Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
For veterans looking to head to a top-tier business school, it’s hard to ignore Wharton. Always in the upper crust of the rankings, Wharton is a perennial powerhouse of a business school.
Finance School
Wharton tends to have the “finance” label, but you don’t need to be a super-quant to head to Wharton. As evidence, 43% of the class of 2021 had a humanities major for their undergraduate degree.
That being said, if you want to go into finance, Wharton should definitely be on your radar. They make no qualms about being “the” finance school, but they also want people to know you can do a lot more there as well.
Beyond just banking, Wharton has made a serious effort to step into fintech, cryptocurrency, and blockchain education. The Stevens Center for Innovation In Finance and Wharton FinTech Club work to bring the most innovative happenings in the world of fintech to current students.
Interested in fintech? Start off with Wharton’s free course, Fintech: Foundations & Applications of Financial Technology Specialization. Or if you have curiosity about cryptocurrency and blockchain, try Cryptocurrency and Blockchain: An Introduction to Digital Currencies.
Networking
One of the dynamics of a program that should always be looked at is the networking opportunities of the school. Most students end up saying that, even know they knew this before school started, they still ended up underestimating how important this is as a student. A top-ranked school surely carries weight across regions, and larger alumni networks like Wharton’s also provide broader networking opportunities for students.
The school’s proximity to New York City makes it easy for students to head up for networking events in NYC. Furthermore, Wharton does not have classes on Friday, so, many candidates, candidates use this time to head to New York for networking events.
While Wharton may be in Philadelphia, they offer students the opportunity to complete a Semester in San Francisco. Every fall, 70 students venture west for the program, where they continue to take Wharton classes and engage in extracurriculars, all while getting the chance to gain direct exposure to companies in Silicon Valley.
If you are looking to work in big tech, or want to pursue a career in venture capital, this program offers the opportunity to spend a semester focusing on these subjects while located in the heart of the industry.
Culture
Wharton also typically gets pegged as “cutthroat.” The typical image is of an “elitist” place where people are really looking out for themselves. I spoke with a veteran at Wharton and here’s what he had to say about it:
“Wharton is a highly collaborative school that emphasizes teamwork from its Team Based Discussion (TBD) interview to its focus on learning teams and group projects. Also, I felt that my military service was both respected and valued by the school. The Wharton Veterans Club hosts an annual “Veterans Week” coinciding with Veterans’ Day in November. Students come out to show their support for their veteran classmates by attending lectures and events that celebrate their service.”
Recent graduate and Wharton veteran
Key stats about Wharton (Class of 2021):
- Rankings: 2019- Forbes (5), Economist (5), US News and World Report (Tied for #1 with Stanford GSB)
- Top 3 industries post-graduation: Consulting (25.1%), Financial Services (35.8%), and Tech (14.9%
- Class size: 856
- Average GPA: 3.6
- Average GMAT: 732
- Average GRE: 324 (162 V/ 162 Q, 4.8 Writing)
The Team Based Discussion Interview
Wharton has a unique part of their application worth noting- the Team Based Discussion (TBD). Most schools opt to do a 1-on-1 interview, but Wharton instead invites candidates into a group of 4–5 people. As a team, you will have a scenario, mission, and 35 minutes to work together to achieve a tangible outcome.
In all likelihood, your TBD group will include at least one consultant and one banker, and you can bet their plan will be thought through and their pitch rehearsed. That’s great, but this is not a pitch competition. The TBD is a test designed to see how you work in teams – something for which veterans are extremely well-suited.
The TBD can present some challenges for veterans. We’ve been taught to take charge and focus on the mission. While you want to demonstrate your leadership, you don’t want to turn into a ground force commander performing actions on the objective. Collaboration and thoughtful disagreement are the key here.
You may need to pay extra attention to your communication style during the TBD. While the military values direct communication and bluntness, Wharton is looking for collaborative people who will be positive forces in its community. Vets should focus on this desire when they are in their TBD.
So have some ideas of your own, but more than anything be prepared to listen attentively and collaborate. Remember, you want to demonstrate your leadership, problem-solving abilities, and emotional intelligence — not prepare a target package for a time-sensitive target.
Veteran-Specific Information
- Waived application fee for active duty and veterans
- Yellow Ribbon program match of $17,500 for all eligible Wharton veterans
- Wharton also has a host of fellowships, more than I’ve seen at a lot of schools.
Related:
Military to MBA (Part 1/7): Is It for You?
Veterans at Yale: Dan Kurber at SOM
The Veteran (Semi) Professional Podcast EP 02- Mark and Brendan talk MBA applications