For 2017-2018 admissions Wharton MBA application essays questions are:

• Essay 1:  What do you hope to gain professionally from the Wharton MBA? (500 words)
• Essay 2: Teamwork is at the core of the Wharton MBA experience with each student contributing unique elements to our collaborative culture. How will you contribute to the Wharton community? (400 words)

The best way to answer Essay 1 topic is to follow this structure:

• Start with your post-MBA professional goals, both short-term and long-term. Leave a paragraph or two to prove your goals are relevant to your background and skills, and are of great importance and value of the industry. These criteria will help the AdComs to understand your goals are realistic and achievable.
• Following your goals, explain what you are seeking from Wharton: skills, knowledge, practice, network, location etc. that will be a great addition to your background and experience and an essential set to realize your goals. (1-2 paragraphs)
• Try to distinguish Wharton particular advantages for you: curriculum, teaching methods, faculty, extra-curricular activities, network or its location, your friends who are Wharton MBA graduates or something else. Explain why these advantages will be of great value and how you are going to apply them during and after your studies. (1-2 paragraphs)
• Make a conclusion by summarizing what you have claimed and stating confidence in your choice of Wharton as the most perfect fit for you.

As for the Essay 2, choose one or two skills or practices you are most proud of and demonstrate them by describing cases, where you have used them. Some examples can be:

• Working in a multicultural team
• Conflict resolution
• Communication skills
• Team-building skills
• Extra-curricular activities
• Coaching experience
• Unique practice or skills that will be of interest to your mates

Choosing the examples to prove the skills or experience you have claimed, find the ones, which describe you the best. I mean, give details and even feelings you experienced, quote people involved in the case etc. Such description will help to better understand who you are and your attitude to what you are describing – two things, which the AdComs are looking for in your application package.

Good essays do not have common rules, though there is one most important thing Wharton values – your uniqueness, individuality, openness and sincerity.