, and only 17% of applicants are accepted. About 2,500 undergraduates are enrolled in the program. A substantial number of required classes in the School of Arts & Sciences ensures that Wharton undergrads remain well rounded, and the 114 electives available to undergrads also promise a diversified business education.
Despite a reputation for intense competition that's said to permeate both the graduate and undergraduate business programs, teamwork also plays an important role. Like learning teams for MBAs, undergrads are placed in cohorts of 70 students, who take the mandatory Management 100 course together and also host social activities like laser tag and tailgating. Some cohorts volunteer together for local charities in Philadelphia.
Beyond the Classroom
The undergraduate program emphasizes the real-world application of the textbook business knowledge learned in class. One student, recently surveyed by BusinessWeek, described a day in the life of a Wharton undergrad: "As finance majors, we are trained to be investment bankers—late nights working in small groups, highly competitive. We build financial models using Excel and are expected to be up-to-date on financial news and markets." And the environment supports a healthy dose of knowledge sharing; upperclassmen at Wharton interact with MBAs on a daily basis.
When it comes time for undergrads pursue the job market for themselves, they tend to fare well. Ninety-four percent receive a first job offer within three months of graduation. Top hiring firms include Goldman Sachs, Accenture, and Google.
Life After Wharton
When MBAs leave Wharton's campus after two years, 93% who are searching for a job graduate with an offer in hand. For some, that means a career with one of Wharton's top recruiters: McKinsey & Co., Boston Consulting Group, and Bain & Co., among others. Wharton grads are among the highest paid from any business school; most graduates will make $110,000, in addition to a $25,000 signing bonus.
Alumni
The Wharton family doesn't disband after graduation. Alumni clubs are active in 37 countries. The Wharton brand spreads as each graduating class scatters across the globe; 12% of MBAs relocate to Asia, while 9% work in Europe.