{"id":11925,"date":"2025-12-11T09:36:15","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T14:36:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dev.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/?p=11925"},"modified":"2026-05-29T14:32:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-29T18:32:05","slug":"how-to-get-into-wharton-mba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stratusadmissionscounseling.com\/blog\/how-to-get-into-wharton-mba\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get into The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How to Get into The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania<\/h1>\n\n\n

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The Wharton School Program Overivew<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has earned a reputation as one of the top business schools in the world, but its reputation as simply a \u201cfinance school\u201d may be unwarranted. While its core curriculum rests heavily on analytical competence, Wharton has strengths in marketing, entrepreneurship, health care, and more! The school also places an incredible emphasis on collaboration and the ability to work in teams.

From the Team Based Discussion<\/strong> during the interview to the program\u2019s focus on group academic projects, Wharton makes teamwork a priority. At matriculation, students are divided into 12 cohorts of approximately 70 students, and they bond with their section mates via the Pre-Term Olympics and Cluster Cup (which include friendly games of chess and football, for example) and monthly Cluster Suppers. The cohorts are further divided into five- to six-person Learning Teams that become like families after three intense pre-term weeks and a semester of challenging core courses.

At Wharton, students can choose from 21 majors and nearly 200 electives to further pinpoint their study interests. Although finance-based careers are at Wharton\u2019s core, an emphasis on business analytics (the school launched a new major in this field a few years ago) and tech-based entrepreneurship has emerged. Wharton is also home to the preeminent health care management program among business schools. Students who choose the Health Care Management<\/strong> major in their application have access to an alumni mentor program, an interdisciplinary faculty from various UPenn schools, and assistance with obtaining summer internships within the field, among other benefits. Wharton describes its marketing faculty as \u201cthe largest, most cited, and most published\u2026 in the world\u201d and boasts more than 40 professors in this field. Some may be surprised to learn that Wharton also has a popular real estate program (2.0% of the Class of 2024 went into real estate post-graduation) and that the school sends its graduates to such fields as retail (1.8%) and social impact (2.7%). Finally, the MBA\/MA joint degree with the Lauder Institute draws applicants each year with its emphasis on international studies and an interdisciplinary curriculum.

The school\u2019s career center assists students throughout their studies and post-graduation. \u201cI can\u2019t say enough good things about the career center. They really know what they\u2019re doing and not only work hard to make sure you are prepared for applications and interviews, but also work to source so many companies to come to campus. They also do a great job keeping recruiters at bay and making sure companies are fair to Wharton students\u2014they really protect our interests!\u201d a Stratus consultant and Wharton graduate said.

Most Wharton students live in the Center City neighborhood of Philadelphia, where they can walk to school while taking advantage of 2401 Walnut, a satellite Wharton space<\/strong> that hosts academic groups, professional clubs, and summer startups. However, students also have the opportunity to spend a semester at the school\u2019s San Francisco campus<\/strong>. One Wharton student and former Stratus client told us, \u201cThe Wharton building (called Huntsman Hall<\/strong>) is nice, but honestly a little small for the number of students. The Penn campus is beautiful, though, and more importantly, I\u2019ve absolutely fallen in love with Philly. There are so many good places to eat, drink, go for walks, have picnics, or anything else you could want as a 20-something in a city. And it\u2019s so affordable.\u201d

Wharton weeks culminate each Friday in MBA Pub<\/strong>, which is held at The Armory. These meetups are often themed and provide a chance for students to unwind and connect before the weekend. Students also tout the opportunity for \u201cstretch experiences\u201d at Wharton\u2014a way to try something new and challenging, such as skating for the intramural hockey team, sleeping under the stars on an MBA Leadership Venture in Antarctica, learning bhangra for Wharton Dance Studio, or sharing one of those experiences in front of a crowd at Storytellers.

