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Wharton Meaningful Contributions (Sample Essay IB)

The example is from an IB analyst who took on the additional responsibility of changing the culture of the boutique firm. A common but persistent problem that Investment Bankers face is the dynamic nature of project allocation. The uncertainty of the demands the clients would have with each project leads to 120-140 hour work weeks.

The applicant acknowledges that when deals are closing, such long work weeks are unavoidable. However, half of the time, such commitment is not required. The leadership also acknowledged the problem. To breakdown the problem, the applicant volunteers to take on the project. As in any consulting engagement, the applicant began interviewing his team but soon realized the lack of openness in their discussions. Many feared that any criticism would negatively impact their job evaluation. The workaround the applicant developed to encourage open communication is the problem-solving highlighted in the essay.

Additionally, a recruitment strategy that reduced the burden on the analysts to prepare PowerPoint presentations is another solution the applicant proposed. Third, in the strategy, the applicant also introduced a communication monitoring framework that found the time when client demands peaked. By developing a predictive model, the applicant created a work schedule that drastically reduced the burden on the team and improved their performance.


The applicant intends to apply the same time management principles for students at Wharton so that no one feels left out from participating in student clubs and learn meaningfully in the class.

Sample Wharton Meaningful Contributions MBA Essay #2: Process Innovation in Investment Banking (361 Words)

The junior analyst’s journey through deals and the 120-hour workweeks were unavoidable as the due diligence on billion-dollar deals required reading hundreds of research reports and breaking down complex strategic maneuvers. However, the relentless 6-day work weeks were not necessary in between deals as the culture of machoism had a bigger contribution to the long hours than the actual value from such behavior. The leadership at our boutique IB firm sensed the truth despite missing data. Interested in pivoting to a consulting role, I volunteered to work on the internal project to improve the efficiency of our team.

The initial interviews were disappointing. No clear information could be collected from my colleagues as they feared that any criticism would be considered negatively during job evaluation. By starting ...
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F1GMAT's Wharton MBA Essay Guide

Essay 1: Two short-form questions

What is your immediate post-MBA professional goal? (50 words)
What are your career goals for the first three to five years after completing your MBA, and how will those build towards your long-term professional goals? (150 words)

Essay 2: Long-form essay: Taking into consideration your background – personal, professional, and/or academic – how do you plan to add meaningful value to the Wharton community? (350 words)

Download F1GMAT's Wharton MBA Essay Guide

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