Get into UPenn Wharton

Founded by Joseph Wharton, American entrepreneur and industrialist in 1881, The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is not only renowned for being an entrepreneurial ecosystem, they are also the world’s first collegiate business school. Wharton will be the first to tell you they’re trailblazers as they have “continued innovating to meet mounting global demand for new ideas, deeper insights and transformative leadership.”

Are you aiming for Wharton?

“Top Tier Admissions was instrumental in every part of the business school application process. The team helped me identify my strengths and weaknesses well before the application deadlines so I had plenty of time to boost my test scores, supplement my extracurriculars and academic heft, and plan my application strategy. Unlike undergrad, there is no Common App for business schools, so the team helped me write tailored and impactful essays for individual schools. In the end, most schools I was accepted to extended full-tuition offers, and I decided to enroll at Wharton. Wharton was a great culture fit for me, and I’m looking forward to developing my financial chops, participating in a Leadership Expedition, and complementing my time in Philadelphia with the Semester in San Francisco program.” –L.P., Graduate Analysis & Guidance Program (UPenn, Wharton)

How To Get Into The Wharton School: What You Need To Know

1. Identify what you want.

Wharton has a flexible but academically rigorous curricular track where MBA students commit to a 20-month program. But, that’s not all. Students across the world are drawn to Wharton for their undergraduate and graduate level programs outside of the two-year MBA. For example, their undergraduate program in Economics, their undergraduate Huntsman Program in International Studies and Business, their Nursing and Healthcare Management BS degree, their MBA program for working executives, their JD/MBA program, the Lauder Institute’s MBA/MA joint degree, their MBA and engineering graduate MA program, or my personal favorite, the UPenn Wharton and Harvard Kennedy School combined Masters in Public Administration (MPA) and MBA dual degree program. And, the above list of programs doesn’t even take into account the nine PhD programs Wharton offers in fields ranging from Ethics to Marketing to Applied Economics. No wonder Wharton has almost 250 faculty on staff.

2. Know what they’re about.

Wharton is historically known for their world class faculty, strong alumni network and their focus on finance. Many Top Tier Admissions alumni have been drawn to Wharton thanks to their managers at top consulting and financial firms who attended Wharton and are now leading venture capital firms, hedge funds, and investment management firms. Wharton also made the news as their Financial Times 2024 MBA ranking was 1st, whereas Harvard Business School was 11^th and Stanford Graduate School of Business was 23^rd. Part of this ranking boost is due to Wharton’s high average? alumni salary as of 2024, which was $247,875. The post-MBA salary increase was an impressive 121%.

3. Get their digits.

Wharton loves crunching the numbers, so you need to know the metrics they want to see in your application, especially considering their MBA program (Class of 2025) received 6,194 applications and enrolled just 874. These enrolled students are 50% women, 31% international, represent 70 countries, are 11% LGBTQ+, 11% first generation, and have five years of work experience on average. They also had an average GMAT of 728 and an average GRE of 162 verbal and 162 quant, plus the average undergraduate GPA was a 3.6. Wharton is anything but average, so as a Wharton applicant, you cannot afford to be average either. We can help set you apart.

4. Explore the unique opportunities they offer.

Since your application and essays for Wharton will need to articulate why they’re the best match for you and your targeted career, you need familiarize yourself with their buzz words. What do they feel sets them apart from their peer MBA programs throughout the world and what draws you to them in particular? Perhaps it’s their renowned pedagogical innovation, or, maybe you’re compelled by their status as an “analytical powerhouse [that] is undisputed in academic circles.” Or, maybe you like their Executive Coaching and Feedback Program where they foster self-awareness and strong leadership skills in their MBA students, modeled after executive coaching programs at leading corporations.

5. Prep your toolbox.

After you attend a few info sessions (virtually or on campus) and events such as their “Student Led Wharton MBA Overview Webinar,” “MBA App Overview,” or “Top Business Schools Discussion on Diversity and Inclusion,” start gathering what you need to apply.

Here’s the list:

Background info, including the online application itself
A $275 application fee
Two required essays plus one optional essay:
- 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: 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: 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)
Official Transcripts
Contact information for two recommenders
GMAT or GRE score
Resume (one page in PDF format)

Finally, ensure your submission is finalized well before your selected deadline. There are three options (the dates for 2024-2025 will be similar to these from 2023-2024):

Round 1: Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 5pm ET
Round 2: Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 5pm ET
Round 3: Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 5pm ET
Deferred Admissions Round: Wednesday, April 24, 2024 at 5pm ET

We would love to help you ensure your essays and resume shine as you apply to UPenn Wharton.