An article on the site Poets & Quants reports on changes that Wharton plans to implement in its group interviews (team-based discussion). This year’s applicants are asked to imagine themselves as students and to compose ideas for a conference run by one of the student clubs:

“The diversity of interests and backgrounds of the Wharton MBA community is reflected in the variety of programs that we support. The African American MBA Association, Private Equity and Venture Capital Club, Wharton Women in Business, Entrepreneurship Club, and the Veteran’s Club are five of the more than one hundred student-run clubs here at Wharton. Each year, many of these clubs run conferences, providing unique and exclusive opportunities for students to engage with business and thought leaders around the world. For the purpose of this discussion, picture yourself as a core member of a student-run club’s Conference Committee. Feel free to consider yourself part of an existing club or one that has not yet been created. In this role, you and your team must create and deliver a one-day, high-impact conference on the topic of your choice keeping in mind that the event’s aim is to provide a forum for students, faculty, alumni, thought leaders, and executives to explore and challenge ideas related to the topic at hand. Please take a moment to learn more about the current Wharton MBA student-led clubs and conferences. Please come prepared to share your thoughts with the group in one minute or less before moving into the team discussion. You should plan to spend no more than one hour in preparation for this part of the process.”

The school posted that the group interviews will include 4-5 participants for about 35 minutes, followed by 10-minute individual interviews with an admissions committee member. The final decisions will be sent to Round 1 candidates by 12/17.
Wharton considers the group interview as an opportunity for interviewees to communicate with other candidates and taste the MBA experience, while they are evaluated for their ability to work in a group and achieve a shared outcome.

Wharton sends interview invitations to about 40% of its applicants, and accepts about 50% among those interviewed