TBD stands for Team Based Discussion which is a group-based discussion round introduced by the school in 2012. This round replaces the regular interview and is conducted either on the campus in Philadelphia or in one of the major cities like Dubai, San Francisco, London, Mumbai, Beijing, Sao Paulo, Singapore, Seoul and Tokyo.
TBD is an invite-only process and the invitations are extended after a few weeks of the application submission deadlines. The ability to work in teams is a major success factor in the MBA program and the school aims to test this component from the Team Based Discussion exercise. This is your chance to express who you are as a person, how you approach problems and opportunities, the potential you carry to achieve your goals and your ability to collaborate and work in teams.
Interview Schedule:
- TBD – 35-45 minutes approx.
- One-on-one discussion with Adcom member -10 minutes.
The TBD will be with a group of 4-5 applicants followed by 10 minutes one-on-one interview round with the Adcom member.
Collaboration, Inclusive Behavior, Decision Making, Leadership Skills, Adaptability, Awareness, Adaptability and Communication Style will play a key role to secure a Wharton admit. The Adcom member monitors the session and expects the group to reach a shared conclusion.
General Education helps applicants to prepare for their Wharton TBD. We have Wharton alumni who facilitate the discussion and provide personalized feedback. The process will be conducted online and you will be able to participate from anywhere.
Inputs from Consultants on Wharton TBD
The TBD is an opportunity for you to express yourself both as an individual and a member of a functioning team. It is very hard to tell what really matters in Wharton TBD. Each group get different case. For a stance instead of being lost and going with the flow. Don’t show off, it is not necessary. Be yourself on how you behave and push yourself to take a stance on the topic being discussed.
One should not do the mistake of being the guy that talks a lot. Don’t be the person either who does not contribute – trick is to finding the balance. Instead of thinking getting admitted individually, believe as a team. Generally, teams get admitted, so it’s less of you competing with others in your team and more of your team competing with other teams.
One-on-one interview will be strictly within 10 minutes with one of Admission team. Generally, there will be 2-3 question asked (below mentioned are frequently asked questions) followed by questions for the admissions team if you have to discuss.
What is your main motivation for the MBA/Wharton?
What would you like me to remember from this interview?
Any questions for me? (For admissions team)
Any final comments?