{"id":59624,"date":"2023-10-25T02:39:44","date_gmt":"2023-10-25T09:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/advice-for-the-wharton-2023-2024-tbd-prompt\/"},"modified":"2023-10-25T02:39:44","modified_gmt":"2023-10-25T09:39:44","slug":"advice-for-the-wharton-2023-2024-tbd-prompt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gmatclub.com\/blog\/advice-for-the-wharton-2023-2024-tbd-prompt\/","title":{"rendered":"Advice for the Wharton 2023-2024 TBD Prompt"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Wharton interview invitations are out, and the prompt is a creative challenge. Now is time to start preparing for your Team Based Discussion.<\/h2>\n
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A high percentage of our clients who participate in our annual Wharton Interview Prep sessions <\/strong>have performed well in the Team Based Discussion and won admissions. Fortuna’s series of mock sessions are underway and spaces are limited, so sign up today to secure your place<\/a><\/strong>. Your preparation can make all the difference.<\/p>\n

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The Wharton interview is distinctive among the\u00a0M7 interview landscape<\/b><\/a> for its Team Based Discussion.<\/p>\n

This dynamic, relational experience is about much more than delivering a strong pitch \u2013 Wharton\u2019s admission committee wants to observe how you approach a challenge, present yourself, cohesively work towards solutions in a small group context and think on your feet. While you won\u2019t know how the discussion will play out until you get into the virtual interview room, you can do a lot to prepare for a successful TBD starting now.<\/p>\n

Having spent a decade at the helm of Wharton\u2019s MBA admissions, as well as running my Fortuna Admissions clients through the paces to prepare each season, I\u2019ve become practiced at guiding candidates to bring their best to the table.<\/p>\n

Based on the recent experiences of our clients and insights from my Fortuna colleagues, I\u2019m offering our team\u2019s top tips for delivering your standout pitch, along with what success looks like.<\/p>\n

How Does Wharton’s TBD Work?<\/h2>\n

The Wharton TBD simulates the Learning Teams model at the heart of the Wharton experience; it aims for a real-world approach that hinges on \u201cpersuasive rather than positional leadership.\u201d Think of this as your opportunity to showcase your professional presence<\/b><\/a>\u00a0and what you would bring to your future study group at Wharton.<\/p>\n

The virtual format includes five or six candidates (similar to \u00a0Wharton\u2019s Learning Teams). Your discussion will have a prompt and an end goal (see below), and the group will work collectively to propose a tangible outcome. Each team member will share their ideas\/ and reflections on the prompt in one minute or less before moving into the group discussion. After this round of brief introductions, your team has a little less than 30 minutes to generate a subject and presentation model that is ultimately shared with the admissions committee observer. Following the TBD, there will be a one-on-one interview with an admission representative, lasting 10 minutes. In the interview portion, be prepared to speak to why you are pursuing an MBA and why you want to attend Wharton. The time goes very<\/i> quickly; in fact, that\u2019s the comment we hear most from our clients!<\/p>\n

Everyone receives the same question and will be participating from remote locations on video. No one is at an advantage; the prompt is designed to exhibit team building and is not about demonstrating specific knowledge of a subject area.<\/p>\n

Tackling the TBD Prompt<\/h2>\n

This year\u2019s question tasks you and fellow TBD participants to name and design a new course \u00a0on a cutting-edge business topic for Wharton’s Pre-baccalaureate Program. As part of the Wharton Global Youth Program, this opportunity for exceptional junior and senior high school students introduces them business education. The idea is to inspire talented young people to analyze the world\u2019s complex challenges as they take their first steps toward becoming leaders who will transform the global economy.
\nYour team\u2019s challenge is to develop a course on a cutting-edge topic for the generation of young business leaders coming behind you. You\u2019ll name the course, outline the topic and themes, identify faculty to lead the course, and decide on learning outcomes and assessment methods.<\/p>\n

In offering this prompt, Wharton was soliciting a strong and well thought out deliverable, as well as the self-awareness necessary to engage with others in a give-and-take around a virtual conference table to reach the final presentation.<\/p>\n

4 Top Tips for the Wharton Virtual TBD<\/h2>\n

Present your own ideas with precision and care, as well as keen situational awareness.<\/strong> In your initial one-minute introduction, be prepared to present your ideas for the solution to the assignment. After that, pay close attention to others and adapt to the dynamics. Expect to be assessed on how well you listen to others and facilitate the group\u2019s dialogue. Here are the Fortuna team\u2019s top tips for contributing to the output of this TBD.<\/p>\n

