Wharton Interview Tips: How to Prepare for the Team-Based Discussion
Originally published on October 26, 2023. Updated on October 22, 2025.
You were granted a Wharton interview invite, congrats! You’re one step closer to being accepted. Securing a Wharton MBA interview invite is a significant achievement, but the journey isn’t over yet. At this point, you might be curious about Wharton’s interview acceptance rate.
Approximately 50% of applicants receive a Wharton MBA interview invite, but only about 1 in 5 are ultimately admitted. With the Wharton MBA interview dates quickly approaching, it’s important to prepare thoroughly and show up with confidence. Understanding what the admissions committee looks for during the Wharton MBA interview and aligning your performance with their expectations can make all the difference.
As you get ready, focus on demonstrating your unique strengths, leadership potential, and fit for Wharton’s collaborative learning environment.
What to Expect from the Wharton MBA Interview
Wharton’s interview process includes its distinctive Team-Based Discussion (TBD) format. In this session, you and 5-6 applicants collaborate on a shared prompt while 1-2 members of the admissions team, typically second-year students, facilitate and observe. This is followed by a 25-minute group discussion where you will work together to develop a solution. A visible on-screen timer helps the team stay on track. The discussion concludes with a 5-minute presentation, during which each group shares its final proposal.
After the TBD, you will be directed to a breakout room for a brief 10-minute one-on-one interview with the facilitator. This portion allows you to reflect on your group’s performance and answer additional interview questions.
For a deeper understanding of the Wharton interview experience, explore Exit Poll: Wharton’s Team-Based Discussion and Interview, where one of our clients shares insights and lessons learned to help you prepare effectively.
What is the Wharton Team-Based Discussion Prompt?
The Wharton Team-Based Discussion prompt for the 2025-2026 MBA application cycle is as follows:
‘Leadership development at Wharton integrates scholarship, relationships, and experiences that connect knowledge with action. The McNulty Leadership Program serves as the hub for this work, offering an expansive portfolio of experiential learning opportunities, including MBA Leadership Ventures. Ventures facilitate self-discovery, leadership, and character development. Participants are able to step out of their comfort zone, exceed personal limitations, and experience leadership firsthand. One key offering within the Venture Portfolio is Leadership Intensives (LI). Each LI is a consolidated, immersive, group-based experience lasting one to two days.
Wharton invites your team to propose a new Leadership Intensive (LI) to address increasing student interest. The LI proposed should be designed for Wharton MBA students and operate within a pilot budget of $25,000. All costs – including partner fees, facilitator payments, site or equipment rentals, and materials – must stay within this total amount. Transportation logistics will be arranged by Wharton and are outside the scope of your team’s planning and budget.
The program should be structured around a central theme that articulates and reinforces fundamental leadership principles. These principles will inform the program’s design and delivery, with the goal of producing specific, demonstrable learning outcomes. Consider how progress toward these learning outcomes will be assessed to determine whether participants have internalized and applied the intended skills and insights.
How to Prepare for the Wharton Team-Based Discussion?
Preparing for the Wharton TBD can be challenging because group dynamics often remain unpredictable until the session begins. However, drafting and practicing your one-minute pitch is essential. A strong opening helps you establish credibility, communicate your perspective clearly, and set a confident tone for the discussion.
Our clients have shared a wide range of experiences. Some describe their sessions as highly collaborative, while others encountered more competitive or fast-paced discussions. No matter the dynamic, thoughtful preparation and self-awareness are key to standing out for the right reasons.
To make a strong impression, focus on these 5 key areas, as they are central to the admissions committee’s evaluation:
1. Are your ideas logical and well-structured?
2. Can you articulate them clearly and confidently?
3. Do you collaborate effectively and positively influence the group’s progress?
4. Do you exude warmth and play the role of a connector in the group’s dynamics?
5. When progress stalls or your idea isn’t chosen, do you keep contributing with focus and composure – or do you withdraw?4.
Top Three Tips for Success in the Wharton TBD
Practice, Practice, Practice.
Your opening pitch is the only element of the TBD that you can fully control, so make it count. Think carefully through your ideas and practice articulating them. Emphasize the “why” behind your proposal rather than getting lost in too many details. If applicable, draw upon your personal or professional experiences to present a compelling case.
Remember, you only have one minute, so practice your pitch out loud multiple times until it flows naturally and fits within the time limit.
Anticipate Group Dynamics.
Reflect on past team meetings or collaborative experiences that were particularly successful. Why did they work well, and how can you replicate that dynamic? Likewise, think about counterproductive behaviors you have witnessed and make sure to avoid them.
Also, consider how you will handle different scenarios. If the group strays off topic, will you be the one to steer it back? How will you react if one participant dominates the discussion? Your goal is to help the group reach a solid, thoughtful solution while contributing positively to the team’s progress.
Stay Adaptable and Engaged.
You cannot control how the discussion will unfold, but you can demonstrate teamwork in several ways. Draw ideas out of quieter participants, ask thoughtful questions about proposed solutions, or synthesize viewpoints to help the group reach a conclusion. The key is to use these strategies at the right moment, showing both tact and collaboration.
As the discussion wraps up, jot down an observation or two about how the group worked together. Candidates are often asked to reflect on this during the one-on-one portion. You want to share something more insightful than “I thought it went well,” and this can be difficult to do on the spot. Prepare, be yourself, and relax.
Want Personalized Support? Join Our Mock TBD Sessions (The Results Speak for Themselves)
We understand how difficult it can be to prepare for a team-based interview on your own. That is why we offer our Mock Wharton Team-Based Discussion Sessions, a supportive and realistic way to practice before the real thing. In the 2024-2025 application cycle, 28 applicants participated in our mock TBDs, and all but 3 were accepted. That’s an 89% post-interview success rate, nearly double the average conversion rate of 40% to 50%.
In our one-hour group video call, 4-6 clients who have received Wharton interview invites will participate in a practice group interview, mirroring the actual interview format. The session will be facilitated by Sarah Chandler, our resident Wharton expert and alum, along with Melanie Espeland, both Vantage Point MBA Senior Consultants. Together, they simulate the approach used by the Wharton admissions committee.
Participants receive preparation instructions ahead of time. During the video call, the facilitator provides brief guidance and observes as participants engage in a 25-minute group discussion based on a specific prompt. Each group then delivers a 5-minute presentation. The session concludes with time for self-reflection and questions.
Within 48 hours, participants receive individualized feedback to help refine their approach before the actual interview.
This service is priced at $325. Register now to ensure you master the Wharton TBD, and our team will follow up with the next steps to fully prepare you for success.
Katie is a passionate mentor and coach, helping her clients craft a unique, compelling story by leveraging her experience as a corporate executive, alumni interviewer, and campus recruiter. Before completing her MBA at Kellogg, Katie spent five years in banking where she learned practical finance skills as well as how to operate in a demanding, high pressure environment. She pursued an MBA in order to transition to an industry role where she could utilize her finance knowledge to drive change within an organization. Post-MBA, she worked in finance and strategy for a leading CPG firm, progressing to an executive role leading the finance function for a $2B business segment. Her experience managing diverse teams led to a passion for developing others. In addition to her day-to-day responsibilities, she led her firm’s MBA recruiting efforts and served as an alumni admissions interviewer for Kellogg.
