An integral part of your second year is the Wharton Sophomore Experience. Opportunities are planned throughout the year that will help you prepare academically, explore career options, develop leadership skills, and make connections while maintaining your health and well-being. And when you participate, you earn incentives. The more activities completed, the more giveaways and incentives you will receive.
Each Wharton sophomore has an online Guide to Personal Success (GPS) that tracks their individual activities and accomplishments. All students have to do is take part in the activities listed in the categories shown on this page and check that their attendance/participation is registered. The Undergraduate Division will process the attendance information, and the student will earn incentive items.
Incentive levels for this year are as follows:
- 3 points: Wharton-branded duffel bag
- 5 points: Wharton-branded water bottle
- 8 points: Wharton-branded hat
- Top 5%: reception with alumni
Specific information about qualifying events will be emailed to sophomores on a regular basis.
GPS Categories
Academic Preparation
- Wharton Undergraduate Division academic advising appointment
- Global Opportunities Panel
- Penn Abroad information session and/or meeting with a Penn Abroad staff member
- Wharton International Program (WIP) Information Session
- Weingarten Learning Resource Center, Learning Resources Center (WLRC) appointment
- Wharton Undergraduate Research Information Session
- Lippincott librarian appointment
Making Connections
- The Wharton Sophomore Reorientation
- Wharton Council Clubbing Fair
- Wharton Council Event
- Alumni Speaker Events
Leadership Development
- Wharton Undergraduate Leadership Forum (WULF)
- Wharton Leadership Venture
- Compass Program
- McNulty Leadership Development (Undergraduate) Workshop
- Leadership role in a Wharton club/student organization 1
- Leadership Coaching
- Cohort mentor program (serve as a mentor)
- Nonprofit Connect
- P3 (Purpose, Passion and Principles)
- Civic engagement with the Civic House
1 Wharton Undergraduate Division staff will work with Wharton-specific clubs to determine this list. While we recognize there are many leadership positions beyond Wharton, we are currently only able to track those in Wharton-specific clubs.
Wellness
- I CARE Training
- Wharton Dolphin Tank Event
- Wharton Wellness event
- Campus Health Workshop
- Wharton Roundtable
- Nutritionist Services Appointment
Career Exploration
- Career advising appointment
- Career Services workshop
- Résumé/cover letter critique
- Mock Interview
- Wharton Undergraduate Career Exploration Chat Program
- Wharton Industry Exploration Program (WIEP) information session
- Sophomore Strategy: How to Effectively Search for Summer Opportunities
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
- WEDIG Student Forums
- Diversity & Inclusion Speaker Series
- WEDIG Events/FGLI Programming
Important Dates and Events
Please note that 0.5 CU Wharton courses have different deadlines. More information can be found here.
August 2021
August 31: First Day of Fall Classes
September 2021
September 6: Labor Day (no classes)
September 14: Course Selection Period Ends
October 2021
October 11: Drop Period ends
October 14-17: Fall Break
October 29: Last Day to Change Grade Type
October 29-31: Family Weekend
November 2021
November 1-14: Advance Registration for Spring Term
November 6: Homecoming
November 8: Last Day to Withdraw from a Course¹
November 23: Follow Thursday Class Schedule
November 24: Follow Friday Class Schedule
November 25-28: Thanksgiving Break
December 2021
December 10: Last Day of Classes
December 15-22: Final Examinations
December 22: Fall Term Ends
January 2022
January 12, 2022: First Day of Spring Classes
January 15: Delayed Move-In to Campus Housing
January 17: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Observed (no classes)
January 24: First Day of In-Person Classes
January 25: Course Selection (Add) Period Ends
February 2022
February 21: Drop Period Ends
March 2022
March 5-13: Spring Break
March 18: Last Day to Change a Grade Type
March 21 – April 3: Advance Registration for Fall Term and Summer Sessions
March 28: Last Day to Withdraw from a Course¹
April 2022
April 27: Last Day of Classes
April 28-May 1: Reading Days
May 2022
May 2-10: Final Examinations
May 10: Spring Term Ends
May 15: Wharton Undergraduate Graduation Ceremony
May 15: Baccalaureate
May 16: Penn Commencement
¹ Please note that some courses have earlier withdrawal deadlines. Students must abide by deadlines and policies published by faculty.