Can ChatGPT Make Your Essays More Attractive?
Image Courtesy of Stanford GSB website: https://communitystandards.stanford.edu/generative-ai-policy-guidance
In the famous play, Cyrano de Bergerac, the handsome Christian, doubting his own intellect and charm, sent the beautiful Roxanne letters written by Cyrano himself who hid behind Christians looks, fearing Roxanne would reject him for his enormous nose. The story ends in tragedy for everyone…and why? Neither man was being their authentic self.
We are hardwired for stories. Ever since we were cave dwellers, telling stories around the campfire was more than a source of entertainment. Our very survival depended upon it. It was through storytelling that we learned about what was good to eat, what was deadly, and where we fit in amongst our tribe. The gift of effective storytelling commands authority, creates trust, builds relationships, and sells your ideas. Are we on the same page yet about how dropping great stories in your application is fundamental in differentiating your MBA application, your profile, your vision from the ocean of other MBA hopefuls?
At the end of the day, it is a fantasy to think that there is some kind of perfect M7 essay that AI can create.
But I’m not a good writer! Storytellers aren’t born; they are made. And even better, they can be coached. Of course, some have natural talent, but becoming an excellent writer takes years of practice. But I don’t have years to prepare my MBA application! You don’t have to go it alone. And while you might be thinking of ChatGPT or something like it to help write your admissions essays, collaborating with a professional MBA Admissions Consultant can seriously boost your chances.
Everyone has finally caught on to the power of AI, an umbrella of technologies that have been quietly seeping into our lives over the years. Now that it no longer evokes thoughts of robot armies killing off the humans, every brand out there seems to market themselves as “AI-powered” or “Using AI”... #marketing. Then there are the fake news whistleblowers, mostly boomers who derive their power from calling out images on Facebook that they’ve scrutinized as “not real” under their watchful eye. So AI - like many things these days, has suddenly become quite polarizing. But what does this mean for academia?
Image Courtesy of: La Comédie Française
After a skittish start, higher education has largely embraced the technology as a tool that needs to be learned and put to good use. Not wanting to stand on the fear-driven, wrong side of history, many business schools have their policy regarding AI clearly stated on their website, often as part of their code of conduct or of academic integrity. Broadly speaking, it goes something like this: Students are welcome to use ChatGPT and other generative AI software; however, not citing all sources, just as with any academic research, constitutes plagiarism, which is strictly against the code of conduct.
When it comes to MBA admissions, the policy for applicants largely parallels that of their current students. One Director of Admissions from a top-ranked American MBA program described that for her, AI stands for authentic individuality. That school would be Duke Fuqua. As they build the incoming class of bright, motivated leaders, business schools are truly looking for unique individuals who will create an incredible experience for everyone in the program. To understand, in part, the goal of the admissions committee, think about if you were planning a dinner party for which you wanted to invite only the most creative, accomplished, and interesting people to ensure a legendary evening that people would talk about for years.
In an MBA application, your work experience, prior academics, and GMAT are what determine your eligibility, but to be admissible or desirable for a given school, it’s all about your essays, references, and interviews. While you have very little control over what your references say, where you can have the most powerful impact is in the essays, which I've described for years as the key to getting shortlisted for an interview. While reflecting on how to write an essay that wins the hearts of the AdComs, you may be wondering about harnessing the power of AI to write an essay far better than you ever could. But at the end of the day, it is a fantasy to think that there is some kind of perfect M7 essay that AI can create. When schools are looking for authenticity, diversity, unique stories… the use of AI in the way people fear is a moot point.
Harvard Business School (HBS), for example, generally expects MBA applicants to submit essays that reflect their own experiences, perspectives, and writing style. While specific policies for some schools may not be explicitly detailed, the use of AI tools like ChatGPT to draft or significantly alter essays is typically discouraged. Admissions committees strongly value diversity, authenticity, and originality, so relying heavily on AI could be seen as misrepresenting your personal voice and experiences.
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Furthermore, the readers - those who take part in reading the essays and applications at each school - are professionals in their domain. They read thousands of essays and references, and have developed keenly astute BS detectors. If the material submitted in your application doesn’t sound like it’s written in your voice - or in the case of LORs, your recommender’s voice - this can certainly raise red flags and call for further investigation into their authenticity.
What can AI be used for? Good question: it could be an idea generator. But absolutely DO NOT copy/paste the output from ChatGPT into your essay, unless you’re ready to face the very real risk that AI detection software ultimately flags your essay as AI-generated, and therefore disqualifies you with no explanation. That would suck! But let the software help accelerate your ideation process; however, please make sure that all your writing is your own! Then, ChatGPT and the like could be helpful for reducing word count, at the end of your process, but be clear, the software can never write your essays for you. And frankly, you wouldn’t want to be robbed of this reflective journey of figuring out your true path - in your career, and therefore in your life. Moreover, if you do manage to make it through the gates with an essay that isn’t your own work and get shortlisted for an interview, you run the high risk of lacking consistency in terms of how you express yourself in written form compared to orally during your interview. And then guess what - deny! Oops.
When schools are looking for authenticity, diversity, unique stories… the use of AI in the way people fear is a moot point.
Finally, there’s something to be said about finding the right fit. The M7 school you’ve got your eye on across the room may be the pretty person at the party, but if you don’t share the same values, if the school doesn’t have expertise in your career field of target, if the teaching style and campus culture are not a fit…it’ll be a match made in hell. And let me tell you something about rankings and prestige - in the short term, it’s always sexy to say you’ve gone to a top-10 or 20 school. It definitely opens doors, plus it’s good for the ego, or maybe those of your parents or partner. But in the long term, it’s about how good YOU are. What kind of impact do you have in your post-MBA roles? What kind of leader are you? How good are you at networking and communicating your successes? These are the things that will catapult your career light years ahead, far more than a ranking.
In sum, AI is an ensemble of tools that everyone needs to master as we advance towards an increasingly AI future. That said, humans need to be conscious about how we employ these tools in our work, in our education, and in our daily lives. Attempting to use AI to enchant or deceive the admissions team at your dream school may not result in the same tragic fate as the foolish Cyrano and Christian. But reader be warned, dear MBA hopeful, proceed with caution as you experiment with this new tool. Take stock of the limitations and risks in how we use AI, whether we talk about official policies or the boost you perceive it give. As always, it’s best to be your authentic self when telling YOUR story, and to curate it as honestly and deeply as possible.
For the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding their policies, always consult the official admissions guidelines on the website of each school or reach out to the admissions office directly when in doubt.
Get in touch with Eric Lucrezia, Creator of Candidate Coach:
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