Wharton 2009-10 Essay Question Analyses and Deadlines

With a new admissions director, Wharton has basically changed all of its essay questions. Please see below for my analyses and comments.

http://engage.wharton.upenn.edu/MBA/blogs/mbaadmissions_blog/default.aspx

Deadlines

Round 1: October 1, 2009

Round 2: January 5, 2010

Round 3: March 9, 2010

From the Wharton admissions blog:

2009-10 WHARTON MBA APPLICANT ESSAY QUESTIONS

2009-2010 Questions – First-Time Applicants

Essay  1 – (750-1000 words)

As a leader in global business, Wharton is committed to sustaining “a truly global presence through its engagement in the world.”  What goals are you committed to and why?  How do you envision the Wharton MBA contributing to the attainment of those goals?

Worded a little uniquely, this essay question is still the standard goals essay: What are your career goals (short and long term)? Why? What resources at Wharton will you take advantage of?

In reading this question you may be asking yourself, “Do my goals have to be globally-oriented (international)?” The answer is ‘no,’ even though I can see how the wording of the question may be confusing. Wharton is talking about its own goals as a business school, its own desires to be able to educate business leaders in all parts of the world. This does not mean that your own goals need to be international in scope; if you want to work in a domestic company or organization in your home country, that is of course fine.

Essay 2 – (750-1000 words)

Tell us about a time when you had to adapt by accepting/understanding the perspective of people different from yourself.

This is a diversity question aimed at learning about your experience interacting with people who are different from you in some way (e.g.,  gender, culture, industry, age, religion). Furthermore, they want to know how you adapted because of these differences. This is different from some other diversity questions in that you have to talk about not only how you dealt with the situation, but how you yourself took in and accepted others’ differences. Wharton wants to see that you have the flexibility and open-mindedness to make necessary adjustments in order to try to understand and accept others who may think differently from you.

Essay 3 – (500 words)

Describe a failure that you have experienced.  What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself?

A critical quality of any leader – any human being – is the ability to recognize and learn from failure. In asking this question, Wharton wants to see that you have the self-awareness and humility to do this. When thinking of possible examples, feel free to choose a “real” failure, one where you really messed up. Doing this will not weaken your application. If you focus on being honest, and on discussing sincerely what you learned as a result of your experience, then your failure story will be seen as a success story.

Essay 4 – (500 words) Choose one of the following:

a.       Give us a specific example of a time when you solved a complex problem.

Wharton wants to learn about your intellectual ability here. Have you been confronted with a difficult issue, problem or situation at work, university or in your community work? How did you go about resolving it? What issues or points did you consider? Wharton is interested in seeing your problem-solving ability, so when you write this essay focus more on the process rather than the technical details of the actual problem.

b.      Tell us about something significant that you have done to improve yourself, in either your professional and/or personal endeavors.

This is a slightly open-ended question in which you are asked to talk about a time when you have done something to better yourself – e.g., learn something new, develop a new skill or perspective. Perhaps you worked hard to get into a different track at work, started your own business on the side, or moved abroad to experience a new culture. Wharton is interested in seeing how much of a self-starter you are, how interested you are in developing and improving yourself.

Essay 5 (Optional) – (250 words)
If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application).

Use this space to explain anything that might be of concern to the admissions committee. It is definitely better to acknowledge and explain any unusual or negative issues rather than to not bring them up, as the admissions committee will notice them anyway and assume the worst. Given the specific wording of this optional essay question, please focus this essay on explaining extenuating circumstances, however, and do not use this space to add another essay.

2009-2010 Questions – Re-Applicants

(Please note: re-applicant essays are for those who applied during the application cycle in 2007-08 or 2008-09 only. Reapplicants from 2006-07 or earlier are to complete the first-time applicant essays).

Re-Applicant Essay  1 – (1000 words)

As a leader in global business, Wharton is committed to sustaining “a truly global presence through its engagement in the world”.  What goals are you committed to and why?  How do you envision the Wharton MBA contributing to the attainment of those goals?  How has your candidacy improved since the last time you applied?

Please see above for my analysis of this essay question. The only difference here is that you will need to also discuss how your candidacy has improved since your last application. If you are now more focused about Wharton (through additional research), or if you have improved your test scores, received a promotion or award, accomplished a new project, etc., please talk about that here.

For the remaining Essays 2-4, please see above for my analyses as the questions are the same.

Re-Applicant Essay 2 – (500 words)

Describe a failure that you have experienced.  What role did you play, and what did you learn about yourself?

Re-Applicant Essay 3 – (500 words) Choose one of the following:

a.       Give us a specific example of a time when you solved a complex problem.

b.      Tell us about something significant that you have done to improve yourself, in either your professional and/or personal endeavors.

Re-Applicant Essay 4 (Optional) – (250 words)
If you feel there are extenuating circumstances of which the Committee should be aware, please explain them here (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, significant weaknesses in your application).

