How to Get into The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
- The Wharton School Program Overview
- The Wharton School Curriculum
- Extracurriculars at The Wharton School
- Wharton Notable Professors and Classes
- The Wharton School Statistics
- How to Answer The Wharton School’s 2024-2025 Essay Prompts
- Application Requirements for Wharton
- Wharton FAQ
The Wharton School Program Overivew
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has earned a reputation as one of the top business schools in the world, but its reputation as simply a “finance school” may be unwarranted. While its core curriculum rests heavily on analytical competence, Wharton has strengths in marketing, entrepreneurship, health care, and more! The school also places an incredible emphasis on collaboration and the ability to work in teams.
From the Team Based Discussion during the interview to the program’s focus on group academic projects, Wharton makes teamwork a priority. At matriculation, students are divided into 12 cohorts of approximately 70 students and bond with their section mates via the Pre-Term Olympics and Cluster Cup (which include friendly games of chess and football, for example) and monthly Cluster Suppers. The cohorts are further divided into five- to six-person Learning Teams that become like families after three intense pre-term weeks and a semester of challenging core courses.
At Wharton, students can choose from 21 majors and nearly 200 electives to further pinpoint their study interests. Although finance-based careers are at Wharton’s core, an emphasis on business analytics (the school launched a new major in this field a few years ago) and tech-based entrepreneurship has emerged. Wharton is also home to the preeminent health care management program among business schools. Students who choose the Health Care Management major in their application have access to an alumni mentor program, an interdisciplinary faculty from various UPenn schools, and assistance with obtaining summer internships within the field, among other benefits. Wharton describes its marketing faculty as “the largest, most cited, and most published… in the world” and boasts more than 40 professors in this field. Some may be surprised to learn that Wharton also has a popular real estate program (2.2% of the Class of 2023 went into real estate post-graduation) and that the school sends its graduates to such fields as retail (1.7%) and social impact (1.4%). Finally, the MBA/MA joint degree with the Lauder Institute draws applicants each year with its emphasis on international studies and an interdisciplinary curriculum.
The school’s career center assists students throughout their studies and post-graduation. “I can’t say enough good things about the career center. They really know what they’re doing and not only work hard to make sure you are prepared for applications and interviews, but also work to source so many companies to come to campus. They also do a great job keeping recruiters at bay and making sure companies are fair to Wharton students—they really protect our interests!,” a Stratus consultant and Wharton graduate said.
Most Wharton students live in the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, where they can walk to school while taking advantage of 2401 Walnut, a satellite Wharton space that hosts academic groups, professional clubs, and summer startups. However, students also have the opportunity to spend a semester at the school’s San Francisco campus. One Wharton student and former Stratus client told us, “The Wharton building (called Huntsman Hall) is nice, but honestly a little small for the number of students. The Penn campus is beautiful, though, and more importantly, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with Philly. There are so many good places to eat, drink, go for walks, have picnics, or anything else you could want as a 20-something in a city. And it’s so affordable.”
Wharton weeks culminate each Friday in MBA Pub, which is held at The Armory. These meetups are often themed and provide a chance for students to unwind and connect before the weekend. Students also tout the opportunity for “stretch experiences” at Wharton—a way to try something new and challenging, such as skating for the intramural hockey team, sleeping under the stars on an MBA Leadership Venture in Antarctica, learning bhangra for Wharton Dance Studio, or sharing one of those experiences in front of a crowd at Storytellers.
Whether you are interested in professional clubs, such as the Family Business Club, the Social Impact Club, and the Travel and Hospitality Club; cultural and affinity clubs like the French Association and the Veterans Club; or clubs with an athletic or social focus, such as the Soccer Club and the Poker Club, Wharton likely has an option for you! For a fun night of friendly (but heavy!) competition, check out Penn Fight Night, a student-run amateur boxing event that raises money for local charities and welcomes roughly 2,500 attendees from all UPenn schools each year to cheer on the boxers from their respective schools.
The Wharton School Curriculum
Wharton has adapted its curriculum to meet the changing requirements of business while maintaining a high analytical standard. The school offers a core curriculum of courses spanning the areas of communication, leadership, operations, and finance that are heavily weighted in the first semester. However, two-thirds of the program requirements are flexible, giving students the freedom to pursue one (or more!) of 21 majors or even take classes across UPenn’s campus to accomplish their MBA goals. Flexible core course areas include management, communication, marketing, and accounting. One Wharton student and former Stratus client highlighted Professor Sarah E. Light as one of their favorites, saying, “I first heard Professor Light speak during my Wharton Welcome Week—she taught a mini lecture on innovation and ethics, and I knew then that I wanted to take a class with her. I took ‘Negotiations’ with her this past fall, and it was amazing. She brings so much energy but also compassion to her teaching and is able to engage the class whether in person or over Zoom!”
