Wharton MBA
Welcome Weekend

Friday, January 24 – Saturday, January 25

Join us in Philadelphia for a weekend of connection and insights, where you’ll meet current students, staff, and future classmates as you explore life at Wharton.

A modern brick building with large glass windows and an entrance surrounded by greenery. Trees and outdoor seating are visible in the foreground under a clear sky.

Friday Activities

If you’re arriving in Philadelphia on Friday, you can sign up to join a small-group dinner hosted by 1-2 current students. Get some rest on Friday night because Saturday is a full schedule!

Saturday Activities

Event check-in begins at 8:30AM where you’ll receive your lanyard, room assignments, Wharton swag, and breakfast.  The schedule includes a full day of activities and programs, and wraps up with our Club Fair reception.

Partners Club Activities

Partners and significant others are welcome to join us for Welcome Weekend. On Friday, partners are invited to join small group dinners. On Saturday, members of the Wharton MBA Partners Club will host sessions to discuss the life of an MBA partner.

Accommodations

There are many hotels just a short walk away from Penn’s campus. Visit universitycity.org for a full list of accommodations. Visit Philly also maintains an accurate list of accommodations in the city, as well as many things to do while in Philadelphia.

Travel

Traveling to Philadelphia from the Airport: The SEPTA Airport Line train departs every 30 minutes and takes you to 30th Street Station. If you prefer to take a ride-share service or metered taxi directly from the airport to your hotel, the cost is about $25.00 and takes about 25 minutes.

Traveling to Philadelphia by train: If you’re traveling from Boston, New York, Washington, D.C., or other East Coast locations, the Amtrak Northeast Regional corridor line has a stop in Philadelphia. From 30th Street Train Station, a metered cab ride costs about $7.00 and takes about five minutes.

Attire

The dress for Welcome Weekend is business casual. We recommend that you wear comfortable footwear that allows you to walk comfortably on Penn’s cobblestone walkways. If you have limited mobility, please reach out to us for accommodations.

Questions?

If you have questions about Wharton Welcome Weekend, please contact our events team at mba-events@wharton.upenn.edu

Event Schedule

Thursday, January 23

Time/Location Description
5:30PM – 8:30PM
23rd Street Armory
Optional: MBA Pub
Pub is an MBA tradition where the Wharton community meets up on Thursdays evenings to connect and start the weekend. There is an open bar with beer & wine and food. Pub takes place at The Armory, a huge warehouse space at 23rd Street in Center City, close to where most students live.

Friday, January 24

Time/Location Description
4:30PM – 6:30PM
The Post
Optional:  Affinity & Diversity Happy Hour
Join us for happy hour just for our affinity populations. We’ll be joined by current student clubs that may include: Wharton African American MBA Association, Caribbean Business Initiative Club, Wharton Latin American Students Association, Wharton Hispanic American MBA Association, Wharton African Student Association, Out for Business, Veterans Club, and Women in Business.
7:00PM – Evening Hours
Various Restaurants
Optional: Small Group Dinners
Attend a small group dinner hosted by current Wharton students. Prior to your dinner, your student host will provide dinner details via email. Each dinner gathering will be limited to six admits, accompanied by two current Wharton students, fostering meaningful conversations and a deeper understanding of life at Wharton. Registration is required so we can make group assignments.

Saturday, January 25

Time/Location Description
8:30AM – 9:30AM
Huntsman Hall, Lower Level Forum
Event Check-in & Breakfast
Join us in Huntsman Hall to check-in, grab some breakfast and Wharton swag, and mingle with your fellow admits.
9:30AM – 9:40AM
Huntsman Hall, Cluster Homerooms
Cluster Homeroom
Quick stop in your cluster homeroom to drop your belongings and greet your cluster-mates.
10:00AM – 11:00AM
Annenberg Auditorium
Welcome Ceremony
All attendees will come together to hear greetings from Dean Erika James, and a panel of MBA senior leadership and current student leaders.
11:30AM – 1:30PM
Huntsman Hall, Cluster Homerooms
Student Panel & Lunch
Join your cluster back in your homeroom to meet Student Life Fellows; ask questions during a student panel while you enjoy lunch.
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Huntsman Hall
Financial Aid Overview
Join the Director of Student Finances for a discussion about budget, tuition, student loans, funding opportunities, and more.
2:30PM – 3:30PM
Huntsman Hall
Master Class
Join (faculty member) for a Master Class about x and learn more about Wharton’s classroom experience.
3:30PM – 4:30PM
Huntsman Hall
Student Perspectives on Recruitment
Join a panel of current MBA students to learn about their recruitment experiences and how they utilized Wharton’s career resources to find their internship and full-time roles.
5:00PM – 6:00PM
23rd Street Armory
Club Fair
End the weekend at the 23rd Street Armory for a Club Fair and reception. Student representatives for many MBA Clubs will be in attendance to share information about club activities and opportunities. Open bar and food provided.
5:00PM – Evening Hours
Various Restaurants
Dual-Degree Dinners
The Health Care Management Program, Lauder MBA/MA Program, and the JD/MBA Program will be hosting private dinners for admitted students from each program. Invites will be sent privately.