How to Use AI in Your Application w/ University of San Francisco's Masagung Graduate School of Business

AI can help you research business schools, brainstorm essay ideas, prepare for interviews, and organize the application process. But how much AI is too much?

In this episode of Inside the GMAT, GMAC Zach is joined by Hannah Artis, Senior Director of Graduate Admission, and Frank Fletcher, Senior Director of MBA Programs at the Masagung Graduate School of Management at the University of San Francisco.

They discuss how admissions teams are thinking about AI, where it can genuinely strengthen your application, and where relying on it too heavily can cause you to lose the most important part of your candidacy: your own voice.

You'll hear why AI can be an excellent "sparring partner," why an overly polished essay may actually work against you, how to use AI to prepare for an MBA interview without sounding scripted, and why critical thinking remains one of the most important skills you can bring to business school.

Plus, Hannah and Frank share practical advice for applicants who are still trying to figure out their story, their goals, and their "why."

Helpful Resources:

Masagung Graduate School of Business: https://www.usfca.edu/management/programs/graduate

Key Takeaways:

Use AI as a sparring partner, not a substitute. It can challenge your ideas, help you brainstorm, and prepare you for difficult questions—but your judgment and answers should remain your own. Don't polish away your personality. Admissions teams aren't necessarily looking for a perfectly packaged candidate; the quirks, uncertainty, growth, and messiness of your story can help them understand who you really are. AI is particularly useful for research and preparation. Use it to explore programs, identify questions, organize deadlines, brainstorm, and practice interviews—but verify important information directly with schools. Never outsource the interview. Preparation is encouraged; scripted, AI-generated responses can prevent admissions teams from seeing how you actually think and communicate. Critical thinking remains the differentiator. Knowing which tools to use, when to use them, and how to navigate ambiguity matters more than simply becoming more efficient. Chapters:

00:00 – Introduction

02:21 – How often does AI come up with MBA applicants?

05:59 – Where AI can genuinely help your application