Wharton MBA Essay 2 Complete Guide (2025-2026 Application Cycle)

Essay Prompt

Prompt: "Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to make specific, meaningful contributions to the Wharton community?"

Word Limit: 400 words

What the Wharton Admissions Team is Looking For

Official Wharton Admissions Values

According to Wharton's official admissions criteria, the committee evaluates candidates based on:

Leadership track record - Demonstrated ability to lead and influence others
Teamwork and collaboration - Experience working effectively in diverse teams
Diversity of thought, background, and experience - Unique perspectives and experiences
Desire to give back and engage - Commitment to community contribution
Intellectual curiosity and impact beyond academics - Broader interests and achievements

Core Traits for Essay 2

The strongest essays demonstrate:

Self-awareness - Clear understanding of your strengths and unique value proposition
Community mindset - Focus on giving, not just taking from the community
Research depth - Specific knowledge of Wharton's offerings and culture
Cultural fit - Alignment between your values and Wharton's collaborative environment

Winning Essay Structure

Top MBA consultants and successful applicants agree that the strongest Wharton Essay 2 responses follow this three-part structure:

Part 1: Anchor Your Identity and Strengths (80-100 words)

Briefly introduce 1-2 key elements of your background (cultural, professional, or academic) that shape your worldview and natural contribution style.

Goal: Establish the foundation for your contribution narrative.

Example opener:

"As a first-generation college graduate from a rural farming community, I've often found myself translating between different worlds — economic, cultural, and generational. This bridging instinct has shaped my leadership style: inclusive, practical, and unafraid to ask hard questions in rooms where few others do."

Part 2: Connect Background to Specific Wharton Opportunities (200-250 words)

Map your strengths to concrete Wharton offerings. Demonstrate research by naming specific clubs, initiatives, conferences, or classes you'll engage with — and how you'll add value.

Key principle: "Here's what I've done before → here's how I'll use it to contribute at Wharton."

Expert advice from MBA consultants:

Avoid laundry lists of clubs
Use action-oriented language ("mentor," "lead," "build," "create," "organize")
Show depth of fit, not just name-dropping

Example middle section:

"At Wharton, I'm excited to serve as a Leadership Fellow, using my experience onboarding new employees at a scaling startup to support first-years navigating the high-velocity learning curve. I also plan to contribute to the PE/VC Club's Emerging Managers programming by curating case discussions on operational risk — a topic I've encountered firsthand. And as someone deeply committed to inclusive leadership, I'd welcome the chance to work with Return on Equality to co-create workshops around class and privilege in business settings."

Part 3: Broader Reflection on Impact & Community (50-100 words)

End with a forward-looking statement about the kind of community member you will be and how Wharton will shape you as a contributor beyond the MBA.

Example closer:

"My goal is not only to grow personally and professionally at Wharton, but to create platforms for others to feel seen, challenged, and supported. The collaborative ethos I've already admired in alumni and admitted students is something I can't wait to both learn from and help foster."

Content Guidelines

What to Do ✅

Focus on specific contributions, not general traits
Tie every contribution back to a concrete Wharton offering
Prioritize depth over breadth
Reflect your personality — warmth, curiosity, humility, or drive

What to Avoid ❌

Generic statements like "I love diversity" or "I'll bring leadership"
Treating this as a "Why Wharton" essay (save that for Essay 1)
Bragging without community orientation
Cramming in too many clubs or vague "I'll participate" phrasing

Expert Strategies and Insights

Top Consultant Approaches

Strategy 1: Differentiation Through Interaction Style

"A corporate strategist and a school teacher may both lead discussions in the Africa Business Conference — but it's their lens, tone, and values that set them apart."

Strategy 2: Movie Trailer Approach

Essays should "read like a movie trailer of your Wharton involvement." Focus on a few memorable moments or plans told with clarity and intention.

Strategy 3: Balance "Me" and "We"

Don't just say you'll join 10 clubs. Say how you'll uniquely enhance 2 or 3 — with past experience as proof.

The Winning Formula

"Because I've done X before, I will contribute Y at Wharton."

Why This Approach Works

1. Wharton wants proof, not promises.

They know that past behavior is the best predictor of future contribution. Saying "I plan to organize an inclusive leadership workshop" sounds empty if you haven't shown you've done anything like it before.

2. The "Bridge" Narrative is Stronger.

The essay should feel like a natural evolution:

"Here's something I've done in my past → here's how I will grow it at Wharton → here's why it matters to others."

This demonstrates:

Self-awareness (you know your strengths and motivations)
Community mindset (you'll give, not just take)
Clear fit with Wharton's platform

Recommended Structure with Examples

Part 1: Background Context (What You've Done)

Show 1-2 personal/professional traits with specific examples.

"As a volunteer mentor for immigrant founders at [nonprofit], I've helped entrepreneurs navigate regulatory red tape and funding applications."

Part 2: Planned Contribution at Wharton

Connect your experience directly to Wharton opportunities.

"At Wharton, I plan to bring this lens to the [Wharton Impact Venture Associates] and organize peer workshops for first-year founders exploring early-stage funding challenges."

Part 3: Why It Matters / Broader Reflection

Frame your contribution in terms of how it helps others.

"These small peer spaces can be powerful incubators — not just for ventures, but for leadership itself. I'm excited to help cultivate that spirit at Wharton."

Final Tips for Drafting

Write the middle first (your planned contributions). Then draft the opening and ending to fit.
Research thoroughly - Use Wharton club websites, YouTube interviews with club leaders, and MBA podcast guest speakers for inspiration.
Test your essay - Imagine a future classmate reading this essay. What do you want them to think about you?
Focus on credibility - Many applicants write only about what they want to do at Wharton. The best essays demonstrate you have the credibility to do what you say.

Summary: Best Practices

| Focus on Past Only | Focus on Future Only | Best Practice | |-------------------|---------------------|---------------| | Not enough — it's reflective only | Not enough — it's speculative only | Combine both: "I've done X, so I'll do Y" |

Key Takeaways

Demonstrate credibility through past experiences
Show specific knowledge of Wharton's offerings
Focus on contribution, not consumption
Balance personal story with community impact
Use concrete examples rather than vague promises

Last updated: July 15, 2024

This guide is based on insights from top MBA consultants and successful Wharton applicants from the 2022-2024 application cycles.

Wharton MBA Essay 2 Guide: How to Write a Winning Contribution Essay (2025-2026)