Wharton Essay 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)
Wharton Essay 1 Tips
This is an important essay where Wharton has combined career progression, goals and "why Wharton MBA" into a wholesome write-up. The length (a full 1000 words) of the essay, stressing the importance Wharton gives it, is both a challenge and a threat. So make this opening essay a tour-de-force that sets the tone for your Wharton application.
The first part of the Wharton essay can be a well defined explanation of Pre-Wharton, Wharton and Post-Wharton phases of your career and life. Be credible in mentioning your Post-Wharton short-term and long-term goals. If possible be specific, both about the industry and the role you are seeking. Uncovering and expressing a logical link between the three phases is a critical element in the essay. While the essay asks about your career plans do not be afraid to bring in non-career aspects that have influenced your choices. In addition to a rough sketch of your career, your main career achievements need to find a place in this first Wharton MBA essay. As long as you don't repeat yourself in the subsequent essays, you can use this opportunity to reveal aspects of your personality that emerge attractively from your career progression stories.
The second part of the Wharton essay question is explicitly Wharton centric. Many Business Schools ask "why MBA" or "why MBA now": Wharton unmistakably asks you "why Wharton" and "why Wharton now". So give the question the respect it deserves and provide logical and well-supported reasons for both questions.
Wharton Essay 2
Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. How did you respond, and what did you learn about yourself? (500 words)
Wharton Essay 2 Tips
This is an almost exact replication of last year's question: Describe a failure or setback that you have experienced. What role did you play and what did you learn about yourself?
As in most failure essays the key to getting it right is to begin your thought process from the second part of the question and then proceed to a significant and credible incident that has left it's mark on you. Wharton, with it's admirable focus on the individual, wants to know your personal reaction to the event and the lessons you learnt from it. Never forget that the failure essay is in reality meant to be a success story where you learnt, improved and readied yourself to be a better leader and (perhaps!) a better person.
While the qualities that you reflected while fire-fighting the incident or it's aftereffects is our core reason for the essay, please take care to choose a failure that is "real". A fluffy failure not only makes for a weak essay but will also probably put you on the hot seat during the Wharton interview.
Wharton Essay 3
Where in your background would we find evidence of your leadership capacity and/or potential? (500 words)
Wharton Essay 3 Tips
Have you read a short story or an article in which YOU were the hero? These Wharton essays should read exactly like that.
Each person has knowledge and qualities that grant him or her the potential to lead in extraordinary ways. This essay is the perfect medium for putting down your leadership experiences (or potential) on paper.
This is a straightforward essay that calls for an revelation of your leadership qualities. Assemble your most significant leadership experiences till date and select one or more instances to portray your leadership capacity in the best light. While you can go back in time in case you want to show leadership progression, do not be stuck in a time capsule. Try to focus a substantial portion of the essay on recent experiences.
If the essay also uncovers your attitude and approach to leadership, the Wharton adcom will not complain.
Wharton Essay 4
Please respond to one 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)
Wharton Essay 4 Tips
Good questions!
A great opportunity to address your innovative and creative side with an apt example that highlight your out-of-the-box thinking. Alternately you can choose an episode where you championed an initiative.
A leadership focused essay with innovation and initiative would be the ideal response as long as you do not tread the same path you have taken in essay 3. Describe the lessons you learnt during the course of this accomplishment. Recount the key consequences of your action - on your team, your organization, the community at large or on a process/product. Irrespective of whether you choose from personal, academic, community or professional experiences, try to give a sense of urgency and a personal tone to the essay.
For the second option, two essay questions from previous years are excellent indications of what you can focus on: "Describe a personal characteristic or quality that will help the Admissions Committee to know you better." and "What do you do best and why?" This Wharton choice gives you complete freedom to choose almost any quality or skill of yours and expound on it with incidents and anecdotes. Choose areas where you have good stories to back you up.
Wharton Optional Essay
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)
Wharton Optional Essay Tips
Wharton's essay lengths are almost always a threat and a challenge; in this case they are also a guide. Wharton is one of the few B School which gives as much as 500 words for a multiple-choice question. And yet the Wharton optional essay is given only 250 words. Being a card carrying member of the Anti-Optional Essay League I can only warn that unless it is absolutely necessary give this one a miss.
Since Wharton's clear focus is in providing you a chance to present an added perspective to any glaring weaknesses in your application, you might try a defense if you feel that is the case. But once again evaluate if the essay is actually going to make the Admissions Committee feel better about your candidature. If you can give strong, credible, mature reasons to explain the weaknesses and counter it with logic and passion, perhaps you can give it a try.
Then think again if the optional essay is a strong constructive addition to your candidacy. If yes, start working on the essay.
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