Wharton Interviews, how impt?
Digressing from the topic of our dream HBS classmate PZ, wanted to ask a question about Wharton. You have said that the interview for HBS is very important (i.e. stuff it and you’re out), but that it doesn’t carry much weight at Stanford (i.e. ultimately DB gets to pick the class).
What is your take on the interview at Wharton? Is it similar to Stanford?
Thanks in advance!
no, it is hybrid, if you blow interview w. adcom on issues like Why Wharton, Why MBA, or otherwise show lack of awareness of the program, that can be damaging, as can spaz outs, body odor, etc. or their verbal equals.
As with all interviews, at H/S/W, the upside is not as high as you Cary Grant types out there might imagine. If you nail interview, well that is better than blowing it, but it does not add super whole lot into mix, esp, if you were marginal, and other kids w. better stats but not Cary Grant charm managed a credible performance. Also, the W mix is complicated by fact that lots of interviews done by slap-happy alums, whom adcom does not fully trust (nor should they).
Another issue– and in the past– A TOXIC ONE, is the dead meat cohort. IN prev. years when Wharton interviewed 50 pct of all apps and then accepted like 25 pct of those, LOTS of kids went into interview WITH NO CHANCE OF BEING ADMITEED, even after Cary Grant performance. Lots of reports of GREAT GREAT INTERVIEW but still dinged. Just search for DEAD MEAT on this thread to see ENDLESS discussion of this, and not very effective rebuttal fr. Fanatical Fan (wharton adcom type) saying it was not the case, BUT IT WAS.
My understanding now is that post interview accept rate is up fr. 25 to sorta 50 pct, e.g. they are interviewing fewer kids but taking more (someone who has actual figures, which are semi official and floating around, pls post). That changes the dynamic a bit, in that MOST (I do not think all) interviewed kids are pzzble admits, but as with other schools, not all interviewed kids are equal, you come trailing your stats, pedigree and story,and after interview tizzy fit (of prep, event, and post-mortum) evaporates, AND IT DOES, those elements remain, and come into prominence again.
Bottom Line: dont blow interview, dont confirm any negs on app (limited exp, not really clear about why MBA, nerd) but given choice between 1. Real Solid app + ”goodish” interivew w. no boners vs. 2. Ok/ Marginal App and Great int–guess who wins???? And the awful truth is, they got a lotta lotta kids who are 1. Plus if great interview is w. student or alum, well, it could be discounted, since neither know what the hell they are doing (in deep recesses of adcom mind).
