EssaySnark

  • about
  • contact
  • help
  • sign up
  • login
CLICK FOR MORE!
  • Essay Questions
    • Harvard
    • Stanford
    • Wharton
    • Chicago Booth
    • Kellogg
    • MIT Sloan
    • Tuck
    • NYU Stern
    • Columbia
    • Yale SOM
    • Berkeley Haas
    • UVA Darden
    • Duke Fuqua
    • Michigan Ross
    • UCLA Anderson
    • Cornell
  • Strategy Guides
    • MBA Career Goals in Entrepreneurship
    • School-Specific MBA Application Guides
      • Harvard 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Stanford 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Wharton 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Kellogg 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • MIT Sloan 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Columbia 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • Chicago Booth 2020 MBA Strategy Guide
      • *MORE SCHOOL-SPECIFIC GUIDES HERE*
  • MBA Consulting
    • Free essay reviews
    • What stage are you in?
    • Military MBA
    • BIPOC Program
    • Testimonials & Reviews
    • Guest Posts
  • My SnarkCenter
    • My Strategy Guides
    • My Favorite Posts
    • Discounts & Offers

Wharton essay questions reviewed – post 2 of 2

August 18, 2010 by EssaySnark - Discusses Wharton Leave a Comment

IMPORTANT UPDATE 5/13/11: THIS POST IS DISCUSSING *OLD* ESSAY QUESTIONS! Some of the info here may very well apply to future years, but this post is OLD!!!

OK, soldiers, we’re moving fast now – onto the other three options of the “pick three” choices that Wharton has provided to you in their bschool app this year.

We covered the career goals question, and the “create a course” question, in a separate post. Here are the three questions where the adcom is looking for evidence that you can think.

Actually all these questions are geared that way. Or for the “failure” question which is nearly the same as last year — when it was required. This year they are giving you 100 more words and they’ve tacked this little gem on: How did this experience help to create your definition of failure? (EssaySnark says “eek!” to that).

We’re going to punt on the failure question because it’s asked in different flavors by other schools and as alluded to before, deserves a post of its own. So that will be forthcoming. Soon, we hope. The one comment on this failure essay is that, since this question was REQUIRED last year, and since it’s the ONLY essay question to have survived from last year, EssaySnark is interpreting that to mean: IT WOULD BE A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU TO ANSWER THIS ONE.

Another reason that the “failure” question would be a good one is, the other two remaining questions are actually an awful lot alike.

For both Wharton’s “turned down an opportunity” and “navigated a challenging experience” they are wanting to see how you THINK (there’s that word again), how you ASSESS A SITUATION and REACT to it. The questions are posed very differently — certainly that last one is a great way to show off your interpersonal skills and demonstrate that you can handle yourself in a tricky situation. That would let you show “readiness” for bschool through this essay. AS LONG AS you’re not a whiny little brat* in how you present it. AS LONG AS you don’t blame everyone else and point fingers and make excuses for why it was a challenging experience. AS LONG AS you take responsibility and show that you were able to FIX IT and turn it around to a positive. Those are the key elements we would look for in that essay.

On the “opportunity” essay it can either be an opportunity that you turned down — and you show why that was a good decision. Or potentially you could show a refusd opportunity that you now wish you had pursued. Those would be trickier to answer but, EssaySnark proposes, so much more interesting for the adcom to read. So if you’ve got one in that category, consider using it – AS LONG AS you don’t end up sounding like an idiot for passing up the opportunity in the first place, and AS LONG AS you don’t now sound like a whiny little brat in how you present “the one that got away.”

What you do want to do is to show them you can make a sophisticated analysis of a situation, and this is also an opportunity to potentially convey some of your backstory, so they get a sense of how you ended up where you’re at. This would be an ideal essay topic to use for someone who’s transitioning careers – you could talk about how you’ve moved into the position you’re at now and are ready for the next big jump forward (that bschool/Wharton will facilitate) by taking your original path and discussing how/why you’re switching gears and showing what you’ve done to lay that new foundation. That’s just an idea – the beauty of these questions is that you have free rein to do anything you want with them. (Within reason.)

Either of these essays could potentially focus on something outside of work, a nonprofessional context story, AS LONG AS it’s still brought full circle in support of your application to bschool. You must make it relevant. Can’t just be an interesting story. Needs to be integrated as a logical part of your pitch. Remember, TMI is real, and it’s a danger! Don’t burden the reader with stuff that they really don’t want to know about! No leaving-the-fiancee-at-the-alter stories in here please! No I-wish-I-hadn’t-gotten-behind-the-wheel-drunk stories! Be judicious!

A primary rationale behind these particular questions from Wharton is almost undoubtedly (we are still guessing but we’re pretty confident on this) the adcom is B-O-R-E-D to death with essays and they’re trying to mix things up so that they get some INTERESTING!! responses from all of you. So don’t shake things up too much — keep your essay focused and on track and relevant to a bschool app — but feel free to explore the edges a bit and don’t be scared to show them you can think!

*@MSP – we are blogging anonymously so that we can say things like “whiny little brat” in our posts without risk of offending our much-beloved and oh-so-dear clients. Because certainly we’ve never seen evidence of any whiny brats amongst our client base.

Filed Under: essay types Bschools: Wharton

« Previous: Wharton essay questions reviewed – 1 of 2
Next: Were you the kid who ate the marshmallow? »

So who the heck is EssaySnark, anyway?!

We're the snarky experts in MBA admissions!

