Calling all Wharton Applicants -(2015 Intake) Class of 2017

Apart from the essays? Even with the essays it is light! One 500 word essay with an optional 400 word essay. A very short application IMO.

Yes, true. I was just wrapping up my Harvard ap which is similar on essays but quite a bit more detailed in other sections.

Are people taking this at face value? "It is important to answer all questions that we present, using good judgment with respect to length. We provide guidelines for word count that reflect our strong sense of how long an essay should be. We don't count words or expect you to list a word count, but if your essays are twice as long as the guidelines suggest, there may be a more concise way to address the question."

With that in mind it seems like 500 words for an essay that asks for 400 words would not be an issue...

Yeah, I noticed that. Seems a bit weird. Almost seems like all that talk about ordinary things done in extraordinary ways is thrown out of the window.

haha yeah very true!

I don't know about that, the student I spoke with (she's part of the interviewers) said they have an idea of how long the essays should look so when it is different, they can tell. 500 words for a 400 word essay is a 25% increase, I think that will be obvious.

I'm hoping someone can help me with my question about Wharton's essays.

Essays:
1) Required: "What do you hope to gain personally and professionally from a Wharton MBA?"
2) Optional: "Please highlight any additional information that you would like the Admissions Committee to know about your candidacy." (400 words)

THEN

There is the OPTIONAL ESSAY: "First-time applicants can use this essay if you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application). (250 words)"

My question: Is the 400-word Optional Essay an opportunity to tell Wharton Admissions something else I would like them to know? In other words, can I talk about a reason why I chose my career path, or a hobby that plays a huge part in my life?
Then, do I use the 250-word Optional Essay to explain my low GPA?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Bang on. You got that EXACTLY correct.

Perfect, thanks!

I'll chime in for a short one

Anyone else recieving an email telling that the application has changed and instuctions on procedures for new letters of recommendation?

I wonder if this affects people that have already (paid) submitted their applications?

Let us know!

Thanks
Cheers!
J

I got that note as well, I think it was referring to people that may have started an app on the old database. I started mine after 1 August on the applyweb.com/upennw site and according to the email that is the current/approved system. I think those like myself (and maybe you too?) that logged on early to try and get a headstart automatically got this email today, but I could be wrong!

I don't know what they are referring to as 'old'. There was last year's app that of course was working for this year but they explictly mentioned before logging in that the new app would be available early august I think if I remember correctly.

Then there's this new app, which in fact I found that was having trouble with the recommenders tab, an error appeared but I still got to send that one a couple of weeks ago.

Bottomline is, I think if you sent the 'new app' referring to as the one that came live this year sometime around early august then you shouldn't do anything on the email since it is already submitted, you already paid, and it would be quite messy to start a brand new one and have to pay again to submit.

That is what my logic tells me but haven't confirmed this

If anyone wants to chime in I would be happy to discuss further

Cheers!
J

I started my application on 03-Aug-2014. I never the email about changes.

Anyways, Good luck!

I am writing my essay for over a month now and it seems i could do it forever.

I just started my research on Wharton and will start forming ideas on the essays. Hope to make it for round 1 too! Good luck to everyone!

I am not sure why this thread is so silent. May be everybody is very much focused on essays these days...

Definitely the essays, I'm counting the days till I submit and finally have time for something else. Even if its just good 'ol sleep.

Hello everyone. It's definitely quiet but I'm sure that's due to the deadline slowly creeping up.

I applied in Round 2 last season and things were definitely a bit more lively by this time. I guess everyone figured out how to budget their time and things got a lot simpler having been through Round 1 already!

I'm offering a bit of light relief care of the Wharton Follies (in case not seen already): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QttijaAdsI

Enjoy and good luck!