Published: October 29, 2019
Top Wharton MBA Team-Based Interview Tips from Actual Interviewees
As LiveWire lights up with interview invitations from the Wharton Admissions Committee, we wanted to help the latest crop of candidates by sharing tips from those who have experienced the Wharton Team-Based Discussion (TBD) and personal interviews first-hand. Wharton introduced the TBD a few years ago and considers it to “model the highly collaborative nature of the Wharton MBA environment.”
Five to six candidates are grouped together and asked to develop a presentation around a specific prompt, which invited applicants are sent in advance of the interview. After the group exercise, candidates have about 10 minutes one on one with an interviewer—usually a trained second-year student, but sometimes a member of the adcom.
Many candidates report that the TBD gives them insight into Wharton’s atmosphere, but can feel difficult to prepare for. The Clear Admit Interview Guide for Wharton feature more personal experiences of several interviewees. Below, we’ve compiled some of the best insights from recent Wharton candidates as reported in the Clear Admit Interview Archive.
Show That You Are a Team Player
Several candidates recommended arriving with enough time before the TBD to get to know the other members of your group and settle in a little:
“Since no one knows what to expect in the team-based discussion (TBD), it is a good idea to arrive early in order to know the people in your group.”
“I highly recommend arriving 15-20 minutes before your interview, as the time spent in the waiting room chatting and getting to know the other applicants in the same TBD group was useful, so you can get a handle of the various personalities early on.”
Another candidate remarked that it’s not always easy to determine your team members, but it still makes sense to arrive early:
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