University of Pennsylvania – MBA

I.       Program description

A Wharton MBA is something you do. You fully engage in the challenges of today's global business with analytical, rigorous thinking – and gain the tools to solve the most vital problems facing business today. You learn how to make decisions backed up by data and sound reasoning, considering all the dimensions and stakeholders of a business problem.

Our 250+ faculty members are among the most cited and one of the most published in the world, bringing real-world, real-time knowledge to the classroom. With more courses, academic areas, and interdisciplinary programs than at any other business school, Wharton has unmatched scope and scale so that you can pursue your individual interests.

http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/academics/index.cfm

II.    Deadline

To be considered for a round, you must submit a complete application by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the day of the deadline. If you submit an application earlier in a round, which we encourage, you will be able to confirm receipt via your Wharton online account. You will also have more time in which to schedule an interview (Interviews are by invitation only). Applications received after the deadline for Round 1 or 2 are rolled to the next round. No applications for Round 3 will be accepted after the deadline.

WHEN TO APPLY

General guidelines on when to apply are based on your application type.

ü  First-time applicants. We strongly encourage you to apply in Round 1 or 2. The first two rounds have no significant difference in terms of level of rigor; the third round is more competitive as we will have selected a good portion of the class. However, there will be sufficient room in Round 3 for the strongest applicants.

ü  Re-applicants. We strongly encourage you to apply in Round 1 or 2. For more information, visit Reapplication Procedures.

ü  International applicants. We advise you to apply in Round 1 or 2 if you need to apply for a student visa in order to study in the U.S. For more information, please visit International Applicants.

III. Admission requirement

Academic Profile

We evaluate academic profiles looking for the ability to handle the Wharton MBA curriculum. Because the curriculum is quite rigorous, we must ensure that every admitted candidate can manage the workload successfully, with time left over to explore opportunities offered outside the classroom.

Measures of academic ability include undergraduate/baccalaureate preparation, advanced degrees, post-graduate diplomas, certificates or other coursework, as well as standardized test scores and other credentials (e.g., CPA, CFA).

There are no specific majors or courses required for the MBA. However, a strong grounding in quantitative areas is important. Calculus and statistics are excellent foundation courses for an MBA.

Undergraduate/Baccalaureate Preparation:

Your performance and preparation are considered based on the factors that led you to choose your school, the competitive level of your school, the curriculum you chose, and academic trends on your transcript.

Your intellectual curiosity may be demonstrated by the electives taken outside your major. Your GPA, class division and/or class rank is weighed against other demands on your time, such as working while in school and/or heavy involvement in extracurricular activities. Note: Not all universities award GPAs, class division, or class rank. Applicants should not calculate any of these items if they are not reported by their universities.

Additional Academic Work:

All additional academic work is relevant, including continuing education credits, master's degrees, and doctoral degrees in related and unrelated fields. If you didn't perform at a high level in some of your undergraduate classes, additional coursework may show stronger academic motivation and ability. If you don't have an analytic or mathematical undergraduate background, taking calculus, statistics, or other business-related quantitative classes may bolster your preparation.

GMAT/GRE

The total GMAT and GRE score, as well as each section of the test, is evaluated. There are no minimum cut-off scores. If you're disappointed with your test score and believe that with additional preparation you could improve your score, then we encourage you to retake the test.

TOEFL

A complete command of the English language, including proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking is essential for success in Wharton's MBA program. All international applicants for the MBA Program whose native language (language first learned and spoken at home) is not English, or who did not complete a degree from an institution where English was the language of instruction, are required to take the TOEFL in addition to the GMAT.

Other Credentials:

Professional certifications such as a CPA (Certified Public Accountant), CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst), or MSE are considered as parts of your academic profile

http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/admissions/preparing-successful-application.cfm I already have an MBA. Can I apply to Wharton?

Yes you can apply. We do not exclude candidates who have an MBA or any other graduate degree. You should, however, fully explain your reasons for pursuing a second MBA in your application.

What is the average TOEFL? Do you keep scores submitted in prior years?

