MBA Blog

Wharton Team-Based Discussions: São Paulo

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Olá a partir de São Paulo! As we wrap up four days of Team-Based Discussions I am happy to share some reflections on my short time here. First, the Wharton alumni network is stronger than ever in South America. The overwhelming majority of TBD participants had interacted with and drawnRead More

2016: Off to Great Start

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Happy New Year! Our office is back to buzzing with activity after a short time away for the holidays. We’re in the midst of preparing for Winter Welcome Weekend for admitted students at the end of January, and we are looking forward to tackling a whole new collection of applicationsRead More

Try, try again…

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Yesterday, our office released our Round 1 decisions. While this day comes with excitement and positivity, it is often bittersweet since there are many applicants that are not receiving happy news. Building a new MBA class and making admissions decisions is not easy – these are choices that take carefulRead More

Early Start to an Exciting Day

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This morning at 6 am, coffee and donuts on hand, the Admissions Team began calling Round 1 admits to congratulate them on the good news. I cannot tell you how much we enjoy doing this and hearing the shouts of excitement and happiness on the other end of the line.Read More

The Class of 2017

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August brings two new things: a fresh application process and the arrival of the Class of 2017 to Wharton and Philadelphia! Welcoming the new class always brings a certain exhilarating energy to campus and we get pumped up and ready for another great year at Wharton. Pre-Term is underway andRead More

2015-16 Application is Live!

A couple of people are seated on comfortable chairs with open laptops in a modern office setting, engaged in a conversation with smiles.

For all candidates looking to join the Wharton MBA Class of 2018, the application is now live on our website! Last year we streamlined the process and we’re pleased to be sticking with this format moving into this application cycle. Be sure to refer to the application requirements and deadlinesRead More

Update on Summer Recruitment

A modern brick building with large reflective windows, surrounded by trees. There is an outdoor seating area with umbrellas and people sitting at tables.

With our incoming MBAs arriving on campus in a few weeks, it’s hard to believe that our office is in full recruitment mode for the Class of 2018! We’re excited to hit the road again later this month and we look forward to meeting more of you around various partsRead More

As Summer Approaches

Headshot of a person with short hair, wearing a yellow sweater, smiling slightly, against a softly blurred background. Two remarkable years have flown by and the Class of 2015 will graduate on May 17th and then disperse around the globe to begin the next chapter in their lives. Although we will miss having them on campus, we know that they will always be a part of the WhartonRead More

2014-15 Campus Visit Program

A couple of people sitting and talking on a stone ledge in an outdoor area with grass and a modern architectural structure. Other individuals are in the background.

The excitement on campus is especially evident these days – students are finishing classes and studying for exams, preparations for graduation are well under way, and we are in the process of finalizing the incoming class of MBAs! With the semester coming to a close this week, we will beRead More

Spring Has Sprung

Headshot of a person with short hair, wearing a yellow sweater, smiling slightly, against a softly blurred background. Last week, students returned from spring break and our faculty and staff flew back from the Global Forum in Bangkok. Campus is now abuzz again and all of Wharton is settled in for the final stretch of the academic year. As spring (and hopefully warmer weather) begins, we mark anotherRead More

Mid-Round Update

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Like that old Pennsylvania saying, March definitely came roaring in like a lion. With extra cold temperatures and plenty of snow, the Wharton community is very excited that Spring Break has arrived. More importantly, we are quickly wrapping up our Round 2 Team-Based Discussions, both on campus and abroad, andRead More

Visiting Campus During the Spring Semester

A snow-covered pathway lined with trees, where several people are walking. The trees'' branches are heavy with snow, creating a tunnel-like effect.

