The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
3 required essays, 2 optional for the 2026-27 cycle.
Deadlines
| Round | Date |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | September 8, 2026 |
| Round 2 | January 5, 2027 |
| Round 3 | March 31, 2027 |
Essays
Goals essay · 50 words · required
Essay 1 (short-form): What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal?
Goals essay · 150 words · required
Essay 1 (short-form): Describe your medium- and long-term professional goals after your Wharton MBA.
Program supplement · 350 words · required
Essay 2: Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to add meaningful value to the Wharton community?
Program supplement · 250 words · optional
Reapplicant Essay: Please use this space to share with the Admissions Committee how you have reflected and grown since your previous application and discuss any relevant updates to your candidacy (e.g., changes in your professional life, additional coursework, and extracurricular/volunteer engagements).
Program supplement · 500 words · optional
Additional Information: Please use this space to share any additional information about yourself that cannot be found elsewhere in your application and that you would like to share with the Admissions Committee. This space can also be used to address any extenuating circumstances (e.g., unexplained gaps in work experience, choice of recommenders, inconsistent or questionable academic performance, areas of weakness, etc.) that you would like the Admissions Committee to consider.
Class of 2029 application. Deadlines fetched from mba.wharton.upenn.edu/mba-admissions/class-of-2029-application-now-open/. Big change from the prior cycle: the old 500-word goals essay and 400-word contribution essay are replaced by two short-form goals answers (50 and 150 words) and one 350-word community essay. Reapplicant essay is required for reapplicants only. Lauder MBA/MA joint applicants have two extra program essays (500 and 200 words) not recorded here.
Checked against mba.wharton.upenn.edu/application-guide on September 9, 2026. Programs change their prompts between cycles; confirm on the program’s own page before you submit.
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Common questions
- How many essays does The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania require for 2026-27?
- 3 required and 2 optional, 5 in total. Every prompt is listed on this page word for word, with the length each one states.
- How long should the Wharton essays be?
- 50 words. That is the length the program states on its own page, which this record was read from on September 9, 2026.
- When is the Wharton 2026-27 deadline?
- Round 1: September 8, 2026. 2 other rounds are listed on this page.