Tip 1: Draw on your experiences.<\/h3>\n

There are myriad topics where business knowledge could help solve problems facing the next generation. The trick is to settle on just one, very quickly. Wharton’s new Team Based Discussion asks you to focus on your target market and bring to life an idea that you think would appeal to high school students.
\nThink back to our own interests and passions; what do you think may be of interest to them?
\nWhen constructing your course, you should pull from experiences or interests you have had in your own life; we find that its helpful to build the foundation of discussion on something that matters to you on a personal or professional level and that is a great way to start your pitch to the other participants.<\/p>\n

Tip 2: Design for desired outcomes.<\/h3>\n

What main themes will your course convey? What knowledge and skills should your young students acquire? \u00a0What is the best way for the students to indicate they are mastering these topics along the way?
\nWhile the learning outcomes are not mentioned until the end of the prompt, it is helpful to focus at the start of the session on what you hope the students will learn. That helps you set a clear outline of expectations from the start.<\/p>\n

Tip 3: Bring the topic to life<\/h3>\n

In designing your course, you will want to pay attention to the kinds of interactions you would hope for the students to have. Think about the ways in which you can make this class interactive for the students in addition to their classroom lectures and discussions. For example, will your class be a combination of in class and field work? Will you include project-based learning or have students develop deliverables?<\/p>\n

In designing your course, you will want to pay attention to the kinds of interactions you would hope for the students to have. Think about the ways in which you can make this class interactive for the students in addition to their classroom lectures and discussions. For example, will your class be a combination of in class and field work? Will you include project-based learning or have students develop deliverable?<\/p>\n

Tip 4: Tap into a wealth of resources.<\/h3>\n

Unlike other TBD themes in the past, this course will be based in Philadelphia, so it’s important to be aware of all of the local opportunities\u00a0offered on campus. Wharton has so many resources; do not be afraid to use them; as well as those available to you university-wide!<\/p>\n

Equally as important is to think about the professor you might wish to pair with. Wharton has a tremendous depth and breadth of expertise; you will want to home in on the experts you would like to lead the course, and your rationale for doing so. Do not feel like you need to work with ” the most famous” professors listed; do a little digging!<\/p>\n

Honing your Team-Based Discussion Style<\/h2>\n

We’ve covered some of the areas you’ll want to think about for the substance of the TBD assignment, but what about your participation? How do you handle a group discussion over video and make sure you present your best self and your winning ideas? We provide some winning strategies in this video.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Check out\u00a0Fortuna\u2019s video strategy session on the Wharton TBD with Michel Belden and Caroline Diarte Edwards, above.<\/em><\/p>\n

Prepare to shine on video<\/h3>\n

Turn off your email, WhatsApp, or other notifications and DEFINITELY silence your cell phone \u2014 anything that might chirp or ding (note that tablets, cell phones, and use of internet browsers are not allowed during the Zoom). Flawless internet connectivity should go without saying, so be sure to test your connection in advance. Like preparations for any\u00a0virtual MBA interview<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(see my related article), make sure the space behind your camera is clear and uncluttered, that your lighting is positioned on your face, and that your sound quality is excellent. As mentioned above, eye contact is very important \u2013 while it is tempting to look at yourself on your screen, be mindful to engage the interviewer by looking up at the camera instead. To that end, consider a lavalier mic instead of a headset so you don\u2019t have wires extending from your head.<\/p>\n

As Wharton suggests, enter the waiting room 10 minutes early<\/strong> \u2013 you may have the opportunity to chat and connect with other participants before go time. Zoom will also give you the benefit of seeing everyone\u2019s names; you may wish to jot them down along with the basics of their plan. If you end up being the \u201cnote-taker\u201d for your group throughout the sessions, don\u2019t forget to verbally contribute just as much, if not more, than you are taking the time to annotate the proceedings.<\/p>\n

Prepare thoughtful questions for your one-on-one<\/h3>\n

After the completion of your TBD, the facilitator will announce the order of one-on-one interviews and then move all group members to the waiting room. The facilitator will invite one person back into the meeting at a time, and each of you will have about 10 minutes. Be prepared to speak to \u2018Why Wharton\u2019 (this is almost always asked). This is also your opportunity to highlight specific aspects of your candidacy you want to convey, and to ask thoughtful questions that demonstrate your knowledge of the program. Once you have completed the one-on-one interview, you can leave the Zoom meeting.<\/p>\n

Wharton TBD: What Success Looks\u00a0Like<\/h2>\n

I get this anxious question a lot: How much does it matter if my idea is chosen?<\/strong> While running with your idea can have its advantages, it\u2019s far more important to showcase your collaborative leadership. Demonstrating ability to help facilitate a discussion among people who have never met, work toward a greater end goal and advance an idea in a compelling way within a limited timeframe will make a big impression.<\/p>\n

Reflect on the following tactics as you prepare for the Wharton virtual TBD and move through your own \u201cpitch\u201d experience:<\/p>\n