Wharton MBA Admissions Interview Questions: Round 1

Date: Fall 2005

When I received an invitation to interview, I chose to visit Wharton for my interview. I felt that by making a trip to Wharton that I would show my interest and commitment to the program.

I arrived in the office fifteen minute before my interview, and there were several MBAs and visiting students chatting in the office. I did not join the conversation because I wanted to collect my thoughts before the interview. My interviewer, a second year student, arrived in the office right on time. He looked at my resume for only a moment before greeting me. We exchanged some pleasantries, and he thanked me for me for traveling to Wharton for the interview. Then, he escorted me to a small interview room for our 30 minute discussion.

Although my interviewer and I were dressed in suits, the interview was quite relaxed. The second year MBA was a nice fellow with a different business background from me, and we had a nice chat.

His questions:

1. How would I be remembered when I left Wharton?
2. What would a person read about me 15 years from now?
3. What would I bring to Wharton?
4. Why I felt I needed an MBA? I explained and added Why Now.
5. What I would do at Wharton outside of the classroom? I explain about the clubs that I would join.
6. Please tell me about the size of your chosen employment field.
7. What would be the most difficult thing about attending Wharton?
8. What do I like to do for fun?
9. He asked me about my career and education. Basically, this was the walk through the resume question.
10. I was never asked “Why Wharton.” Since he did not ask me directly, I tried to make “Why Wharton” comments in the answers to other questions whenever it was possible.
11. Do you have any questions? I asked three questions.
12. Do you have any closing comments?

After the interview, the interviewer escorted me to office and gave me his business card. He thanked me again for traveling to Wharton for the interview, and I thanked him again for conducting the interview. After the interview, I walked to a Kinko’s near Wharton and sent a thank you email about an hour after the interview. In the interview, I thanked the interviewer and indicated again that I would attend if admitted. I asked the interviewer for more information on a topic that we discussed. The interviewer sent an email with the information within 24 hours, and I send another email to thank him for the web link.

I do not feel that I did my best during the interview because I was a bit tired and nervous. I believe that my content was fine but my presentation was poor. I left Wharton feeling that I had blown my chance to attend Wharton; however, I was happy to be accepted to Wharton.

My advice for future interviewees is as follows:

1. Travel to Wharton if possible.
2. Know your story very well.
3. Relax! Relax! Relax!