"Know what you want and what you are looking to get out of the program. And always think about that as a compass when you are in the program itself."
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Executive MBA Application Requirements
Admission to the Wharton MBA Program for Executives requires the completion of our online application, as well as the following components, each of which is explained in greater detail on the application:
- Background Information
- Two Letters of Recommendation
- Three Essays
- Transcripts
- GMAT
- Letter of Endorsement (sponsorship)
- Interviews
- Application Fee
Background Information
Background information includes: contact information (e.g., mailing address and phone number), date of birth, academic degrees earned, professional experience, and family information.
Two Letters of Recommendation
The Admissions Committee requires two recommendations from professional supervisors who are familiar with your work. Optimal sources for recommendations are your direct managers, who can give insight to the Committee on you as an employee. Other useful sources are clients or former employers. There are two options for submitting these letters: electronic and paper (both available on the online application system).
Essays
There are 3 required essays and 1 optional essay:
Essay 1
Required; no word limit. Answer all of the following questions:
- What is your career objective and what do you see as the next steps needed to achieve it?
- How will the Wharton MBA Program for Executives contribute to your attainment of these objectives?
- Why is this the right time for you to undertake this program?
Essay 2
Required; 500 word limit. Answer one of the following three questions:
- What is the most significant way, either in or out of your job, that you have demonstrated leadership?
- In one of your Wharton MBA courses, you are given a case assignment to be completed in a study group comprised of six students. What is the most significant strength you would bring to the group process?
- As 'The Ethicist' in the New York Sunday Times Magazine often demonstrates, many ethical dilemmas are fairly complex with gray areas making the decision path a challenging one. Do you have an example of one such dilemma and how you handled it?
Essay 3
Required; 500 word limit. Answer this question:
- While many factors (e.g., your academic background or the part of the semester you're in) can influence the amount of time dedicated to the program, students have estimated that it's approximately 20 hours/week. Given your already demanding job and the desire to remain committed to important family and personal obligations, how do you plan to handle this additional demand on you?
Essay 4
Optional; no word limit.You may answer the following question:
- Is there anything else you would like to add that would help us in evaluating your candidacy?
Transcripts
Applicants to the Wharton MBA Program for Executives must arrange to have official transcripts sent from their prior academic institutions in time to be received by the February 1 deadline. Transcripts may not be electronically submitted to this program. The Admissions Committee must receive an official transcript before a decision can be made. Do not use the online Transcript Template. If receiving an original transcript from your school will take an extended period (for example, if you studied outside of the U.S.), we will accept certified copies of original transcripts until the originals have arrived.
GMAT
All applicants must submit the results of the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT). There is no minimum requirement; however, GMAT scores have proven to be a useful predictor of success in the quantitative courses that are an important foundation for the MBA program.
The latest date to take the test for admissible scores is March 1, 2010. To minimize delays in processing your application, a photocopy of the official GMAT scores may be scanned and emailed or faxed to the appropriate Wharton office (East Coast or West Coast). You must also have a copy of these scores sent directly to Wharton. The GMAT code for the Wharton MBA Program for Executives is G56-97-36 for Philadelphia and G56-97-14 for San Francisco.
GMAT scores are valid for five years. If you have taken the GMAT recently and want to include that score in your application, please have your scores sent directly to Wharton. For GMAT information and registration, go to http://www.mba.com. The executive MBA program does not accept GRE test scores for admission.
Letter of Endorsement
A letter of endorsement from your organization is a required part of your application. A decision on your application cannot be made until we receive this letter. The letter should be on the official letterhead of your organization and be signed by your sponsoring management, and it must indicate that the necessary time will be provided for you to attend. If financial support will be provided, this should also be specified in the letter. For independent consultants and professionals, a letter of self-sponsorship is also required. Learn more about Wharton's Executive MBA Sponsorship.
For Fellows nominations, the organization must provide a letter of nomination, citing the managerial potential of the candidate and confirming a commitment for full financial and program-related support.
Interviews
An interview is required for all Fellows candidates and is strongly encouraged for all other applicants to the Wharton MBA Program for Executives. You should schedule an interview before the application deadline of February 1, and you must have completed it by March 1. An early interview is strongly encouraged. You do not need to submit your application before your interview. For more information, please go to Interviews.
Application Fee
A non-refundable application fee of $180 must accompany your application. This fee, which must be paid by credit card online using a Visa or MasterCard only, is processed through Wharton's secure server using Verisign. You will not see the payment option until you submit your application online.
