The Academic Engagement Award recognizes students who have excelled academically in the first year of the program and have shown outstanding commitment and dedication the academic experience.  The Academic Engagement Award provides one (1) free additional Wharton CU to use in their second year of the Program.

The student (or students, in the case of tie) who achieves the highest academic performance during their second and third semester of the MBA program is awarded the Academic Excellence Fellowship, a grant of $10,000. Academic performance for the Academic Excellence Fellowship is measured by the cumulative GPA during those two terms, not counting summer courses. It requires that the student take at least 9 course units during their second and third semester, not counting summer courses. The recipient of the Ford Fellowship at the end of the first-year of the program is not eligible.

The grant amount of $30,000 will be distributed equally among all recipients if more than 3 students tie for this award.

The Director’s List is compiled and published each semester to recognize superior academic performance in that semester and is awarded to students who rank in the top 10% of their class based on their GPA for the semester. Eligibility for Director’s List requires that the student take at least 4.5 course units (CUs) in the first semester and at least 4 course units in each subsequent semester, 3 CU of which must be from Wharton courses taken for credit on a graded basis.

Students ranking in the top 20% of their class at the conclusion of the first-year will be awarded First- Year Honors. The ranking for First-Year Honors is based on the cumulative GPA during the first year and requires that students take at least 9 course units during the fall and spring semesters.

The student (or students, in the case of a tie) who achieves the highest academic performance during the first-year of the MBA program is awarded the Ford Fellowship, a grant of $10,000. Academic performance for the Ford Fellowship is measured by the GPA during the first year and requires that the student take at least nine 9 course units during the first year.

The grant amount of $30,000 will be distributed equally among all recipients if more than 3 students tie for this award.

Students who rank in the top 20% of their class at graduation are awarded Graduation with Honors. The ranking for Graduation with Honors is based on the cumulative GPA earned during the program.

To be eligible for the Isik Inselbag Scholarship, a grant of $7,500, a student must have a firstyear GPA that places him or her among the top students in the class. In addition, the Inselbag Scholar must exemplify the spirit of Wharton through leadership, teamwork, scholarship, and service, as determined by the Vice Dean of the Graduate Division with inputs from the faculty and Graduate Division directors. Professor Inselbag, for whom the scholarship is named, served as Vice Dean and Director of the Graduate Division during 1992-95 and taught in the Finance Department for over twenty years.

Wharton selects one rising second-year student as a McGowan Fellow each year. This student must have achieved an academic standing in the top five percent of his or her first-year class and exemplified leadership in current or former activities. Students must apply and complete an essay provided by the McGowan Fund. Financial need is a factor. The nominee receives one full year’s tuition, attends the annual conference for McGowan Fellows and Alumni, and is assigned a respected business leader as a mentor.