Many students take advantage of the opportunities available: the internationally focused Lauder MBA/MA program, the JD/MBA program, or the Health Care Management major. With faculty names including Adam Grant, courses diving into topics such as big data analytics, and a Venture Initiation Program as part of a larger entrepreneurial ecosystem, Wharton is constantly reevaluating offerings to reflect new trends and students’ aspirations.“ The P3 Program, hosted by the McNulty Leadership Program, was super valuable!,” a Stratus consultant and Wharton graduate said. “You meet weekly with a small group of students to read the book Springboard and explore what success and happiness means to you, and how to achieve it. In addition, I went on a Leadership Venture (also part of the McNulty Leadership Program) in the Andes Mountains, and while it may have been the most uncomfortable and strenuous week of my life, I’m so glad that I had that opportunity!”
Extracurriculars at The Wharton School
Some of the most popular pastimes at Wharton include cheering on your closest friends as they skate (or stumble!) across the ice during Wharton hockey games, watching a member of your Learning Team box a law school student in the classic black-tie Fight Night, or joining the Wharton Ski and Snowboard Club, which hosts ski trips where students descend upon a ski community for a weekend of fun.
Wharton students have stepped up to show their support and a desire to better understand their community. The Return on Equality coalition is backed by faculty and seeks to open discussions on inequalities based on gender, race, socioeconomic status, and other factors. Out for Business is well known on campus for taking action and speaking out in support of LGBTQ+ people and allies (and for hosting the famous White Party). Other cultural and affinity clubs include Wharton Women in Business, Male Allies, the Greater China Club, and the Veterans Club.
In addition to clubs committed to international inclusion and identity, Wharton boasts the robust Social Impact Club and Storytellers. Wharton students have also been working to make the school more family friendly with a Partners Club and a Kids Club.
The Wharton Follies, an annual musical theater production, was first hosted in 1977 and has since grown into one of the school’s largest organizations on campus. The entire event is written, performed, and produced by students and often features faculty members and other Wharton community members in cameo roles. The theme of the show varies each year; the 2024 event carried the theme “Dial M for MGMT,” while other past themes have included “Follies’ Eleven,” “Follies’ Angels,” “The Huntsman Hangover,” “The Book of Wharton,” and “Lord of the GSR.”
Wharton Notable Professors and Classes
Adam Grant
Adam Grant is a world-renowned, leading expert on organizational psychology. He is the New York Times bestselling author of five books, including Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know (Viking, 2021), and his TED talks have been viewed more than 25 million times. At Wharton, Professor Grant has been recognized as a top professor seven times. He has taught such courses as “Organizational Behavior” and also leads students’ independent studies.
Katherine L. Milkman
Katherine L. Milkman is the James G. Dinan Endowed Professor and a professor of operations, information, and decisions at Wharton. She also co-founded and co-directs the Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative. Professor Milkman’s research focuses on such topics as behavioral economics, behavior change, and judgment and decision making, and she teaches the course “Management Decision Making.” Thinkers50 has named Professor Milkman one of the world’s top management thinkers. Her book, How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be (Portfolio), was published in 2021.
Americus Reed
The Wharton website described Americus Reed as the marketing department’s only “identity theorist.” His research explores how such themes as social influence, social identity, and values shape consumer behavior and purchase decisions. He is the Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor and a professor of marketing at Wharton, where he teaches such courses as “Dynamic Marketing Strategy” and “Consumer Behavior.”
Negotiations
This popular elective course explores the art of negotiation and conflict resolution by using simulation exercises and reading materials. The simulations range from simple transactions to more complex ventures featuring multiple parties. Students can test their skills and, in the end, emerge as better business negotiators.
Leading Diversity in Organizations
This course uses both experiential and traditional teaching methods to “help students navigate diverse organizational settings more effectively and improve their ability to work within and lead diverse teams and organizations,” the Wharton course description reads. Students explore case studies and reading materials and learn from guest speakers before completing a final project on the topic. Topics discussed within the course include workplace relationships, team effectiveness, and performance—all seen through the viewpoint of diversity and inclusiveness.
Venture Capital and the Finance of Innovation
This course is intended mainly for students interested in post-MBA careers in venture capital or in research and development–oriented companies in the fields of information technology and health care, but entrepreneurial-minded students hoping to learn more about the establishment of companies will also find it useful. Students examine such topics as contingent-claims analysis, comparables analysis, and discounted cash flow analysis, with the aim of better understanding the finance of technological innovation.
