I'll Be Back...

MBA Admissions isn't saying please.

Photo Rights: Empire Magazine and StudioCanal, "The Terminator"

"I need your cothes, your boots, and your motorcycle," said the benevolently reprogrammed Terminator, in the T2 sequel.

"You forgot to say please," laughed the unwitting motorcycle bar patron.

Pretty soon, AI isn't going to be saying please.

Admissions Offices worldwide aren't saying please anymore either.

For many, the excitement for the lightning speed by which artificial intelligence can produce artwork and articles - to name two common uses - is not unlike the raw energy that F1 fanatics feel for high octane muscle cars. But if you don't know the rules of the road, and drive recklessly, you're bound to hit some trouble.

When ChatGPT democratized AI in late 2022, shockwaves of panic spread through academia and MBA admissions offices worldwide. But before we dive into the practicalities, it’s worth taking a step back to understand where this all comes from.

The modern concept of AI traces back to SciFi writers Karel Čapek and Isaac Asimov, the visionary minds who coined the terms robot and robotics. Their works inspired generations of storytellers, including James Cameron, whose Terminator movies cemented a cinematic image of artificial intelligence in our collective imagination. In 1928, the first British “robot” – also named Eric – captured the imagination of the world, igniting a fascination with intelligent machines. And yet, in reality, AI didn’t arrive with fanfare. It seeped into our lives slowly, quietly powering tools, machines, and applications in ways most of us barely noticed.

What changed everything was ChatGPT. This was the moment AI became not just visible, but tangible, practical, and even fun. Unlike a drill press or other traditional tools, which simply get a job done, digital tools are designed to engage us with dopamine hits, which science has shown can be highly addictive and potentially dangerous for many humans. Free apps are often gamified, optimized for attention, and monetized through ads or user data. ChatGPT, by contrast, turned a powerful tool into a collaborative partner – one that could converse with you, brainstorm, or challenge your thinking.

AI in Academia and Admissions

The introduction of ChatGPT into higher education was initially met with fear. Professors worried about plagiarism. Admissions officers wondered, how do we know if the applicant is real? Early detection tools were deployed, only to be largely abandoned due to false positives. The reality is now straightforward: schools have mostly embraced AI. They assume you’re using it. The key is not to hide it, but to understand the policies, codes of ethics, and application instructions for each school. As an applicant, it’s your responsibility to ensure you remain on the right side of the rules – both as an applicant, and later, as a student.

Photo Rights: Screenslate and Palomar Pictures, "Stepford Wives"

Risks and Pitfalls

Here’s the hard truth: in 2026, no AI tool can write a truly authentic, compelling, and exciting essay that captures the triangulation of who you are, your goals, and the schools to which you’re applying. Large Language Models work by scanning the internet for relevant content and synthesizing it into something statistically likely to be “correct.” The result is technically flawless, grammatically perfect, and… utterly flat.

Ask any admissions professional, and you’ll hear stories of essays that were perfect on paper but soulless in essence – Stepford Wife essays. So unless you're applying to Stepford GSB...

AI-generated content often suffers from:

• Fluffy, symmetrical phrasing

• Generic or robotic tone

• Lack of personality and originality

• Overuse of buzzwords and clichés

• Repetitive sentence structures and transition words

  
  

Even worse, AI can unintentionally recycle someone else’s ideas, risking unintentional plagiarism, for which you could still be penalized. Or it might rely on outdated sources: a professor may have retired or passed away years ago, or a course may no longer exist, yet the AI still cites it as a reason for your first-choice program.

And the disconnect doesn’t end with the essay. If you’re shortlisted for an interview, your AI-crafted persona may fall apart. Admissions officers are finely tuned to voice, tone, and human nuance. They’ve spent decades reading applications, and can often detect when a candidate isn’t fully aligned with the essay they submitted.

No matter what, you need to have clarity on the policy of each school to which you'll be applying, and the rules can change from year to year. Not adhering to their rules and policies regarding the use of artificial intelligence, and you can be dinged (get rejected) with no explanation. That'd be a shame!

