Wharton MBA Admission Counselors

A Guide to the Wharton MBA Admissions Process - Essays, Interviews & Deadlines

About Wharton

The Wharton MBA program is consistently ranked as one of the top business schools in the world. While many people consider Wharton for its finance curriculum, there are currently 18 different majors to choose from. According to Forbes, the school has produced the most billionaires in the U.S. including Warren Buffet and Elon Musk.

The alumni network is 90,000+ members strong.  So what does it take to get accepted to this ivy league school?​

What is Wharton Looking For?

Wharton looks for students who have focused career goals and want to make an impact. They look for unique stories and diverse backgrounds, bringing in applicants from all over the world. Academics are extremely important along with leadership potential.

Because many of the courses at Wharton are quant heavy, the admissions team places an emphasis on applicants’ GMAT scores and prior quantitative courses taken. The GMAT is a very good indicator as to how well you will perform in the classes at Wharton. If you are having a tough time with the GMAT, a tutor will likely be recommended AND/OR possibly taking an advanced math class to prove you can handle the quantitative courses.

Wharton MBA Admission Counselors

Wharton MBA Admission Requirements

The Wharton MBA Admission Rate is 12%. According to their website, the most recent class had 7,158 applications submitted and only 916 students were enrolled. So what is Wharton looking for in their applicants?

Take a look at the most current statistics:

  • Average GMAT score: 722
  • Average GRE score: 161 Verbal, 161 Quant
  • Average Undergrad GPA: 3.6
  • Acceptance rate: 12%
  • Average work experience: 5 years

Students come from many different industries including Consulting, Private Equity/Venture Capital, Technology, Nonprofit, Financial Services, and Investment Banking. There are over 70 countries represented and 41% of the most recent class is female.

Wharton MBA Application

Students are evaluated on their application as a whole.  Let’s take a look at some important parts of the application:

1. GMAT/GRE scores

You must submit recent scores for either the GMAT or the GRE. Again, the average GMAT score is 722 and the average GRE score is 161 Verbal and 161 Quant. Of course, there is a wide range of acceptable scores based on other aspects of your application. For example, an applicant may have been accepted with a 540 GMAT but had a stellar application otherwise.

2. Essays

The essay portion of the application is a way for the admissions committee to get to know you. This is your chance to tell your story, stand out from other candidates, and let your personality shine through.

3. Interview

Usually, your interview will take place at the same time as your campus visit. During the interview, you will be evaluated to see if you are a good fit for the school. It is also your opportunity to ask questions about the program and decide if the program is right for you.  The interviewer will try to gage the following:

  • Do you have leadership potential?
  • How do you overcome obstacles/tough situations?
  • What are you passionate about?
  • What can you bring to Wharton?
  • What will you contribute to the class?

4. Undergrad GPA

You must submit recent scores for either the GMAT or the GRE.  Again, the average GMAT score is 722 and the average GRE score is 161 Verbal and 161 Quant.  Of course, there is a wide range of acceptable scores based on other aspects of your application.  For example, an applicant may have been accepted with a 540 GMAT but had a stellar application otherwise.

5. Career Progression

While the average number of years worked for applicants is relatively low (average of 5 years of work experience), it is important to see the progression. Wharton likes to see focused individuals with leadership capabilities who are trying to progress their careers. How do you demonstrate your leadership potential?

Once all applications are received and evaluated, applicants are placed into pools based on industry and ranked from there. For example, all the applicants coming from Investment Banking are grouped together and competing against each other for their spot in the class. Solomon Admissions provides guidance on the entire Wharton MBA Admissions process. When you are applying to such a competitive school, it is imperative that your application stands out and you differentiate yourself from the other candidates. Solomon admissions consultants can help!

For more information about the UPenn Wharton application process, reach out to us via any of the contact options below.