We have "been at this" now for 30 years...but even an old dog can learn new tricks!  As of academic year 2007-2008 you can apply to the GCP as an individual or as part of a five person team. 

We strongly encourage you to apply as a team.  Out of the eleven projects in 2007-2008, ten of them were pre-formed teams!  All of them were highly successful in meeting their client needs.

The answers in this FAQ section generally apply to both full-time Wharton students and WEMBA students (East and West). There may be specific questions that have slightly different answers depending on the program in which the student is enrolled.

The categories of questions are:

• Application Process
• Team Application Process
• Travel
• Past Participants
 

Application Process

Are students paid for their work in this course?

No.  Students receive course credit, 1.5 credit unions in MKTG or OPIM.  Other departmental credit to be arranged on an individual basis.

Is it difficult to get accepted? 

The GCP is expanding to satisfy student demand, but the expansion must be slow in order to assure quality. 

When will the projects and clients be announced?

The projects and clients will be announced in mid-August/early September -- in time for prospective students to express their preferences and qualifications for particular projects. 

What types of projects are likely to be available this year? 

High tech projects and consumer goods projects will all be represented.  Many Israeli and Indian projects are high tech, while many (but not all) Latin American projects have a consumer component.  In both cases, business-to-business strategies are often important in both types of projects. 

How are students selected?

Each student applicant provides an application, including a resume and a cover letter explaining their interest in GCP and the strengths they would bring to a project team.  All applicants are interviewed by a GCP Teaching Assistant.  All applications are reviewed and students are selected by a Committee which includes the Teaching Assistants, GCP Practicum Leader, GCP Academic Director, Project Faculty and Associate Director.  

Can students apply during their first year of their MBA program to participate in GCP during their Second year? 

Some qualified first year students who could not be accommodated on teams during their first year are accepted (during their first year application process) to participate in GCP during their second year.  We also accept some second year students in their second years as well.  If a student prefers to participate in GCP during their second year, they can indicate that preference and they may be selected for participation during the second year of their MBA program. 

Can Second Year MBA students apply for GCP? 

Yes.  Emphatically yes.  Many students find that they would like the in-depth consulting, industry, and international teamwork experience of GCP during their Second Year.  The GCP program welcomes second year applicants.  Second Year students contribute important leadership to GCP teams.

Can second year students who applied during their first year and were not accepted apply again and be accepted? 

Yes, emphatically yes.  Such students have become stars and top contributors to the GCP.  The GCP could not come close to accepting the many highly qualified students who applied last year.  We encourage those who applied last year, who remain interested, and who were not accepted and who remain interested in GCP to apply again

What does the Selection Committee consider in assigning students to teams?

Students are selected for a particular team based on their expressed preferences and in order to ensure that each team has a good balance of functional, industry, qualitative and quantitative, client relation management, and  technical expertise for the particular project.  A very important characteristic for every team member is commitment to "going the extra mile" for their team and their client.  The Selection Committee is also concerned to have a mix of First and Second Year students on each team; the full experience of the First Year of the MBA Program seems to give Second Year students qualities that are highly valuable on teams.

Is this an easy course or program? 

No.  Student evaluations have always agreed that GCP is a challenging course that requires more work than many one credit courses.  Furthermore, this is a practicum course -- which means that students have the opportunity to learn through confronting and overcoming challenges under the guidance of faculty.  Faculty and teaching assistants will encourage teams to struggle with difficult challenges and to overcome them.  The best learning experiences come from meeting and overcoming challenges. 

Students should expect challenges in framing projects, in designing their work, in relating strategic and operational and financial and marketing issues, in learning to make feasible recommendations, in marketing research, in inter-cultural communication, in working in languages and cultures with which one is not fluent. Most students are able to meet the challenges -- with the collaboration of their teammates and the support of their teaching assistants and faculty.  Many students arrange their classes and activities to be relatively light during the semester when they participate in GCP;  on the other hand, some students excel with heavy class and activity commitments during their GCP participation. 

Language - Must students speak Spanish fluently to participate in the Latin American programs?  Do students have to speak Hebrew to participate in the Israeli projects?  Do students have to speak Mandarin to participate in the Chinese projects?

No. On the Latin American teams we have found that the primary criteria for membership is the business skills of the individuals. We have, however, found that it is useful to have two intermediate to advance Spanish speakers on Latin American teams.  Students who do not speak Spanish fluently should be prepared for challenges in working in a multi-lingual environment.  This is an area where the GCP is attempting to learn to support students better. This is indeed an area where earlier teams have developed very effective approaches to working across languages.  We continue to work on this.  Students who work on Latin American teams should be prepared to devote some thought to working with language.  GCP faculty are working with our teams to learn to support the language work better. 

Israeli teams have not required fluent Hebrew speakers on the Israeli teams. 

