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admissionCoach
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Admission Concierge Consultant
Joined: 15 Jan 2020
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Using AI but keeping your authenticity... 17 Apr 2025, 09:39
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I can often tell within the first paragraph if an applicant has relied too heavily on AI tools.
The issue isn't grammatical errors or poor writing—it's quite the opposite. The problem is writing that sounds technically perfect but lacks the genuine human voice that makes an application memorable. When everyone has flawless grammar, what truly matters is the unique story that only you can tell.

Authenticity: Your Competitive Edge

In this new reality, authenticity has become your greatest competitive advantage. What has always differentiated exceptional candidates isn't perfect phrasing, but rather self-awareness, clarity of purpose, and a personal leadership narrative that feels unmistakably human.
These qualities—not just grammatical precision—will define successful MBA applicants in the coming years.

The Risk of Sounding Indistinguishable

MBA admissions officers are trained to read beyond the surface, and when every essay reads like a slightly different version of the same generic prompt, no candidate stands out.
According to a Kaplan/Manhattan Prep survey from May 2024, 56% of MBA applicants said they would consider using AI to help craft their essays, though many expressed reservations about doing so.
Among applicants themselves, there's an underlying concern: "Will my voice still sound like me?" and "Will I get caught?"
These concerns are valid. Columbia Business School has already updated its policy, stating that while AI may be used for idea generation, the final application must be exclusively the applicant's own work—with violations potentially resulting in rescinded offers.
Harvard Business School suggests treating AI as an unreliable but thought-provoking source—not a replacement for genuine human reflection.
The trend is clear: schools are growing increasingly wary of essays that sound too perfect but lack substance and personality.

Why Your Uniqueness Is Your Moat

In a world saturated with articulate, grammatically flawless AI-generated text, your uniqueness becomes your protective moat. What will distinguish successful MBA applicants?
  • Deep Self-Awareness: Specific reflection on your motivations, decisions, and leadership growth
  • Authentic Storytelling: Real experiences rather than polished clichés
  • Natural Voice: Essays that read like one individual speaking honestly to another, not like corporate communications
While AI tools can assist with brainstorming or light editing, they often produce writing that feels verbose, conventional, and emotionally flat. Polished? Yes. Memorable? Rarely. In a competitive MBA pool, blending into the background is the fastest way to be overlooked.

The most compelling essays will still require what AI cannot replicate: genuine insight, vulnerability, judgment, and humanity.

Using AI Wisely Without Losing Your Voice
I'm not suggesting abandoning AI tools completely. There are strategic ways to use them:
  • Use AI for brainstorming—not final writing
  • Let AI suggest structures or outlines—then write the core content yourself
  • If using AI for summarizing, notice if your essay becomes too conventional—and rework it
  • Always perform a "gut check": Does this sound like my true story?
As one admissions consultant aptly noted: "AI is just a shiny cup—you still have to fill it with your own water."
Remember: Admissions Officers Want You, Not Perfection
MBA admissions isn't a writing contest. It's a search for future leaders—individuals who know themselves, can reflect deeply, think critically, and tell an authentic story.
Authenticity isn't optional—it's strategic. In a world where AI can fake polish but not passion, your genuine, human story remains your greatest asset.