We look forward to resuming our campus visit program on Monday, January 26th. For more information on what we offer and how to register, please check out our website. Aside from the regular on-campus visits, we are gearing up for some of our special-interest Spring visit days as well. FollowRead More

Walking in a Wharton Wonderland

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Today was a good day for us here at Wharton MBA Admissions! We placed calls to our Round 1 admitted students this morning to congratulate them. It is incredibly exciting for us to begin building and welcoming the MBA Class of 2017. The excitement and enthusiasm on the other endRead More

Round 1 Invitations to Interview

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Last Friday we notified all Round 1 applicants about their interview status.  I want to thank everyone who applied as our team knows how much time, energy, and focus it takes to apply to B-School.  I’d also like to acknowledge and apologize for the technical difficulties that arose during theRead More

Round 1 Update

A group of people walking through a lobby with large glass doors. The floor mat has "Wharton" written on it, indicating a university or business school setting.

As the leaves change color in Philadelphia, the Admissions Team continues to hunker down and read through your Round 1 applications. We have thoroughly enjoyed learning more about each of you through your personal stories and experiences. With November quickly approaching, we wanted to update you on where the team will be traveling forRead More

Opportunities to Visit Wharton

A tree-lined street in autumn with colorful leaves. People are walking under the canopy, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere.

As you are wrapping up your Round 1 applications, we wanted to highlight that our campus visit program will start up again on Monday, September, 29th. The visit program takes place on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays throughout the academic year, and provides a wonderful opportunity for candidates to experience theRead More

Wrapping Up Summer Travel

A sign for Wharton School, part of the University of Pennsylvania, with palm trees and a building in the background.

Now that we are mid-way through September, the Class of 2016 has officially started to settle in to life at Wharton. The past few weeks have been busy on campus between Pre-Term events, Convocation and ramping up for another academic year. On the admissions front, the team has been scatteredRead More

Highlights from Penn’s JD/MBA Program

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It’s been a busy summer for the JD/MBA Program here at Penn. While the majority of Penn Law and Wharton MBA students spent the past few months working at their summer internships, our rising 2L JD/MBAs were busy in the classroom completing a 14 credit semester’s worth of work inRead More

A New Cycle, A New Academic Year

Maryellen Lamb, Wharton Deputy Vice Dean

And so it begins! The 2014-15 application is now live! As mentioned in previous posts, we have streamlined the application process and made some key changes to the application itself. If you are a first time applicant or reapplicant, know that the Admissions team is here to assist you if you haveRead More

Around the Globe

A colorful, ornate cathedral with onion-shaped domes under a cloudy sky, with several people walking in the foreground.

Planning is well underway and excitement is building as we prepare for the Class of 2016’s arrival for Pre-Term in August! The MBA Admissions team is in full recruitment mode for the Class of 2017 and we have enjoyed meeting many of you on the road throughout parts of Asia,Read More

Holiday Office Closing

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The Office of MBA Admissions and Financial Aid will be closed starting at 2:00 pm on Thursday, July 3rd through 8:30 am on Monday, July 7th in honor of Independence Day. Please contact us at mba-admiss@wharton.upenn.edu should any questions arise during this time. Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday weekend!Read More

Summer Travel Continues

A group of children in school uniforms smiling and making peace signs, gathered around two adults outdoors near a tree.

A quiet week on campus is always a sign that travel season has begun and the Admissions team is scattered around the world. The Wharton Global Forum Beijing was held last week, bringing together faculty, staff, students, alumni and industry leaders to network and speak to the theme of “GrowthRead More

On the Road Again…

A joyful group of graduates in caps and gowns, walking and celebrating together, with two individuals in the foreground shaking hands and smiling.

Congratulations, again, to the MBA Class of 2014! It has been exciting to see all of the photos that have hit Facebook, Flickr, and Twitter over the past couple of weeks, and we wish you well as you embark upon this next journey. Now that campus has started to settleRead More

The Final Countdown

Maryellen Lamb, Wharton Deputy Vice Dean

The academic year at Wharton is coming to a close. Students have finished their exams and are counting down the days to beginning of the summer and graduation. Although it will be hard to say goodbye to the Class of 2014 on May 18th, there is great satisfaction knowing thatRead More

Wharton Business Plan Competition Venture Finals

Green geometric logo above the word "SLIDEJOY" in green text.

