Information for Incoming Students

During the spring and summer, we send or post packets of materials explaining Pre-Term and the semesters that follow. However, we know that many of you travel, quit your jobs and are sometimes simply the victims of the vagaries of the mail system. So we'll made these materials available electronically as they are published. We hope that you enjoy this early glimpse into the next two years of your life. Welcome to Wharton!

If you have questions after reviewing these materials, please email us at mbaprogram@wharton.upenn.edu.

First Mailing
July Materials

IMPORTANT DATES FOR THE CLASS OF 2011

• Monday, July 10 - Pre-Term Registration Form due (you can register electronically on the MBA Program Office website beginning June 1)
• Monday, August 3 - International Student Orientation
• Monday, August 3 - Welcome Reception
• Tuesday, August 4- First day of Pre-Term
• MBA Convocation - Thursday, August 6
• Leadership and Learning Team Retreat
  • Cluster 1 & 2 - Friday, August 21 - Saturday, August 22
  • Cluster 3 & 4 - Saturday, August 22 - Sunday, August 23
• Diversity Workshops: August 28 and September 8
• Case Day - September 8
• First Day of Classes - Wednesday, September 9
• Thursday, December 23 - Winter break begins

First Mailing:

• Get Started - this booklet is an in-depth description of Pre-Term and its courses and includes information about waivers, the MBA Facebook, student groups and health requirements.  The Guide includes information on Pre-Term Registration and the academic calendar for 2010-2011. We will mail Get Started and the MBA Resource Guide (see below) to you in very early June.
• Math Waiver Exam - this online exam (available in early June) will help you determine whether or not you would benefit from our Pre-Term Basic Math Review Course and whether you will need to take the Math Proficiency Test on August 13. Get Started will include a full discussion of the Waiver Exam. Materials to help you prepare will be sent later in June.
• Waiver Information Guide - The Guide will give you the information you need to determine whether you: 1) can or should waive a core course, and 2) can do so by credential or whether you will need to sit for a waiver exam. The Guide (DO NOT try to print this - it's 369 pages!) contains syllabi and sample exams from all of the core courses that can be waived. Please do not fax us any waiver information; either mail it in using the Waiver Credentials envelope in the mailed materials, or bring it to us once you arrive in Philadelphia. Two items of note: first, you do not need to waive courses. Most students waive one course at most and over 35% of you will not waive any courses at all. Second, please be aware that if your only alternative to waiving by credential is to take the waiver exam, it is important to get your materials to us by August 10 in order to get a response before having to take the waiver exam.
• The MBA Resource Guide 2009-2010 - this is your "bible" for your time here. In it, you will find details on program requirements, majors, course descriptions and academic policies as well as overview information on computing resources, libraries, career management, reprographics, financial aid, student organizations and all other important facets of Wharton life.The Guide is currently being revised for the coming year and and the online version will be posted in mid-July, but you can access the MBA Resource Guide 2008-2009.

July Materials: These materials will be posted to our website rather than mailed. We've found that so many of you move that it is difficult to deliver materials sent through the mail.

• MBA Bulletin #1: This will be the first of many bulletins that you will receive on a regular basis. We use the bulletins to inform you about upcoming events, like the August 4 arrival, waivers, and registration. You will receive a second bulletin when you arrive on August 4 and the third in mid-August. MBA Bulletin #1 will indicate: 1) your cluster assignment, which determines the dates of your Learning Team Retreat and Diversity Workshop; and 2) a schedule that will give you a preliminary idea of your Pre-Term schedule;
• Leadership Program Introduction. These materials will give you a better idea of what to expect when you attend the Learning Team retreat from August 21-23, including a welcome letter, logistics and a packing list for the Retreat, and a core values assignment due on August 7.