When you select an MBA program, you are not just choosing your learning environment, but are also committing to becoming part of a community. Each Thursday, we offer a window into life “beyond the MBA classroom” at a top business school.
Although donning formal wear is certainly not a prerequisite for attending the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, the Winter Formal, which takes place before the end of the fall semester, gives first- and second-year students the opportunity to break out a tuxedo or ball gown. In the past, this event has regularly been held at the beautiful 30th Street Train Station. The theme of the November 2012 Winter Formal was “Midnight Masquerade,” and in 2011, it was “A Night Among the Stars.” The evening typically includes a silent auction and an open bar, and proceeds from the event go to support students who plan to work with nonprofits for their internships or full-time positions. A second year we interviewed noted that this ball is one of the school’s most “memorable events that are the most well attended by students.” A last hurrah of sorts, the Spring Formal is a black-tie-optional party that can induce nostalgia for some second-year students, but at its core, is still a party. Both first and second years can attend this event, at which the deans present student awards.
For in-depth descriptions of social and community activities at Wharton and other top MBA programs, check out the mbaMission Insider’s Guides.