In this, our third installment of our interview series, we’ll take a closer look at an MBA interview permutation—the team-based interview or group discussion. You can view the first two parts of this interview series here: open versus invitation-only interviews and application-based interviews versus resume-based interviews.
What Is the Team-Based Discussion for the Wharton MBA?
Several years ago, the admissions office at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School partnered with the Wharton Innovation group to launch a new evaluation method, the team-based discussion (TBD). As its name suggests, as part of the TBD, applicants are placed into a group with five to six other applicants for an interactive discussion about real-life business scenarios, designed to reveal to the Admissions Committee how each applicant approaches and analyzes specific situations.
The way teams of applicants are assembled is simply a function of who signs up when. Each participant will receive a prompt for the TBD in advance, and Wharton recommends spending about an hour in advance preparing for the discussion.
While initially held on Wharton’s Philadelphia campus or in various cities around the world, Covid protocols moved the TBDs online. Starting in the 2023-2024 admissions season, Wharton confirmed that all admissions interviews will be virtual going forward. They are still conducted by Admissions Fellows, a select group of second-year MBA students.
Here’s the prompt applicants received in the 2024-25 application season:
“The Wharton MBA program is dedicated to developing impactful, globally conscious leaders who are passionate about meaningful change. To advance this mission, Wharton has introduced two Impact Communities: Social Equity and Environment. MBA students interested in one or more of these critical issues are invited to join the associated Impact Community to discover the many resources available at Wharton. These communities will consolidate resources and opportunities in research, academics, and career growth, acting as a hub for MBA students to uncover insights, attend engaging events, and connect with peers, faculty, and organizations.
“The Wharton School is exploring the addition of a new Impact Community focused on an emerging topic of global interest. For today’s discussion, you and a team of fellow MBA students have been chosen to propose a new Impact Community.
“As a team, address the following aspects:
– Define the emerging global issue your proposed Impact Community will address.
– Identify one or more potential partner organizations that could collaborate with the community by offering resources, support, or engagement opportunities.
– Identify resources within The Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania that could support the proposed Impact Community (e.g., academic programs, conferences, research initiatives).
– Outline the key learning outcomes the Impact Community aims to achieve for its members.
“Your final presentation should clearly articulate the vision for the new Impact Community, emphasizing how it will provide a unique and impactful learning experience aligned with Wharton’s mission to prepare leaders for the world’s most pressing challenges. Consider discussing why your team selected this emerging global issue, as well as the relevance of the resources and partner organizations identified.”
So, what’s the best way to approach the TBD, you ask? We consulted our resident expert, Alex Brown, who worked in admissions at Wharton for several years. Here’s his take:
