Calling all Wharton Fall 09 Applicants

How strict is Wharton about the word limits ?

cpgmba,

Work ex is calculated as of matriculation.

ashaker,

Take a look at last year's Wharton thread to see what some us did...it's fine to go up to 10% over the stated word limits for some essays but overall try to be around the stated limits. It's one thing to be over on one to two essays but if you significantly exceed limits on all essays then it may be a problem. Wharton gives you enough space to write so try to stick with what they set out.

I would stay within the limits, at least on a total basis. The first essay question gives you 1,000 words, which I think is sufficient to explain your candidacy.

Rigger, Shmeggs : thanks ! I am struggling to contain my leadership essay..am hitting 510 words in all attempts.. Will leave it at that for now and come back to it later... guess i can cut it down below 500 with some creative wordsmithy !

I don't think they actually care that much about your word limits. They won't count so if you're pretty close (another poster mentioned 10% over), that should be fine. If you are way over, then I think it looks bad.

In Wharton classes (at least the one class I've had some far with papers and word limits), the professor was cool with up to 10% over.

RVD.

I am also wondering how to best approach this essay. I feel like covering a professional mistake works best for Harvard's mistake essay, but for this one, it sounds a little more open.

I have a good setback story I can use about a setback I had in my health 7-8 years ago that I think would make for a more memorable and less generic essay than a professial setback/failure, which I guess I have a example for but it probably wouldn't make for as good of an essay.

I want to make sure I don't write about something that is too far in the past, or that didn't happen in the workplace if that's what they are really looking for. Any input on this, especially from current students would be appreciated.

Hi folks,
What are you all thinking for Q3:


I'm currently planning on writing about one leadership example from college and one from work. I'm not planning on spending wordage talking about how I'll be a leader at Wharton.

Is that what you all are planning?

cheers,
ac.

I'm giving 2 examples as well, one from work, one from outside. I didn't spend any on how leadership at wharton. Ofcourse I did talk about what I learnt from each experience. That should indirectly show what leadership roles I can take at wharton.

Both examples I gave are outside of work...hmmm...I wonder if that's such a good idea anymore.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Phil ... t_2007.jpg

This picture makes Philly look like the promised land.

Philly is The Place To Be as far as MBA education goes. It is a great place, and I personally think it is underrated.

Haha! That picture deserves a lot of awards for making Philly look that way

Philly's a good place to be for an MBA: it's got enough bars and things to do to keep you busy for 2 years. But living here as a regular working joe could be a pain in the arse I reckon (I heard the countryside is gorgeous though).

PS: why isn't Wharton in California??????

What about Wharton West?

Haha!

how are you guys tackling essay1...i am having a hard time with why wharton mba?? i mean come-on lets drop the typical cliche answers..the student body is what it is..the faculty is what it is..the school reputation is what it is.. i really want to know why wharton besides the obvious??

The obvious got me in

Just mention reputation, network, a couple of professors, some courses that fit in with your career goals (for me: corporate valuation and corporate finance for example, aiming for an M&A job); most importantly don't forget the extra-curriculars (me again: rugby, soccer and finance club).

Unless you have a very good idea, I wouldn't try too hard on that part. It just has to make sense with your objectives and the stuff you mention. I wouldn't try to over-elaborate this part.

There is no magic answer to this question. If you have trouble answering it (only the obvious comes to mind), come visit the school! When I visited last year, I got infected by the Wharton bug: I felt at home here. When I sat down and thought about the reasons why I felt so comfortable and so excited at Wharton, I got all the answers to "why Wharton?". Just my $.02