Alumni Profiles

Driven by a significant increase in the number of international students, a record 8,313 people applied to the MBA class of WG’00, 11.4 percent more than last year.

The growth in international applications was most apparent in mainland China, India and other parts of Asia, as well as in Latin America. “We recruited in 19 countries this year, including first-time trips to Saudi Arabia, Peru, India and Egypt,” notes MBA admissions director Robert Alig, WG’87. “Our mission is to set the standard for global outreach.”

Of this year’s applicants, 45.7 percent are international, compared to 43.1 percent last year.

The average GMAT for applicants was 658, compared to 644 last year, while the average GPA was 3.38 compared to 3.36 in 1997.

The total number of admitted students was 1,087 compared to 1,085 last year. This year 33.1 percent of that total is comprised of international students, compared to 31.2 percent last year, and 31.3 percent were women, compared to 28.8 percent last year. The average GMAT for admitted students was 691, compared to 678 last year, while the average GPA was 3.5 compared to 3.46 in 1997.

This year’s yield — the number of students who accept Wharton — is 70.4 percent, compared to 73 percent last year. That translates into 765 students on campus this fall, of whom 32.0 percent are international (30.4 percent last year), 30.2 percent are women (27.4 percent last year), 5.6 percent are African American (5.1 percent), 9 percent are Asian American (8.3 percent), 3.5 percent are Hispanic American (3.8 percent) and 0.1 percent are Native American (no change).

“The minority student percentage overall is 18.3 percent this year, up from 17.4 percent last year,” notes Alig. “The number of women is also higher, due in large part to targeted outreach supported by a group of current students.”

The strength of the applicant pool “clearly shows how competitive getting into Wharton has become,” Alig states. “In 1994 we had 5,019 applications. This year it was more than 8,300. Our admit rate is at 13 percent. Looking at virtually any index, our applicants have to realize they are competing not only against more people but against stronger people.”

In terms of the school’s active international recruiting program, “Wharton’s mission is to be an international MBA program that happens to be located in America,” he adds. “We are preparing students for a global economy. That includes being surrounded by people with a global perspective.”