EMBA Program Admissions FAQ

The program in San Francisco begins May 23, 2010; the program in Philadelphia begins May 30, 2010. Completed applications for both programs are due by February 1, 2010. We do not have "rolling admissions." One Admissions Committee makes all admissions decisions. We notify all applicants no later than March 26 (San Francisco) or April 9 (Philadelphia). If you need to request an early decision, please contact the admissions office of the program to which you are applying.

We do require that Fellows candidates (applicants under 30 years old) come to campus for a personal interview. We recommend that all applicants come to visit the program to observe classes and meet current students, if at all possible. You can visit us without scheduling an interview if you wish, but an interview is strongly recommended for all candidates. For a related question about interviews, see How Much Weight Does the Interview Have in the Application Process?.

There are many hotels in both Philadelphia and San Francisco that are convenient for visiting Wharton. In Philadelphia, we recommend the Inn at Penn, which is on the University of Pennsylvania campus. In San Francisco, we recommend the hotel at which students stay during the program (please call the campus for more information).

The requirements for admissions to both East and West programs are identical; therefore, Admissions Committees in the East and West would not change a decision made by their counterparts.

Wharton accepts simultaneous applications to its executive and traditional MBA programs. In order to apply to both programs during the same admissions cycle, applicants must submit separate and complete applications, following the instructions and deadlines required by each program. Dual applicants must also indicate within both applications that they are applying to the other program and whether a decision has been rendered by the other program and, if so, what that decision is. Admitted students may only matriculate in one program. Acceptance of one admission offer will automatically negate any others.

It is not necessary to go through the entire process again. Please view reapplication procedures for detailed information. The procedures are also outlined in the online application.

Call 215-898-5887 for Philadelphia, or 866-WHARTON for San Francisco, and the staff will make an appointment with an Admissions Officer for you. Interviews are generally held on Fridays and Saturdays when classes are in session, so you may come beforehand and/or stay afterwards to observe classes, have lunch with students, and get a good picture of what the program entails. Find out more about interviewing.

Wharton information receptions are typically held in the evenings during the fall and winter months at cities around the country. For information on current schedules, go to Admissions Events. We also invite you to contact us to schedule a personal visit to the campus.

You must complete 19.25 course units at Wharton to earn your degree from our program. If your previous coursework was recently completed, you may be able to waive core courses in the relevant disciplines and thereby increase the number of electives in your curriculum. You will still be required to spend two calendar years at Wharton.

Yes, you can apply. We do not exclude candidates who have an MBA or any other graduate degree. You should, however, explain your reasons for desiring a second MBA in your application and during your interview.

When you complete your two years in the Wharton MBA for Executives, you are awarded the same Wharton MBA degree received by those who complete Wharton's traditional full-time program. The curriculum is the same rigorous curriculum required in the traditional MBA program. Because students attend universities and colleges around the world with different grading systems, the GMAT is the one uniform assessment tool we have to predict academic potential for success in many of the core courses that Wharton requires. We have found that students who don't do well on the GMAT generally have difficulty with some of the courses that Wharton feels our graduates should master. If you think you may have trouble with the GMAT, we recommend you study one of the review texts available in many bookstores or enroll in a formal GMAT preparation course. The Wharton MBA Program for Executives Admissions Committee does not accept the GRE in place of the GMAT for admission to the program.

A number of our classes assume basic math literacy. If you took your last math class a while ago, it is probably worthwhile to brush up before coming to the program. You'll do some of this when you prepare for the GMAT exam. Also, we offer a week-long math review course during the first week of the program. If you have not completed a math course at the basic calculus level, you should try to enroll in a "Math for Business" course at a local college. Please focus on the basics (algebra, graphing functions, very basic calculus).

There is no set formula that the Admissions Committee uses to weigh the different strengths and weaknesses of applicants. In such a competitive applicant pool, it is often the intangible issues that tend to come up during interviews that will distinguish you from your competition. An interview should be viewed as your opportunity to share more about your background and your interest in the program in a way that adds greater perspective and personality to your application.

Tuition for the class entering in May 2010 will be announced in March 2010. For the cost of the two-year program for the class that entered in May 2009 (including tuition, books, and program-related housing and meals), see Tuition Fee.

The Online Application System requires payment by credit card for your application fee. Credit card payments are not accepted for tuition fees, however, which should be made by check or electronic fund transfer.

Information on financing options is available through the Wharton MBA Program website and through the University of Pennsylvania's Student Financial Services.

There are no Wharton scholarships for which students can apply. In addition to our information on Loan Programs, you may wish to research possible grants or scholarships from other sources.

No, if you are a Fellows candidate, your company must be financially responsible for the cost of the program.