Sometimes amused and often appalled by what candidates write in their MBA applications to top bschools, EssaySnark created this little blahg to share common mistakes. Learn from them and avoid making admissions directors laugh (or want to hurl) when they read your essays. If you are hoping to have your essay reviewed anonymously on the blahg for free, submit it for consideration.

Want EssaySnark's personal assistance with your MBA applications? Start with our menu of consulting services and please read the Help FAQ to learn how we operate. Still have questions after doing all that? Email Team EssaySnark at gethelpnow at essaysnark dot com.

Good luck on your apps, Brave Supplicant!

Tell us what you think. Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sign up for the 'Snark via email

Enter your address to get weekday blahg posts by email.

UPCOMING MBA APP DEADLINES

  • MIT Round 2
    in 0 weeks, 1 day, 9 hours
  • INSEAD Round 4
    in 1 month, 1 week, 1 day, 12 hours
  • INSEAD Jan '22 intake Rd 1
    in 1 month, 2 weeks, 4 days, 12 hours
  • INSEAD Jan '22 Intake Rd 2
    in 3 months, 0 weeks, 5 days, 12 hours
  • (expected) HBS Class of 2024 app requirements released
    in 3 months, 2 weeks, 5 days, 13 hours
   
From a BSer January 2020:
"love the guide books!"


CLASS OF 2023 MBA APPLICATION STRATEGY GUIDES

     
    The 2020 Berkeley-Haas MBA Application Guide - updated for the Class of 2023 application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Berkeley Haas - refreshed and updated, with brainstorming exercises and structured maps to help you focus your stories!
   
    The 2020-2021 NYU Stern MBA Application Guide that covers the main essay, the EQ Endorsement and Pick Six!
SnarkStrategies Guide for NYU - discusses your requirements for the Class of 2023 essays!
   
    The 2020-2021 Columbia MBA Application Guide
SnarkStrategies Guide for Columbia Business School for 2020-2021 applications
   
    The 2020 Harvard MBA Application Guide - completely overhauled and updated for the coronavirus era!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Harvard Business School!
   
    The 2020-2021 Duke Essay Guide - covers the 25 Random Things essay and all the rest too!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Duke Fuqua - up to date for the current season!
   
    The 2020-2021 MIT Essay Guide covers the org chart, the contacts for two references, and additional tips for the cover letter and 'introduce yourself' video -- and everything else you need to know!
SnarkStrategies Guide for MIT Sloan MBA - totally revised for the Class of 2023!
   
    The 2020-2021 Tuck Essay Guide has been refreshed with latest insights and advice for your essays about "investing generously" and "why Tuck"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for the Dartmouth Tuck MBA - completely overhauled for 2020, to help you demonstrate how you are nice, aware, etc stuff!
   
    The Yale SOM MBA Application Guide for Class of 2023 candidates!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Yale SOM - updated for 2020-2021
   
    The 2020-2021 Chicago Booth MBA Application Guide - ready to go to support your Class of 2023 essay strategy!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Chicago Booth for this year's MBA app!
   
    The 2020 Wharton MBA Application Guide - even more advice on how to get to a win with those essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for The Wharton School - with new tips for 2020!
   
    The 2020 Kellogg Essay Guide - with a full methodology to identify your 'lasting impact' and your 'values' -- plus tips on 2020 world events and applicability to your essays!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Kellogg MBA - updated and revised for the new realities of 2020!    
      The 2020 Stanford MBA Application Guide - for "what matters most" in your MBA application!
SnarkStrategies Guide for Stanford GSB for the Class of 2023
   
    The 2020-2021 UCLA Anderson MBA Application Guide - updated for Class of 2023 on "impact"!
SnarkStrategies Guide for 
UCLA
   
   

Brave Supplicants' latest reviews on The 'Snark


Apr 10, 2020
by George on EssaySnark
Great Starting Point

I thought getting over the GRE/GMAT hurdle was fairly straightforward--disciplined study then test execution... Read more

Apr 10, 2020
by George on Single Shot Express MBA Essay Review
Worth Every Penny

I used the Single Shot Express to decimate essay #1 at my first-choice school. Paired with the school... Read more

Feb 9, 2020
by KA on Waitlist Assist
Committed

You continue to blow me away with your commitment to us BSers! Thanks again for everything. It's been... Read more






Not sure where to begin with EssaySnark?
Our Snark Selector
will tell you!



What were we snarking about at this time in past years?

  • 2020: Now that most apps are in: What to do with your life
  • 2019: For reading and reflection
  • 2019: ($) "What if School D gave me money but I really want to go to School A?"
  • 2018: "EssaySnark, what will help me more to prepare for my big-time MBA interview?"
  • 2018: Radcom of the Year Award
  • 2017: What happens to global business schools when the U.S. President is protectionist?
  • 2017: All About Interviewing
  • 2016: Deciding between competing MBA offers
  • 2016: ($) The easiest way to get off the waitlist
  • 2015: Those wily Stanford undergrads are requesting their admissions records.
My Tweets

See the Top U.S. Business Schools on a Map!


EssaySnark is currently available! We're accepting new clients! Standard turnarounds apply. If you're in a hurry, Speedy Review is available!

EssaySnark® is a registered trademark. All content copyright © 2010–2021 Snarkolicious Press · Privacy Policy

Where should you start with EssaySnark?

Which EssaySnark service is right for you? Answer a few questions to find out!

This field must be set to Everyone - then in the Settings -> HTML -> After Fields screen there's JavaScript to hide it.
Sending