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Wharton MBA Essay Advice And Application Deadlines: 2021-2022

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The Wharton School has confirmed the 2021-2022 MBA application essays. This year, Wharton has decided to slightly change the first essay while leaving essay 2 the same. Wharton has an additional required application essay for reapplicants along with an optional essay.

Below, please find this year’s deadlines along with Personal MBA Coach’s analysis of the Wharton MBA application essays.

The Upcoming Wharton Application Deadlines Are As Follows:

Round 1: September 8, 2021

Round 2: January 5, 2022

Round 3: March 30, 2022

2021-2022 Wharton MBA Essays:

Founded by a Wharton MBA graduate, Personal MBA Coach is intimately familiar with the Wharton MBA program and the culture at Wharton. We advise candidates to think about each question differently, ensuring answers complement each other AND show readers multiple aspects of their candidacy.

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)

With this first Wharton essay question, you should discuss your specific short-term goals, but also think more broadly. Essay 1 allows you to reflect at a higher level on your aspirations. Think about where you see yourself in 10, 20 or even 30 years. Consider the path you will take to get there.

It is also expected that you touch upon your past successes, explaining how they are relevant to your future objectives. This question does not require you to walk through your entire resume, and candidates are advised not to do so. Instead, focus only on your past to establish what your key skills are as well as how and why you will succeed in the future.

As you think about your future, also think about your skill gaps and how a Wharton MBA, specifically, will help you to close these gaps. It is important that you allow adequate time to research all that Wharton has to offer. Personal MBA Coach suggests being very specific in detailing the opportunities you plan to take advantage of on campus.

Discuss classes you are particularly interested in or perhaps professors you are looking to study with, etc. Do not include a laundry list. Instead, carefully think through how each offering will allow you to fill in your skill and/or experience gaps. Be sure to show an understanding of Wharton’s culture here. Avoid writing vague statements and copying and pasting content from other MBA application essays.

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)

Essay 2 gives candidates the opportunity to share past accomplishments and detail potential contributions to the Wharton community. Think about what you have done beyond what is in your resume. Consider items you wish you had space within your resume to elaborate on. Ask yourself what makes you special.

This question gives you the freedom to consider talents, impressive extracurricular accomplishments and/or unique professional skills. We advise candidates to think broadly here about what makes them unique and how they have succeeded both professionally and personally in the past.

Then, consider how you might share these passions, experiences, and successes with your future peers. Tell the reader how you will improve and enrich the Wharton campus. Be sure to do your research on all that Wharton has to offer and to be specific on the contributions you will make. Is there a club you want to join? Perhaps there is a talent you want to share?

As with essay 1, avoid listing items. Instead, select a few unique areas where you will contribute and discuss the mark you hope to leave. Then, as you discuss the specific contributions you will make, tie these to the past experiences you have just brainstormed. A strong essay will cover multiple contributions that flow naturally from your personal story, your passions and your career goals.

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)

Reapplicants should use the required additional essay to demonstrate growth. We advise candidates to review our tips for reapplicants before tackling this essay.

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.

Finally, the optional Wharton essay should only be answered by those with extenuating circumstances. Read more on our approach to optional essays here.

About Personal MBA Coach:

Founded by a Wharton MBA and MIT Sloan graduate who sits on the Association of International Graduate Admissions Consultants Board of Directors, Personal MBA Coach has been guiding clients for 14 years and is consistently ranked #1 or #2 by leading sources including Poets&Quants.

We help clients with all aspects of the MBA application process including early planning, GMAT/GRE/EA tutoring, application strategy, school selection, essay editing and mock interviews. Our team includes former M7 admissions directors and former M7 admissions interviewers.

Last year, our clients earned more than $6.5M in scholarships!