I am a non-traditional applicant (2nd year student from an outside medical school) who applied specifically to their Healthcare Management Program (separate application from the rest of Wharton MBA app). From my experience, the Wharton community seems to do a good job of integrating its talents with the rest of UPenn’s schools. In the span of 2 hours before my interview, I spoke with a law student, physics PhD, med student, and engineer student in the general lobby area at Wharton, all of whom were working on some sort of project with an MBA student.
As I understand most on-campus Wharton interviews are, mine was with a 2nd year student. The demeanor was very similar to other schools where students conducted interviews, cordial but not-overly casual. It lasted 30 minutes sharp.
- I really urge everyone to take 5-minutes to contribute to this site after your interviews. Virtually every applicant I’ve met has used it and been helped by it immensely. In the specific case of Wharton, the behavior questions I received were EXACTLY those mentioned on this site.
-
-
- The Healthcare Management Program at Wharton is unique in that you have TWO interviews. The first is with the normal Wharton staff, and the second is with Mrs. June Kinney, director of the HCM program. That session will usually be in the afternoon following a really nice luncheon with current HCM student at the faculty club, which I recommend you take advantage of to get an insiders look.
-
- The session with Mrs. Kinney, however, is much less of a formal interview and rather, more of an enjoyable conversation where you might like to take the chance to air out your real dreams and perspectives. She lets you have the floor and discuss really anything you’d like. Other HCM students have told me that Mrs. Kinney is also fairly accessible and many had contacted her and inquired about the program before actually applying.
Questions:
General:
- Why MBA? (for non-traditional applicants)
- What are your plans after Wharton?
- Tell me about a time when you have been working toward the completion of an important task, when it has been necessary to consider the opinions and feelings of others.”
- Describe a time when you have worked with others to complete an important task, when there was no formally appointed group leader
- Describe a time when you have had to persuade others to your way of thinking, when at first they did not buy into your idea
- any questions for them?
- One interesting (and perhaps advantageous thing at Wharton is that they have a board outside the admissions office of all the 2nd year “fellows” who conduct interviews and where they are from. It’s neat because you see how internationally diverse they are. I happened to remember my interview from her picture on the board and it helped to break the ice and facilitate a nice chat about her hometown (and my experiences there on a visit) on the otherwise silent robotic walk from the waiting lobby to the interview room.
Result: Admitted