Whether you are interested in professional clubs, such as the Family Business Club<\/strong>, the Social Impact Club<\/strong>, and the Travel and Hospitality Club<\/strong>; cultural and affinity clubs like the Francophone Club<\/strong> and the Veterans Club<\/strong>; or clubs with an athletic or social focus, such as the Football Club<\/strong> and the Poker Club<\/strong>, Wharton likely has an option for you! For a fun night of friendly (but heavy!) competition, check out Penn Fight Night<\/strong>, a student-run amateur boxing event that raises money for local charities and welcomes roughly 3,000 attendees from all UPenn schools each year to cheer on the boxers from their respective schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wharton School Curriculum<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wharton has adapted its curriculum to meet the changing requirements of business while maintaining a high analytical standard. The school offers a core curriculum of courses spanning the areas of communication, leadership, operations, and finance that are heavily weighted in the first semester. However, two-thirds of the program requirements are flexible, giving students the freedom to pursue one (or more!) of 21 majors<\/strong> or even take classes across UPenn\u2019s campus to accomplish their MBA goals. Flexible core course areas include management, communication, marketing, and accounting. One Wharton student and former Stratus client highlighted Professor Sarah E. Light as one of their favorites, saying, \u201cI first heard Professor Light speak during my Wharton Welcome Week\u2014she taught a mini lecture on innovation and ethics, and I knew then that I wanted to take a class with her. I took \u2018Negotiations\u2019 with her this past fall, and it was amazing. She brings so much energy but also compassion to her teaching and is able to engage the class whether in person or over Zoom!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many students take advantage of the opportunities available: the internationally focused Lauder MBA\/MA<\/strong> program, the Carey JD\/MBA<\/strong> program, or the Health Care Management<\/strong> major. With faculty names including Adam Grant, courses diving into topics such as big data analytics, and a Venture Initiation Program as part of a larger entrepreneurial ecosystem, Wharton is constantly reevaluating offerings to reflect new trends and students\u2019 aspirations. \u201cThe P3 Program<\/strong>, hosted by the McNulty Leadership Program, was super valuable!\u201d a Stratus consultant and Wharton graduate said. \u201cYou meet weekly with a small group of students to read the book Springboard<\/em> and explore what success and happiness means to you, and how to achieve it. In addition, I went on a Leadership Venture (also part of the McNulty Leadership Program) in the Andes Mountains, and while it may have been the most uncomfortable and strenuous week of my life, I\u2019m so glad that I had that opportunity!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Extracurriculars at The Wharton School<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Some of the most popular pastimes at Wharton include cheering on your closest friends as they skate (or stumble!) across the ice during Wharton hockey games<\/strong>, watching a member of your Learning Team box a law school student in the classic black-tie Fight Night<\/strong>, or joining the Wharton Ski & Snowboard Club<\/strong>, which hosts ski trips where students descend upon a ski community for a weekend of fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wharton students have stepped up to show their support and a desire to better understand their community. Out for Business<\/strong> is well known on campus for taking action and speaking out in support of LGBTQ+ people and allies (and for hosting the famous White Party<\/strong>). Other cultural and affinity clubs include Wharton Women in Business<\/strong>, Male Allies<\/strong>, the Greater China Club<\/strong>, and the Veterans Club<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to clubs committed to international inclusion and identity, Wharton boasts the robust Social Impact<\/strong> Club <\/strong>and Storytellers<\/strong>. Wharton students have also been working to make the school more family friendly with a Partners Club<\/strong> and a Kids Club<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wharton Follies<\/strong>, an annual musical theater production, was first hosted in 1977 and has since grown into one of the school\u2019s largest organizations on campus. The entire event is written, performed, and produced by students and often features faculty members and other Wharton community members in cameo roles. The theme of the show varies each year; the 2025 event carried the theme \u201cOnce Upon an MBA,\u201d while other past themes have included \u201cDial M for MGMT,\u201d \u201cFollies\u2019 Eleven,\u201d \u201cFollies\u2019 Angels,\u201d \u201cThe Huntsman Hangover,\u201d \u201cThe Book of Wharton,\u201d and \u201cLord of the GSR.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wharton Notable Professors and Classes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Adam Grant<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Professor Grant is a world-renowned, leading expert on organizational psychology. He is the New York Times<\/em> bestselling author of five books, including Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don\u2019t Know<\/em> (Viking, 2021), and his TED talks have been viewed more than 25 million times. At Wharton, Professor Grant has been recognized as a top professor seven times. He has taught such courses as \u201cOrganizational Behavior\u201d and also leads students\u2019 independent studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Katherine L. Milkman<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Professor Milkman is the James G. Dinan Endowed Professor and a professor of operations, information, and decisions at Wharton. She also co-founded and co-directs the Wharton Behavior Change for Good Initiative. Professor Milkman\u2019s research focuses on such topics as behavioral economics, behavior change, and judgment and decision making, and she teaches the course \u201cManagement Decision Making,\u201d among others. Thinkers50 has named Professor Milkman one of the world\u2019s top management thinkers twice. Her book, How to Change: The Science of Getting from Where You Are to Where You Want to Be<\/em> (Portfolio), was published in 2021.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Americus Reed<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Wharton website describes Professor Americus Reed as \u201cthe Marketing Department\u2019s only \u2018identity theorist.\u2019\u201d His research explores how such themes as social influence, social identity, and values shape consumer behavior and purchase decisions. He is the Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor and a professor of marketing at Wharton, where he teaches such courses as \u201cDynamic Marketing Strategy\u201d and \u201cConsumer Behavior.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Negotiations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This popular elective course explores the art of negotiation and conflict resolution by using simulation exercises and reading materials. The simulations range from simple transactions to more complex ventures featuring multiple parties. Students can test their skills and, in the end, emerge as better business negotiators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leading Across Cultural and Relational Differences<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This course, which uses both experiential and traditional teaching methods, \u201cprepares aspiring leaders to leverage the power of different perspectives and positions them as change agents capable of leading in dynamic and diverse environments,\u201d the Wharton course description reads. Students explore case studies and reading materials and learn from guest speakers before completing a final individual or team project on the topic. Topics discussed within the course include workplace relationships, team effectiveness, and performance\u2014all seen through the viewpoint of leading in diverse environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venture Capital and the Finance of Innovation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This course is intended mainly for students interested in post-MBA careers in venture capital or in research and development\u2013oriented companies in the fields of information technology and health care, but entrepreneurial-minded students hoping to learn more about the establishment of companies will also find it useful. Students examine such topics as contingent-claims analysis, comparables analysis, and discounted cash flow analysis, with the aim of better understanding the finance of technological innovation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Wharton School Statistics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Class Profile (Class of 2027)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Class Size: <\/strong>888
Average Work Experience:<\/strong> 5 years
Average Undergraduate GPA:<\/strong> 3.7
Women:<\/strong> 44%
International:<\/strong> 26%
Average GMAT Classic Score:<\/strong> 735
Average GMAT Focus Score:<\/strong> 676
Average Verbal GRE:<\/strong> 162
Average Quantitative GRE:<\/strong> 163<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Career Placement (Industries, Class of 2024)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n