Aleczander Escamilla

Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania

“Husband, Dad, Professional Water Resources Engineer looking to make a broader impact.”

Hometown: Palmdale, C

Fun Fact About Yourself: I moved away from home and lived in Oaxaca, Mexico, for two years right after high school before going to college.

Undergraduate School and Major: Brigham Young University – Civil Engineering

Most Recent Employer and Job Title: Civiltec Engineering inc. – Project Engineer

Aside from your classmates, what was the key part of the Wharton School’s MBA programming that led you to choose this business school and why was it so important to you? Coming from an engineering background, I was looking for an MBA program that would give me a strong business education foundation. I was particularly drawn to the Business, Energy, Environment and Sustainability (BEES) and Strategic Management majors that Wharton offers that align with my background in water resources and my desire to lead higher level strategy.

What course, club, or activity excites you the most at the Wharton School? I am excited to participate in the Leadership Ventures. As an Eagle Scout, I participated in high adventure activities as a kid and loved the challenge, growth, and fun that came with those experiences. Leadership Ventures are a similar opportunity to push personal limits while learning leadership skills, creating lasting memories, and going on an awesome adventure.

When you think of the Wharton School, what is the first word that comes to mind? Why? Grit. Not just because of Professor Duckworth. The week before my deferred admission interview, I had my full-time job offer rescinded (thanks COVID). The admissions officer and I still had a great conversation about the importance of grit and optimism that has always stuck with me.

Looking at your recruitment, what was the moment when you realized the Wharton School was the right MBA program for you? Why? For me, there wasn’t one particular moment of realization. The conversations I had with current and former students, the support of the Wharton Hispanic-American MBA Association (WHAMBAA) in interview prep, and the research into opportunities at and after Wharton all combined to make Wharton my top choice. I had a strong feeling that the Wharton School was where my family and I should be.

Describe your biggest accomplishment in your career so far: Earning my Professional Engineers license has probably been one of the biggest accomplishments of my career so far. On top of raising two great kids, serving as a volunteer leader in my local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation, and working my full-time job, I was able to quickly pass the necessary exams to earn my license in California.

What do you hope to do after graduation (at this point)? The goal is to transition into management consulting. I had the opportunity to do a pre-MBA program with one of the top firms and will hopefully be joining them again this upcoming summer.

What is one thing you have recently read, watched, or listened to that you would highly recommend to prospective MBAs? Why? I’m an audiobook guy; I’d recommend ‘reading’ Watership Down. On the surface, it’s a fictional story about rabbits looking for a new place to live. As you go deeper, themes of leadership, sacrifice, and community emerge. How do you lead others when you don’t have all the information? How do you encourage others that struggle in challenging circumstances? What does it mean to be a servant-leader? It all comes from a book about rabbits

What other MBA programs did you apply to? HBS, MIT, Stanford, and Booth (all through the respective deferred admissions programs),

What advice would you give to help potential applicants gain admission into the Wharton School’s MBA program? You’ll hear this a lot, but self-reflection and being genuine are huge. Tactically, I would note two things:

1. While writing your essays, ask yourself: What is your current vision for the future? You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do as much as have a directional aim. You’ll likely discover new opportunities and change some plans during your time at Wharton.

2. Consider the whole of your application. Focus on areas that you may be weaker and find ways to mitigate or strengthen those perceived weaknesses.

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