For international students entering Wharton in Fall 2011, the average TOEFL/iTOEFL score is 633/110. We keep TOEFL scores submitted within the previous 2 years, or as long as they are valid (2 years from the test date). If we cannot locate your official report, we will verify it with ETS.

Can I submit the IELTS exam results instead of the TOEFL?

No. Because we want to evaluate all candidates against the same measure, applicants need to submit the TOEFL. The TOEFL is one tool we use to assess English proficiency. We also pay careful attention to a student's GMAT (verbal percentile and AWA score), written and spoken English, recommender observations, and exposure to language. Applicants who earned a baccalaureate or advanced degree at an institution where the medium of instruction was English, or who have had considerable exposure to the language, may waive the test. A waiver request may be submitted as part of your application.

How much work experience do most accepted students have? Is there a particular type of work experience Wharton seeks?

The average student has worked for 5 or 6 years between college and the MBA program. The program does accept early career candidates with limited or no experience who exhibit strong managerial and professional potential. The Admissions Committee looks for individuals who exhibit professional maturity. In other words, we evaluate work experience not in terms of years but the depth and breadth of an individual's position, his or her contributions to the work environment, and level of responsibility and progression.

Wharton looks for diversity in the professional backgrounds of its admitted students just as it does in all other parts of our applicants' profiles. No one industry is favored over another, and experience in a Fortune 500 company does not have higher value than experience in a small business or public institution.

Does time spent in the military count as work experience?

Absolutely. The service provides many rich and varied opportunities for professional growth and development. Military candidates are evaluated based on the same criteria as other candidates, including the nature and scope of the work, the skill sets required, work progression, and general leadership and management skills developed.

I am still an undergraduate student. Any advice about what I can do to increase my chances for admission?

We welcome applicants directly from undergraduate programs who are motivated and exhibit strong leadership and managerial potential. In preparation for the Wharton MBA program one thing to consider is that the stronger your quantitative background, the better prepared you will be to take finance, statistics, accounting, economics, and other quantitative courses offered in our curriculum. For example, calculus and/or statistics are good foundation courses. We do accept students without this type of background, but we like to see evidence of a capacity to handle these types of topics (e.g., strong quantitative GMAT scores, strong academic performance in quantitative subjects). We are also interested in your history of involvement in extra-curricular activities, community service, and hobbies. We find that candidates with less years of work experience are better positioned to contribute and engage more in the Wharton community. We advise undergraduates to apply in the Fall prior to the academic year in which they want to enroll in the program. Admission to the program is contingent upon successful completion of the undergraduate degree. We do not offer deferred admissions for those applying while still in an undergraduate program.

http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/admissions/faqs.cfm

* Students of African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, Native American/Alaska Native descent and Multiethnic backgrounds.

** Based on predominant experience pre-Wharton

* Note: Profile as of June 2011 

http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/student-life/class-profile.cfm

Conditional Admission

We offer conditional admission to candidates who clearly demonstrate significant potential for success both within the Wharton MBA program and post MBA, but who we feel need additional preparation before beginning the Wharton MBA program. Conditional admission is typically based on the need for strengthening a candidate's analytical background or improving English communications skills.

http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/mba/admissions/admissions-decisions.cfm

I.       Process & Mailing Address

Click Here To Apply Online - A complete application includes:

1.      A nonrefundable application fee of $265

2.      Essays

3.      Transcripts
Transcripts of all academic work completed at the baccalaureate/undergraduate level and beyond, whether or not for credit or a degree, are required. Grades or marks may be self-reported on our online transcript template, with official documents required upon admissions and matriculation.
To ensure the quick processing of your application, we are no longer accepting mailed transcripts at the time of application. Instead, please submit your transcript(s) as a scanned document or use the excel template, found in the downloadable forms section to the left. Use the upload feature, provided at each school listing, to submit your self-reported transcript(s).
If admitted, you will be required to provide official transcripts of all previous academic work to verify the information provided in the uploaded documents. If there are discrepancies between the self-reported academic work and official records, your offer of admission will be withdrawn. Offers of admission are not binding until academic records are verified.
Instructions for Scanning and Uploading Scanned Transcripts

l Be sure to scan at no more than 72dpi.

l Only scan the important parts of your document. Do not scan pictures, graphics and unnecessary text.

l Save the scanned object as a .jpg file.

l Save your .jpg file as a .doc, .wpd, .rtf, .xls, .pdf, or .txt format. For Macintosh users, please note that the filename must include the appropriate 3 letter extension. Also, please do not attempt to upload a document that is password-protected or that contains macros. It will cause the process to fail.

l Make sure scanned documents are clearly legible and will print on letter-size paper. Illegible documents will not be accepted.

l Check the size of your file. It should not exceed 500kb.

