The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania uses a very different interview format than most business schools do, opting for a virtual in place of a traditional admissions interview to evaluate its candidates.
In this post, we explain what you can expect in the Wharton TBD and how best to prepare for this one-of-a-kind interview.
The Wharton TBD Format
The Wharton School groups applicants together in five- or six-person teams for a 35-minute virtual group exercise. When you are invited to interview, you will receive a prompt from the admissions committee that will be the basis for your group’s discussion. During the TBD, you and your fellow interviewees will each present your ideas for addressing the problem or issue outlined in the prompt; then, as a team, you will talk through your options and ultimately decide on a course of action, which you will then present to the admissions officers moderating the session. Wharton notes on its website that all groups are assigned randomly, so you will not know who your fellow interviewees are—or what other discussion points will be addressed—prior to the TBD. Immediately after the group session, each participating candidate will meet with a Wharton admissions officer for a ten-minute one-on-one interview.
What to Expect in Your TBD
For an in-depth discussion of the program’s interview process and guidance on how to prepare for your TBD, download a free copy of mbaMission’s Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania Interview Guidefor an in-depth look into the interview process. This complimentary resource includes
The Wharton Team-Based Discussion Simulation Round 2 Schedule
- Group A: Sunday, February 22: 8 a.m. EST
- Group B: Sunday, February 22: 12 p.m. EST
- Group C: Sunday, February 22: 3 p.m. EST
- Group D: Monday, February 23: 2 p.m. EST
- Group E: Monday, February 23: 8 p.m. EST
- Group F: Tuesday, February 24: 8 p.m. EST
- Group G: Wednesday, February 25: 3 p.m. EST
- Group H: Thursday, February 26: 12 p.m. EST
- Group I: Thursday, February 26: 8 p.m. EST
- Group J: Friday, February 27: 10 a.m. EST
- Group K: Saturday, February 28: 8 a.m. EST
- Group L: Saturday, February 28: 12 p.m. EST
- Group M: Sunday, March 1: 8 a.m. EST
- Group N: Sunday, March 1: 8 p.m. EST
- Group O: Monday, March 2: 6 p.m. EST
If you have any questions regarding availability for a Wharton interview preparation session, please contact us anytime.