Kellogg School of Management 2009-10 Essay Question Analyses and Deadlines

 

Kellogg also has its essay questions and deadlines out for the coming season. I’ll list the deadlines first, in the simplest way possible, since their system is a bit more complicated than most other schools. Please be aware that in order to apply you need to submit a short Part 1 application and interview request 2-4 weeks before the actual application deadline. You will need to pay attention to several deadlines:

All deadlines are 11:59 CDT (central time)

Please also refer to Kellogg’s site: http://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/Programs/FullTimeMBA/Applying/Deadlines.aspx

Deadlines for Round 1 Applicants:

Part 1: 10/3/09

Off-campus interview request: 10/3/09

On-campus interview request: 10/17/09

Interview completion: 12/19/09

Part 2: 10/17/09

Deadlines for Round 2 Applicants:

Part 1: 12/22/09

Off-campus interview request: 12/22/09

On-campus interview request: 1/12/10

Interview completion: 3/9/10

Part 2: 1/12/10

Deadlines for Round 3 Applicants:

Part 1: 2/23/10

Off-campus interview request: 2/23/10

On-campus interview request: 3/9/10

Interview completion: 4/20/10

Part 2: 3/9/10

If Kellogg is a top choice, I strongly advise submitting part 1 and interview request as early as you can reasonably do so. I have seen applicants run into difficulty scheduling interviews due to the high volume of requests that Kellogg receives. At the same time, these are also applicants who had very low test scores, and I believe that they were given low priority as a result. So I don’t really know how their process works – if it is truly first-come/first-serve or not.

Below are my essay analyses/tips:

Essay #1 –

a) MBA Program applicants – Briefly assess your career progress to date. Elaborate on your future career plans and your motivation for pursuing a graduate degree at Kellogg. (600 word limit)

This is a thorough and straightforward question asking about your career and academic goals. You should, as instructed, discuss your career development and how it has led you to where you are now – not only your present position but also your goals. The linkage between your career and your future goals should be clear, even if you are making a career change. The reader needs to understand how you got from Point A to Point B.

After discussing your goals, you should talk convincingly about how Kellogg’s program will meet your academic and professional needs.

As with all Goals/Why this School essays, the admissions committee is looking for focus, sincerity and fit.

b) MMM Program applicants – Briefly assess your career progress to date. How does the MMM Program meet your educational needs and career goals? (600 word limit)

The same guidelines apply (please refer to my comments above). When addressing your reasons for choosing the MMM program as opposed to the traditional MBA program, be very clear and specific about why this particular program is a good match for you.

Essay #2 – Describe your key leadership experiences and evaluate what leadership areas you hope to develop through your MBA experiences (600 word limit)

Please note in the question that they are asking about “key…experiences” PLURAL, so you should be prepared to discuss your unique set of leadership experiences. Of course, given the word limit, you will not be able to present a detailed story about each episode. When I work with my students, I like to have them summarize their overall leadership experiences as an introduction, and then go in more depth about two – preferably complementary or different – significant experiences.

This is your opportunity to show the various leadership talents that you have. When choosing examples think of different abilities you can show – intellectual/strategic ability, interpersonal and coaching skills, domestic and international experiences, etc. Perhaps you have both work and community and/or sports experiences. Take advantage of this opportunity to show the different sides of your leadership.

However, unlike many leadership essays, here you are also asked to assess your weaknesses and to talk about some of the areas that you would like to further develop. Many applicants focus too much on the first part of the question and pay little attention to this last part. I suggest giving this section serious thought and choosing one or two aspects of leadership that you can write about sincerely. Doing so will show the admissions committee that you have the self awareness to understand how you can still improve (this will go hand-in-hand with your goals essay as well).

Essay #3 – Assume you are evaluating your application from the perspective of a student member of the Kellogg Admissions Committee. Why would your peers select you to become a member of the Kellogg community? (600 word limit)

This question is brand new but not so different from its counterpart from last season. Last year, Kellogg had an open-ended question that asked about how your background, values and experiences would add value to the diversity of the entering class. This question is similar.

Admissions committees in general are often comprised of faculty, staff and students. Having sat on a number of committees in the past, I know that each member has a different perspective given his or her position. Faculty, for example, tend to focus much more on academic qualifications – test scores, GPA, etc. Students, on the other hand, want to make sure that they would enjoy having this applicant as a future classmate. Given this, you should consider the following when writing this essay:

- What kind of learning team member would you make? Will you participate actively? What kind of knowledge, expertise and experience will you be able to contribute?

- What kind of Kellogg community member will you be? Will you fit in well with Kellogg’s teamwork-oriented community?

As you think about those points, think of what examples you can use from your past – work, university, community – to support your story. If you want to say that you will be an active participant in classes and learning teams, you should show some example(s) from the past where you have participated actively in group settings. Did you contribute ideas? Did you support other members who had trouble? Had you ever been involved in a culturally diverse team? These are some ideas to think about.

Likewise, when thinking about how you might behave as a member of the Kellogg community, think about other times that you have worked as part of a team or community. In what ways did you contribute?

Essay #4 – Complete one of the following three questions or statements. (400 word limit)

Re-applicants have the option to answer a question from this grouping, but this is not required.

a) Describe a time when you had to make an unpopular decision.

