Ask MBA Admit - Dr. Shel Watts

6 Weeks to Wharton EMBA Final Deadline (Feb 5): How to Prepare

The second and last of Wharton's deadlines for the 2019-2020 EMBA admissions cycle is on February 5, 2020 – only six weeks away. You have plenty to do to prepare for a successful admissions outcome. Since many candidates will try to use their winter break from work to prepare their applications, we are providing below key steps to take in the six weeks you have before the deadline.

Special Timing Considerations Due to the Winter Break Period
(end-December through early January):

During the end of December and early January, many recommendation writers are unavailable. Additionally, Wharton will be closed for much of that time and unavailable to offer class visits and interviews. Since you may be limited during the winter break period in your ability to contact your recommenders and engage with Wharton, you should push other elements of your application preparation forward, so that when the winter break period ends, you are not left “cramming” all of the work into the four-week period before the Round 2 deadline. By making good progress with your essays and standardized test preparation, after the winter break period you will be able to focus on other elements, like your interview and campus visit. After the winter break, you can also re-take your Executive Assessment or GMAT test, if needed, and work with your recommendation writers to ensure they get your recommendations drafted and submitted on time. To pace yourself well, you can consider timing like this in your preparations:

During the Winter Break Period (end-December through early January):

Draft Winning Essays. Wharton is one of the hardest EMBA programs to access, so you need to present an outstanding application. Among the most important application components are your essays and recommendations. You should allot ample time to brainstorm and compose outstanding essays. The essays represent your marketing package, so use them excellently!

Revise Your Resume – Make it a Winning Application Resume. Through its website, Wharton asks you to send in your resume and offers to give you feedback, based on your resume, about whether you will be a good Wharton EMBA candidate. Don’t just send any resume in to the Admissions Committee for feedback. Remember, if you send your resume in for feedback, you are making a first impression – and first impressions last! Make sure to revise and strengthen your resume so that it is outstanding and presents you in the best light, demonstrating strengths in the ways Wharton most values, so that you get off to a great start.

Prepare for Your Executive Assessment (EA) Exam or GMAT Test. Most candidates prefer to take the EA rather than the GMAT, since it takes significantly less time to prepare for the EA. Wharton prefers to see an EA score around 158 or higher, with a quant score of at least 12. (They have set this EA bar much higher than two years ago, when they indicated a score of 150 was fine.) A GMAT score of 680 or higher is usually fine. (A GMAT score between 630-670 can sometimes be sufficient, depending on the strength of the candidate's work history and academic achievements. But, in general, 680 or higher is safer.)

Strengthen Your Record. Preparing for admissions can include building up your record academically or in the extracurricular arena, if you have weak credentials in either. Make sure to gain a solid understanding of whether you have notable weak spots in your profile and how to best address them before you submit your application. Yes, it is possible to strengthen your profile with only six weeks to go before the deadline.

In January 2020, During the Four Weeks Before the R2 Deadline:

Reach Out to Recommendation Writers. You should reach out as early as possible to your recommendation writers and ensure they compose outstanding recommendations in time for the deadline. Take the time to consider who will be the best writers for you. Who can write a glowing recommendation that conveys deep details about your strengths as a businessperson and leader? Once you decide, you should reach out to the writers, secure their commitment to write for you, and guide them about what a great recommendation letter looks like. If your recommendation writers are available during the winter break period, all the better.

Prepare for Your Formal Interview and Class Visit. The Wharton admissions process includes a formal interview, and Wharton likes for candidates to do this interview before they submit their applications. The interview is very important: candidates can get eliminated from consideration after the interview if things go poorly. We typically advise candidates not to schedule the formal Wharton interview until after we have worked to revise their resumes and compose at least the first essay (about career goals and “why Wharton”), so they understand the positioning they should take in the interview. We also want candidates to be aware of what to say and not say in the Wharton interview. Certain things, if said during the interview, can motivate the Admissions Committee to reject you. Prepare well for your interview!

Engage with the School. Your admissions journey should also include attending information sessions or webinars and reaching out to current students and alumni members. You should demonstrate interest in the program beyond merely reading the program website.