4.      Letters of Recommendation
The Admissions Committee requires two, preferably from supervisors.
Select the two people who really know you and your work, who you believe can best address the questions asked, not the two most important people you know. If a Wharton graduate happens to be one of those two people, he or she may be able to use his or her understanding of Wharton to describe how you will fit into the Wharton culture. Please don't seek out alumni who aren't truly qualified to write about you.
Recommendations should address the range of questions asked on our Recommendation Form and provide details, depth, and insight. Please make sure your recommenders understand that an effective recommendation is more than checking the right boxes and writing a couple of sentences. If the recommender believes that you are a good team player, he or she should present an example or two that illustrates that point. Useful recommendation letters are usually two to three pages long. You may want to brief your recommenders beforehand so they understand the competitive nature of the admissions process in which you are engaging.
Applicants working in family businesses, entrepreneurial environments, or other nontraditional environments will need to be more creative in terms of choosing recommenders (and perhaps use the optional essay to allow us to understand how you made your choices). You may consider clients, mentors, or those that you have worked with in the community.
After you have contacted them about providing you a recommendation, complete the recommendations request form on the Recommendations page, and check "Please e-mail this person a recommendation request" beneath each recommender you wish us to contact. They will be sent e-mail messages with instructions and a Web address they should go to in order to complete your recommendation. You will then be notified by e-mail when we receive each recommendation.

5.      GMAT/GRE - The GMAT and ETS codes (respectively) for requesting your scores sent to the Full-Time MBA Program are: GMAT: G56-97-73; GRE: 6802

6.      TOEFL - Wharton's TOEFL code is: 2926-02.

7.      Resume

 TOEFL/Additional Language Information

Standardized test scores are not the only indicator of language skills, therefore, if you have submitted a TOEFL score, please use this section to describe how, when and where you are using English in your day-to-day life. This should include circumstances where you speak / read / or write in English on a regular basis. (200 words/1000 Characters)

(Information from the Online Application Form)

I.       Additional note for Int’l Applicant

Academic Record

When applying, list all post-secondary educational institutions you have attended, including technical and professional schools. Use the full, actual names of the institutions attended, and provide the titles of all diplomas or degrees earned.

Submit only official academic records from educational institutions to the Wharton School. Official records are defined as original documents issued by the institution and bearing the actual (not photocopied) signature of the registrar and the institutional seal. Records issued only once by institutions should be photocopied and certified as official copies either by school officials or legal authorities such as embassies or notaries public. Please do not send the original of an academic record that cannot be replaced.

If you have attended more than one institution, submit official records from each institution, with the exception of study-abroad programs that are listed on your official undergraduate transcripts. If academic records and diplomas are not issued in English by the institution, submit both the official record and an authorized English translation.

All translations should be complete and literal renditions of the original record. Records should show the date of enrollment, courses taken, units of credit or time allotted to each subject during each term or year, your marks or ratings in each subject, and, if available, your rank in the total class or group.

The institutional grading scale or other standards of evaluation, including minimum passing and failing marks, and definition of grades between them, should appear on official records or provide them as an attachment.

TOEFL

The TOEFL is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English. You may waive the TOEFL if you have earned an undergraduate degree or master's degree in an English-speaking country or from an institution in which English is the language of instruction; applicants must provide evidence to support the waiver. If your test score is more than 2 years old (from the date of the exam to the date of application arrival), you must retake the test.

Visas

Admitted Wharton MBA students will receive in their Admit Packet an "Application for the I-20 or DS-2019 Form." Complete and mail the form directly to The Office of International Programs (OIP).