Wharton Team Based Discussion: What to Expect and How to Prepare

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

Understandably, Wharton applicants get anxious about this atypical interview because the approach creates a very different dynamic from what one usually encounters in a one-on-one meeting—and with other applicants also participating in the virtual session, one cannot help but feel less in control of the content and direction of the conversation. Yet despite the uncertainty, here are a few things you can expect:

1. You will need to come to the TBD with an idea—your response to the challenge or issue described in your interview invitation—and be ready to present it to the group.
2. Having the best idea is much less important than how you interact with others in the group and communicate your thoughts. So while you need to have prepared an idea ahead of time, that is only part of what you will be evaluated on.
3. Your peers will have prepared their own ideas, and chances are that they will offer ideas related to things that you know little or nothing about. Do not worry! The admissions committee members will not be not judging you on your topical expertise. What they are most interested in seeing is how you add to the collective output of the team.
4. During your short one-on-one session with a Wharton admissions officer, you will likely be asked to reflect on how the TBD went for you; this will require self-awareness on your part.

Preparing for the 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 Guide for an in-depth look into the interview process. This complimentary resource includes

• insight into what the school is evaluating and hoping to gain from the interview,
• an explanation of the school’s approach to interviewing
• past applicants’ firsthand accounts of their interview experiences, 
• tips on preparing for and responding to questions that often vex applicants, and
• help in formulating compelling questions of your own.

And to give you and other Wharton candidates the opportunity to undergo a realistic test run before experiencing the actual event, we created our Wharton Team Based Discussion Simulation. Via this simulation, you can participate anonymously with three to five other MBA applicants in an online conversation moderated by two of our experienced Senior Consultants familiar with Wharton’s format and approach. You will then receive feedback on your performance, with special focus on your interpersonal skills and communication abilities. The simulation can help you build your confidence before your TBD by giving you an expert’s insight into your role on a team, how you communicate your ideas to—and within—a group of (equally talented) peers, and how you perform when you must think on your feet in a high-pressure situation. Our Wharton Team-Based Discussion Simulation can ensure that when the day of your TBD arrives, you will be ready for the real thing.

The Wharton Team-Based Discussion Simulation Round 2 Schedule 

• Group A: Friday, February 21: 4 p.m. ET
• Group B: Saturday, February 22: 12 p.m. ET
• Group C: Sunday, February 23: 10 a.m. ET
• Group D: Sunday, February 23: 6 p.m. ET
• Group E: Monday, February 24: 10 a.m. ET
• Group F: Monday, February 24: 6 p.m. ET
• Group G: Tuesday, February 25: 12 p.m. ET
• Group H: Tuesday, February 25: 8 p.m. ET
• Group I: Wednesday, February 26: 8 a.m. ET
• Group J: Thursday, February 27: 8 p.m. ET
• Group K: Friday, February 28: 12 p.m. ET
• Group L: Friday, February 28: 4 p.m. ET
• Group M: Saturday, March 1: 10 a.m. ET
• Group N: Saturday, March 1: 4 p.m. ET
• Group O: Sunday, March 2: 6 p.m. ET

If you have been invited to interview, we highly encourage you to reserve your spot by purchasing a simulation session as soon as possible. Space is extremely limited for these mock interviews, and availability is on a first-come, first-served basis. 

If you have any questions regarding availability for a Wharton interview preparation session, please contact us anytime.