Wharton Moelis Advance Access Deferred MBA Letter of Recommendation Questions

The Wharton Business School is known as ‘the finance school’ for its focus on finance and management. It comes as no surprise that it looks for candidates who can make data-driven decisions and adapt to the changing business landscape. But the factor that distinguishes the school from its peers is its reach: Wharton’s large class size means that you’ll study alongside a cohort of over 800 students and enter its 100,000+ strong alumni network.

The Moelis Advance Access Program takes this even further by offering ambitious undergraduates and full-time graduate students a guaranteed pathway to the Wharton MBA. After admission, Moelis Fellows complete 2-4 years of quality work experience before matriculating. 

The program seeks students who are innovative, ambitious, and ready to use their early-career freedom to maximize impact. Students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply to this highly-selective cohort.

So if you’re applying to the Moelis Advance Access Program, it’s important that you demonstrate not just strong academic potential but also the ability to thrive in a pre-professional setting and contribute meaningfully to a large, dynamic cohort. You’ll need to show how you plan to find your niche through your essays and your letter of recommendation.

How Many Letters of Recommendation Does the Wharton Moelis Advance Access Program Require?

The Wharton Moelis Advance Access Program requires 1 letter of recommendation from an individual who is well acquainted with your performance in a pre-professional setting. Ideally, this should be someone who has worked with you in a supervisory or advisory capacity. Suitable recommenders include a supervisor from an internship, academic research, or job, a campus or community organization advisor, or even a coach.

For the Moelis program, the recommender’s title matters less than their direct knowledge of your strengths, abilities, and potential. Since most applicants are still in school or early in their careers, the focus is on someone who can speak specifically to your work ethic, leadership, collaboration, and growth in academic, internship, or extracurricular contexts.

Wharton Moelis Advance Access Recommendation Questions

The recommendation form for the Moelis Advance Access Program mirrors the structure used for Wharton’s full-time MBA. It includes:

Recommender Information

• Relationship With Applicant: (e.g. Direct Supervisor, Advisor, Indirect Report/Subordinate)

• During which period of time have you had the most frequent contact with the applicant?

• Are you a graduate of Wharton or any other University of Pennsylvania school? (Yes / No)

• Are you a faculty member of Wharton or any other University of Pennsylvania School? (Yes / No)

  
  

Summary Appraisal

For every set of three positive descriptors, select one that is most characteristic of the applicant. Although all statements are favorable, please choose only the single descriptor that best fits the individual. (There are eight categories covering traits like energy and urgency, poise under pressure, ethical decision-making, teamwork, feedback incorporation, and more.)

Recommendation Questions

• How do the candidate's performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (500 words)

  
  

• (Optional) Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (500 words)

  
  

• (Optional) Is there anything else we should know? (No word limit)

Mario

Nikita

Aditya

Chinenye

Mahesh

Jasmin

Arno

Analysis

Summary Appraisal

Wharton’s summary appraisal is brief and direct. Instead of a standard rating scale, your recommender chooses one trait from each set of three positive descriptors across eight categories. Encourage your recommender to select traits that align consistently with the stories and strengths they highlight in the written questions and with the rest of your Moelis application.

Recommendation Questions

The recommender must answer one mandatory question. We strongly recommend that they also complete the optional feedback question, as it is a common part of the GMAC Common Letter of Recommendation and provides valuable insight into your self-awareness and growth mindset.

How do the candidate's performance, potential, background, or personal qualities compare to those of other well-qualified individuals in similar roles? Please provide specific examples. (500 words)

This question asks your recommender to benchmark you against peers and illustrate your professional (or pre-professional) strengths with concrete examples. With a generous word limit, they can share 2–3 targeted anecdotes that highlight different qualities—such as leadership in a student organization, analytical problem-solving during an internship, or innovative contributions to a research project.

These stories should feel distinct from what you cover in your own essays but complementary. Ask your recommender to use the SCAR method (Situation, Challenge, Action, Results) and include quantifiable details (e.g., percentages, team sizes, outcomes) wherever possible. Tie the examples to qualities Wharton values, including responsible leadership, analytical skills, entrepreneurial spirit, actionable knowledge, and pragmatic, data-driven decision making.

Because Moelis Fellows come from varied academic backgrounds, the recommender can emphasize how your unique perspective or discipline adds value beyond traditional business experiences.

(Optional) Describe the most important piece of constructive feedback you have given the applicant. Please detail the circumstances and the applicant’s response. (500 words)

Though optional, this question is worth answering. It allows the recommender to show your receptiveness to feedback and your ability to grow—qualities essential for success in Wharton’s collaborative environment and during your deferral period.

The response should focus on 1–2 specific instances: the context of the feedback, how you received it, the actions you took to improve, what you learned, and how you’ve applied that learning since. Keep the emphasis on your positive response and development rather than dwelling on the weakness itself. Even a concise, thoughtful answer here strengthens the letter significantly.

(Optional) Is there anything else we should know?

In most cases, this section can be left blank. Use it only to clarify previous answers or address any extenuating circumstances. It is not intended as extra space for additional stories.

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