1999 Profile Update
School Statistics
Graduates' Comments
SURVEY DETAILS
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The big news here is not just that Wharton held on to the No. 1 spot in BW's rankings for the third straight time but also that the school's dean, Tom Gerrity, plans to step down shortly. Without him, can the school continue to dominate? It's clear that Wharton has flourished during Gerrity's tenure. In 1998, corporate recruiters regarded the school as tops in the world, and grads voted it second-best (behind only UCLA's Anderson). It's not surprising, then, that the school received 8,313 applications for its Class of 2000 -- more than any school ever. Recruiters and graduates told BW that Wharton has launched the second-most innovative curriculum of any business school (behind Michigan). Companies said they found Wharton grads to have excellent accounting and finance skills, ranking them first and second in the nation, respectively. They also placed Wharton grads in the top 10 for their operations, technology, marketing, communication, and general management abilities.
On the compensation front, Wharton grads received a hefty $142,907 average total pay package, sixth-highest of the 61 schools reviewed for BW's rankings project. In addition, 53.2% of Wharton's graduates reported receiving a guaranteed yearend bonus, the second-highest figure in BW's Top 25 (only Chicago did better). Wharton students also are more likely than most to have an easier time dealing with their hefty tuition bills; 19.6% of Wharton grads got their tuition paid for as part of their compensation packages. That's a figure surpassed only by Kellogg and the Michigan.
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STRATEGY FOR APPLICANTS
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If your heart's set on attending Wharton, be sure to get your application in early. The school operates on a rolling admissions basis, with applications starting to arrive as early as September for the following fall. Those who wait until March to apply are putting themselves in what admissions director Alig calls the "danger zone": Only one out of 50 who apply in April are accepted, compared with one out of 10 who apply by February. Keep in mind, too, that applications have risen a whopping 70 percent between 1995 and 1998, and a vast majority of those who apply have targeted Wharton as their first choice: Nearly three-quarters of those accepted actually wind up in Philadelphia come August.
According to Alig, Wharton first looks for both a strong academic record and notable achievements on the job, then searches out the "intangibles": "A common theme is that our students demonstrate that they're innovative, entrepreneurial, and have demonstrated a commitment to giving back to their communities," he notes. If possible, visit campus and schedule a personal interview with admissions -- some 90 percent of applicants are interviewed each year, and it's yet another venue in which you can attempt to distinguish yourself from the crowd. Applications are available through the school's Web site or by calling the admissions department, and can be submitted either electronically or by mail.
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CURRICULUM
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Electives available in 1998: 140
New electives in past three years: 14%
The core curriculum was last revised in: N/A
Accelerated MBA program offered?
Yes
New Courses in Past Three Years
Privatization: An International Perspective, International Business Transactions, Industry and Competitive Analysis, International Housing Comparisons, Funding Investments, Technology Policy, Negotiations, Process Management: Manufacturing & Quality, Service Operations Management, Computer-Mediated Communication, Employee Benefits for a Global Workplace, Non-Profit Entities: Law & Policy, Information Technology and Business Re-Engineering, Telecommunications Technology and Competitive Strategy, Strategic Management in a Sustainable Society, American Business History: The Lifecourse of Managerial Capitalism, Managerial Economics and Game Theory, Collaborative Structures in Healthcare, International Taxation, Entrepreneurial Marketing, Marketing Methods and Applications for Business Consulting, Environmental Law and Policy, Managing Interfirm Alliances, Management and Economics of Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices, Environmental Law and Business, Integrating Marketing and Operations Management, Product Design and Development
Most Popular Electives
Advanced Corporate Finance, Negotiations, Security Analysis, Problems in Financial Reporting, Funding Investments
Most Popular Professors
Jeremy Seigel, Franklin Allen, Howard Kaufold, Karl Ulrich, Richard Waterman
Majors or Concentrations Added in Past Three Years
New majors in Technological Innovation and Information and Strategy; new programs: sub-matriculation program between Wharton and Penn Law School, joint-degree program in Nursing and Healthcare Management
Teaching Methods
Lecture: 50%
Case Study: 30%
Field Application Projects, Computer Simulations: 20%
| Full-time faculty members: |
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53 |
| Adjunct or visiting faculty: |
N/A |
| Average core class size: |
55 |
| Average elective class size: |
35 |
Laptop computer required?