Similar to Latin America we don't require students to speak Mandarin on the Chinese projects, however we highly recommend at least two high-level Mandarin speakers to be members of the team.

Is there an inter-cultural aspect of the GCP program? 

Most GCP participants find the intense cultural experience of participating in a global team in GCP to be one of the most rewarding aspects of their experience. We believe that global managers are most effective internationally when they are interested and responsible for their own learning about their own and other cultures.  The GCP provides some international and inter-cultural background for students and more extensive resources for students as they explore other cultures at their own initiative.

How does the GCP differ from other international programs?

Click here for a comparision chart including:

• Global Consulting Practicum (MKTG 890)
• Global Immersion Program (MGMT 656)
• International Exchange Program
• Lauder

or visit the Wharton MBA International Opportunities website to learn more.

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Applying to the GCP as a Team

How do I put together a team to apply to the GCP?

As last year was our first time accepting team applicants, we are ourselves discovering the best way to go about the process.  However, we do have the following suggestions for you as you consider which individuals you would like to team up with for the GCP.  GCP is a work-intensive commitment.  We suggest you team up with people not based solely on their personality but also individuals who have a high work ethic and commitment to the educational process.  GCP is a practical team learning experience so choose individuals who are not just “people like you” but people who will bring diversity to the project in terms of experience, education and background.  Choose people you think you would work well with and who you think you could learn from and vice versa. 

In terms of concrete criteria please consider the model that we use in putting together GCP teams.  Previous consulting experience and/or intent on entering the consulting industry are not requisite.  We try to form teams on the basis of the idea of creating a diverse group with competencies that are relevant to the client and who are committed to the GCP.  This means that the type of project you apply for will be relevant in putting your team together.  Competencies we look for are:

• Marketing experience
• Industry experience
• Finance experience
• Operations experience
• Management Consulting experience
• Project Management experience
• Language fluency (particularly relevant is Spanish for Chile and Peru and Mandarin for Shangai , Beijing or Taipei projects)

Not all of these competencies are necessary for each team.  For instance, on a consumer products project, someone with marketing experience may be more relevant than someone with finance experience.  If the consumer product is beer for instance, someone with beer industry experience would be very valuable (and by beer industry experience we are obviously not just talking about Wharton Pub experience).  On the other hand, you will probably find that someone with consulting experience would be valuable regardless of the type of client.  It is not necessary that the teams have someone with language fluency though it is recommended for projects in the regions noted above.

How many people are required for a GCP team?

Five people are required for a GCP team.  Less than five is not recommended however if you feel confident that you have put together a satisfactory team with only four people we may consider your application.  Just keep in mind this means more work for each team member. 

What if we don’t know who else is interested in doing GCP – how can we put a team together?

Our first suggestion is to find people you think would be good for the program (whether they’ve previously expressed interest or not) and pitch it to them.  We are also holding information sessions to try to give you the opportunity to see who else is interested and the GCP office will keep track of anyone who contacts us and is interested in putting together a team so check in with us if you are having trouble.

Does our team have to apply for a specific project?

No.  Just like the regular applicant, your team should indicate how excited you would be to work one each project, including saying that you won’t work on some of them.  We also recommend that you at least have in mind the types of project you are applying for when you begin putting together your team.  Background and experience that is well suited to the client are a must on a GCP engagement.  We will be putting out descriptions of the projects on our website as soon as possible in order for you to work out your team configuration.

Do we have to wait for the projects to be put out on the website in order to start building a team?

No.  The projects will not be finalized until the Friday before the application period begins (though we will begin putting projects out on the website as soon as they are reasonably confirmed).  However having a type of project in mind as you are forming a team is important.  Recurring types of projects for the GCP are: consumer products (from alcohol to pet products to cotton shirts to cereals), social impact management projects (which often have a marketing as well as operations strategy goals), healthcare related or other BPO, IT products and services and telecommunications.

If our team applies for a specific project and we are not selected for that project, does that mean we can’t participate in the GCP?

 No.  If your team does not get selected for the project you apply for, but it appears to the GCP that your team would be a good one, one of two things can happen.  Your team will be given the option in the application process of being considered as a team for other projects if you do not get your first choice.  If your team selects this as an option then we will try to place you on another project to which you and your team could positively contribute.  If your team does not select this option or if there is no other project available for team placement, you will be given the option (on your application) to be considered for the GCP as an individual.  In this case, if you are qualified and we have a place for you, we will offer you a position on another team which we are forming from individual applicants.

How does the application process work for teams?

Each individual team member applies on their own however there will be a place in the application for you to note if you are applying as part of a team and to designate your other team mates.

How does the interview process work for teams?

 We will be interviewing you as a team – so you will all show up all at once to be interviewed

What else can I do to form a Team?

Reach out to other students & pitch it to them!

Join the GCP Yahoo Group

We have formed a GCP Yahoo! Group so that you find other Wharton MBA students interested in forming a GCP team.

