Today marks the opening of the Wharton MBA application for the Class of 2029, and we couldn’t be more excited to start reading your stories. Whether you’ve been planning this moment for months or you’re just beginning to explore what an MBA could mean for your future, welcome — we’re glad you’re here.
The Essays
Your application will include two essays that ask you to reflect on where you’re headed and what you’ll bring with you.
Essay 1 asks you to get specific about your career goals, while Essay 2 invites you to think about impact and community. Reapplicants will also respond to a short additional essay on how their candidacy has grown since they last applied.
Letter of Recommendation
You’ll need one letter of recommendation, submitted through the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation along with the accompanying recommender assessment.
As a reminder, here are the dates and deadlines for this year’s application cycle:
| Application Deadline | Interview Invitations | Decision Release | |
| Round 1 | September 8, 2026 | October 28, 2026 | December 17, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2027 | February 19, 2027 | March 31, 2027 |
| Round 3 | March 31, 2027 | April 16, 2027 | May 11, 2027 |
We’re Here to Help
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Our events page is full of ways to connect with us directly — live webinars that walk through the application, coffee chats with admissions staff and students, and guidance sessions built to answer the questions that come up as you write. We’d encourage you to browse what’s coming up and register for anything that looks useful; these sessions are one of the best ways to get a feel for our community before you even hit submit.
We can’t wait to see what you share with us.