No
Grading System
Wharton's grading system has four tiers: Distinguished (DS), High Pass (HP), Pass (P) and, No Credit (NC).
Students who receive the No Credit grade in a core course must obtain a passing grade (by re-enrolling in the course) before they can graduate. The courses in which students receive an NC are still counted toward the maximum course load of 21 credits. Grades of No Credit remain on student transcripts.
Outstanding academic performance during the program is recognized in five different ways:
1. Palmer Scholars: Students graduating in the top 5% of the class based on the student's GPA earned in Wharton courses during the two years at Wharton.
2. First-Year Honors: Students in the top 20% of their class at the conclusion of the first year. Granted to students who have taken at least 9 credit units and is based on the student's GPA earned in all courses.
3. Graduation With Honors: Students ranked in the top 20% of their class at graduation. Ranking based on the student's GPA earned in all courses taken during the full two-year program.
4. Director's List: Compiled and published each semester to recognize superior academic performance in that semester and is awarded to students who rank in the top 10% of their class. Eligibility requires that a student take at least 5 credit units in the first semester of the first year and 4 credit units in each subsequent semester.
5. Ford Fellowship: A grant of $5000 is awarded each year to the student or students who achieve the most oustanding academic performance during the first-year of the MBA program. Based on the student's GPA earned during the first year. To be eligible, student must take at least 5 credit units in the first semester and at least 4 credit units in the second semester.
Exchange Programs or International Campuses
Institute of Business Administration, Universita Commerciale Luigi Bocconi (Italy); Ecole Superieur de Commerce, Universite Lyon II (France); Institut Superieur des Affaires (France); Instituto Catolico de Administracion y Direcion de Empresas (Spain); Hitotsubashi University (Japan); Hong Kong University of Science & Technology; Instituto de Pos-Graduacao e Pesquisa em Administracao (Brazil); Graduate School of Business Administration of Keio University (Japan); London Business School (England); Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus Universiteit (Netherlands); Stockholm School of Economics (Sweden); Australian Graduate School of Management (Australia); Asian Institute of Management (Philippines); Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration at Chulalonghorn University (Thailand)
Best Areas of Study
Accounting, Finance, Healthcare Systems, Entrepreneurship, Insurance & Risk Management, Legal Studies, Marketing Real Estate, Statistics
Areas School Would Like to Improve
N/A
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1998 PLACEMENT
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On-campus recruiters for graduates: 420
On-campus recruiters for first-year internships: 420
On-campus student full-time job interviews: approx. 5,000
On-campus student internship interviews: 5,000
Job opportunities posted via the Internet or E-mail: 1,031
Top Employers/Number of 1998 Hires
| McKinsey & Co. |
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40 |
| Boston Consulting Group |
31 |
| Goldman Sachs & Co. |
29 |
| Bain & Co. |
25 |
| Booz Allen Hamilton |
24 |
| Deloitte & Touche |
24 |
| Merrill Lynch & Co. |
24 |
| Morgan Stanley Dean Witter |
24 |
| Andersen Consulting |
21 |
| PriceWaterhouseCoopers |
21 |
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ALUMNI NETWORK
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Number of living alumni: 26,463
Alums who gave to the school during the 1997/98 academic year: 26%
Median alumni gift: $750
Number of alumni clubs: 77
Number of dues-paying members: 6,000
Number of staffers devoted to MBA alumni relations: 9
Placement services offered for alumni?
Yes
Description of Alumni Placement Services
N/A
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1999 Profile Update
School Statistics
Graduates' Comments
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Key Contacts
School Web Site
E-Mail:
mba.admissions@wharton.upenn.edu
Address:
The Wharton School
104 Vance Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Dean:
Thomas P. Gerrity
(215) 898-4159
Director of MBA Programs:
W. Bruce Allen
(215) 898-4159
Director of Admissions:
Robert Alig
(215) 898-3430
Director of Alumni Relations:
Marguerite Harrington
(215) 898-4159
Director of Financial Aid:
Robert Alig
(215) 898-4159
Director of Career Services:
Ursula Maul (acting)
(215) 898-4159
Application Deadlines:
U.S.
April 10, 1999
International
April 10, 1999
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