Applicants may apply to more than one program; however, a separate application is required for each program

High school transcripts and/or grade reports are required for your application. Please upload an official or unofficial copy directly to the Global Youth Application portal. All grade submissions must be in English and include your full name, your school’s name, and the academic terms represented. 

Be sure to include transcripts for all high school courses taken in grades 9, 10, and 11, if applicable. 

• For 9th-grade students: Please submit your 8th-grade report card. 
• For all applicants: A 2025-2026 grade report for current courses is required if these grades are not on your official transcript. 

If additional grades become available before the application deadline, you may email supplementary materials to whartonyouth@wharton.upenn.edu. 

A recommendation from a high school counselor, teacher, or advisor is required for your application. Most programs require one recommendation, but M&TSI, Moneyball Academy, Moneyball Training Camp, and the Sports Business Academy require two, with M&TSI requiring formal letters of recommendation.

Your recommendation request(s) will not be sent until you submit your application. Once submitted, your recommender(s) will receive an email and have 7 days from the application deadline to complete their portion.

Your application is not considered complete until all required recommendations are received. Be sure to follow up with your recommender(s) and use their official school email address when possible.

The short essays give the Wharton Global Youth Admissions Committee an opportunity to get to know you better while also assessing your writing skills and how well you address the given prompts. We prioritize thoughtful, unique and well-crafted responses over length.

VIEW OUR 2026 SHORT ESSAY PROMPTS

Non-native English speakers should submit test scores to verify English language proficiency. If the student attends a school where the primary language of instruction is English, this requirement is automatically waived. If submitting test scores, please note the admissions committee prefers TOEFL or IELTS scores, when available. The minimum TOEFL iBT score required for admission is 100, or the equivalent score of 5 or higher on the new TOEFL scale (effective January 2026). The minimum IELTS score required is a 7. If TOEFL or IELTS scores are unavailable, applicants may submit Duolingo, PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores as an alternate. The minimum Duolingo score required is 130. To submit, please upload an unofficial copy of your score report to the online application.

Submitting standardized test scores is optional. If you choose to share your scores, you may upload an unofficial copy of your score report to the Global Youth Application portal. Be sure that your score report includes your name. 

A non-refundable application fee of $100 is required for each application and can be paid by credit card through the Global Youth Application Portal.

Applicants may qualify for an application fee waiver if they meet one of the following criteria: 

• Attend a School District of Philadelphia public or charter high school. To request this waiver, email whartonyouth@wharton.upenn.edu. 

• Have been nominated by an official Wharton Global Youth Program partner organization to apply for a summer program. Partner organizations must request the waiver on the student’s behalf by contacting their Wharton Global Youth Program representative. Additional information about Wharton Global Youth scholarship opportunities can be found on our Costs & Aid webpage.