The Director’s List Fellowship is a Wharton MBA academic award for current students who place in the top 10% of their class by semester GPA. It combines academic-performance eligibility with a review of how the student exemplifies Wharton’s academic spirit.
Eligible students are invited after the Director’s List is published. Applicants submit an essay on their contribution to learning inside and outside the classroom, and the Vice Dean of the MBA Program makes the selection with input from faculty and Graduate Division directors.
Benefits & funding
- The recipient receives a $5,000 grant.
- The fellowship is awarded in the first, second, and third semesters of each class.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be current Wharton MBA students invited after ranking in the top 10% of their class by GPA for the semester.
- Director’s List eligibility requires at least 4.5 course units in the first semester or at least 4 course units in a later semester, including 3 Wharton course units taken for credit on a graded basis.
- The student may not have a Fail grade in the semester under consideration.
- Students with an MBA Code of Ethics violation are ineligible for academic awards, and an award may later be revoked for such a violation.
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Application process
- 1Complete the semester with the course load required for Director’s List consideration.
- 2Rank in the top 10% of the class by semester GPA and wait for Wharton’s invitation after the Director’s List is published.
- 3Submit the required essay explaining contributions to learning inside and outside the classroom in pursuit of academic excellence.
- 4The Vice Dean of the MBA Program selects the recipient with input from faculty and Graduate Division directors.
Program timeline
Each fall and spring semester
Academic honors are determined from the semester’s Wharton GPA.
After the Director’s List is published each semester
Eligible students are invited to apply.
First, second, and third semesters of each class
A fellowship recipient is selected.