Prompt: 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 maximum)
This is the essay in which you state what you'll gain from attending Wharton and provide your career goal(s).
In discussing what you'll gain from Wharton, put it into a context that describes yourself and what motivates you. Wharton calls this part "The Setup": This is who you are, what you are doing, and what you have learned.
Example
"I was raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, where my destiny was to become an obedient wife and mother, yet I went on to take a fast-paced job at an international financial giant, where I'm the only woman on my 20-person team of analysts. So, perhaps it is not surprising that I have always been interested in supporting women in business."
Example
"Teaching requires learning. Most of my family members have been teachers at some point in their lives, and after college I went to Germany to follow the teaching tradition. Teaching developed my sense of responsibility to the world-at-large, and inspired me to seek a role as policy analyst in the state senate. Together, my experiences in education and public policy have ignited my interest in promoting business-government cooperation to improve the lives of others. With my Wharton MBA, I plan to enter the international consulting field with a focus on public-private partnerships."
The next sections are what Wharton calls "The Pivot Point" and "The Future."
Here are two final thoughts for The Future section.
First, you can discuss any courses, programs, learning centers, professional clubs, experiential learning, and specific alumni networks that you know will contribute to your learning and professional advancement. Be specific and concrete. It is helpful if you know why Wharton is the very best place for you to pursue your MBA.
Warning: Don't spend time describing Wharton's offerings back to the reader. Admissions already knows everything about the school. Instead, spend that time describing how those offerings will benefit you, specifically.
Example
"Courses such as Venture Capital and Entrepreneurial Management would provide me with exposure to managerial practices and strategy viewed through the lens of a venture-backed startup , while opportunities such as Wharton Impact Venture Associates (WIVA) would give me access to entrepreneurs across multiple fields as part of my first startup investment experience, with specific focus on social impact."
Second, show them that you've thought about Wharton beyond the website marketing. Truly, everyone parrots the website, and so everyone sounds alike. If you can, look beyond the website, to your independent research or conversations with students/alumni.
Example
"A Wharton study revealed that venture capitalists sometimes rely too much on intuition, rather than data, when making investment decisions. The problem with this approach, the study argued, is that intuition comes from experience; when VCs’ most successful experiences have been investing in white male founders, intuitive decision-making can perpetuate the lack of diversity at VC firms and their portfolio companies. Wharton’s dedication to uncovering data to solve these problems, and its commitment to improving diversity and equality, give me confidence that it is the best school to prepare me to achieve my ambitious goals in VC."
Example
"As a result of the pandemic, ~2 million furloughed workers in the U.S. will see their jobs permanently eliminated, according to Goldman Sachs. Business models are being forced to transform, evolve, and adapt, especially for small businesses, which were hit hardest during the last recession. However, in the years following, small businesses created the majority of jobs in the economy – I believe they have the potential to do so again. ... Throughout the economic downturn, Wharton’s faculty has led the way in providing business and economic insights based on research and data-driven analysis. I am excited to engage with these thought-leaders and surround myself with adept classmates who will challenge me to embrace ambitious aspirations and provide the support to pursue them."
These examples clearly demonstrate independent thought and analysis.
Prompt: 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 maximum)
This is the essay in which you state what you will give back.
Ideally, this part of your background is NOT found elsewhere on the application: something absolutely brand-new. However, I did have one client talk about building up a club (very small bullet that was low in the resume), and another client discussed the problems that lay behind a successful project (one that appeared as an accomplishment on her resume) and how she led a change to the project.
Again, be specific and concrete.
Your goal for both essays is to make them see you at Wharton as an MBA student. When I read it, I want to be able to envision you at Wharton.
Prompt: 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. (500 words maximum)
Most business schools only allow you to use the Optional Essay to explain application weaknesses, but Wharton allows you to use the essay more broadly.
This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider. Use to address:
Use this essay to turn a potential weakness into a strength. Tell the Admissions Committee what happened and why it happened. Be honest in your self-evaluation. Most importantly, tell them what you have learned from the negative experience, and how this learning has influenced future actions.