Wharton MBA Interview: Format, Questions & Tips

Interview format

By invitation only. A 35-minute virtual Team Based Discussion with 5 to 6 other applicants, followed by a 10-minute one-on-one interview with a member of the admissions team. No candidate is admitted without an interview. TBD groups are assigned randomly. Each discussion has a prompt and a purpose, and the team works toward a tangible outcome. In the one-on-one interview, applicants reflect on their TBD performance.

What Wharton assesses

Wharton says the TBD models the collaborative nature of the MBA program and is used to identify characteristics such as communication style, level of engagement, leadership skills and decision-making process. The admissions team sends TBD details to invited applicants in advance of the interview.

Preparation guidance from Wharton

• Personal skills and strengths: consider methods you have used to move teams forward.
• Adaptability: think back on times you adjusted to different group dynamics.
• Be yourself: Wharton says no specific role is expected of you in the discussion.
• Relax: an invitation means the committee sees you as a potential fit.

Additional interviews for integrated programs

• Lauder MBA/MA: a Lauder interview in addition to the MBA interview, covering international interests, experience and readiness to start in early May.
• Carey JD/MBA: a JD/MBA interview in addition to the MBA interview.
• Health Care Management: an HCM interview in addition to the MBA interview.

2026-27 interview invitations and decisions

Sources

1. 1. The Wharton School, Interview Process
2. 2. The Wharton School, Application Timeline and Deadlines
3. 3. The Wharton School, Admissions FAQs