Since its launch in 1998, the Wharton community has taken great pride in the success and recognition of the Wharton Business Plan Competition (WBPC). As part of Wharton Entrepreneurship, the WBPC spans the entire academic year, helping student entrepreneurs develop and launch their businesses. The WBPC Venture Finals are takingRead More

Wharton Spotlight: Cotopaxi Social Impact Venture

A person in a green shirt and another in a blue shirt are sitting closely together, smiling and talking. In the background are colorful rock climbing holds and backpacks.

Wharton alum Davis Smith (WG’11, G’11) and his wife Asialene started their outdoor gear company, Cotopaxi, with a simple goal – to make gear for good. With more than a billion people living in extreme poverty, Cotopaxi, has a social mission rooted in the personal experiences of its founders. ThisRead More

As one round closes another begins…

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Happy April! Spring has finally arrived here, in Philadelphia, and it’s so nice to see people outside enjoying the slightly warmer weather. Last week was an exciting time in the MBA Admissions Office, as we released Round 2 decisions on March 25th and officially closed the 2013-2014 application process withRead More

Spring Forward

Maryellen Lamb, Wharton Deputy Vice Dean

The admissions staff is back in the office after several weeks of crisscrossing the globe to meet Round 2 applicants for Team Based Discussions.  As usual, we were highly impressed by the quality of candidates we saw in this round, as well as the thoughtfulness you put into the discussion prompt aboutRead More

Geoffrey Garrett Named Next Dean of the Wharton School

A person in a suit sits in a chair, smiling with hands clasped. The text reads "Geoffrey Garrett Welcome to Wharton!" with the Wharton School logo.

Geoffrey Garrett has been named dean of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, effective July 1. The announcement was made today by Penn President Amy Gutmann and Provost Vincent Price. “Geoff Garrett has a proven track record as an eminent interdisciplinary scholar and strong and collaborative strategic leader,”Read More

Spring Visit Days

A small group of people walking on a sidewalk surrounded by trees and buildings, some carrying backpacks and bags, suggesting a lively campus or urban setting.

We look forward to starting up the campus visit program next week once students return from their spring break travels. For more information on what we offer and how to register for our visit program, please check out our website. Aside from the regular on-campus visits, we are gearing upRead More

Looking Ahead

A group of people walking through an entrance lobby with large glass doors. The floor displays the text "Wharton" and "University of Pennsylvania."

Happy March! As Round 2 interviews wrap up in the coming days, we wanted to provide a quick update in advance of the decision release date and the Round 3 application deadline at the end of the month. Over the past couple of weeks, the Admissions team has thoroughly enjoyedRead More

Campus Visit Program Update

A lush, tree-lined walkway with a few people walking or sitting, creating a serene and shaded urban park scene.

The formal campus visit program will not be running during the week of March 10, 2014 due to spring break, but the MBA Admissions and Financial Aid Office will be open as usual during this time. The campus visit program will start back up again on Monday, March 17th. For moreRead More

Wharton Spotlight: Panama Global Forum

The image shows the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal. Large metal lock gates are visible with surrounding water and infrastructure. In the background are green landscapes and hills. A building with the text "1914-2014 Miraflores

Since 1993, Wharton has been holding Global Forums in major cities of political and economic importance around the world. As one of Wharton’s key Lifelong Learning events, our Forums bring together alumni, faculty, staff, current students, prospective candidates and key stakeholders from around the region to learn from and networkRead More

University Closing

A snowy park pathway with a large, red abstract sculpture and several people walking. Bare trees line the path, and buildings are visible in the background.

