Last Thursday, I took my cousin to visit Wharton (University of Pennsylvania, Graduate School of Business). I was amazed and impressed by the experience given to us. It also gave us a glimpse at how Wharton differentiates itself from its “competitors” and offers a better “distinctive value proposition” than the dominant B-school: Harvard.
Harvard tends to have a ‘brand perception’ of high-quality education, high-quality brand, and high-quality graduates. They also give off a snooty, snobby, and hifalutin “Hah-ved” personality. That may or may not be so… it’s my impression, and perception shared by many.
Likewise, Wharton is one of the top-rated graduate b-schools in the country. Their MBA students are also recruited by the top firms from the first day they are on campus. Wharton also clearly produces excellent leaders, not only in business… but in nearly every field.
My point is not to herald Wharton, Harvard, or any business education. But rather to illustrate how we can and should express our brand distinctiveness. Here are some of the points Wharton students and administration stressed:
Note: Statistics have shown that when a student is accepted to both schools, the vast majority still choose Harvard. Nobody mentioned their most dominant competitor by name (Harvard). But I felt it was a constant undercurrent to EVERYTHING that was said.
For example, we had lunch with 3 first-year students. We were to ask them questions about their application process, their experience as students, and their goals as professionals. 2 of them mentioned that Wharton classes did not follow the “case study method” exclusively, but rather followed that approach “when it was appropriate.” They went on to mention that some classes are more suited for a lecture format, and others for a ‘real-world case’ study format. In fact, one student specifically mentioned that he chose Wharton because he prefers the lecture format over the case study approach. Harvard is famous for driving the case study approach to business learning; they even have a course on creating case studies. I felt their repeated insistence was a direct differentiation statement against their dominant competition.
Another example: The head of admissions began her description of benefits by using the word “scrappy.” She mentioned that they like to roll up their sleeves, get the job done, work together, develop life-long relationships, and not stand on ceremony, status, title, or even student hierarchy. Harvard, rather, prefers to stand on their tradition… and appreciates their elite heritage… not being scrappy.
Both schools administration decided to allow students to vote on whether or not to disclose grades/scores. 96% of Wharton students have decided not to disclose their grades. (My cousin and I assumed that the other 4% were doing so well, they wanted to brag). Well, it turns out Harvard students have overwhelmingly voted to DISCLOSE their grades. I believe this is a literal metaphor to the 2 different student cultures: Wharton students prefer to leverage each others’ strengths and work together as comrades. Harvard prefers to emulate the competitive nature of natural business world. Both have its merits.
Harvard Business School is physically separated from the rest of their campus, away from the undergrads. Wharton is fully integrated into the undergrad environment - the undergrad business building is right next to their new MBA building, and is sometimes used for space. Different; better is the customer’s (student’s) choice.
Wharton is proud that most of their students live right in the vicinity of the campus. Most other business schools have many commuters. Wharton lubricates their community through … free beer and pizza. It’s a horrible reason to choose this high-class program over others, but the mundane is often profound: The free beer and pizza - every Thursday - helps to congeal busy professionals. It fosters the camaraderie that is truly life-long. It also provides prospective students an opportunity to mingle with 1st and 2nd year students. It’s a safe place for the MBA students to express their diversity: Each night has a theme… ours was Asian (with Asian beer & food sampling)… some nights have a Greek theme, or a Gay theme (where they encourage professors to cross-dress)! Their humor and unpretentiousness is in stark contrast to the Harvard brand image.
Finally, Wharton operates on a Monday-Thursday week… Fridays are off. This allows students to catch up, spend time on extracurricular groups, projects, family, or professional interviews. It’s different than a typical M-F week.
Of course both have a great network of alumni. Wharton - in alignment with their “here for each other” brand impression - stressed how open and willing their alum are. Students and administration repeated this point often. Harvard didn’t mention it at all. It should really go without saying… we know many b-school alum opening doors for each other: But Wharton repeated it, Harvard (proudly) ignored it.
From their student guides to the admissions administration, Wharton gave a consistent and unified brand experience, stressing (repeating) specific value elements. They purposefully positioned themselves differently - and IMHO, better - than their dominant competition, Harvard. After all, the real bucks to be made is not on the tuition … but in their life-long donations. (Wharton’s brand new MBA building was fully funded through alumni contributions).
I’ll be joining my cousin on his other b-school adventures… let’s see how the other top b-schools position themselves:
- “Just like Harvard, but better,” or
- “We’re different than Harvard, thus better.”
Have you had similar experiences when you’ve been courted? How is your alum school better than all of these?
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what brands you… 
So I cut up a tennis ball (around its seam) and the rubber naturally wrapped itself around the microphone. It will be able to pick up my voice clearly through the top and side that is to me (uncovered by the ball). To the audience, it will be a subtle treat (and I’m sure most will notice — and remember).
