Wharton MBA Application: Complete Walkthrough and Tips

The Wharton MBA application includes a wide range of sections covering your personal background, education, work experience, extracurricular activities, recommendations, essays, test scores, and other information.

Because the Wharton application requires you to complete mandatory fields before moving through certain sections, it is worth setting aside enough time to work through the application carefully rather than trying to complete it in short sessions.

In this Wharton MBA application walkthrough, Jennifer Turtschanow, CEO of ARINGO, goes through the key sections of the application and highlights areas where applicants often have questions.

This guide covers the Wharton application process, work experience, academic information, extracurricular activities, recommendations, essays, reapplicant questions, additional information, test scores, deferred MBA applications, and other details that can affect how you present your profile.

Wharton MBA Application Walkthrough

In this video, Jennifer Turtschanow walks through the Wharton MBA application and explains what applicants should know before submitting their application.

The walkthrough focuses on the sections that require more thought, including professional experience, academics, extracurricular activities, recommendations, essays, test information, reapplicants, and deferred MBA applicants.

Wharton MBA Application Walkthrough

Before you start filling out the Wharton MBA application, it is worth going through all of the available tabs and sections first.

The application can be dynamic, meaning that some questions or sections appear based on the choices you make earlier in the application.

For example, selecting a dual degree or another Wharton program can result in additional questions later in the application.

The walkthrough recommends setting aside a dedicated two to three-hour block to work through the application. This gives you enough time to review your answers and make sure you have the information you need before moving forward.

It is also helpful to have your resume, academic records, employment details, test information, extracurricular activities, and recommender information available before you begin.

The Wharton application changes depending on the program options you select.

If you indicate that you are interested in a dual degree or another program within Wharton, additional questions and prompts may appear later in the application.

The walkthrough gives the Lauder Institute as an example. Selecting Lauder can add additional information and prompts because it is an international program within Wharton.

This is another reason to review the application before starting. Understanding which programs you are applying to can help you anticipate the additional information you may need to provide.

The application asks whether you are concurrently applying to other programs and whether you have applied to Wharton previously.

If you are a Wharton reapplicant, additional questions appear later in the application, including a question about what has changed since your previous application.

Reapplicants should take this question seriously. The application should show meaningful development since the previous application rather than simply repeating the same profile and goals.

Changes could involve professional responsibilities, leadership experience, academic preparation, career goals, personal development, or other relevant accomplishments.

The important thing is to clearly explain what is different and why you are now a stronger candidate for Wharton.

The application asks whether you are concurrently applying to other programs and whether you have applied to Wharton previously.

If you are a Wharton reapplicant, additional questions appear later in the application, including a question about what has changed since your previous application.

Reapplicants should take this question seriously. The application should show meaningful development since the previous application rather than simply repeating the same profile and goals.

Changes could involve professional responsibilities, leadership experience, academic preparation, career goals, personal development, or other relevant accomplishments.

The important thing is to clearly explain what is different and why you are now a stronger candidate for Wharton.

The personal information section includes standard biographical information as well as questions related to gender identity and sexual orientation.

The walkthrough notes that this information is used for purposes beyond the admissions evaluation, including understanding the broader MBA community and candidate population.

Applicants should answer these questions accurately and according to what applies to them.

This section is generally straightforward, but it is important to complete every required field carefully before moving forward.

One section highlighted in the Wharton application is military experience.

The application asks whether you are currently or were previously part of the military. The walkthrough also notes that applicants who served in a military outside the United States can indicate that experience.

This provides international military applicants with a place to accurately document their service.

If you have military experience, make sure the information you provide is consistent with your resume and other parts of the application.

The Wharton application provides a place to list languages you know.

If you currently list languages on your resume, moving some of this basic information into the application can free up valuable resume space for more meaningful professional accomplishments, leadership examples, and results.

Family information is also included in the application and is optional.

The walkthrough also discusses applicants whose spouse or future spouse is applying to Wharton. While this does not guarantee admission, applying as a couple can demonstrate that both individuals have researched the program and are making a serious commitment to Wharton.

The Wharton application gives applicants an opportunity to list honors and recognition from their college or personal community.

This can include achievements that are not necessarily professional and therefore may not deserve space on a one-page MBA resume.

Using the application form for these accomplishments can help you preserve your resume space for your most important professional achievements and leadership experiences.

Think about awards, recognition, or accomplishments from college and your broader community that help demonstrate another aspect of your background.

The Wharton application allows applicants to include up to 10 extracurricular involvements.

This is useful because not every activity needs to make it onto your MBA resume.

For example, you may have been an orientation leader during college or participated in a smaller community activity that does not warrant a bullet point on your professional resume.

Use this section to provide a fuller picture of how you spend your time outside your professional responsibilities.

When selecting activities, focus on genuine involvement rather than trying to fill all 10 spaces simply because the application allows you to.

Your Wharton MBA resume should focus on the most meaningful parts of your professional experience.

Since the application itself provides space for extracurricular activities, professional awards, languages, and other information, you do not necessarily need to put every detail into the resume.

The walkthrough recommends uploading your resume as a PDF because PDF formatting helps preserve the appearance of the document.

Before uploading, check that your employment dates, titles, education, achievements, and other details match the information in the Wharton application.

Consistency across the application is important.

Before submitting your Wharton MBA application, review every section carefully.

  • Confirm your personal and biographical information.
  • Check your program and dual-degree selections.
  • Review your employment dates and work experience.
  • Make sure your post-MBA interests match your career goals.
  • Review your extracurricular activities.
  • Check your academic information and GPA.
  • Upload transcripts from every institution attended.
  • Confirm that recommendation requests have been sent.
  • Proofread all Wharton essays.
  • Review the reapplicant response if applicable.
  • Use the additional information section only when context is necessary.
  • Verify your test information and number of attempts.
  • Make sure your resume and application contain consistent information.
  • Review the application integrity requirements before submitting.

Wharton MBA Application FAQ

The application walkthrough recommends setting aside a dedicated two to three-hour block to work through the application. Reviewing the available sections before starting can also help you prepare the information you will need.

Yes. The application allows applicants to list up to 10 extracurricular involvements. This can be useful for including smaller activities that do not need to take up space on your MBA resume.

Be as accurate as possible with employers, dates, positions, and other employment information. Full-time work experience refers to experience after undergraduate graduation, so work completed during college does not count toward post-graduation full-time experience.

Use it to explain circumstances that need context, such as a career gap or unusual academic result. It should not be used as another general essay or as a place to repeat information already covered elsewhere.

Reapplicants should explain what has changed since their previous application. Focus on meaningful professional, academic, leadership, career, or personal development that demonstrates how your profile has evolved.

Because deferred applicants have limited full-time work experience, they should emphasize leadership, internships, academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and other accomplishments that demonstrate their potential.

Explore More MBA Admissions Topics

Sign Up For a Free Consultation

Applying to Wharton and Want to Know How Strong Your Profile Is?

A strong Wharton MBA application is more than a good GMAT score, strong work experience, or an impressive resume. Your goals, leadership experience, academic background, extracurricular involvement, recommendations, and essays all need to work together to present a clear picture of you as a candidate.

If you are applying to Wharton and want an experienced admissions perspective on your profile and application strategy, contact ARINGO to learn more.

You can also use the MBA Admission Chances Calculator as an initial way to evaluate your target schools.

Contact ARINGO