The University will be closed on Thursday, February 13, 2014 due to impending inclement weather. Our office will re-open on Friday, February 14th at 8:30 am. Please e-mail us directly at mba-admiss@wharton.upenn.edu should you have any immediate questions. Thank you all for your patience as we make our way through the winterRead More

The Big Game

Maryellen Lamb, Wharton Deputy Vice Dean

Last week was quite a week.  The Class of 2015 was hard at work recruiting for summer internship opportunities and Wharton had the pleasure of hosting nearly 300 admits for Winter Welcome Weekend.  I enjoy seeing the campus abuzz with activity – seeing our students in action during interviews, welcomingRead More

Closing Early Due to Weather

A snow-covered walkway lined with trees and lamp posts, where several people dressed in winter clothing are walking.

The MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Office will be closing at 2:30 pm today, February 3, 2014, due to inclement weather. Our office will re-open on Tuesday, February 4th at 8:30 am. Please e-mail our office directly at mba-admiss@wharton.upenn.edu should you have any immediate questions.

Round 2 Update

A snowy urban scene with several people walking down a tree-lined path. Streetlights and bare trees frame the street, and snow is falling steadily.

Campus is in full swing again with all of our students back from their winter break travels and our first year MBAs in the midst of the Focused Recruiting Period (FRP). As for the MBA Admissions team, we have been thoroughly enjoying reading your Round 2 applications and getting toRead More

Closed Due to Weather

A snowy park pathway with a large, red abstract sculpture and several people walking. Bare trees line the path, and buildings are visible in the background.

The University is closed today, January 22, 2014, due to inclement weather. Our office will re-open on Thursday, January 23rd at 8:30 am. Please e-mail our office directly at mba-admiss@wharton.upenn.edu should you have any immediate questions. We also look forward to our campus visit program starting back up on Monday, January 27th.Read More

MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Closing Early

A group of people walking through an entrance lobby with large glass doors. The floor displays the text "Wharton" and "University of Pennsylvania."

The University will be closing early today, January 21, 2014, due to inclement weather. Our office will re-open on Wednesday, January 22nd at 8:30 am. Please e-mail our office directly at mba-admiss@wharton.upenn.edu should you have any immediate questions. We hope that everyone stays safe and warm! The Wharton MBA AdmissionsRead More

MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Closed on Monday, January 20th

A snowy park pathway with a large, red abstract sculpture and several people walking. Bare trees line the path, and buildings are visible in the background.

The University will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2014 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Our office will reopen on Tuesday, January 21st at 8:30 am. For any immediate questions, please contact us directly at mba-admiss@wharton.upenn.edu. Have a great weekend, The MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Team

Student Life is Reborn in Center City

View from a large window overlooking a river with a bridge and a city skyline in the background. The scene includes a road with vehicles and a clear, blue sky.

It’s 6:45pm on a Wednesday and the place is already buzzing. A student waits nervously outside a conference room rehearsing lines for an audition. In the main room, Rihanna plays overhead as students eat, mix and mingle, catching up with friends old and new. Elsewhere, student teams work on groupRead More

A New Year and a New Round

Maryellen Lamb, Wharton Deputy Vice Dean

Happy 2014!  I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable holiday season. After a quick break spent with family and friends, Wharton starts a new year with a flurry of activity.  Our students are returning after spending winter vacation around the world, from tall-ship sailing in Tahiti to trekking on a Leadership Venture inRead More

Holiday Closing

A snowy park pathway with a large, red abstract sculpture and several people walking. Bare trees line the path, and buildings are visible in the background.

The MBA Admissions and Financial Aid Office will be closed for the University-wide winter break from Tuesday, December 24, 2013 to Wednesday, January 1, 2014. Round 2 applications are due the following week, on January 7. For Round 2 applicants and other prospective students interested in visiting Wharton in 2014:Read More

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Maryellen Lamb, Wharton Deputy Vice Dean

This morning, the Admissions Committee and our student Welcome Committee had probably the best task one can have in Admissions – calling and congratulating the new members of Wharton’s Class of 2016! December 17th has been one of the most exciting – and I’ll say it, crazy busy – days ofRead More

Class of 2013 Full-Time Offer Report

Bar chart showing the percentage of seeking students reporting full-time offers from 2009 to 2013. It depicts a decline from 2011 to 2009.