You're set to connect with this group, so drop by soon.  Be sure to check out all the simple (and free) ways to communicate, share, and discover:

* You choose when and how to stay in touch

* Swap photos, files, polls, calendars, links, and more with members

* Quickly scan new postings and browse detailed message archives

* Plus enjoy many more ways to show and tell - 24/7

So get started. Visit the GCP Yahoo! Groups now.

http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42879/*http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wharton_Global_Consulting_Practic

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Travel

Does every student travel to the client in their country?

Yes.  All the students from each team travel in late December/early January (at the end of Winter Break and before classes begin).

How will GCP travel be affected by world events? 

Any student who feels uncomfortable about their safety traveling to the GCP partner destination WILL NOT be required to travel.

At any time, if a student has a personal emergency, that student will NOT be required to travel.

In deciding whether the GCP program will travel to a client destination, GCP faculty are concerned primarily with the safety and health of participants.  In making decisions, the GCP faculty consult with experts at the University of Pennsylvania and the US Department of State guidelines for that destination. 

GCP faculty make every effort to have Wharton students travel to their partner country or to an alternate destination.  However, every student should recognize that the GCP program does NOT guarantee international travel to every participating student;  in the event of international  tensions, alternate arrangements may have to be made.

Who pays for the travel? 

The clients pay for student travel to the host country.   The cost of this educational program is high in comparison with lecture classes.  Because projects generate much more value for clients than their costs, participating client companies always bear most of the costs of the student teams (airfare to and from host country, hotels while working with clients, a per diem for meals) as well as the out-of-pocket costs of the faculty advisors. 

Client fees, however, cover only a fraction of all the teaching and administrative costs of the Program. The Paul P. Dosberg Foundation and the Gilbert Klausner family have supported the administrative costs of the Recanati program with Israel.  We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Ford Motor Company Fund, the Citigroup Foundation, and the Alcoa Foundation for the global development of GCP. The administration of all the partner business schools have funded the teaching costs and the administrative costs of start-up, coordination, and expansion. 

Client fees for GCP projects are far lower than the professional fees of strategic consulting firms for similar consulting projects about the U.S. market.

What funds are available for research?  

Each team's travel to their partner country is paid for by the GCP.  In addition, a modest research budget is made available to each team for research expenses such as communications, visiting trade shows, research travel, purchasing data and reports.

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Past Participants

What have students said about their GCP experience?

“This experience isn’t for everyone. Those who are committed to hard work addressing senior level agendas will get the most from the experience.”

“Not only did my GCP experience accelerate my career in consulting, but it has provided me with multiple entrepreneurial opportunities over the past 10+ years.”

“GCP is the most real-world learning experience you can get at Wharton. You don’t have to be a consultant-in-training to have a great GCP experience.”

“I look back on GCP as one of the most demanding but rewarding aspects of my Wharton career. I enjoyed the opportunity to gain business experience in another country and culture, as well as work together with the partner school and the client as one truly global team. Working with a real client to face its actual business challenges was an invaluable practical experience to complement my classroom studies. Additionally, the friendships with my Wharton teammates are among the strongest I developed during my MBA.”

“The first thing they asked me about in my interview concerned my insights from the GCP.”

“The GCP helped me differentiate myself from other candidates during marketing internship recruiting. When asked for examples of my involvement in the marketing strategy for a product, I was able to provide relevant experiences from my GCP project that I think helped me get the offer.”

How many Wharton students participated in 2007-2008? 

59 students participated in 11 GCP projects:

• 16 students on 3 projects in Chile
• 5 students on 1 project in China
• 22 students on 4 projects in Israel
• 5 students on 1 project in Kenya
• 5 students on 1 project in Peru
• 6 students on 1 project in Spain

How many Wharton students participated in 2006-2007? 

55 students participated in 11 GCP projects:

• 15 students on 3 projects in Chile
• 10 students on 2 projects in India
• 10 students on 2 projects in Israel
• 15 students on 3 projects in Peru
• 5 students on 1 project in Spain

How many Wharton students participated in 2005-2006? 

56 students participated in 11 GCP projects:

• 20 students on 4 projects in Chile
• 11 students on 2 projects in China
• 5 students on 1 projects in Colombia
• 10 students on 2 projects in Israel
• 10 students on 2 projects in Peru

How many Wharton students participated in 2004-2005? 

89 students participated in 17 GCP projects:

• 21 students on 4 projects in Chile
• 16 students on 3 projects in Colombia
• 5 students on 1 project in India
• 20 students on 4 projects in Israel
• 7 students on 1 project in Jamaica
• 20 students on 4 projects in Peru

How many Wharton students participated in 2003-2004? 

63 students participated in 10 GCP projects:

• 8 students on 1 project in Chile
• 6 students on 1 project in India
• 24 students on 4 projects in Israel
• 25 students on 4 projects in Peru

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