Preparing for the Team Based Discussion

Headshot of Maryellen Reilly, Deputy Vice Dean

This year’s admissions cycle is well underway, and invitations to interview were sent via email to Round 1 applicants on October 30. If you were invited, you will participate in a Team Based Discussion (TBD) and a one-on-one interview. The admissions team is eagerly anticipating meeting many of you in person, whether you choose to meet us on campus in Philadelphia or San Francisco, or in Beijing, Dubai, London, Mumbai, Sao Paulo, Seoul, Singapore or Tokyo.

Much has been written about the Wharton TBD. It is one element of our admissions process that, when pieced together with your written application, helps paint a clearer picture of who you are and how you may fit into the Class of 2021. The TBD is meant to model the highly collaborative nature of the Wharton MBA environment in order to identify characteristics that we believe contribute to the success of Wharton students. More information about the interview process can be found here.

Applicants often ask how to prepare for the TBD, and our best advice is to be yourself. This is your opportunity to express who you are as an individual, but perhaps more importantly, as a member of a functioning team. Our hope is that through this process, you will not only be able to present how you approach and think about certain challenges and opportunities but also have a chance to experience, firsthand, the teamwork and learning dynamic that is central to the Wharton experience.

The TBD is one of many elements in the admissions process as we move toward the Class of 2021. Some may find interviews stressful and exciting but remember that being invited to interview means that we see you as a potential fit for our program. Our hope is that you enjoy the experience, we learn more about you, and you learn more about us.

As always, please feel free to contact us with any questions. We wish you the best as you enter the interview phase of the process and look forward to meeting you soon.

Regards,

Maryellen Reilly
Deputy Vice Dean