A few weeks ago we released the full-time offer data for the Class of 2013.  I’d like to share with you some highlights of this data and give you a glimpse behind the scenes as to how success like this is achieved.  This graduating class continued the growing trend atRead More

Campus Visit Program Update

A small group of people walking on a sidewalk surrounded by trees and buildings, some carrying backpacks and bags, suggesting a lively campus or urban setting.

The last day for the Wharton campus visit program for the fall semester will be Friday, December 6th, 2013 . The visit program will start back up again on Monday, January 27th, 2014 . For full information about program availability and details, please click here.

Broadening Our Reach

A small group discussion in a room with brick and wood walls. Two people are seated in front of a projected screen. A registration or exam room door is visible.

Over the past couple of years, I’ve had the pleasure of interacting with a number of Wharton affiliates – from students and alumni to faculty and staff – in person, on the phone or through email. One thing always remains: there is a true sense of pride for the SchoolRead More

Wharton Spotlight: MasterChef

A small group of people wearing chef hats and themed attire, posing in front of a "Wharton Masterchef" event sign.

Earlier this month, the Wharton Inter Cultural Society (WICS) brought to life a new event that allowed the MBA community to showcase its cultural diversity by way of food. Wharton MasterChef took place on November 9th and attracted Wharton MBA students from 20+ countries around the world to create theirRead More

Holiday Closing

A group of people walking through an entrance lobby with large glass doors. The floor displays the text "Wharton" and "University of Pennsylvania."

The MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Office will be closed for the holiday starting at 2 pm on Wednesday, November 27th. The office will re-open with its regular hours at 8:30 AM on Monday, December 2nd. For any immediate questions, please contact the MBA Admissions & Financial Aid Office directly at 215-898-6183Read More

Multicultural Diversity at Wharton

A group of four business professionals, three wearing suits and one with a hat, standing together indoors at a business forum event. A banner with "WABF" and "Africa Business Forum" is partially visible in the background.

Salamu kutoka Wharton! (Swahili for ‘Greetings from Wharton’) This past weekend the Wharton Africa Business Forum (WABF) held a sold out conference for over 400 participants. Filled with Wharton students, alumni, and professionals who all participated in sharing their experiences living in or working in Africa, this conference highlights one ofRead More

With Love from Philadelphia

City skyline at dusk with a river in the foreground and illuminated skyscrapers creating a silhouette against the fading evening sky.

As a long-time and proud resident of Philadelphia (yet not a native Philadelphian), I’d like to take a second to highlight how wonderful life can be here – even as an “outsider.” Upon arrival to campus, it’s important to remember that you’re not just a member of the Wharton community,Read More

Moving the Needle on Women

Collage of three images: a Wharton School conference room with rows of chairs, a tree outside a campus building, and a nameplate for Rebekah Jackson, Senior Associate Director, MBA Admission.

Recently I had the pleasure of representing Wharton on an MBA Admissions panel at Smith College in Massachusetts. In addition to taking in the beautiful northeastern fall foliage, I was able to meet with over 60 women in the early stages of considering an MBA. Seeing such a solid showingRead More

Beyond the Classroom

A tree-lined walkway with people walking in an outdoor setting during autumn, showing colorful foliage in yellow, green, and red hues.

One question that I often get when meeting prospective students is why one would choose Wharton over another program. What, in my opinion, makes Wharton special? What makes our program stand out?  For me, this is one of the most difficult and easiest questions to answer. Difficult because the programRead More

Wharton Spotlight: Ashton Kutcher talks Social Impact

Two people seated on stage in conversation, with a Wharton University of Pennsylvania Social Impact Initiative backdrop.

Award-winning actor, tech investor and producer, Ashton Kutcher, recently touched down on Penn’s campus to speak candidly with Bobby Turner, W’84, during the Lauren and Bobby Turner Social Impact Executive Speaker Series on October 7th. Kutcher opened up to a full auditorium of Wharton students, staff, faculty and alumni, about hisRead More