Few moments in the MBA admissions journey feel as intense as preparing for the Wharton TBD interview. Anticipation rises quickly as interview invitations approach, and the unique format creates uncertainty even for highly polished candidates.
While anxiously awaiting their invitations, many applicants are wondering how to prepare. Personal MBA Coach is here to help with your Wharton TBD preparation!
Wharton TBD Interview Preparation with Personal MBA Coach
The Wharton group interview creates anxiety for many MBA applicants. This cycle, Wharton will again conduct its Team-Based Discussion in a virtual format, which adds another layer of complexity for candidates.
To help candidates prepare for the Wharton TBD Interview experience, Personal MBA Coach will offer à la carte Wharton group interview sessions, offering candidates a unique opportunity to practice for this difficult interview.
We have a former Wharton Admissions Director and former Wharton TBD interviewers to conduct these sessions! You can practice with an interviewer who has evaluated countless applicants at Wharton and knows exactly how to help you ace the TBD. In prior years, 84% of our interviewees were accepted!
While group interviews require additional preparation, with proper practice and planning, they can be easier than individual interviews. Personal MBA Coach is here to answer a few of your most pressing questions!
Understanding the Wharton TBD Interview Format
The Wharton TBD interview is required for all candidates invited to interview and includes the following three components:
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Each candidate gives a one-minute introduction to the group, providing everyone an opportunity to get to know one another (this is the first 5 minutes).
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Introductions are followed by a 35-minute team discussion, based on a topic Wharton releases in advance, during which you present the results of your discussion to the interviewers. Part of this is delivering your “pitch” and part is the broader team chat.
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The group exercise is followed by a brief, individual 1:1 interview to discuss a couple of aspects of your profile and your interest in Wharton.
How to Approach a Group Interview Setting
Tip One: Do Not Be the Loudest One on the Screen
Many candidates attempt to stand out by dominating the conversation. This approach rarely works well.
The group interview is a great way for Wharton to assess how a candidate is likely to act in classroom discussions and during group meetings.
Admissions committee members are looking for leaders who can actively contribute. They are not interested in someone who talks over their peers or forces their opinions on others.
Tip Two: Do Not Be a Wallflower
While you do not want to dominate, you also should not be the quietest one on the screen. It is important to ensure that your opinions and voice are heard. This means that you need to strike a delicate (but difficult) balance, which is even more complicated on screen, where it is harder to read subtle cues from other participants.
Tip Three: Look for Ways to Build on An Idea as Opposed to Contradicting It
You do not have to have the most unique idea or the most divergent position to stand out. Top leaders collaborate with their teams, and this skill is equally important in the business school classroom.
Looking for ways to build off another idea or suggestion will show the evaluator that you know how to work with a team or a group. Think about where you can add the “and” instead of the “but” or the “or” here.
Tip Four: Respect Your Peers
Particularly in the current climate, this should go without saying. Remain open to diverse points of view. Bringing in observations does not mean debunking what others have to say. If you disagree with someone in the group, be respectful and offer a different perspective without being critical or rude.
Tip Five: Do Your Research and Plan Ahead
As with any other interview, adequate preparation is key. Wharton releases the discussion topic in advance so candidates can research and outline talking points. Arriving with informed ideas helps, though flexibility remains critical as discussions shift direction.
Virtual Interview Guidance from Former Admissions Interviewers
To help you prepare for some of the unique challenges of a virtual interview, Personal MBA Coach reached out to former MBA Admissions Interviewers on our team, including MJ Shores, a former Wharton Admissions Director and Personal MBA Coach consultant, for their top tips!
1) Look into the camera or webcam, which is often placed higher than the normal eye level. In addition, practice your setup with a friend or family member in advance of the interview to make sure the equipment is staged properly and functioning.
Finally, be careful when using virtual backgrounds. Depending on your system’s video capabilities, virtual backgrounds can strain the system and cause either the person’s head or the background to fade in and out. – Former Wharton Admissions Director
2) Treat a virtual interview the same way you would an in-person interview. Dress as you would if you were going in person, have a quiet and clean space with good lighting in which to conduct your interview, and of course, be on time! – Former Dartmouth Tuck Admissions Interviewer
3) Emote a bit more on virtual interviews since you do not have the nonverbal cues you would have in person. Be sure to modulate how quickly you are speaking, pause at the right time, smile, and express excitement. While using hand motions can be great, avoid too much movement, which can be even more distracting on virtual interviews. – Former Yale SOM Admissions Interviewer
Practice Sessions to Match the Real Experience
Check out the details on Personal MBA Coach’s Wharton TBD practice sessions. These sessions will mirror the actual Wharton interview, providing candidates with an opportunity to work together with other applicants during a group session. Then, they will be followed by one-on-one interviews with former M7 MBA interviewers. Each participant will receive our proprietary interview preparation guide and a personal feedback session.
Make Progress with Expert Wharton TBD Interview Preparation
Success in the Wharton TBD interview comes from preparation guided by experience. Personal MBA Coach brings years of admissions insight, consistent results, and direct access to former Wharton decision-makers. Our approach helps candidates present leadership, teamwork, and authenticity in a format designed to reveal all three.
Book a consultation with us to support your interview.
