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admissionCoach
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What Wharton Really Means by Teamwork 08 Aug 2025, 16:01
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If you’re applying to Wharton, you’ve probably noticed how often the word “teamwork” comes up — in the website copy, admissions events, essays, and of course, the Team-Based Discussion (TBD).
But here’s the catch: most applicants still present teamwork in a generic way. They focus on “getting along” or “achieving results” without showing the deeper qualities Wharton is actually looking for.
Based on Wharton’s own statements, faculty insights, and my experience coaching successful admits, here’s what you need to know.
  1. Teamwork is a way of thinking
    Wharton defines collaboration as a mindset, not just a skill:
    "To succeed you need to collaborate with others. And collaboration is not about knowing facts; it is a way of thinking, a skill critical to your success." — Wharton Interactive
This means that in your application, the focus should be on how you think and act in a group — how you integrate different perspectives, adapt your style, and elevate the group’s performance.
  1. It starts on Day One
    In MGMT 6100: Foundations of Teamwork and Leadership, the first week of the MBA is a high-intensity simulation. Students are assessed on how they handle conflict, delegate, and integrate diverse viewpoints.
From there, teamwork is constant. Over two years, you might work on up to 20 different teams — Learning Teams, project groups, clubs, and co-curricular initiatives.
  1. Wharton teams are small on purpose
    Jennifer S. Mueller, Professor of Management, explains why:
    "By the time you’re over eight or nine people, it can break into sub-teams... there is a tendency for social loafing." — Knowledge@Wharton
The goal is to keep accountability high and ensure every member contributes meaningfully.
  1. Leadership means building the team
    Rodrigo Jordan, Senior Fellow in Leadership and Change Management, notes:
    "Many think they are leading to achieve a goal... but that is not the whole story. As a leader, it is your job to build a team. That’s a different kind of achievement." — Wharton Executive Education
For Wharton, leadership in a team is about creating the conditions for others to excel — not just steering the group to a goal.
  1. How to show this in your application
  • Highlight moments when you strengthened the group, not just played your part
  • Show times you brought in overlooked voices or bridged different working styles
  • Combine analytical problem-solving with emotional intelligence
  • Demonstrate adaptability to different personalities, priorities, and contexts
  • Share credit and emphasize collective wins
Final thought: Wharton doesn’t just want applicants who can “fit in” — they want people who will actively shape the team experience for everyone. If your application can show that you see teamwork as a strategic, values-driven process, you’ll be speaking Wharton’s language.
Question to the community:
For those who have gone through the Wharton TBD or are current students, how did you see teamwork show up in your experience? Any advice for applicants trying to highlight it effectively?