Early Thoughts on Whartons 2016-2017 Application Essay Questions

Application season at the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business is officially underway with the release of the school’s 2016-2017 essay questions. Let’s discuss from a high level some early thoughts on how best to approach these new essay prompts. This year Wharton has added an additional required essay question (as opposed to last years one required essay and one optional essay). Essay 1: What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words) The Wharton School brings back this prompt  again for another year, but this time with a bit of a change. Gone is the â€Å"personal† element of last years question, which will allow  candidates the opportunity to focus directly on the  impact a Wharton MBA will have on them professionally. The biggest trap in this prompt is to treat this question like the typical career goals essay I caution against simply re-purposing responses to similar questions from other schools. This question implores candidates to really think through their planned professional development while at Wharton and the impact the Wharton MBA will have on them post-graduation. This prompt is also asking you to think broadly, so don’t minimize your vision. Breakthrough candidates will utilize a very personal narrative that uniquely captures the essence of why Wharton is the ideal fit for the applicant’s development goals. Wharton is looking for specifics here about why their particular school is the best one for you, so avoid general statements that could be harbored by any candidate. Think holistically about how the school will impact you whether it is through skill development, specialized training, alumni access, or networking. Make sure  the  transformative effect that this program will have on your professional career is clear to the Admissions Committee. Essay 2: Teamwork is at the core of the Wharton MBA experience with each student contributing unique elements to our collaborative culture. How will you contribute to the Wharton community? (400 words) This prompt is all about â€Å"teamwork† and â€Å"impact,  and a successful essay will really align these two elements. Hone in on the unique aspects of  your profile that relate to these to showcase how you will make a positive impact on the Wharton community   whether it is through academic, professional, social, or diverse means, think through what you will contribute and how this will positively affect others at Wharton. Your ability to translate a past teamwork experience to your planned future contributions at Wharton is a good approach for this essay. Past performance will add additional validity to your claims if you can effectively connect the dots for the Admissions Committee. If you can specify which aspects of the Wharton community you will  influence, that would be even better. The pillars of the Wharton MBA are clear, so align your narrative around impacting the school’s most important focus areas. Just a few thoughts on this years essays prompts from Wharton hopefully this will help you get started.  For more thoughts on Wharton  and its application essays, check out our Essential Guide to Top Business Schools for free, here. Applying to Wharton  or other business schools? Call us at 1-800-925-7737 and speak with an MBA admissions expert today, or take our free MBA Admissions Profile Evaluation  for personalized advice for your unique application situation! As always, be sure to find us on  Facebook,  YouTube,  Google+  and Twitter. Dozie A.  is a Veritas Prep Head Consultant for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. His specialties include consulting, marketing, and low GPA/GMAT applicants. You can read more articles by him  here.