As I tell anyone who will listen, ChatGPT has become my indispensable right arm. Today it helped me research fence regulations in Los Angeles; yesterday it drafted a PRA to Caltrain on my behalf. Investigating cancer trials (and translating medical jargon), helping me find a lawyer and redesign a kitchen — is there any wonder I consider ChatGPT my new bestie?
AI tools are incredible and evolving quickly. Many of my clients have goals that include applying AI to the field that interests them, be it health care or aviation or finance. And that’s terrific, because AI is full of opportunity, and the name of the MBA game is learning to capitalize on opportunity. (I asked my buddy Chat where to apply if I wanted an AI focus, and it suggested Stanford, Sloan, Haas, and Tepper, just FYI.)
Use AI to support your research or to help you brainstorm. It’s ideal for that! But when it comes time to write essays, you need to do the work to crank out your responses. I realize it’s tempting to turn to AI for help, especially if you’re not sure how to connect your ideas or how to reduce a draft so it meets word count, but beware of three main pitfalls.
First, you will shortchange yourself on the self-reflection that accompanies writing these essays. If you’re not even invested enough to put in the time before even embarking on your MBA, maybe it’s not truly for you.
Second, although the resulting essays may have perfect grammar and spelling, they are going to sound flat. Admissions officers, almost in chorus, agree. Your adcoms are trying to get to know you, as best as they can in a limited space. You are pushing them away and almost guaranteeing that you will be labeled DSO = “doesn’t stand out” because you sound bland or boring. Being DSO is worse than getting a sub-average test score or an F in calculus your freshman year. For your application, it’s a big KOD.
Finally, admissions officers will be able to spot the heavy hand of the bot. If you’re not applying to a T30 program, maybe they don’t care as long as your stats are good enough, but otherwise, yep, you’ll be out of luck. The top programs are all looking for applicants who exhibit intellectual vitality, curiosity, a can-do attitude. You can’t even devote a few hours to cranking out the essays? You’re not making it through to the interview.
P.S. You may hear about someone who was admitted to Pretty Good Program X and claims they used AI bots for everything. Maybe. Maybe it worked for them. But you’re taking a risk, especially if you really want to attend a good program, and if you want to attend a good program…well, I won’t repeat myself (again).