The lesson: be original. Be authentic. Be you.

Using AI Intelligently

AI isn’t the enemy. Used intelligently, it’s a powerful tool. Here’s how:

1. Research: AI can scan websites, analyze alumni profiles, and summarize industries faster than any human. Use it to understand programs, courses, and faculty—but always confirm information against primary sources.

2. Brainstorming: If you’re stuck on ideas, use AI as a “thought partner.” Ask open-ended questions, explore options, and debate ideas. The goal is to stimulate reflection, not generate a finished essay.

3. Essay Question Analysis: You can discuss essay prompts with AI to dig deeper into what really matters most to you. Ask: Why does this question resonate with me? What experiences truly reflect my story? Avoid asking for templated or “successful” essay answers; those paths lead straight into the AI pitfalls outlined above.

4. CV and Goal Reflection: Feed your CV and career goals into the AI and ask which experiences best sell your story, where gaps exist, and what transferable skills can help you succeed. Use this as a mirror to better understand your narrative.

5. Editing and Tone: AI is excellent for grammar checks, word count reduction, and adjusting tone. But remember: editing is iterative. Your story still needs your judgment, your personality, and your voice.

A guiding principle: never copy/paste! Use AI to start messy, refine thoughtfully, and then rewrite until it is authentically yours. Perfect is the enemy of good; allow yourself to write poorly at first. The act of writing strengthens your thinking, hones your oral articulation, and prepares you for the interview.

A few additional thoughts about AI: Balancing Fluency and Dependence

Studies from MIT and Georgia Tech show the cognitive risks of over-reliance on AI. Large Language Models reward guessing over accuracy, and hallucinations are common. Over-dependence can dull memory, judgment, and nuance—the very faculties that top MBA programs value. Treat AI as a tool, not a crutch. Be AI fluent, but not AI dependent.

Ask yourself: How many friends’ phone numbers do you know by heart? I know exactly three among my current group of friends. But I still remember phone numbers, addresses, and birthdays from when I was a kid before mobile phones existed. Long-term memory seems untouched, but short-term memory has eroded massively!

Fluency in AI also extends to your application itself. Take courses, explore applied AI, or practice using Python and other AI tools if relevant to your career. Showing AI competency can be a differentiator in fields like consulting, finance, or tech—but only if it is authentic and integrated into your story.

Image generated by author on flatAI.org

The Human Element Still Wins

At the end of the day, people are admitted to top programs for professional track record, clarity of goals, and potential, not for a perfectly polished essay. AI can help you get noticed, but it cannot replace:

• Originality

• Authentic storytelling

• Personal reflection

• Interview presence

  
  

As an admissions consultant, I can tell you - templates fail. Essays on forums like Poets & Quants can provide inspiration, but don’t let them distract you from telling your own story. What worked for them in that time and place, with that specific admissions team won’t necessarily work for you. Admissions officers read hundreds, if not thousands of essays; they can spot when you’re being inauthentic.

Conclusion – Using AI Responsibly, Ethically and Intelligently

AI is here to stay, and it’s transforming the admissions landscape. Use it responsibly:

• Know the rules / code of ethics of each school

• Avoid plagiarism and hallucinated content

• Use AI for research, reflection, and editing—not replacement

• Treat it as a collaborative, interactive “thought partner”

Finally, if you’re struggling with writing or structuring your application, don’t go it alone. A professional MBA Admissions Consultant can guide your story, enhance your strengths, and help you use AI intelligently, ethically, and effectively. The goal isn’t to outsmart the system—it’s to present the real you in the best possible way, amplified by the right tools.

Artificial intelligence is a remarkable ally, but the human element—the authentic, reflective, ambitious, and capable you—remains the ultimate differentiator. Use AI wisely, follow the schools' rules, and it can help you tell your story, clarify your goals, and maximize your MBA potential. Abuse it, and it will betray you. The choice is yours.

Get in touch for a free consultation:

info@Candidate.Coach

Image generated by author on flatAI.org

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