This is a question about your determination and leadership ability. It is a difficult but necessary aspect of leadership to make hard decisions that other people do not like. If you have such a story, explain what the situation and decision were, and most importantly how you reached that decision. The admissions committee wants to understand your decision making process.

b) People may be surprised to learn that I….

This is a very open-ended question and you can use it in almost any way you wish as long as it allows the committee to understand you better. This is a good time to look at the rest of your essay topics and to see if there is anything missing that you would like Kellogg to know about. Perhaps you have an unusual talent or a personal story or background that many people may not suspect. There could be many possibilities here. The main purpose is to let the committee know you a bit better.

c) I wish the admissions committee had asked me……

This is the most open-ended question of the set, and it allows you to balance the rest of your essay set. Is there something you believe they should know about you that you did not have a chance to discuss in the other essays? Be sure the story adds value to your overall candidacy. I do not recommend using this space to explain practical matters like low test scores, non-supervisor recommendations, etc. Take advantage of this essay to discuss something else related to your background or achievements.

Required essay for re-applicants only – Since your previous application, what steps have you taken to strengthen your candidacy? (400 word limit)

Kellogg would like to see that you have made the effort to improve your candidacy since the last time you submitted your application. While not much time may have passed, they would still like to see that you have assessed your weaknesses and taken steps to make improvements. For example, did you retake the GMAT or TOEFL? Did you try to get a new assignment at work? Did you do more research about Kellogg?

告知協力：Dartmouth (Tuck) MBA説明会のお知らせ

Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College MBAプログラム在校生の方より東京で開催される学校説明会のご案内をいただきましたので、皆さんにお知らせいたします。

私たちはちょうど一年前に行われたTuck主催の教育者向けのカンファレンスに招待され、参加してまいりました。その時何よりも強く感じたのは教授陣、学校の事務関係者のみならず、卒業生達が在校生に最高の体験をしてもらおうとサポートする意識が強いことです。皆さんとても熱心で、素晴らしいスクールだと実感しました。

これからこのような在校生、卒業生が主催する学校説明会の機会が増えると思います。今は出願するかどうか分からないというスクールでもでも時間が許す限り参加なさっておかれることをお勧めいたします。必ずや発見があると思います。

TUCK 学校説明会開催のご案内
～TUCK の魅力を大解剖～
2007年、ウォール・ストリート・ジャーナル紙の世界ビジネススクールランキングで栄えある第1位に輝いたTuck（正式名称:Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth）。今回、学校説明会ならびに懇親会を以下の要綱にて開催いたします。 本校の概要をはじめ、在校生・卒業生による体験談等をインフォーマルな形式にてご紹介する予定です。

 全米最古の歴史をもち、小規模校ならではのインタラクティブなコミュニティ、チームワークを体感できるトップビジネススクールの一つ、Tuckの魅力を是非この機会にご確認ください。

当日は、2009 年入学予定者も参加します。Tuck のみならず、MBA 全般に関するご質問等にもお答えできればと考えています。ご多忙のところ恐縮ですが、ご調整の上、ご出席いただけると幸いです。

記
日時: 7 月12 日（日）14:30～16:30 ［14:00 受付開始］
場所: ＡＮＡインターコンチネンタルホテル東京
（赤坂アークヒルズ隣接） 地下一階「オーロラ」

http://www.anaintercontinental-tokyo.jp/

概要: 14:30-15:30 学校説明会 ［プレゼンテーション、パネルディスカッション、Q&A］
　　　 15:30-16:30 懇親会 ［ソフトドリンク有］
出席者: 卒業生、在校生、2009 年入学予定者
お申込み: 完全予約制、下記URL に7 月7 日（火）までにお申し込みください

http://www.smaster.jp/Sheet.aspx?SheetID=16021

お問合せ: tuckreception@gmail.com
ホームページ: TUCK オフィシャルサイト

http://tuck.dartmouth.edu

TUCK 日本人向けサイト

http://mba.tuck.dartmouth.edu/pages/clubs/international/JP/

※本説明会は、完全予約制となっております。定員110 名になり次第、締め切らせて頂きますので、お
早めにお申し込みください。
※お申し込みいただいた方には確認のメールを追って返信いたします。
※インフォーマルな形式の会です。カジュアルな服装にてお越しください。
※本説明会は、卒業生・在校生・2009 年入学予定者によって企画されたものであり、出願審査とは 一切関係ございません。当日、アドミッションからの出席はございませんので、予めご了承ください。

Wharton Deadlines for 2009-10

Wharton has recently announced its deadlines for the coming application season:

Round 1: October 1, 2009

Round 2: January 5, 2010

Round 3: March 9, 2010

http://engage.wharton.upenn.edu/MBA/blogs/mbaadmissions_blog/archive/2009/05/29/wharton-mba-fall-2009-application-deadlines-announced.aspx

Like HBS, the first round deadline is even earlier than it was last year. At least, with a mid(ish) December notification date, you can decide in time if you will be needing to apply to another R2 school or not.

Theywill release their essay questions in the middle of July.