Getting Down to Business: Prospective Students Gather at Wharton San Francisco Admissions Reception

Wharton Marketing Professor and Vice Dean Leonard Lodish kicked off the presentation portion of the evening, giving his take on the difference between Wharton EMBA and full-time MBA students. "What’s the difference between a Wharton EMBA student and a full-timer?" he asked. The answer: "Full-timers haven’t made a major mistake in their careers yet."

He then clarified, "You guys have 11 years of experience so you’ve likely not only made one mistake, you‘ve made many." Lodish explained that, despite having the same curriculum, the two programs differ on the student experience –- EMBA students’ ability to share the lessons learned makes it a totally different program.

Lodish was followed by Wharton West Director John Lyon who addressed student life and the academic environment. He also introduced the student and alumni panelists who talked about friendships, networking among classmates, and a perennial student favorite –- the international trip. First-year student Tran Hang from Google discussed the curriculum, explaining that Wharton’s executive program is not a "watered down' MBA. 

The evening ended with a Q&A session. Topics ranged from the degree of time commitment and opportunities to interact with East Coast students to the types of career management support offered.

Admissions receptions are scheduled in the fall of each year. Cities remaining on this year’s schedule include Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Phoenix, New York, Los Angeles, San Jose, Salt Lake City, Charlotte and Portland. Check out the event calendar for dates. 

If you can’t make it to a reception, you can schedule a visit any time that’s convenient for you.