The Wharton School Statistics
Class Profile (Class of 2025)
Class Size: 874
Average Work Experience: 5 years
Average Undergraduate GPA: 3.6
Women: 50%
International: 31%
Average GMAT: 728
Average Verbal GRE: 162
Average Quantitative GRE: 162
Career Placement (Industries, Class of 2023)
- Financial Services: 37.3%
- Investment Banking/Brokerage: 14.2%
- Private Equity/Buyouts/Other: 14.0%
- Investment Management: 3.8%
- Venture Capital: 3.3%
- Insurance and Diversified Services: 1.1%
- Hedge Funds/Other Investments: 0.9%
- Consulting: 28.8%
- Technology: 13.5%
- Health Care: 5.4%
- FinTech: 2.2%
- Real Estate: 2.2%
- Legal and Professional Services: 2.0%
- Retail: 1.7%
- Social Impact: 1.4%
- Energy: 1.3%
- Manufacturing: 1.3%
- Media, Entertainment, and Sports: 1.3%
- Consumer Products: 0.9%
- Future Mobility: 0.5%
- Travel and Hospitality: 0.2%
Geographic Placement (Class of 2023)
- United States: 91.0%
- Northeast: 48.3%
- West: 20.5%
- Mid-Atlantic: 8.7%
- South: 5.2%
- Southwest: 4.6%
- Midwest: 3.8%
- International: 9.0%
- Asia: 4.6%
Canada: 0.6%
Europe: 2.1%
Other: 0.9%
How to Answer The Wharton School’s 2024-2025 Essay Prompts
For its application essays, Wharton doubles down and asks two questions that require you to present your knowledge of its program. In short, Wharton really wants to know that you want to be at the school. So, thoroughly do your homework before you start writing—talk to students and alumni and attend online or (if possible) in-person admissions events. Really dig in! Wharton wants to be sure you didn’t just look at a ranking when choosing a school or that it’s not just your backup option if you don’t get into Harvard Business School or the Stanford GSB. Wharton wants to feel confident that you will accept a place in its next class. Be ready to prove it!
Essay 1
- How do you plan to use the Wharton MBA program to help you achieve your future professional goals? You might consider your past experience, short and long-term goals, and resources available at Wharton. (500 words)
Essay 2
- Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community? (400 words)
Required Essay for all Reapplicants
- Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements). (250 words)
Optional Essay
- Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. (500 words)
Click here to read our advice on The Wharton School’s essay questions.
Application Requirements for Wharton
Bachelor’s degree and transcripts
Wharton requires all applicants to have completed an undergraduate degree (or its equivalent if the applicant graduated outside of the United States) and to provide unofficial academic transcripts with their application. If the applicant is granted admission to Wharton, they will need to provide official transcripts.
Resume
All Wharton applicants must submit a one-page resume with their application. According to the Wharton website, the school examines the resume “to identify growth, progression of responsibilities, accomplishments, and proof of analytical skills, communication skills, teamwork, collaboration, leadership, and impact.”
Recommendations
Wharton requires two recommendation letters from all applicants. In business school applications, obtaining a recommendation from a direct supervisor or a manager is usually the best option. If you do not have a current direct supervisor or manager, consider past supervisors, colleagues, or clients, based on your work situation. Family members, friends, and professors are typically not suitable recommenders.
“The title or position of the recommender is not as important as his/her ability to comment knowledgeably and specifically about you,” the school recommends on its website.
Test scores
Wharton accepts the GMAT and the GRE to fulfill the test score requirement. The school accepts self-reported scores for the application but asks for official reports if a candidate is admitted. For the Class of 2025, the average GMAT score was 728, while the average GRE quantitative and verbal scores were both 162. International applicants are also required to provide a TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS score.
Anything else?
An interview and two essays are also required of Wharton applicants. Interviews are conducted on an invitation-only basis in a Team Based Discussion environment, followed by a brief one-on-one interview with a member of the admissions committee.
Wharton FAQ
What is Wharton best known for?
Wharton is consistently ranked one of the best—if not the best—business schools in the world. The school carries both the prestige of its Ivy League university and the name recognition of Wharton itself. Wharton offers a well-known finance program, but its strengths in such fields as technology and entrepreneurship have gained recognition in recent years as well.
How much does tuition cost?
Estimated cost of attendance for first-year students in the Wharton full-time MBA program is $127,716 for the 2024–2025 academic year. This includes tuition for three semesters, room and board, health insurance, and such additional fees as university fees.
How difficult is it to get accepted into Wharton?
As is the case with all top-ranked business schools, Wharton has a competitive acceptance rate—in 2023, the school received 6,193 applications and admitted 1,533 applicants. This means that approximately 24.8% of applicants received an invitation to join the program. Out of the 1,533 applicants who were admitted, 874 decided to enroll.
Wharton may be best known for its strengths in finance, but do not let a school’s reputation steer you elsewhere if it doesn’t seem like a perfect match right away! Wharton graduates accept positions in a plethora of fields, including such traditional post-MBA fields as consulting and technology, but also in media, entertainment, sports, real estate, and health care.
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