Admissions, Academics, and AI: The New Reality of Business Education
AI is no longer just a tool of the future – it’s already reshaping the entire MBA experience. From how candidates are evaluated to how students learn and lead, AI is pushing MBA programs to reimagine and reinvent everything.
Here are a few of the key areas where AI is making waves:
Balancing Innovation and Integrity in Admissions
AI is already embedded in the admissions process – on both sides. Applicants are using AI tools to draft essays and polish resumes – to varying degrees of success. MBA programs are adapting in real time, updating honor codes, redesigning application prompts, and adding video prompts to preserve authenticity and hear from candidates directly.
Some programs now explicitly ask applicants to disclose AI usage. Others rely on human evaluation, while relying more on interviews, personal statements, and triangulated data points to assess fit. The consensus is clear: AI can support an application, but it can’t replace the personal insight and authenticity that defines strong candidates.
At the same time, admissions teams are beginning to explore AI to improve operations. From reviewing transcripts to evaluating test waiver requests, AI is being piloted to streamline backend processes – without replacing the nuanced, human judgment that personalizes the process and delivers final judgements.
Learning to Lead with AI in the Classroom
Students are learning from curricula that increasingly reflects the AI-driven careers they’ll return to. For example, business schools are offering interdisciplinary courses that combine AI with public policy, ethics, and strategy. Some programs have launched dedicated centers, labs, or verticals to drive innovation and real-world application.
Here are a few examples:
The approach to classroom AI use varies. In some programs, AI is encouraged and even built into coursework. In others, it's carefully limited. Faculty are updating syllabi to reflect expectations, often requiring students to disclose how and when they’ve used AI tools.
Generally, what matters isn’t whether AI is used – but how. Business schools are helping students understand not just the mechanics of AI, but the mindset needed to apply it responsibly, by using critical thinking, prompt engineering, and ethical decision-making.
Building AI-Ready Leaders Beyond Graduation
Business education isn’t just about mastering AI tools – t’s about preparing leaders for complex and dynamic environments. AI is now a core part of that preparation.
Graduates are expected to understand AI’s capabilities and limitations, to know when to trust it and when to push back. They’re trained to ask deeper questions:
What problem am I solving?
Is AI the right approach?
How do I maintain authenticity and integrity while using AI?
As business schools adapt, one thing remains constant: human skills still matter most. Empathy, judgment, communication, and adaptability are the traits that will define future leaders – AI-powered or not.